Observations on the Movement Patterns and Daily Home Range Size of Impala, Aepyceros Melampus (Lichtenstein) in the Kruger National Park

Abstract

The movements and other behavioural and physiological patterns of impala and of some of the other more abundant game species in the Kruger National Park were studied to provide information which could be applied to their management, especially in regard to the artificial provision of water. Preliminary results reveal that the daily home ranges of impala are relatively small (0, 98 km/24 h), their short daily movements (3, 0 km/24 h) are especially restricted at night (0, 6 km/12 h) and that surface water and the availability of edible succulent vegetation in the vicinity thereof, strongly influence the regional distribution of this species in the Kruger National Park.