History of the Blue Duiker <i>Cephalophus monticola</i> population in the Tsitsikamma forests, Republic of South Africa

Abstract

Blue duiker Cephalophus monticola appear to have been historically plentiful in indigenous forests of the southern Cape, Republic of South Africa. There was a marked decline in their abundance during the late 1940's, a prolonged dry period in which caracal Felis caracal became more frequently observed. Numbers of blue duiker remained low throughout the 1950's and 1960's in spite of an apparent reduction in numbers of caracal. Following the proclamation of the Tsitsikamma National Parks in 1964 and strict control of poaching and access by dogs, numbers of blue duiker increased markedly from the mid 1970's. Only four sightings of blue duiker were recorded during a two-year period in the mid 1960's, whereas for an equivalent time interval in the early 1980's there were 651 sightings representing at @ least 49 individuals.