By Jens Nyeland Kristiansen.
6.1.
Abstract.
Results are presented of brief interviews with
local villagers in Ukwama, Lanzi and Tegetero villages, and of field
observations made by the field team of The
Uluguru Biodiversity Survey 1993. A checklist of the mammals occurring in
the forests of the Uluguru Mountains is also presented, and the conservation
value and conservation status of the mammalian fauna is discussed.
The diversity of mammals (60 species) in the
Uluguru forests is relatively high compared to other East African forests
(Rodgers et al. 1982). Two shrew
species, Crocidura telfordi and Myosorex geata, and one insectivore
subspecies, Chrysochloris stuhlmanni
tropichalis (subspecies of the Golden Mole) are endemic to the Ulugurus.
Three mammal species are on the 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals (IUCN
1994): Zanzibar Galago Galago
zanzibaricus, Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon petersi and Abbott’s Duiker Cephalophus spadix (the last one being endemic to the forests of
the Eastern Arc mountains). There is also a possible record of the very rare
bat Kerivoula africana. Most
populations of larger mammals (except monkeys) suffer strongly from illegal
hunting.
6.2.
Introduction.
This chapter deals with the mammal fauna of the
Uluguru Mountain forests. The first section presents information on the mammals
of the forests obtained from local people living in the area, and our own
observations from the localities listed in Table 2.1 of this report. In this
connection, it should be mentioned that the principal purpose of my stay in the
Ulugurus was to collect information on Tree Hyraxes and that most of my time
was spent on this project, a factor that must be taken into consideration for
the interpretation of the results. The second part of the chapter presents a
checklist of the mammal species, which are known to have been found in the
Uluguru Mountains, and discusses these results. This checklist is based on all
previous work on the mammals of the Ulugurus forest (e.g. Swynnerton and Hayman
1950, Kingdon 1971-1982, Rodgers et al.
1982, Jenkins 1984, Hutterer 1986, Kingdon and Howell 1993).
6.3.
Methods used on this survey (confer Table
2.1).
Interviews: Local villagers with close association to the forest,
e.g. hunters, were interviewed about the condition of the mammalian fauna in
the forest at Kimhandu, Lanzi and Tegetero. Because of their frequent
activities in the forest I consider the villager’s knowledge to be of great
importance. Interviews were made in the Kimhandu area (with three villagers
from Ukwama and Wembela villages) by the author with translation assistance
from BSS, SIM, CKM and JK (see list of participants). In the villages Lanzi and
Tegetero the interviews were made by BSS, SIM and CKM.
For identification of the animals, illustrations
from Haltenorth and Diller (1992) and Kingdon (1971, 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1982)
were shown to the villagers. A few questions (the same to all interviewed) were
asked about some characteristic features of the animal, e.g. size, colour and
habitat. In some cases, it proved to be a problem identifying the different
species with certainty. I have therefore in the following account only included
species of which the identification is trustworthy.
Field observations: All field observations of mammals made by the Uluguru Biodiversity Survey 1993 field
team have been collected by the author and are included in the account below.
For information on the time schedule of the survey and the localities visited:
see Table 2.1 and Section 4.
6.4.
Results.
6.4.1.
Data collected during The Uluguru
Biodiversity Survey 1993.
Those species seen and recorded in interviews during
this survey are presented below, with notes on their location and recent
changes in their population sizes.
Elephant
Shrew Rhynchocyon sp.: Field observations: At Tegetero
(1270-1345 m) an unidentified elephant shrew was seen on a few occasions at 1270-1345
m. It was preliminary identified as Giant Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon cirnei from the colour plates in our fieldguide.
However, it may also be the Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew Rhyncocyon petersi. In addition, at
Kigurunyembe an unidentified elephant shrew (believed to be a Black and Rufous
Elephant Shrew) was seen, but only briefly.
Galago Galago sp.: Field observations: Galagos were heard occasionally at night at
Kimhandu (1700-2300 m), at Lanzi (1710 and 1940 m) and at Kigurunyembe. The
identity of these galagos is not known.
