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White rhinoceros range size in the south‐western Kruger National Park
Author(s) -
Pienaar D. J.,
Bothma J. du P.,
Theron G. K.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1993.tb02661.x
Subject(s) - rhinoceros , national park , foraging , range (aeronautics) , white (mutation) , dry season , wet season , home range , seasonal breeder , grazing , ecology , geography , biology , habitat , biochemistry , materials science , composite material , gene
White rhinoceros range size was ascertained telemetrically in the south‐western Kruger National Park. The mean annual range size of territorial males was 9.86 km 2 compared to 22.83 km 2 for adult females. White rhinoceros females' summer wet season range was larger (21.44 km 2 ) than the winter dry season range (11.64 km 2 ). It is argued that abundant field‐water during the wet season enables animals to range further from permanent water supplies and to utilize larger foraging areas. White rhinoceros have core areas in their individual ranges that usually are situated along riverbanks in the preferred grazing regions. These core areas also include some favourite resting spots on high‐lying areas. White rhinoceros range sizes in the south‐western Kruger National Park were similar to those of other reserves with comparable white rhinoceros densities. In the Umfolozi Game Reserve, which has a higher white rhinoceros density than the Kruger National Park, the individual ranges are much smaller.