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Afework Bekele - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei home range and activity patterns in maze national park ethiopia
Journal of Mammalogy, 2021Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Home range and activity patterns of animals are important elements for wildlife management and conservation practices. We examined seasonal home range and daily activity patterns of the endangered Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We tracked two groups of Swayne's Hartebeests in open grassland for 1 year. Each group's daily activities (0700–1900 h) and GPS locations were recorded at 15-min intervals on 5 days every month. Activities were grouped into five behavioral categories: feeding, resting, traveling, vigilance, and other. In addition, we carried out nocturnal monitoring during full moon periods to further document movements patterns. We produced 95% and 50% kernel density estimates (KDE) of home range sizes for each group. Home range estimates did not vary across seasons. Feeding and traveling peaked during the early morning and late afternoon, whereas resting occurred most frequently during the midday hours in both seasons. The proportion of time spent feeding was higher during the dry season, whereas a greater proportion of time was spent resting during the wet season. Vigilance behavior occurred consistently throughout the day during both seasons. Time spent feeding and traveling did not vary significantly between seasons. Activity patterns of Swayne's Hartebeests are strongly influenced both by time of day and season, while home range size is less influenced by seasonality and may instead reflect temporal variation in food availability. Our findings will help to inform management strategies and conserve one of the last two extant populations of Swayne's Hartebeests.
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human wildlife conflict and coexistence a case study from senkele swayne s Hartebeest sanctuary in ethiopia
Wildlife Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Nga Nguyen, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Human–wildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated human–wildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns with individuals in 378 households occurring <3000 m outside the Sanctuary's borders. Respondents reported that hyenas Crocuta crocuta and African wolves Canis anthus were the only livestock predators and were responsible for combined losses of ∼ 10% (29 207 USD) of their livestock over a three-year period. Hyenas predated cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, whereas African wolves targeted only goats and sheep. Hyena predation occurred both inside and outside SSHS, whereas African wolf predation occurred mainly near the inside periphery of the sanctuary. Most (58%) of the respondents experienced crop raiding of their farms by Swayne's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and/or crested porcupines Hystrix cristata. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the crop raiding occurred 1–1500 m from the sanctuary. Potatoes and maize were the most commonly raided crops. Local communities used guarding, patrolling, loud noises, smoky fires, flashes of light, fences and trenches as deterrence methods. Of the crop raiding species, only Swayne's Hartebeests were regarded positively, while warthogs and crusted porcupines were viewed negatively by respondents. We conclude that although SSHS is of critical conservation value to the Swayne's Hartebeest, the surrounding communities endure significant livestock predation and crop raiding by wild animals sheltered in the sanctuary. The survival of this relict population of Swayne's Hartebeest in the sanctuary remains at risk unless the human–wildlife conflict in surrounding areas is resolved. This calls for site-specific measures in consultation with the local community.
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the effect of season and post fire on habitat preferences of the endangered swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei in maze national park ethiopia
BMC Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Nils Christian StensethAbstract:The availability of preferred habitats determines the spatial and temporal distribution of herbivores in savanna ecosystems. Understanding habitat preference of a targeted wildlife species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. Habitat preference of large grazers in connection to grass height and post-fire effect has been debated for the last century. Here, we examined the effects of season, grass height and burning on the habitat preference on Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park. Data for seasonal habitat selection were collected using both direct observation along established transect lines and pellet counting using permanently established plots. Every month, we measured grass height commonly preferred by Swayne’s Hartebeest in grassland habitat. Starting from the first week of burning, we recorded the abundance of Swayne’s Hartebeest in both burned and unburned grassland patches. From detected pellets, 94.3% were recorded in the grassland habitat indicating that other habitat types are less used despite their extensive cover > 50% of the Park. During wet and early dry seasons, Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat. We found that 85.2% (n = 1079) and 85.3% (n = 593) of individuals observed in areas with a grass height below 30 cm during wet and early-dry seasons, respectively; while 70.9% (n = 2288) preferred grass height below 30 cm during the dry season. The density of Swayne’s Hartebeest in burned grassland area was higher than unburned grassland areas up to 150 days since burning. However, in unburned grassland areas, the density was initially low but showed increasing trend for consecutive days, reaching similar density with burned areas after 150 days since burning. Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat, particularly during wet and early-dry seasons, shortest available grass height in all seasons and were attracted to burned grassland areas. Our results suggested that fire played an important role in maintaining habitat quality in grassland, and that management should continue using controlled burning as a tool for the conservation of Swayne’s Hartebeest. However, we remain cautious of our findings given the paucity of information regarding other confounding factors and the absence of long-term data on fire disturbance.
