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

Maoveka, K, Liebenberg, D and Sullivan, S (2024) 'Giraffes and their impact on key tree species in the Etendeka Tourism Concession, north-west Namibia.' In: Sullivan, S, Dieckmann, U and Lendelvo, S, eds. Etosha Pan to the Skeleton Coast: conservation histories, policies and practices in north-west Namibia. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, pp. 257-270. ISBN 9781805112969

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.

Item Type:	Book Chapter or Section
Note:	The open access book is available to read at the URL above.
Divisions:	School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
Related URLs:	https://books.openbookpublishers.com/10....
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2024 16:46
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2024 16:46
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/16409

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