Ranging behaviour and habitat usage in black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis, in a Kenyan sanctuary

Abstract

Home range area and habitat utilization by translocated black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis were studied at Sweetwaters Rhino Sanctuary in the Laikipia district of Kenya. Home ranges were estimated from sightings and tracking data; home range area was very variable between individuals (range 2.25–14.39km2, minimum convex polygons), and was independent of age or sex. Groups of rhinoceros shared common home ranges, with little or no overlap between groups; each group consisted of one adult male, one or more adult females and their calves, and sometimes immature animals. Rhinoceros utilize a variety of habitats, but within these show positive selection for certain habitats. Home ranges generally included more Euclea bush, and less grassland and Acacia bush than expected. Rhinoceros make use of regular resting places, or bedding sites, generally situated in bushland in secluded areas, often in dense thickets. Rhinoceros defaecate at dung piles or middens. Middens are located throughout the range not just on the boundaries; the highest density of middens was found in riverine woodland, and the lowest density in grassland and Acacia bush.

Habitat use and spatial organisation of relocated black rhinos in Namibia

“…Owing to varying habitat quality, the literature reports of black rhino home range size (based on the MCP method) varies considerably: Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: 0.5-0.75 km 2 (Hitchins 1969), Ndumu, South Africa: 4.3-14.3 km 2 (Conway and Goodman 1989), Masai Mara, Kenya: 5.6-22.7 km 2 (Mukinya 1973), Laikipa, Kenya: 2.3-14.4 km 2 (Tatman et al 2000), Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania: 2.6-58 km 2 (Goddard 1967), Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: 43-133 km 2 (Frame 1980), Damaraland, Namibia: )500 km 2 (Loutit 1984). Lent and Fike (2003) studied ranging behaviour of an expanding black rhino population in Great Fish River Reserve in South Africa.…”

“…Tatman et al (2000) used home range overlap to gain insight into black rhino social organisation. The authors found groups of rhinos (one adult male, one or more adult females with their calves and sometimes immature animals) sharing a common home range.…”

A study on the postrelease behaviour and habitat preferences of black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) reintroduced into a fenced reserve in Namibia

“…This understanding influences current rhino research and management (Linklater et al ., ). However, a number of studies highlight the fact that social interactions between individuals do occur beyond the level of reproduction: in Kenya, Tatman, Stevens‐Wood & Smith () found groups of females and subadult animals of different sex and age sharing a common home range with one breeding male. Göttert et al .…”

Is the endangered Grevy's zebra threatened by hybridization?

“…1). The vegetation is a mosaic of savanna grassland, Acacia woodland, Euclea scrub woodland and riverine woodland (Tatman, Stevens‐Wood & Smith, 2000). The area of the conservancy open to wildlife is 305 km 2 .…”