Population Status, Structure and Diurnal Activity Pattern of the Mountain ny Ala (Tragelaphus Buxlolll) in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
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Date
2001-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study on the population status, structure, and diurnal activity pattern of Mountain
Nyala (Tragelaplws buxtoni) was carried out in the Bale Mountains National Park,
Ethiopia for foul' months that included wet and dly seasons. Ground total counts were
carried out in all area of 13.1 'm/. The study showed that the endangered Mountain Nyala
in the Bale Mountains National Park consisted of about 704 individuals. The Male to
female ratio is unequal. Females comprise 62.9% whereas male 27.4% and the calves
possessed the 9.7% of the sex ratio. Mountain Nyalas' are mainly browsers. The group
structure of the animal varied with season, forming large herds during the wet season and
dispersing in to smaller groups during the (b)' season. Territorial behaviour was not
observed. The population trend of the animal ji-om 1975-1990 indicated a recovel), and
increase. But between 1990-1995 a population showed a continuous and steep decline.
However, between 1995-2000 the population trend showed a tendency toward recovely.
The diurnal activity pattern of the animal showed two feeding peaks early morning and
late afternoon. The peak resting tillle was in the middle of the day. Group size changed
seasonally. 7 to 12 members in a group are common during dlY and wet season, and the
maximum group size observed was 62 during wet season. The vegetation type utilization
and distribution of the animal indicated a marked preference for woodland habitat.
Howevel~ there was a seasonal change in preference of habitat. The study established that
the main threats of Mountain Nyala are habitat destruction, disturbance, livestock
abundance, hunting and predation.
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Keywords
Population Status, Structure and Diurnal Activity