Feeding Ecology And Diurnal Activity Pattern Of The Grevys Zebra (equus Grevyi Oustalet 1882) In Samburu Community Lands Kenya

The present study was carried out in Ngutuk Ongironi group ranch in Waso division andrnin Ngaroni and Barsilinga in Wamba division in Samburu district, Kenya during Augustrnto December 2005. The aims were to understand the diet, forage availability, socialityrnand diurnal activity pattern of Grevy's zebra at Samburu community grazing lands.rnPhysical observation, step point method, clipping and weighing, focal animal sampling,rnscan sampling and direct count methods were employed to meet the study objectives.rnInferential and descriptive statistics were applied in result analysis. Grevy’s zebra foragedrnon 31 different plant species. Indigofera spinosa and Indigofera circinella were the mostrnimportant food resources, which had seasonal mean frequency of occurrence of 92.5%rnand 62.0%, respectively, and contributed high percentages in the diet. Among thernimportant species, Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii and Cyperus rotundus were the mostrnpreferred species during the dry and wet seasons with preference index of 6.8 and 4.0,rnrespectively. Browsing was higher than grazing and green plant parts were preferred overrnboth seasons. Barsilinga had the highest grass and herb diversity as well as the highestrnamount and best forage over the study period. August and December had the highestrnforage over the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Mean group size was highest inrnBarsilinga (5.03 ± 2.41) and Ngaroni (13. 66 ± 5.35) over the dry and wet seasons,rnrespectively. Group composition was dominated by stallions in Ngutuk Ongironi and byrnmares in Ngaroni and Barsilinga during both dry and wet seasons, respectively.rnTerritorial males dominated in Ngutuk Ongironi and mixed herds in Ngaroni andrnBarsilinga over the wet season while during the dry season the former dominated inrnNgutuk Ongironi and Barsilinga while the latter in Ngaroni. Feeding, resting, walkingrnand vigilance were the most important activities of the Grevy’s zebra. Feeding wasrnallocated more time than the rest of the activities during both seasons. Mares fed morernthan stallions and infants. The study concluded that Grevy’s zebras are more of browsersrnthan grazers and feed on diverse plant species. Feeding is the dominant activity, andrnmares feed more than stallions and infants. Group size, composition and types are highlyrninfluenced by spatial and temporal availability of forage. The study recommendsrnprovision of conservation education to the local people to enhance their coexistence withrnGrevy’s zebras among others.

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