Issue 2

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Seasonal Variation in Herd Size and Composition of Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa between years, months, meadows and day time in Dinder National Park, Sudan
(Napata College, 2025-08) Reem Ahmed Hamid; Dawi Musa Hamed; Elfatih E. Mahgoub
Background: The size and composition of the group are the most basic elements of social organization in herding ungulates. The aim of this study was to investigate the herd composition of waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa "Katambour" in Dinder National Park. Methods: Direct observation method was used to estimate the herd size and composition, the study was conducted in February, March, April and May 2018-2019. Results: The results of herd composition revealed the effect of independent variables (year, meadows, month and time) on the dependent variable (herd composition) showed statistically significant differences where all P-values were less than 0.0001. Defassa waterbuck herd did not exist in Beit-alwahash meadows during the study period. Comment: Three solitary males were seen in different meadows. A lonely female with very young calf (about one week or less of age) was seen in Abdel-Gani meadow. A bachelor herd of about 17-21 males wasseen in Ras-amir meadow in March 2018. Nursery herd exist commonly in AbdelGani and Ein-alshamis meadow. Three predations were recorded. Further studies of Defassa waterbuck in different seasons with emphasis on the effect of war in their numbers, composition and distribution are needed.