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CURRENT POPULATION STATUS OF THE ENDANGERED ENDEMIC SUBSPECIES
2016Co-Authors: Sinet Ethiop, Wondimagegnehu Tekalign, J. Sci, Afework BekeleAbstract:ABSTRACT: A study on current population status, sex ratio and age structures of Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) was carried out during 2009/2010 in Maze National Park. Total count method was used in an area of 220 km2 using well trained park scouts based on silent detection. There were 372 individuals counted. The population trend indicates that there is a significant increase in the number of Swayne’s Hartebeest population in Maze National Park at present. The sex ratio of adult males to adult females and young to adult females was 1:1.4 and 1:2.2, respectively. There is no significant difference between the sex ratio of males and females whereas there is a significant difference between young and adult females. Group size of Swayne’s Hartebeest varied from solitary individuals to a maximum of 27. The difference among the groups is not significant. More solitary adult males were observed than solitary adult females. Swayne Hartebeests were more associated with grassland with scattered trees (54%) than other three habitat types of the area, savannah grassland, bushland and riverine forest. There were no significant differences among the association of habitat types. Hartebeests were more associated to oribi (68%) than other ungulate species. There is an urgent need for further study to evaluate the actual threat of the endangered endemic subspecies of Swayne's Hartebeests in Maze National Park. Key words/phrases: Endangered, Maze National Park, population status and structure, se
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human wildlife conflict in senkele swayne s Hartebeest sanctuary ethiopia
Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2013Co-Authors: Tewodros Kumssa, Afework BekeleAbstract:An investigation on human-wildlife conflict was carried out in Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, Ethiopia from October, 2006 to April, 2007 in randomly selected four community associations consisting of 220 households. Overstocking rate of livestock, illegal resource exploitation, loss of wildlife habitat and increasing number of settlers were the major problems encountered resulting in conflict and wildlife depletion. Among the respondents, 58.18% faced crop damage at various levels. Swayne’s Hartebeests Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, vervet monkey Cercopithecus aethiops, warthog Phacocoerus aethiopicus and porcupine Hystrix cristata were blamed for the damage. However, warthog was considered as the notorious pest. The main cause of conflict between the local community and the Senkele Sanctuary staff was the demand to use resources from the Sanctuary. Most respondents had a negative attitude towards conservation measures. Lack of free access to grazing area and personal interest to occupy wildlife area were the main reasons for their negative attitude. The interaction of large number of people and their livestock will continue to have a negative effect on the Sanctuary. Unless urgent management action is taken to solve the problems, there is a real danger of devastation of wildlife in the area.
Misganaw Tamrat - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei home range and activity patterns in maze national park ethiopia
Journal of Mammalogy, 2021Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Home range and activity patterns of animals are important elements for wildlife management and conservation practices. We examined seasonal home range and daily activity patterns of the endangered Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We tracked two groups of Swayne's Hartebeests in open grassland for 1 year. Each group's daily activities (0700–1900 h) and GPS locations were recorded at 15-min intervals on 5 days every month. Activities were grouped into five behavioral categories: feeding, resting, traveling, vigilance, and other. In addition, we carried out nocturnal monitoring during full moon periods to further document movements patterns. We produced 95% and 50% kernel density estimates (KDE) of home range sizes for each group. Home range estimates did not vary across seasons. Feeding and traveling peaked during the early morning and late afternoon, whereas resting occurred most frequently during the midday hours in both seasons. The proportion of time spent feeding was higher during the dry season, whereas a greater proportion of time was spent resting during the wet season. Vigilance behavior occurred consistently throughout the day during both seasons. Time spent feeding and traveling did not vary significantly between seasons. Activity patterns of Swayne's Hartebeests are strongly influenced both by time of day and season, while home range size is less influenced by seasonality and may instead reflect temporal variation in food availability. Our findings will help to inform management strategies and conserve one of the last two extant populations of Swayne's Hartebeests.
