 Reference Base  Ranging patterns of the black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicorn... |
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Kiwia, H.D., 1989. Ranging patterns of the black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis (L.)) in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 27: 305-312, figs. 1-3, tables 1-3
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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Tanzania |
| Subject: |
Behaviour - Social Behaviour |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Owen-Smith (1974) found white rhinoceros bulls to be territorial, although they foray outside their territories to look for water in the dry season. Territorial borders are marked by large hollowed-out dung piles. Ritualized urination is most pronounced when bulls are patrolling the border regions. Subordinate bulls reside in these territories and use the same dung piles as the territorial bulls but they neither scatter their dung nor spray-urinate.
The interpretation of results obtained from field studies as to whether the black rhinoceros occupy home ranges or territories are controversial. Goddard (1967), working in Ngorongoro Crater, found that home ranges of the black rhinoceros overlap extensively, with no evidence of territoriality. Klingel & Klingel (1966), working on the same rhino population, suggested that males may establish true territories because bulls stayed within well-defined home areas from which they never dispersed. Schenkel & Schenkel-Hullinger (1969) concluded from studies in Tsavo East National Park-Kenya, that the black rhinoceros was not territorial, whereas Frame (1980), in a brief study of black rhinoceros on the Serengeti Plains, concluded that '. . . the overlap in home ranges of males and tolerance between others suggest that the rhinos could have a territorial system similar to that described for the white rhinoceros'.
Unfortunately the situation in the Crater at the time of the study did not offer a good opportunity for the study of territoriality, mainly because only male A inhabited the floor permanently after males E and F were killed at Seneto Plain. The other three males (B, C & D) were non-residents and rarely came onto the floor.
Male A's core area is the Lerai-Gorigor region, which is the best rhino habitat in the Crater and where most females reside. The fact that the Crater wall males do not enter this area possibly indicates that male A is dominant. Contact between males was seen only once when male B from the Crater wall, on his way to Mandusi swamp, met males E and F at Seneto Plain and chased each one separately for 0.5 km or so. Otherwise, each male (except A) restricted his movements to within their own range. Male A patrolled two-thirds of the Crater floor and was occasionally seen in the ranges of males B and C probably looking for females. Encounters with these males were not observed.
Space utilization by females shows a clearer pattern. They occupied ranges which overlapped extensively. No physical conflicts were observed between them and whenever they met, they greeted each other before parting peacefully (Kiwia, 1983).
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