dc.contributor.author | Waweru, F. K. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-27T05:56:40Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-27T05:56:40Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1991-06 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Doctor of Philosophy, University of Nairobi, 1991 | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25983 | |
dc.description.abstract | In a bid to save the few remaining black rhinoceros in
Kenya, the Government with assistance from local and
international conservation agencies, established the
first black rhinoceros sanctuary at Lake Nakuru
National Park (LNNP) in 1987. A total of 17
rhinoceroses were translocated to the park, mainly
from Solio Ranch Game Reserve (SRGR). This was in
addition to the already existing two rhinoceroses. At
the end of the translocation exercise, the total
population was 19 rhinoceroses (8 females and 11
males), giving a sex ratio of 1:1.4. This was
significantly different from the 1:1 ratio expected
for rhinoceros in the wild.
The translocated rhinoceros settled in the southern
part of the park. The males had an average home range
2 size and standard errors of 7.3 ± 0.2 km and 11.2 ±
2.
2.4 km during the wet and dry season, respectively.
The females mean home range size was 8.4 ± 2.3 km2 and
15.2 + 4.6 km during the wet and dry season,
respectively. The female home ranges were
significantly larger than those of the males during
both seasons. However a high percentage home range
overlap was observed.
A total of 73 different food plants were fed on in
LNNP as compared to only 54 in SRGR. A total of 37
plant species were common to both areas. However 36
new plant species absent in SRGR were included in the
rhinoceroses diet in LNNP. Data on browse
availability indicated that LNNP was a more suitable
habi tat for rhinoceros as compared to SRGR. The
development activities associated with the
establishment of the rhinoceros sanctuary at LNNP were
noted to have affected the ecology of the park and its
animals in different ways. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi, | en |
dc.title | The impacts of translocating black rhinoceros ( diceros bicornis, linn. 1758) to lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |