Comparative changes in density and demography of large herbivores in the Masai Mara Reserve and its surrounding human-dominated pastoral ranches in Kenya

• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-012-0261-y
• Publication Date: 2012-03-05T19:23:03Z
• Authors: Nina Bhola; Joseph O. Ogutu; Hans-Peter Piepho; Mohamed Y. Said; Robin S. Reid; N. Thompson Hobbs; Han Olff
• Keywords: Trampling

Wildlife habitats in pastoral lands adjoining protected areas east African savannas are getting progressively degraded, fragmented and compressed by expanding human populations intensification of land use. To understand the consequences these influences on wildlife populations, we contrasted density demography 13 wild three domestic large herbivores between Masai Mara National Reserve ranches using aerial surveys conducted wet dry seasons during 1977–2010. Species different body sizes feeding styles had densities landscapes seasons. Small-sized herbivores, requiring short, nutritious grasses, browsers were more abundant than reserve both Medium-sized moved seasonally landscapes. Larger-bodied bulk forage but less susceptible to predation, ranches. The proportions newborn warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) juvenile topi (Damaliscus korrigum) higher ranches, with shorter grasses lower predation risk reserve. These results suggest that important as seasonal dispersal breeding grounds for herbivores. However, population growth dramatic use changes degrading areas, thus restricting movements lands. Conservation efforts should focus (1) creating maintaining functional heterogeneity mimic moderate grazing conditions attract small medium-bodied grazers (2) securing including corridors, ensure continued herbivore systems.