Kobus

Abstract: How do large-mammal communities reassemble after being pushed to the brink of extinction? Few data are available to answer this question, as it is rarely possible to document both the decline and recovery of wildlife populations. Here we present the first in-depth quantitative account of war-induced collapse and postwar recovery in a diverse assemblage of large herbivores. In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, we assembled data from 15 aerial wildlife counts conducted before (1968–1972) and after (1994–2018) the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992). Pre-war total biomass density exceeded 9,000 kg km-2, but populations declined by >90% during the war. Since 1994, total biomass has substantially recovered, but species composition has shifted dramatically. Formerly dominant large herbivores—including elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), zebra (Equus quagga), and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)—are now outnumbered by waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and other small to mid-sized antelopes. Waterbuck abundance has increased by an order of magnitude, with >55,000 individuals accounting for >74% of large-herbivore biomass in 2018. By contrast, elephant, hippo, and buffalo, which totaled 89% of pre-war biomass, now comprise just 23%. These trends mostly reflect natural population growth following the resumption of protection under the Gorongosa Restoration Project; reintroductions (465 animals of 7 species) accounted for a comparatively small fraction of the total numerical increase. Waterbuck are growing logistically, apparently as-yet unchecked by interspecific competition or predation (apex-carnivore abundance has been low throughout the post-war interval), suggesting a community still in flux. Most other herbivore populations have increased post-war, albeit at differing rates. Armed conflict remains a poorly understood driver of ecological change; our results demonstrate the potential for rapid post-war recovery of large-herbivore biomass, given sound protected-area management, but also suggest that restoration of community structure takes longer and may require active intervention.

Abstract: Mweya Peninsula (00? 11'S 29? 53'E) forms the northern shore of the Kazinga Channel at its confluence with Lake Idi Amin Dada (formerly Lake Edward). It is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The peninsula (Fig. 1) lies at two levels with a steep fault 30 m high running in a curve from north-east to south-west and dividing the area into two approximately equal parts. The lower area varies between lake level and about 15 m above it and is covered with scattered bushes of Capparis tomentosa Lam. which become dense towards the west. There are also isolated trees of Euphorbia candelabrum Kotschy. The upper part of the peninsula is more grassy and rises to a maximum of about 45 m above lake level. The dominant grass is Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv. but Chloris gayana Kunth is also prominent. The National Park Headquarters, the laboratories of the Uganda Institute of Ecology and the Safari Lodge occupy the eastern part of the upper peninsula which is, therefore, not available to the wild animals although some enter the built-up region particularly at night. The area utilized by the animals is estimated to be about 4-4 km2. A grass airstrip, 950 x 33 m, was built in 1967 along the top of the north-west fault. The only other notable topographical features are three large erosion gullies on the south-east shore. Each is densely vegetated and has a grassy delta projecting into the channel. Mweya Peninsula was chosen for this study for a number of reasons apart from its convenient proximity to the laboratories of the Institute. It is an area which has been studied intensively for a number of years since Petrides & Swank (1965) first counted the game there in 1956 and it was one of the study areas in a series of monthly game counts carried out from 1963 to 1967 (Field & Laws 1970). It is also an area in which detailed studies have been or are being made of the small mammals (Neal 1970), waterbuck (Kobus defassa Ruppell) (Spinage 1967, 1969, 1970), warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus Pallas) (Clough 1969), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) passerine birds and of the primary productivity. It has also the advantage of carrying a more or less resident population of animals apart from the elephant which move on and off freely. Fire has been excluded as a policy since 1964 and the area is closed to park visitors. However, the over-riding consideration which prompted the present study was the desire to monitor changes in the large mammal community which may have resulted from the removal of 270 hippopotamus (Hippopotmaus amphibius L.) in 1957-58. Prior to this, the number of

Abstract: The Uganda defassa waterbuck is a large African antelope which in western Uganda breeds throughout the year. The adult male averaged 520 lb and the adult female 410 lb in weight. After weaning, at six to eight months, males joined a bachelor herd whilst some females possibly formed spinster groups. The bachelor herd inhabited a home range covering several male territories. At age five to six years a bachelor male attempted to establish his own territory, normally becoming territorial by age seven. A year-round territory was then maintained throughout life, but at age nine to ten owners were often driven into small, unfavourable areas by younger males. Boundaries were defended by fighting and by typical bovid intimidatory displays. Territories were not actively marked by their owners but owners were apparently identified by odour. Females adopted home ranges covering several male territories, restricting their ranging with increasing age. These home ranges seemed owned by groups of females who moved within them as individuals, associations between particular females being fluid.