The use of archeological and ethnographical information to supplement the historical record of the distribution of large mammalian herbivores in South Africa
The introduction of animal taxa to areas where they do not naturally occur has the potential to damage severely the native fauna and flora. Introductions, both accidental and intentional, to Australia, New Zealand, Marion Island and other oceanic islands provide spectacular examples of this. Non-native mammalian herbivores often become invasive in the absence of their […]
Spotlight on the Masai Giraffe
Thousands of years ago, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)–whose exotic appearance led the ancients to speculate it was an unnatural cross between a camel and a leopard–was common throughout all of Africa, Southern Europe, and India, but later became restricted to Africa. As recently as 800 years ago, giraffe disappeared from North Africa as a result […]
Seasonal density estimates of common large herbivores in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
The monitoring of ecosystem processes and states is a critical step in the management of protected areas. It allows for the assessment of the success or failure of practices ranging from ‘laissez-faire’ to strong hands-on policies. Much effort is for instance devoted to the monitoring of wildlife abundance, particularly when associated with large ecological influence […]
People, Wildlife and Livestock in the Mara Ecosystem: the Mara Count 2002
The great savannas of eastern Africa — cradle of humankind, home to traditional nomadic pastoralists, and last refuge of some of the most spectacular wildlife populations on earth — are in trouble. Notwithstanding 20 years of highly committed wildlife conservation, much of the wildlife in several regions of Kenya and Uganda (and to a lesser […]
Factors affecting group size and vigilance behaviour of Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis Tippelskirchi) in the Serengeti Ngorongoro Ecosystem, Tanzania
This study investigates factors affecting group sizes of Maasai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) in the Serengeti-Ngorongoro ecosystem, northern Tanzania. Various studies on giraffes have been conducted in the past, but none has investigated factors affecting giraffes’ group size and vigilance behavior in this vast ecosystem. As a result, I was motivated to investigate the following […]
Assessment of the woody vegetation of Ol Choro Oiroua, Masai Mara, Kenya
The woody vegetation of the Ol Choro Oiroua Wildlife Management and Conservation area was surveyed. The species present, their size and the vertical distribution of their canopy were recorded. These parameters were then used to determine the percentage cover of woody vegetation at different heights, and the potential productivity of the trees and shrubs in […]
Characterising African tick communities at a wild-domestic interface using repeated sampling protocols and models
The sharing of habitat by wild and domestic animals may result in pathogen transmission, notably via ectoparasite vectors such as ticks. Interfaces between protected and communal lands constitute sharp transitions between areas occupied by host communities that are extremely contrasted in terms of composition, diversity and density. Empirical characterizations of tick communities and of their […]
Cryptic Consumers and the Ecology of an African Savanna
East African savannas have fascinated generations of explorers, scientists, and the public. Nowhere else is there such a concentration and diversity of large, charismatic animals, and nowhere else is ecology portrayed so dramatically. Spectacular migrations of a million wildebeest tracking the rains dominate the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem of Tanzania and Kenya. Lions and hyenas pursue gazelle, […]
Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan 2008-2018
This 10-year (2008-2018) management plan for the Amboseli Ecosystem (AE) has been developed through a collaborative effort involving a wide array of stakeholders including Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Amboseli/Tsavo Group Ranch Conservation Association (ATGRCA), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), African Conservation Center (ACC), Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) and the Oloitokitok/Kajiado District administration (see Annex 1). […]