Jachman, H., 1984. Status of the Mwabvi rhino (Diceros bicornis). Nyala 10 (2): 77-90, figs. 1-8, table 1
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Malawi |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Population |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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The footprint and droppings method were not suitable for accurately determining the home ranges of the individual animals, firstly because no footprints could be found in areas with a rocky soil texture and, secondly because not enough boli of the various animals were found of which the circumference could be measured. The year-round home ranges of rhinos 1 to 3 can be roughly estimated as being 23 to 28 km? while rhino 4 has a home range of approximately 15 to 17 km? Of rhino 5, not enough information is available to even give a rough approximation.
From the data we may conclude that home ranges of the Mwabvi rhino overlap considerably and are relatively large compared with 1.0 km? in the Lerai Forest, 6.0 km? in Ngorongoro, 11.7 km? in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania (Goddard, 1967) and 5.6 to 22.7 km? in Masai Mara (Mukinya, 1973). Home ranges of rhino occupying the short grasslands of the Serengeti plains are obviously larger with 43 to 133 km? (Frame, 1980). As mentioned by Goddard (1967) and Mukinya (1973), in different areas with a similar vegetation structure, but with differences in water availability, home ranges of rhino were significantly larger in areas where water supplies were widely scattered and sparse.
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Status of the Mwabvi rhino (Diceros bicornis)
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