Abstract
The effective conservation of mammals on the brink of extinction requires an integrated socio-ecological approach, yet the updated ecological knowledge of species remains fundamental. This study brings spatiotemporal behaviour, population structure, age-specific survival rates, and population size estimate of the Western Derby eland (WDE) in the Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP), Senegal, investigated during dry seasons 2017 and 2018. WDE was strongly localised in the core area of NKNP (< 5%), active throughout the day with the highest peak in the hottest daytime, with a mean group size 7.6 ± SE 8.9. The adult sex ratio was female-biased and showed low annual adult male survival rates. The population consisted of high proportion of juveniles, whilst adults did not exceed 40%. The estimated population density was 0.138 WDE/km2 (± 0.0102) and estimated size 195 WDE in NKNP (CI95 from 54 to 708 individuals). Findings highlighted that the WDE population has potential to expand in the NKNP, due to an underutilized capacity. The age-specific vital rates indicate adult males as the most vulnerable; suggesting either an increase in the large predators’ population, livestock encroachment pressure, and/or poaching. Findings imply that targeted monitoring with science-based interpretation may bring forward strong conservation solutions to the protected area management decision-makers.
Highlights
Findings from Cameroon and Central African Republic indicate the social structure of Eastern Derby elands to have a fission–fusion dynamics with variable group size ranging from solitary individuals to tens of individuals, and mixed age/sex composition[13,14]
The Western Derby eland (WDE) were recorded throughout the day, showing that their activity was not concentrated into one activity peak during the day (μ = 16:44; circular standard deviation CSD = 07:15, median = 16:27, Rayleigh uniformity test Z = 1.32, P = 0.27), as animals were active throughout the day (Raos Spacing Test U = 147, 0.10 > P > 0.05)
Findings highlighted that the critically endangered Western Derby eland population has the potential of growing dynamics in the Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP), with an underutilized capacity for population density
Summary
The critically endangered Western Derby eland (Tragelaphus, syn. Taurotragus derbianus ssp. derbianus, hereafter reported as WDE), i.e. the western subspecies of the Giant e land[4], is one of the largest antelope in the world, and yet, direct knowledge regarding its population status and dynamics within its last confirmed refuge, the ftz.czu.cz. The study aimed to report the trapping rate, occupancy, and diurnal activity pattern of the WDE in the NKNP, to reveal the spatiotemporal pattern of their behaviour. This information will enable targeted active protection measures, such as law enforcement patrols, as well as ecotourism activities, into zones within the park that are most frequented by the WDE at the most appropriate times of the day. Findings from Cameroon and Central African Republic indicate the social structure of Eastern Derby elands to have a fission–fusion dynamics with variable group size ranging from solitary individuals to tens of individuals, and mixed age/sex composition[13,14]. We expected similar social patterns, while we did not make any assumptions on sex ratio as it may be strongly influenced by predators or human activities in diverse shape
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