Feeding patterns of sitatunga (Tragelaphus Speki) in the Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland, south western Uganda
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Feeding patterns and habits of sitatunga were assessed in
Rushebeya-Kanyabaha wetland between June 2006 and
July 2007. Sixty transects were cut at intervals of 250 m
along which sitatunga dung piles, habitats used and diet
were identified from feeding signs or plant damage.
Household interviews were also conducted in villages
adjacent to the wetland to understand plants and crops
known to be fed on by sitatunga, type of damage, frequency
of sitatunga farm visits and their methods to
control crop raiding. Sitatunga mostly fed on leaves (60%)
and in the wetland edge (WE) habitat (49%). Forty plant
species were recorded to be eaten with herbs as majority
(33%) and of crops sweet potatoes were most raided. Sitatungas
are basically solitary species with 73% of the
sightings being of a single individual. They had mornings
and late evenings as their movement peaks and preferred
to feed on broad leaved plants. There were significant
relationships between both habitat use and food preferences
with seasons. We predict that because of seasonal
food variations, crop raiding would increase and may
result into more negative attitudes by farmers to sitatunga.
More research on farmers’ sensitization, population census,
behaviours and ecotourism are necessary for this
species conservation.
Description
Keywords
Feeding patterns, Tragelaphus speki, Wetlands
Citation
Tweheyo, M., Amanya, BK, & Turyahabwe, N. (2010). Feeding patterns of sitatunga (Tragelaphus Speki) in the Rushebeya‐Kanyabaha wetland, south western Uganda. African Journal of Ecology , doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2010.01210.x