Feeding Ecology and Diurnal Activity Pattern of the Grevy’s Zebra (Equus Grevyi, Oustalet, 1882) in Samburu Community Lands, Kenya
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The present study was carried out in Ngutuk Ongironi group ranch in Waso division and
in Ngaroni and Barsilinga in Wamba division in Samburu district, Kenya during August
to December 2005. The aims were to understand the diet, forage availability, sociality
and diurnal activity pattern of Grevy's zebra at Samburu community grazing lands.
Physical observation, step point method, clipping and weighing, focal animal sampling,
scan sampling and direct count methods were employed to meet the study objectives.
Inferential and descriptive statistics were applied in result analysis. Grevy’s zebra foraged
on 31 different plant species. Indigofera spinosa and Indigofera circinella were the most
important food resources, which had seasonal mean frequency of occurrence of 92.5%
and 62.0%, respectively, and contributed high percentages in the diet. Among the
important species, Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii and Cyperus rotundus were the most
preferred species during the dry and wet seasons with preference index of 6.8 and 4.0,
respectively. Browsing was higher than grazing and green plant parts were preferred over
both seasons. Barsilinga had the highest grass and herb diversity as well as the highest
amount and best forage over the study period. August and December had the highest
forage over the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Mean group size was highest in
Barsilinga (5.03 ± 2.41) and Ngaroni (13. 66 ± 5.35) over the dry and wet seasons,
respectively. Group composition was dominated by stallions in Ngutuk Ongironi and by
mares in Ngaroni and Barsilinga during both dry and wet seasons, respectively.
Territorial males dominated in Ngutuk Ongironi and mixed herds in Ngaroni and
Barsilinga over the wet season while during the dry season the former dominated in
Ngutuk Ongironi and Barsilinga while the latter in Ngaroni. Feeding, resting, walking
and vigilance were the most important activities of the Grevy’s zebra. Feeding was
allocated more time than the rest of the activities during both seasons. Mares fed more
than stallions and infants. The study concluded that Grevy’s zebras are more of browsers
than grazers and feed on diverse plant species. Feeding is the dominant activity, and
mares feed more than stallions and infants. Group size, composition and types are highly
influenced by spatial and temporal availability of forage. The study recommends
provision of conservation education to the local people to enhance their coexistence with
Grevy’s zebras among others.
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Biology