Investigating a simplified method for noninvasive genetic sampling in East African mammals using silica dried scat swabs
Swabbing scat has proved to be an effective noninvasive method to collect DNA from mammals in the field. Previously, this method has relied on preservative liquids or freezing to preserve the DNA collected on swabs. In this study, we determine the effectiveness of using silica to simply dry the swab in field as an alternative […]
Blood flow and pressure in the giraffe carotid artery
1. Carotid artery blood pressure and blood flow were measured and telemetered from wild giraffes ranging freely on the African plains. 2. The blood pressure ranged between 260/160 mm Hg when the animal was lying flat, and 120/75 mm Hg when it was standing upright; dp/dt at the onset of systole was 1500 mm/sec. 3. […]
Megaherbivores and cattle alter edge effects around ecosystem hotspots in an African savanna
Wild mammalian herbivores and cattle are fundamental drivers of African savanna ecosystems and have strong impacts on woody vegetation. However, few experimental studies have investigated the separate and combined influences of different large herbivores on spatial vegetation patterning. In East Africa, temporary cattle corrals (bomas) develop after abandonment into productive, treeless ‘glades’ that attract both […]
Productivity indexing of wild herbivores on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Ranch in northern Kenya
A selected set of wild herbivores on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) and Ol Pejeta Ranch were evaluated for their utility value by productivity indexing based on a computer bio-economic model, Prying Livestock Productivity (PRY). PRY derives productivity of species based on feed energy efficiency (FEE). The respective FEE indices (Kenya shillings, Ksh, per kilogram dry […]
Diurnal Behaviour and Utilization of Shade in Masai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
Observations were carried out in the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, which is the northern part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem in Kenya and Tanzania. Activity and behaviour of Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) was recorded with one-minute intervals for continuous periods of approximately twelve hours per day for two weeks in February and March […]
Assessing transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in wild giraffe contact networks
There is growing evidence that anthropogenic sources of antibiotics and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can spill over into natural ecosystems, raising questions about the role wild animals play in the emergence, maintenance, and dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes. In particular, we lack an understanding of how resistance genes circulate within wild animal populations, including whether specific host […]
Woodland loss and restoration in a savanna park: a 20-year experiment
Woodland loss is a major cause of biodiversity decline in African savanna parks. Decisions about whether remedial steps are possible and warranted depend on the cause. Climate, fire, elephants and human impact, often in combination, have been cited as major causes. The almost complete extinction of woodland in Amboseli National Park since 1950 has been […]
Studies of coprophilous ascomycetes in Kenya, Podospora species from wildlife dung
Moist chamber cultures were made from wildlife dung (including giraffe dung) obtained from national parks in Kenya. Ten dung types produced 28 specimens of Podospora. Five species, Podospora anserina, P. argentinensis, P. australis, P. communis and P. minor are described using their morphological features. Podospora minor seems to be a rare species and is recorded […]
A preliminary investigation into comparative foraging ecology of reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) and domestic camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Laikipia Kenya
Female camels actively browse over a wide range of heights, from ground level up to 3 meters. Traditionally, due to their being browsers, their dispersal ability and elevated foraging level, giraffes have been thought to be able to co-exist with traditional pastoralist livestock species. However, with the introduction of the larger and taller browsing camels, […]
Population structure of giraffes is affected by management in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya
Giraffe populations in East Africa have declined in the past thirty years yet there has been limited research on this species. This study had four objectives: i) to provide a baseline population assessment for the two largest populations of Rothschild’s giraffes in Kenya, ii) to assess whether there are differences in population structure between the […]