Seasonal Variation in Herd Size and Composition of Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa between years, months, meadows and day time in Dinder National Park, Sudan
Seasonal Variation in Herd Size and Composition of Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa between years, months, meadows and day time in Dinder National Park, Sudan
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Date
2025-08
Authors
Reem Ahmed Hamid
Dawi Musa Hamed
Elfatih E. Mahgoub
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Publisher
Napata College
Abstract
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.
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Original article