Population structure and ecology of the African buffalo (Syncerus cafferSparrman, 1779) in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aberham Megaze ◽  
Gurja Belay ◽  
Mundanthra Balakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
National Park ◽  
African Buffalo

scholarly journals Population Structure of Ungulates in Waterberg National Park, Namibia

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kasiringua ◽  
Ş. Procheş ◽  
G. Kopij
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Sex Structure ◽  
Tragelaphus Strepsiceros ◽  
White Rhino ◽  
Roan Antelope ◽  
Greater Kudu ◽  
Hippotragus Equinus

Abstract A study on the seasonal variation in population structure of seven (7) ungulate species, African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eland (Tragelaphus oryx), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), oryx (Oryx gazella), sable (Hippotragus niger), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) was carried out using the field census approach during the wet (February– April) and dry (July–September) season, and a water hole census (September) at seven waterholes in the Waterberg National Park, Namibia. Male warthog, oryx and black rhino on average comprised about 40 % of the population, whereas male sable, roan antelope, eland and buffalo comprised 30 % of the population. Male kudu and male white rhino comprised 20 % of the sex structure of the population, whereas male giraffe comprised more than 50 % of population. Age structure was dominated by adults, with 60 % of the total population in warthog, sable, eland and the white rhino, and 70 % in kudu, roan, buffalo, giraffe and black rhino on average. Oryx had the highest number of adults, with only 10 % of the population comprised of juveniles. Larger herds were observed during the wet season and smaller herds during the dry season. Animals were observed more abundantly in three of the vegetation types (Terminalia sericea — Melhania acuminata vegetation, Terminalia sericea — Thesium megalocarpum, Terminalia sericea — Blepharis integrifolia), with lower abundances in the rock-inhabiting Peltophorum africanum during both seasons.

scholarly journals Coccidian oocyst and nematode egg counts of free-ranging African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa : research communication

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Penzhorn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Syncerus Caffer ◽  
Research Communication ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Coccidian Oocyst ◽  
Free Ranging

Faecal specimens collected in the Kruger National Park from 103 African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) up to 1 year old and 283 buffaloes older than 1 year were examined for the presence of coccidian oocysts and nematode eggs. Most specimens from animals older than 1 year had negative coccidian oocyst counts. Positive specimens from younger animals had significantly higher coccidian oocyst counts than those from older animals. No such difference was found for nematode egg counts.

scholarly journals POPULATION STRUCTURE OF Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. et Cham., IN THE EJIDO EL CONEJO OF THE NATIONAL PARK COFRE DE PEROTE, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

2013 ◽  
Vol XIX (3) ◽  
pp. 375-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
María del Rosario Pineda-López ◽  
◽  
Rafael Ortega-Solis ◽  
Lázaro R. Sánchez-Velásquez ◽  
Gustavo Ortiz-Ceballos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
National Park ◽  
Abies Religiosa

Exploring the management and integration of national parks in Northern Ethiopia: The case of Kafta Shiraro National Park

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 010-020
Author(s):  
Samson Shimelse Jemaneh
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
National Park ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Northern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Kafta-Shiraro in Northern region of Ethiopia. The study uses two important parameters to realize the objective of the study investigating themanagement and integration of the park, one is studying and explaining the community perceptions towards elephant (flagship species) conservation in Kafta Shiraro National Park (KSNP) and secondly compare and contrast the population structure and density of the (economically important plant) Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst inside and outside of the protected areas and the study contribute to the scientific bases for improved management of biodiversity and its conservation system. A total of 100 households were selected from 10 villages using a stratified random sampling. A rapid vegetation assessment survey was conducted in two Boswellia stands, inside the park and outside the park at villages in order to examine the status of the resource base. A total of 40 sample plots of size 20 X 20 m were laid at regular interval along parallel transects with smaller sample plots of size 5 X 5 m nested in the center of each plot for regeneration count. The conflicts between humans and wildlife in KSNP have been getting worse over time and underline the need to find a workable solution to stop the progress of encroaching human activities that are core factors in the conflict. The underlying factors were found to be free encroachment into the wildlife home ranges, mainly for cultivation and dry wood collection. The factors that contributed to the poor conservation of African elephant included weak community awareness and understaffed anti-poaching and patrolling team of the KSNP. The improper land use by host settlers locally called “wefrizemet” as well as legal settlers maximizes the level of habitat disturbance (threat of the elephants in the park) due to illegal cultivation with high number of livestock crossing to the park. B. papyrifera population structure illustrates that natural regeneration is lacking in all two study areas. Additionally, the population of Boswellia in the study areas is unstable and under threat due to lack of recruitments through regeneration. Based on the stands structure analysis, it is hypothesized that lack of natural regeneration is primarily caused by livestock grazing pressure and the absence of recruitment is largely caused by lack of seed production by mother trees as the result of intensive tapping of the frankincense. KSNP is deteriorating due to a lack of integration and development cooperation between the Park and the surrounding local community as well as administration the minimal managerial and institutional capacity of the Park, minimal alternative livelihoods for the surrounding communities, inadequate commitment among all officials in taking the Park as an issue of development agenda, absence of legal procedures and understandings on expansion of large scale farms, unplanned and non-integrated land use systems, and a lack of appropriate outreach programs needed to change the attitudes of the surrounding communities. Collaborative Park management is urgently required to rescue KSNP; agreement should be made from National to Woreda level stakeholders.