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human wildlife conflict and coexistence a case study from senkele swayne s Hartebeest sanctuary in ethiopia
Wildlife Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Nga Nguyen, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Human–wildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated human–wildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns with individuals in 378 households occurring <3000 m outside the Sanctuary's borders. Respondents reported that hyenas Crocuta crocuta and African wolves Canis anthus were the only livestock predators and were responsible for combined losses of ∼ 10% (29 207 USD) of their livestock over a three-year period. Hyenas predated cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, whereas African wolves targeted only goats and sheep. Hyena predation occurred both inside and outside SSHS, whereas African wolf predation occurred mainly near the inside periphery of the sanctuary. Most (58%) of the respondents experienced crop raiding of their farms by Swayne's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and/or crested porcupines Hystrix cristata. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the crop raiding occurred 1–1500 m from the sanctuary. Potatoes and maize were the most commonly raided crops. Local communities used guarding, patrolling, loud noises, smoky fires, flashes of light, fences and trenches as deterrence methods. Of the crop raiding species, only Swayne's Hartebeests were regarded positively, while warthogs and crusted porcupines were viewed negatively by respondents. We conclude that although SSHS is of critical conservation value to the Swayne's Hartebeest, the surrounding communities endure significant livestock predation and crop raiding by wild animals sheltered in the sanctuary. The survival of this relict population of Swayne's Hartebeest in the sanctuary remains at risk unless the human–wildlife conflict in surrounding areas is resolved. This calls for site-specific measures in consultation with the local community.
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the effect of season and post fire on habitat preferences of the endangered swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei in maze national park ethiopia
BMC Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Nils Christian StensethAbstract:The availability of preferred habitats determines the spatial and temporal distribution of herbivores in savanna ecosystems. Understanding habitat preference of a targeted wildlife species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. Habitat preference of large grazers in connection to grass height and post-fire effect has been debated for the last century. Here, we examined the effects of season, grass height and burning on the habitat preference on Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park. Data for seasonal habitat selection were collected using both direct observation along established transect lines and pellet counting using permanently established plots. Every month, we measured grass height commonly preferred by Swayne’s Hartebeest in grassland habitat. Starting from the first week of burning, we recorded the abundance of Swayne’s Hartebeest in both burned and unburned grassland patches. From detected pellets, 94.3% were recorded in the grassland habitat indicating that other habitat types are less used despite their extensive cover > 50% of the Park. During wet and early dry seasons, Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat. We found that 85.2% (n = 1079) and 85.3% (n = 593) of individuals observed in areas with a grass height below 30 cm during wet and early-dry seasons, respectively; while 70.9% (n = 2288) preferred grass height below 30 cm during the dry season. The density of Swayne’s Hartebeest in burned grassland area was higher than unburned grassland areas up to 150 days since burning. However, in unburned grassland areas, the density was initially low but showed increasing trend for consecutive days, reaching similar density with burned areas after 150 days since burning. Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat, particularly during wet and early-dry seasons, shortest available grass height in all seasons and were attracted to burned grassland areas. Our results suggested that fire played an important role in maintaining habitat quality in grassland, and that management should continue using controlled burning as a tool for the conservation of Swayne’s Hartebeest. However, we remain cautious of our findings given the paucity of information regarding other confounding factors and the absence of long-term data on fire disturbance.
Nils Chr Stenseth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei home range and activity patterns in maze national park ethiopia
Journal of Mammalogy, 2021Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Home range and activity patterns of animals are important elements for wildlife management and conservation practices. We examined seasonal home range and daily activity patterns of the endangered Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We tracked two groups of Swayne's Hartebeests in open grassland for 1 year. Each group's daily activities (0700–1900 h) and GPS locations were recorded at 15-min intervals on 5 days every month. Activities were grouped into five behavioral categories: feeding, resting, traveling, vigilance, and other. In addition, we carried out nocturnal monitoring during full moon periods to further document movements patterns. We produced 95% and 50% kernel density estimates (KDE) of home range sizes for each group. Home range estimates did not vary across seasons. Feeding and traveling peaked during the early morning and late afternoon, whereas resting occurred most frequently during the midday hours in both seasons. The proportion of time spent feeding was higher during the dry season, whereas a greater proportion of time was spent resting during the wet season. Vigilance behavior occurred consistently throughout the day during both seasons. Time spent feeding and traveling did not vary significantly between seasons. Activity patterns of Swayne's Hartebeests are strongly influenced both by time of day and season, while home range size is less influenced by seasonality and may instead reflect temporal variation in food availability. Our findings will help to inform management strategies and conserve one of the last two extant populations of Swayne's Hartebeests.
