Densities and Biomasses of Some Ungulate Populations in Eastern Congo and Rwanda, with Notes On Population Structure and Lion/Ungulate Ratios

Abstract

Given as a paper in the Proceedings of symposium on African Mammals held in Salisbury 26-28 September, 1963. Reviews results from ground survey monitoring ungulate populations from 1958 to 1960 in Albert, Kagera and Garamba NPs. A quarter century of game protection which has allowed for a dramatic rise in the elephant (and buffalo) population is primarily responsible for the open plains on the upper Semliki area in Albert NP. In 1947 150 elephant were estimated in this area while in 1959 3,923 were counted. Results from bimonthly counts in a 600 sq km savannah area south of Lake Edward yielded population averages of 1,071 elephant in 1958 and 1,026 in 1959. During 1958/1959 elephant skulls collected in this area indicated mortality may be about 3% per year. Mortality appears higher in young animals as illustrated by tusk collection in the upper Semliki plains from where during two years of the 391 tusks found 260 weighed less that 5 kgs. Census in a 226 sq km area north of Lake Edward yielded 867, 208, and 534 animals on 28 May, 9 June and 19 June 1959 respectively. Counts in the 4800 sq km Garamba NP yielded a figure of 9,983 in 1960 but only 5,694 in 1963, no census dates are provided thus is not known if differences result from seasonal variation or migration.