scholarly journals Population characteristics and habitat suitability of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-71
Author(s):  
Mananya Pla-ard ◽  
Ronglarp Sukmasuang ◽  
Khanchit Srinopawan
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
National Park ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Khao Yai National Park ◽  
Combined Data

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the population and habitat of wild elephants in the Khao Yai National Park, to provide elephant population densities using the line transect method. Habitat suitability was also assessed based on the data obtained from the location of the species during monthly ranger patrol across the park area, with the rate of dung decay used for population calculation. The population structure and age class were studied by direct observation to estimate the population trend. On the basis of 116 systematic transect lines that were 2 km in length and separated by 500-m intervals, a total of 1,209 elephant dung piles were found in more than 213.20 km. The analysis of the combined data showed that the dung density was 531.49 dung piles/km2, with a decay rate of 0.0039 dung piles/day based on 56 dung piles checked every 7 days. The annual data showed that the population density was 0.15 individuals/km2. The population structure comprising calf:juvenile:subadult:adult was 1: 1.09:1.14:2.10; the sex ratio of adult male to adult female elephants was 1:1.10; and the ratio of reproductive ability among adult females, juveniles, and calves was 1.00:0.99:0.90. The combined data also showed that the main environmental factor affecting the presence of the animals was salt lick sites. The pooled data analysis found that the habitat most suitable for the elephants covered an area of 220.59 km2. The habitat suitability, based on the dry season appearance data, covered an area of 258.64 km2, whereas during the wet season, it covered an area of 517.45 km2. As the most suitable habitat for elephants appears around the park boundary, habitat improvements for wild elephants should address the central areas of the national park. A greater emphasis should be placed on creating salt licks, being far from human activity sites.

The Rabbit in Subalpine South-eastern Australia. I. Population Structure and Productivity

1974 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Dunsmore
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
National Park ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Breeding Group ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
A Site ◽  
Better Than

An unconfined, almost completely tagged rabbit population on a site of about 100 ha was studied by observation and trapping for 5 years. The commencement of the study coincided approximately with the incorporation of the area into the Kosciusko National Park, the elimination of grazing by domestic livestock, and the cessation of the previously almost annual burning of the area. During the 5-yr study the fecundity of the rabbits declined to little more than half the initial level. This was not a result of the concurrently increasing age of the population, which was shown to be quite unrelated. It was also shown that the 1yr old rabbits were less fecund than the older rabbits, whose fecundity remained constant. Although it appeared subjectively to be so, the area was not uniformly suitable for the survival of rabbits. In one of its four subdivisions adult survival was much better than in the others; and in one of the others it was much the worst. During the study there was considerable immigration to the area, presumably balanced by migration. Females tended to remain where they were born and in no case changed from one breeding group to another. Males were considerably less sedentary than the females.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamsudeen Fagbo ◽  
Jacobus A.W. Coetzer ◽  
Estelle H. Venter
Keyword(s):  
Skin Disease ◽  
Rift Valley ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rift Valley Fever ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Lumpy Skin Disease ◽  
Antibody Titres

Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease are transboundary viral diseases endemic in Africa and some parts of the Middle East, but with increasing potential for global emergence. Wild ruminants, such as the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), are thought to play a role in the epidemiology of these diseases. This study sought to expand the understanding of the role of buffalo in the maintenance of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) by determining seroprevalence to these viruses during an inter-epidemic period. Buffaloes from the Kruger National Park (n = 138) and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (n = 110) in South Africa were sampled and tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralising antibodies against LSDV and RVFV using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) and the serum neutralisation test (SNT). The I-ELISA for LSDV and RVFV detected IgG antibodies in 70 of 248 (28.2%) and 15 of 248 (6.1%) buffaloes, respectively. Using the SNT, LSDV and RVFV neutralising antibodies were found in 5 of 66 (7.6%) and 12 of 57 (21.1%), respectively, of samples tested. The RVFV I-ELISA and SNT results correlated well with previously reported results. Of the 12 SNT RVFV-positive sera, three (25.0%) had very high SNT titres of 1:640. Neutralising antibody titres of more than 1:80 were found in 80.0% of the positive sera tested. The LSDV SNT results did not correlate with results obtained by the I-ELISA and neutralising antibody titres detected were low, with the highest (1:20) recorded in only two buffaloes, whilst 11 buffaloes (4.4%) had evidence of co-infection with both viruses. Results obtained in this study complement other reports suggesting a role for buffaloes in the epidemiology of these diseases during inter-epidemic periods.