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human wildlife conflict and coexistence a case study from senkele swayne s Hartebeest sanctuary in ethiopia
Wildlife Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Nga Nguyen, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Human–wildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated human–wildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns with individuals in 378 households occurring <3000 m outside the Sanctuary's borders. Respondents reported that hyenas Crocuta crocuta and African wolves Canis anthus were the only livestock predators and were responsible for combined losses of ∼ 10% (29 207 USD) of their livestock over a three-year period. Hyenas predated cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, whereas African wolves targeted only goats and sheep. Hyena predation occurred both inside and outside SSHS, whereas African wolf predation occurred mainly near the inside periphery of the sanctuary. Most (58%) of the respondents experienced crop raiding of their farms by Swayne's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and/or crested porcupines Hystrix cristata. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the crop raiding occurred 1–1500 m from the sanctuary. Potatoes and maize were the most commonly raided crops. Local communities used guarding, patrolling, loud noises, smoky fires, flashes of light, fences and trenches as deterrence methods. Of the crop raiding species, only Swayne's Hartebeests were regarded positively, while warthogs and crusted porcupines were viewed negatively by respondents. We conclude that although SSHS is of critical conservation value to the Swayne's Hartebeest, the surrounding communities endure significant livestock predation and crop raiding by wild animals sheltered in the sanctuary. The survival of this relict population of Swayne's Hartebeest in the sanctuary remains at risk unless the human–wildlife conflict in surrounding areas is resolved. This calls for site-specific measures in consultation with the local community.
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environmental change and rates of evolution the phylogeographic pattern within the Hartebeest complex as related to climatic variation
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2001Co-Authors: Oystein Flagstad, Nils Chr Stenseth, P O Syvertsen, Kjetill S JakobsenAbstract:Global climate fluctuated considerably throughout the Pliocene–Pleistocene period, influencing the evolutionary history of a wide array of species. Using the phylogeographic patterns within the Hartebeest ( Alcelaphus buselaphus (Pallas, 1766)) complex, we evaluated the evolutionary consequences of such environmental change for a typical large mammal ranging on the African savannah. Our results, as generated from two mitochondrial DNA markers (the D–loop and cytochrome b ), suggest an origin of the Hartebeest in eastern Africa from where the species has colonized other parts of the continent. Phylogenetic analyses revealed an early diversification into southern and northern Hartebeest lineages, an event that may be related to the formation of the Rift Valley lakes. The northern lineage has further diverged into eastern and western lineages, most probably as a result of the expanding central African rainforest belt and subsequent contraction of savannah habitats during a period of global warming. The diversification events appear to have coincided with major climatic changes and are highly correlated in time. These observations strongly suggest that large–scale climatic fluctuations have been a major determinant for the species9 evolutionary history and that Hartebeest evolution has mainly taken place in isolated yet environmentally favourable refugia during periods of global warming. Indications of sudden population expansion for two putative ancestral Hartebeest populations provide further support for a refugia–based explanation of the diversification events. Reciprocal monophyly between southern and northern lineages may suggest that reproductive barriers exist and that the Hartebeest complex comprises two different species.
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genetic variability in swayne s Hartebeest an endangered antelope of ethiopia
Conservation Biology, 2000Co-Authors: Oystein Flagstad, Nils Chr Stenseth, Per Ole Syvertsen, John E Stacy, Ingrid Olsaker, Knut Roed, Kjetill S JakobsenAbstract:: Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) is an endangered antelope that survives in four or five relict populations in Ethiopia. We examined the two main populations (Senkele and Nechisar) for mitochondrial (D-loop) and nuclear (microsatellite) variability in order to measure levels of genetic variation within the subspecies and degree of differentiation between populations. For comparison, we examined samples from a large population of red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama). Both swaynei and caama exhibited high levels of variation. There was significant differentiation between the populations of swaynei at Senkele and Nechisar, and gene diversity in Nechisar, the smaller of the two populations, was significantly lower than that in Senkele. Many mitochondrial haplotypes and microsatellite alleles present at high frequencies among the Senkele individuals were missing in Nechisar, suggesting that the translocation of animals from Senkele undertaken in 1974 did not contribute notably to the gene pool in Nechisar. Subsamples taken from Senkele in 1988 and 1995 showed a significant change in allele frequencies, a change that probably can be attributed to a massive population decline during this period. We recommend that both populations be protected in situ to maintain as much as possible of the diversity that exists within the taxon and that a breeding program be established. In spite of the earlier unsuccessful attempt, we argue that translocation of animals for enhancement of population size as well as genetic variation in Nechisar should be considered. Resumen: El alcelafo de Swayne (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) es un antilope en peligro que sobrevive en cuatro o cinco poblaciones relicto en Etiopia. Examinamos la variabilidad mitocondrial (curva-D) y nuclear (microsatelite) en las dos principales poblaciones (Senkele y Nechisar) para medirlos niveles de variabilidad genetica en las subespecies y el nivel de diferenciacion entre poblaciones. Para comparacion, se examinaron muestras de una poblacion grande de alcelafo rojo (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama). Tanto swaynei como caama presentaron altos niveles de variacion. Hubo diferencia significativa entre las poblaciones de swaynei en Senkele y Nechisar, y la diversidad genica en Nechisar, la poblacion mas pequena, fue significativamente menor que la de Senkele. Muchos haplotipos mitocondriales y alelos microsatelitales presentes en frecuencias altas en Senkeles estuvieron ausentes en Nechisar, lo que sugiere que la translocacion de animales de Senkele en 1974 no contribuyo notablemente a la poza genica de Nechisar. Submuestras tomadas de Senkele en 1988 y 1995 mostraron un cambio significativo en la frecuencia de alelos, cambio que se puede atribuir a la declinacion poblacional masiva durante ese periodo. Recomendamos que las poblaciones se protejan in situ para mantener la mayor diversidad posible dentro del taxon y que se establezca un programa de reproduccion. A pesar del infructuoso intento anterior, se debe considerar la translocacion de animales para incrementar el tamano poblacional y la variabilidad genetica en Nechisar.
