Nairobi National Park Game Census, 1966

Abstract

1. The monthly game counts of Nairobi National Park in 1966 are compared with those of 1961 to 1983 inclusive. It appears that the mean an-nual population of wild ungulates has remained constant at about 4000 animais after a severe decline during the drought of 1961.

2. Wildebeest have continued to decline since the drought and there is no evidence of the former migration to the Athi-Kapiti plains. Reasons for these phenomena are proposed.

3. Kongoni have continued to in-crease since their decline in 1961 and little migration to the plains could be detected in 1966.

4. The mean yearly population of zebra has remained constant since their decline in 1961. At present this is the only species to migrate in large num-bers to and from the plains with the onset and cessation of the rains.

5. Other ungulates were less affected by the drought and their numbers in 1966 appear to have changed relatively little since the beginning of 1961.

6. Females predomInate in the adult populations of all the common plains ungulates.

7. In 1966 lions killed wildebeest at a rate four times greater than would be expected from the percentage of wildebeest in the population. Reasons for this are suggested. As the wildebeest have declined in numbers, the lion have included higher percentages of zebra, warthog, kongoni and eland in their diets.