| dc.description |
The number of African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer Sparrman,
1779) inhabiting Ruaha National Park, Tanzania,
is thought to be declining, but little data exist to
determine whether the population is actually in decline.
As an initial phase of collecting population data, we
conducted demographic surveys, faecal egg counts and
gastrointestinal parasite identification in Ruaha’s buffalo
herds in September 2011 and 2013. Most herds
encountered in the two surveys appeared to be in good
health, but with fewer calves in 2013 compared with
2011. The herd-level body condition score was positively
associated with the number of calves per 100 cows after
adjusting for year, and the lower number of offspring in
2013 could possibly be associated with a below average
rainfall in the 2012–2013 rainy season. Mean herd-level
egg counts ranged from 83 to 140 and from 28 to 113
eggs per g faeces in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum
spp., as well as coccidian oocysts, were detected in the
population. Monitoring herd demographics and baseline
health parameters over time will provide insight into
population performance, increase the understanding of
population stressors and contribute to buffalo conservation
within Ruaha National Park and other protected
areas of Africa. |
|