Further observations on the relationship and distribution of Schistosoma margrebowiei and S. leiperi in central southern Africa

1977 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Pitchford ◽  
B. Wolstenholme
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Skin Tests ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Papio Ursinus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTA further survey in East Caprivi, Chobe National Park, Okavango swamps and Kavango was undertaken in June 1976. No evidence of lechwe schistosomes was found in droppings of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) nor baboons (Papio ursinus) living in lechwe habitats. It was thought that they were not capable of spreading or maintaining these parasites outside the confines of the known distribution of Kobus sp. The role of goats was equivocal but probably they too are poor hosts.Kavango, an endemic area of S. haematobium and S. mansoni, was thought to be free of all animal schistosomes, thus confirming the hypotheses that (1) cattle and goats are poor hosts of the lechwe schistosomes and (2)S. mattheei was blocked from entering the territory by the presence of lechwe schistosomes in the surrounding areas. Evidence of schistosomes was not found in cattle and goats at Maun for the same reasons. The prevalence of S. mansoni at Maun has increased alarmingly over the past 20 years with a simultaneous disappearance of lechwe from the area. S. margrebowiei and S. leiperi eggs were found in lechwe and tsessebe droppings some 80 km north of Maun.A high proportion of children with negative excreta from “non-endemic” areas in East Caprivi had positive CFT and/or skin tests, suggestive of exposure to lechwe schistosomes resulting in a possible immunity to S. mansoni and S. haematobium.

scholarly journals Pathology and immunohistochemistry of papillomavirus-associated cutaneous lesions in Cape mountain zebra, giraffe, sable antelope and African buffalo in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Williams ◽  
E. Van Dyk ◽  
P. J. Nel ◽  
E. Lane ◽  
E. Van Wilpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
The Body ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Stratum Granulosum ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Equine Sarcoid

Skin lesions associated with papillomaviruses have been reported in many animal species and man. Bovine papillomavirus (BVP) affects mainly the epidermis, but also the dermis in several species including bovine, the best-known example being equine sarcoid, which is associated with BVP types 1 and 2. This publication describes and illustrates the macroscopic and histological appearance of BPV-associated papillomatous, fibropapillomatous or sarcoid-like lesions in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) from the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve, 2 giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) from the Kruger National Park, and a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) from the Kimberley area of South Africa. An African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) cow from Kruger National Park also had papillomatous lesions but molecular characterisation of lesional virus was not done. Immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal rabbit antiserum to chemically disrupted BPV-1, which cross-reacts with the L1 capsid of most known papillomaviruses, was positive in cells of the stratum granulosum of lesions in Giraffe 1, the sable and the buffalo and negative in those of the zebra and Giraffe 2. Fibropapillomatous and sarcoid-like lesions from an adult bovine were used as positive control for the immunohistochemistry and are described and the immunohistochemistry illustrated for comparison. Macroscopically, both adult female giraffe had severely thickened multifocal to coalescing nodular and occasionally ulcerated lesions of the head, neck and trunk with local poorly-circumscribed invasion into the subcutis. Necropsy performed on the 2nd giraffe revealed neither internal metastases nor serious underlying disease. Giraffe 1 had scattered, and Giraffe 2 numerous, large, anaplastic, at times indistinctly multinucleated dermal fibroblasts with bizarre nuclei within the sarcoid-like lesions, which were BPV-1 positive in Giraffe 1 and BPV-1 and -2 positive in Giraffe 2 by RT-PCR. The sable antelope presented with a solitary large lesion just proximal to the right hind hoof, which recurred after excision, and was BPV-1 positive by RT-PCR. Other wart-like growths were present elsewhere on the body. The Cape mountain zebra either succumbed from their massive lesions or were euthanased or removed from the herd because of them. The lesions wereBPV-1 and/or -2 positive byRT-PCR. The buffalo lesions were wart-like papillomatous projections in the inguinal and udder region. Stratum granulosum cells that stained immunohistochemically positive in the various species appeared koilocyte-like, as described in human papillomaviral lesions.

scholarly journals Settling the browser–grazer debate for African buffalo in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marietjie Landman ◽  
Kate Kloppers ◽  
Graham I.H. Kerley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rumen Content ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Valid Measure ◽  
Additional Testing ◽  
Browse Species

Despite extensive evidence that African buffalo Syncerus caffer are grazers, De Graaff et al. using rumen content analysis of animals that had starved to death proposed that buffalo in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket should be considered browsers. Although these anomalous findings were initially accepted, but later challenged, the browse-dominated diet continues to be used as a foundation for hypotheses on the diet of healthy animals. Consequently, the debate around buffalo as browsers or grazers in thicket has not yet been settled. We describe the diet of buffalo in the Addo Elephant National Park and include data from other published work from the region to test the importance of grass in buffalo diet. We show that the diet is dominated by grasses, even in grass-limited thicket, and that browse species are seldom dominant foods. Thus, there is no empirical evidence to corroborate the notion that buffalo switch their diet to browse when grass availability is low. In an attempt to advance our understanding of buffalo foraging in thicket, we reiterate that De Graaff’s work is not a valid measure of buffalo diet in succulent thicket and that additional testing of the browser–grazer hypothesis is not needed.Conservation implications: Our results confirm that buffalo are grazers, rather than browsers, in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket. Thus, additional testing of the browser–grazer hypothesis for buffalo in the region is not needed.

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