9. Giraffes and their impact on key tree species in the Etendeka Tourism Concession, north-west Namibia-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

9. Giraffes and their impact on key tree species in the Etendeka Tourism Concession, north-west Namibia

Published:2024-08-02 Issue: Volume: Page:257-270
ISSN:
Container-title:Etosha Pan to the Skeleton Coast
language:en
Short-container-title:

Author:

Maoveka Kahingirisina¹,Liebenberg Dennis,Sullivan Sian²^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. International University of Management

2. Bath Spa University

Abstract

We report on a study that researched the impacts of browsing giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) on trees important for pollinators––namely, Maerua schinzii (ringwood tree) and Boscia albitrunca (shepherd’s tree)––within the Etendeka Tourism Concession area to the west of Etosha National Park. Giraffe are selective browsers, and the tallest land animal. Historically, giraffe populations have been amplified here through translocations designed to enhance the tourism product of the concession, which is situated in mopane (Colophospermum mopane) savanna, semi-desert and savanna transition vegetation zones. Due to browsing by giraffe, M. schinzii and B. albitrunca trees develop a distinctive shape with only a small, round, high-up canopy of leaves above a very high browse line, with some trees dying as a result. The study also explored five different techniques to protect these trees from further browse damage by giraffes.

Publisher

Open Book Publishers

Link

https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10.11647/obp.0402.09.pdf

Reference11 articles.

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