Social Organisation and Movements of Topi ( Damaliscus Korrigum ) During the Rut, at Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda

Abstract

Topi, on which there have been few previous studies, were investigated in order to understand the manner in which they use open grassland and to provide data for comparison with other Alcelaphines. The mobile mode of existence of topi at Ishasha provided a special interest. About 4 000 topi were using the 80 km� of savanna. They comprised a single congregation and individuals grazed in all parts of the range as members of moving and changing aggregations that split and amalgamated freely. All females, accompanied by 6-month-old calves were organized into a mosaic of 'harem' groups, each tended by a herdmaster bull.