Reference Base Assessment of reproductive status of the black rhinoceros... |
|
|
|
|
Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
Subject: |
Ecology - Population |
Species: |
Black Rhino |
|
|
The home range sizes of six adult male black rhinoceroses are shown in Table 1, set against the width of their hind footprint, which is used as an. index of body size. There is a clear positive association between these two variables, indicating that the home range sizes of males increase as they get larger or more mature. The home ranges of these males were very variable, but all large; the difficulty of attempting to sample from animals covering such areas of dense bushland is apparent, particularly when location of animals and subsequent tracking to obtain urine samples were largely opportunistic.
Males L and X were both known breeders, but did not have the largest home ranges. The levels of oestrone conjugates detected in the urine of these six males showed no relationship to the link between home range size and body size.
Table 1. Comparison of home range size and hind footprint width in male black rhinoceros.
Rhinoceros Hind foot Home range
I.D. width (cm) size (km')
L 21.75 54
Z 21.5 31
U 21.0 31
X 20.5 25
M2 20.5 17
D 19.75 15
End
|
|
|