IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Vanleeuwe, H.; Henschel, P.; P‚lissier, C.; GotanŠgre, A.; Moyer, D.; Hasson, M. | |
| Recensement des grands mammifŠres & impacts humains - Parcs Nationaux de l'Upemba & des Kundelungu | |
| 2009 Full Book | |
European expeditions in the late 19th century reported innumerable elephants, hippos, black rhinos, African buffalos and other large mammals. The Upemba NP (UNP) was established in 1939 and the Kudelungu NP (KNP) in 1970. Especially in the latter, animal numbers decreased in the 1990s and 2000s during a period of political instability and economical crisis. The black rhino went extinct in the area in the 1950s. A systematic census from the ground and the air was performed to see what was still left of the fauna and what damages were inflicted in the last two decades. Tha large majority of signs belonged to five species of animal: warthog, bushpig, common duiker, southern reedbuck and baboon. Animal numbers were generally low and compared to UNP, KNP counted five times as much human installation, three times as much human signs, forty times as many fires, half the number of poacher camps, but twice the number of snares and carcasses. Human signs were 13th of 33 species censused in UNP, and 1st of 20 species censused in KNP. Only very few signs of leopard were found in UNP. Prey numbers need to increase substantially to be able to support the presence of lions or spotted hyenas. To avoid that more species go the way of the black rhino and most of the large carnivores immediate conservation actions need to be taken. |
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