Premium
The status of the Amboseli rhino population
Author(s) -
WESTERN DAVID,
SINDIYO DANIEL M.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1972.tb00857.x
Subject(s) - population , biology , demography , sociology
Summary The status of the Amboseli rhino population has given rise to particular concern, due to an apparently rapid decline since the 1950s. Information on the causes of death is available over the last 3‐3 years and ground counts give a reasonable picture of the gross population structure of the rhinos. Aerial counts indicate a significant decline and provide population estimates on which a reconstruction of changes is possible. It is shown that the population has been declining at an average of about 12% per annum over the last 4 years at least. Seventy‐five per cent of mortality results from spear wounds inflicted by Maasai. Natality is dropping rapidly, while the level of spearing is increasing. Spearing is possibly nonselective, so that the age‐distribution may be similar to previous periods when the population was more stable. As a result, natality is probably not responding to increasing mortality. It is concluded that the rhino population is unable to effectively alter the magnitude of decline through intrinsic factors, or immigration. It would take a population over twice its present size to offset the impact of spearing. The effect of a rapidly changing environment is considered, but although it may result in slightly less favourable conditions for the rhinos, any decline is completely masked by spearing. The reasons for spearing and the recent increases are discussed, as well as the future prospects and implications.