Diress Tsegaye - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei home range and activity patterns in maze national park ethiopia
Journal of Mammalogy, 2021Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Home range and activity patterns of animals are important elements for wildlife management and conservation practices. We examined seasonal home range and daily activity patterns of the endangered Swayne's Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. We tracked two groups of Swayne's Hartebeests in open grassland for 1 year. Each group's daily activities (0700–1900 h) and GPS locations were recorded at 15-min intervals on 5 days every month. Activities were grouped into five behavioral categories: feeding, resting, traveling, vigilance, and other. In addition, we carried out nocturnal monitoring during full moon periods to further document movements patterns. We produced 95% and 50% kernel density estimates (KDE) of home range sizes for each group. Home range estimates did not vary across seasons. Feeding and traveling peaked during the early morning and late afternoon, whereas resting occurred most frequently during the midday hours in both seasons. The proportion of time spent feeding was higher during the dry season, whereas a greater proportion of time was spent resting during the wet season. Vigilance behavior occurred consistently throughout the day during both seasons. Time spent feeding and traveling did not vary significantly between seasons. Activity patterns of Swayne's Hartebeests are strongly influenced both by time of day and season, while home range size is less influenced by seasonality and may instead reflect temporal variation in food availability. Our findings will help to inform management strategies and conserve one of the last two extant populations of Swayne's Hartebeests.
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human wildlife conflict and coexistence a case study from senkele swayne s Hartebeest sanctuary in ethiopia
Wildlife Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Nga Nguyen, Paul H Evangelista, Peter J Fashing, Nils Chr StensethAbstract:Human–wildlife conflict presents major challenges to both wildlife managers and rural livelihoods. Here, we investigated human–wildlife conflict in and around Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary (SSHS). We estimated the densities of wild animals within SSHS and conducted questionnaire interviews about livestock predation and crop raiding patterns with individuals in 378 households occurring <3000 m outside the Sanctuary's borders. Respondents reported that hyenas Crocuta crocuta and African wolves Canis anthus were the only livestock predators and were responsible for combined losses of ∼ 10% (29 207 USD) of their livestock over a three-year period. Hyenas predated cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, whereas African wolves targeted only goats and sheep. Hyena predation occurred both inside and outside SSHS, whereas African wolf predation occurred mainly near the inside periphery of the sanctuary. Most (58%) of the respondents experienced crop raiding of their farms by Swayne's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei, warthogs Phacochoerus africanus and/or crested porcupines Hystrix cristata. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the crop raiding occurred 1–1500 m from the sanctuary. Potatoes and maize were the most commonly raided crops. Local communities used guarding, patrolling, loud noises, smoky fires, flashes of light, fences and trenches as deterrence methods. Of the crop raiding species, only Swayne's Hartebeests were regarded positively, while warthogs and crusted porcupines were viewed negatively by respondents. We conclude that although SSHS is of critical conservation value to the Swayne's Hartebeest, the surrounding communities endure significant livestock predation and crop raiding by wild animals sheltered in the sanctuary. The survival of this relict population of Swayne's Hartebeest in the sanctuary remains at risk unless the human–wildlife conflict in surrounding areas is resolved. This calls for site-specific measures in consultation with the local community.
