 Reference Base  Mortality and ageing of black rhinoceros in East Tsavo Pa... |
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Foster, J.B., 1965. Mortality and ageing of black rhinoceros in East Tsavo Park, Kenya. East African Wildlife Journal 3: 118-119
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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
| Subject: |
Diseases - External causes |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Tsavo East NP, Kenya. In 1961 the long rains failed over most of East Africa. The resulting drought was one of the worst recorded for decades and caused extensive mortality of those game species which de- pend on regular watering. The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis L.) was one such species since it must drink at least once every two davs (Ritchle, 1963, E. Afr. Wildl. J., 1, 5'4-62).
In the area to the west of the Yatta Plateau and bordering the Athi River in East Tsavo National Park a large population of rhino was reduced by some 300 animals (Sheldrick, pers. comm.). Many died in the river bed, some half submerged in the water, suggesting that they gained some relief in this way.
Since the Athi River kept flowing even during the drought, and most skulls were recovered within a few miles of it, it is assumed that the animals did not die due to a lack of drinking water. Much debate has centred on the probable reasons for their death, Autopsies were performed on animals which died of natural causes but, as little comparative work has been done on healthy rhinos, the proximate (contributory) causes of death have generally remained uncertain. Parsons and Sheldrick (1964) note the high population of biting flies around some dying rhinos and agree that they could contribute to the stress and eventual death of the animals. The ultimate cause of death was probably lack of sufficient quantity and/or quality of food due to the massive destruction of the vegetation by elephants which concentrated along the rivers during the drought. With the resistance of the rhino thus lowered, they succumbed to a variety of proximate causes.
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