Impact of African elephant on baobab along a surface water availability gradient in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

An assessment of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) impact on baobabs (Adansonia digitata) was conducted along a surface water availability gradient in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Data on baobab height, basal area, density and elephant damage were recorded from three strata with varying distance of 4 km, 26 km and 50 km from the Zambezi River. Rukomechi stratum which is furthest (50 km) from Zambezi River recorded tallest mean baobab height, largest mean basal area, highest mean baobab density and the least level of elephant induced damage on baobabs as compared to study sites on Sapi River and Fourways strata which are all less than 26 km from Zambezi River. It was concluded that there was high disturbance pressure on baobabs close to water sources and this seemed to influence baobab abundance and structure in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.