Mammals and problems of their conservation in the riverine forests of the Jubba Valley, southern Somalia

Abstract

A study of the mammals in the riverine forests along the Jubba River in southern Somalia, was conducted between July and September 1986. Thirty-two species of mammals were recorded, although some of the mammals only use the forests seasonally. Several species were hunted in the forest, the most important being waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Ogilby 1833, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas 1766 and red forest duiker Cephalophus natalensis A. Smith 1834. Several species that are rare or restricted in distribution within Somalia occur in these forests, notably the bats Pipistrellus eisentrauti Hill 1968 and Nycteris parisii De Beaux 1923, leopard Panthera pardus Linnaeus 1758 and blue monkey Cercopithecus mitis Wolf 1822, as well as others whose numbers are declining, such as waterbuck and red forest duiker. The Jubba forests are therefore of considerable conservation value, particularly since they represent the largest areas of riverine forest left in Somalia. In view of the small size and rapid rate of di...