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the effect of season and post fire on habitat preferences of the endangered swayne s Hartebeest alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei in maze national park ethiopia
BMC Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Afework Bekele, Misganaw Tamrat, Anagaw Atickem, Diress Tsegaye, Paul H Evangelista, Nils Christian StensethAbstract:The availability of preferred habitats determines the spatial and temporal distribution of herbivores in savanna ecosystems. Understanding habitat preference of a targeted wildlife species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. Habitat preference of large grazers in connection to grass height and post-fire effect has been debated for the last century. Here, we examined the effects of season, grass height and burning on the habitat preference on Swayne’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei) in Maze National Park. Data for seasonal habitat selection were collected using both direct observation along established transect lines and pellet counting using permanently established plots. Every month, we measured grass height commonly preferred by Swayne’s Hartebeest in grassland habitat. Starting from the first week of burning, we recorded the abundance of Swayne’s Hartebeest in both burned and unburned grassland patches. From detected pellets, 94.3% were recorded in the grassland habitat indicating that other habitat types are less used despite their extensive cover > 50% of the Park. During wet and early dry seasons, Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat. We found that 85.2% (n = 1079) and 85.3% (n = 593) of individuals observed in areas with a grass height below 30 cm during wet and early-dry seasons, respectively; while 70.9% (n = 2288) preferred grass height below 30 cm during the dry season. The density of Swayne’s Hartebeest in burned grassland area was higher than unburned grassland areas up to 150 days since burning. However, in unburned grassland areas, the density was initially low but showed increasing trend for consecutive days, reaching similar density with burned areas after 150 days since burning. Swayne’s Hartebeest exclusively preferred grassland habitat, particularly during wet and early-dry seasons, shortest available grass height in all seasons and were attracted to burned grassland areas. Our results suggested that fire played an important role in maintaining habitat quality in grassland, and that management should continue using controlled burning as a tool for the conservation of Swayne’s Hartebeest. However, we remain cautious of our findings given the paucity of information regarding other confounding factors and the absence of long-term data on fire disturbance.
Hans-peter Piepho - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Trends in the density (Number /km2) of steinbuck, bushbuck, Hartebeest, Greater kudu, klipspringer, mongoose, oribi, porcupine, cheetah, leopard, ostrich and Sykes monkey for the entire Nakuru Wildlife Conservancy during 1996–2015.
2017Co-Authors: Joseph O. Ogutu, Hans-peter Piepho, Bernard Kuloba, Erustus KangaAbstract:Trends in the density (Number /km2) of steinbuck, bushbuck, Hartebeest, Greater kudu, klipspringer, mongoose, oribi, porcupine, cheetah, leopard, ostrich and Sykes monkey for the entire Nakuru Wildlife Conservancy during 1996–2015.
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Percentage changes in numbers of warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, Hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra and waterbuck in each of the 21 rangeland counties between 1977–1980 and 2011–2016.
2016Co-Authors: Hans-peter Piepho, Mohamed Y. Said, Gordon O. Ojwang, Lucy W. Njino, Shem C. Kifugo, Patrick W. WarguteAbstract:Percentage changes in numbers of warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, Hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra and waterbuck in each of the 21 rangeland counties between 1977–1980 and 2011–2016.
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The distribution of the proportion of the total biomass of warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, Hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra and waterbuck among the 21 rangeland counties of Kenya during 1977–80 and 2011–2016.
2016Co-Authors: Hans-peter Piepho, Mohamed Y. Said, Gordon O. Ojwang, Lucy W. Njino, Shem C. Kifugo, Patrick W. WarguteAbstract:The distribution of the proportion of the total biomass of warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, Hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra and waterbuck among the 21 rangeland counties of Kenya during 1977–80 and 2011–2016.
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Relationships between apparent fecundity and the best-supported rainfall block spanning conception months for each ungulate species for the early wet (Nov-Dec), late wet (Jan-June) and dry (Jul-Oct) seasons of conceptions for a) topi, b) warthog, c) Hartebeest and d) impala.
2015Co-Authors: Joseph O. Ogutu, Hans-peter Piepho, Norman Owen-smith, Holly T. DublinAbstract:Relationships between apparent fecundity and the best-supported rainfall block spanning conception months for each ungulate species for the early wet (Nov-Dec), late wet (Jan-June) and dry (Jul-Oct) seasons of conceptions for a) topi, b) warthog, c) Hartebeest and d) impala.
