Data from: Numbers and population trends of large herbivores in Mole National Park, Ghana

Mole National Park (MNP) is Ghana’s oldest and largest wildlife preserve.
Eight large herbivores were counted in four different seasons in 2013/2014
on transects covering 4.7% of the park to estimate their population sizes
and trends after changes in park management; all species were more
abundant than previously reported. Averaging counts across seasons, and
including all age classes, gave an estimated population of 1595 elephants,
which is likely to be a substantial proportion of the west African
elephant population. Kob were the most abundant herbivore, with an
estimated population of 9092, followed by bushbuck (6758), warthog (6247)
and hartebeest (6039). Roan, buffalo and waterbuck population estimates
were 4382, 4272 and 4140 respectively. The impact of widespread burning on
herbivore populations is currently unknown, but probably helps maintain
both numbers and diversity. While all herbivore populations were higher
than previously estimated, it was hard to determine the extent of recent
increases due to methodological limitations of earlier aerial surveys.
However, the distribution of large herbivores seems to be little changed,
suggesting that both numbers and distribution are still limited by
poaching and seasonal water availability.