PROSPECTIVE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana). CASE OF THE SAVANA OF THE NIASSA RESERVE, NORTHEASTERN MOZAMBIQUE

Resumo

The objective of this work was to conduct a literature review on the perspective and analysis of African elephant movement ecology through case studies. The telemetry and spatial modeling used in this study aimed to understand how the method improves the perception of how animals use space and their interactions that affect conservation. Understanding the complexity of how animals use their lives has proven to be a new era and crucial for conservation planning. The review initially described the species' biology, followed by characterization and its role in ecosystem functioning, and the ecological analyses used. The case study was conducted in the protected area whose telemetry data were ethically made available for study of African elephant movement in this specific area, the Niassa Special Reserve. Regionally and internationally, the analyses performed constitute a viable alternative for conservation management decisions and support research because they contribute to biodiversity conservation. Specifically, and internationally, they reduce the knowledge gap regarding the conservation of this charismatic species, which is increasingly threatened by habitat loss and population decline due to illegal hunting in the region.