Accelerometers And Simple Algorithms Identify Activity Budgets And Body Orientation In African Elephants Loxodonta Africana (2016)

ABSTRACT: Accelerometers can be used to monitor animal behavior remotely, but validation is required for each species. Previously, we showed that accelerometer data in collars could be used to identify specific behaviors in African elephants Loxodonta africana, using complex analytical methods. Here, we show that simple methods can also be used to identify elephant activity levels and body orientation. Subjects were 6 African elephants: 3 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom®, Florida, USA, and 3 in Samburu-Laikipia, Kenya. Each elephant wore a collar containing a tri-axial ac - celerometer positioned on top of the neck. Simultaneous video recordings allowed validation of accelerometer data against observed behavior. The standard deviation of the total acceleration was shown to be a valid measure of dynamic acceleration, differentiating activity levels associated with resting, feeding, bathing, walking,