Analyzing the Effect of Armed Conflict, Agriculture and Fire on the Movement and Migratory Behaviour of White Eared Kob and Roan Antelope in the Boma-Gambella Landscape of Ethiopia and South Sudan
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Date
2018-06-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Wildlife migrations are indicators for functionality and connectivity of land or seascapes. A species movement promotes nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, prey predator interaction, as well as species fitness and survival. The disruption of wildlife migration phenomena are alarms to an underlying and complicated socio-political and environmental crisis yet to come. In this thesis I evaluated the disturbance on White eared kob (Kobus kob leucotis) and Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) generated by the armed conflict, livestock encroachment and agricultural investments in the Boma-Gambella landscape. Four years of wildlife telemetry data was collected to analyse and detect the movement and migratory behaviour of White eared kob and Roan antelope against armed conflict, agriculture, fire, livestock and settlements in the landscape. The telemetry data was complemented by the data from five systematic reconnaissance aerial flights. Kernel density estimates, overlay analysis, statistical derivatives and GIS illustration methods were applied to produce results. Migratory kobs have shown behavioural response to the ongoing armed conflict and livestock encroachments by shrinking their former home ranges and making sudden displacements away from conflict hotspot areas. Human footprints and their effect on wildlife conservation in the landscape are evident. The home ranges and movement patterns of resident roan antelopes overlap with the major agricultural concessions and their cropping seasons. The key wildlife core areas, the main migration routes and home ranges exist outside of formal protected areas. The migration route analysis resulted with the longest terrestrial mammal migration and the second largest wildlife migration in the continent.
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Keywords
White Eared Kob, Roan Antelope, Gambella, Boma, Bandingilo, Agriculture, Conflict, Migration, Home Range, Gps Collars, Fullata