Population fluctuations and breeding of eland Taurotragus oryx in a western Transvaal nature reserve

Abstract

From a founder population of four eland in 1950 and 1951, the population grew to c35 animals and was kept at this level through culling and translocation until 1976. During 1976 and 1977 unusual heavy rains were experienced and culling and removals were temporarily suspended. The population increased unchecked and reached a peak of 81 in 1981. When climatic conditions returned to normal this was followed by a population crash in which 66 eland died over a period of three years. Calves are born throughout the year, but most births occur during the period October to December, with a peak in November. Females have a high calving rate (90.9%) and calf mortality is low (16.7%). -from Authors