By Yvonne de Jong and Tom Butynski, Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program, Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme

Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus, one of biggest antelopes on Lolldaiga Hills Ranch (Laikipia County, central Kenya), are found throughout the Ranch but prefer the higher grasslands and vegetation along the streams and dams of central and south Lolldaiga. Waterbucks are, as their name indicates, highly water-depended. They are limited in their ability to conserve water and are unable to endure dry periods in hot environments. 

Two Waterbuck taxa occur in Kenya: Defassa Waterbuck Kobus (ellipsiprymnus) defassa and Common (or Ellipsen) Waterbuck Kobus (ellipsiprymnus) ellipsiprymnus. Their taxonomic arrangement is debated; some authors (e.g., Lorenzen et al. 2006, Spinage 2013, Kingdon 1982, 2015) treat these taxa as subspecies, while others (e.g, Stewart & Stewart 1963, Groves & Grubb 2011) consider them species. Generally, Defassa Waterbuck occur in Kenya and Tanzania west of the Eastern Rift Valley, and Common Waterbuck east of the Rift. Their ranges overlap in north Tanzania (e.g., Lake Manyara) and in south and central Kenya (Stewart & Stewart 1963, Lorenzen et al. 2006, Spinage 2013). Defassa Waterbuck occur on Lolldaiga Hills Ranch while Common Waterbuck are present ca. 50 km to the northeast in Samburu National Reserve and ca. 100 km to the east in Meru National Park. It is not known where Defassa Waterbuck gives way to Common Waterbuck in this region, or whether Common Waterbuck are present in Laikipia County.

Read the full blog on: http://www.lolldaiga.com/waterbuck-kobus-ellipsiprymnus-laikipia-county/

By Yvonne de Jong & Tom Butynski, Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme & Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program.

Laikipia County, ca. 9,700 km², probably holds the highest diversity of larger mammal species of any region of its size in the world. Most of Laikipia County is covered by the Laikipia Plateau (ca. 1,600–2,400 m asl), an area composed of a mix of flat ground, undulating plains, rolling hills, steep hills, and scattered granitic inselbergs (or ’kopjes’). There are several small perennial rivers—the largest being the Ewaso N’yiro— and many seasonally dry stream channels and gullies, some of considerable size. Within Laikipia County (hereafter referred to as ‘Laikipia’) there is considerable variation in geography, altitude, rainfall, soil, flora, fauna, human population density, and land use.

Yvonne de Jong and Tom Butynski are currently undertaking a primate survey in eastern Laikipia, with a focus on the patas monkey Erythrocebus patas. Beyond the primates, there are several other species groups that we gather ‘opportunistic’ taxonomic, abundance, distribution, and conservation data for during these surveys. Two of these are the warthogs Phacochoerus spp. and the dik-diks Madoqua spp.

During November 2016, we conducted surveys in northeast Laikipia, below the Laikipia Plateau (<1,600 m asl). Two large mammals, not yet listed for Laikipia County (Laikipia Wildlife Forum, 2011. Laikipia – A Natural History Guide) were encountered on Lekurruki Conservancy and Il’Ngwesi Conservancy; the desert warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus and Kirk’s dik-dik Madoqua kirkii.  

Read the whole blog here: http://www.lolldaiga.com/additions-laikipia-mammallist/