Black
and White Colobus Colobus (polycomos)
angolensis: Interviews: Local people state that the species is found
throughout the forest. It is rarely hunted because it does not harm the crops
as does the Blue Monkey (see below). All information indicates a marked
increase in the population size. Field observations: We saw and heard the Black and White Colobus almost every day at
Kimhandu, from the edge of the forest (about 1500 m) to about 2600 m. At Lanzi
we recorded it occasionally between 1510 and 2110 m, the biggest troop
contained 10 individuals. At Tegetero the species was recorded several times
between 1300 and 1850 m. The species is common at Kigurunyembe. It was abundant
in Kimboza F.R. (c. 300 m), with only c. 100 m distance between the individual
groups.
Blue
Monkey (Sykes Monkey) Cercopithecus mitis:
Interviews: Local people state that the species is found
throughout the forest. It is hunted because of the damage it does to the crops,
e.g. maize and beans. Despite the hunting pressure the population appears to be increasing. Killed Blue Monkeys are,
however, also eaten. Field observations: We recorded Blue Monkeys almost every day at Kimhandu.
Observations are from between 1510 and 2590 m. Gunshots were heard on some days
from the Kimhandu-2 (1710 m) camp and we were told that somebody from Ukwama
was hunting Blue Monkeys. At Lanzi the species was recorded between 1660 and
2130 m. At Tegetero it was seen and heard several times from 1300 up to 1820 m,
the biggest troop containing 15 individuals. At Kigurunyembe, it is common. In
Kimboza F.R. it occurs at nearly the same density as mentioned for the Colobus.
African
Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis: Interviews: According to the locals this species is quite common
throughout the forests in the Kimhandu and Lanzi areas. There is no information
from the villagers concerning the presence of the animal at Tegetero. It is
sometimes hunted and the meat is eaten. Field observations: Tracks and faeces were seen frequently
in the Kimhandu area between 1500 and 2500 m. Most tracks were close to streams
but we also found faeces under boulders far from water.
Genet Genetta sp.: Field observations: Fresh faeces (which according to our local
guides was from a genet) were found one morning in the Kimhandu-6 (1540 m)
camp.
Leopard
Panthera pardus. Interviews: The species occurs above 1700 m in the forest but is
not seen as often as previously. It is usually not hunted unless domestic stock
is killed. In the past it was hunted much more. On the day of our arrival to
Ukwama, a Leopard had killed a goat. Field observations: The species was heard once in the
Kimhandu area at 1900 m. During a visit to the below mentioned boulder area
with Tree Hyraxes, some fur and bone fragments of a Black and White Colobus
were found and tracks of an animal which had pulled a prey through the dense
vegetation were seen. These tracks were made by a Leopard according to the
local hunters.
Tree
Hyrax Dendrohyrax validus: Interviews: Tree Hyraxes usually stay far from people and thus
often at high altitude. Hunting apparently takes place frequently in places
where the species is common. The villagers told us that the Tree Hyrax was
previously much more widespread and common than today. They have to walk long distances
to catch the animals nowadays. The usual way of catching Tree Hyraxes is by
dogs but snares are also sometimes used. As a reward, the dog gets the scull
whereas the local people eat the meat. The fur is sometimes used for clothing
or sold. Field observations: At
Kimhandu Tree Hyraxes were heard only occasionally. Observations are from
between 1520 and 2300 m. A Tree Hyrax site was visited with local hunters in a
boulder area within the forest far from Ukwama village. Among these rocks was
the characteristic smell of hyrax urine, and faeces were seen everywhere. There
was a permanent campsite used by hunters. No animals were heard here, probably
because we visited the area during daytime. At Lanzi hyraxes were heard between
1920 and 2150 m with a maximum of five individuals heard simultaneously from
our camp at 2000 m. At Tegetero a few faeces pellets were found and relatively
few animals heard at 1270-1720 m.
African
Bush-Pig Potamochoerus porcus: Interviews: Especially because of hunting this species is forced
far into the forest. At Kimhandu and Lanzi it occurs only at high altitudes up
to about 2500 m. At Tegetero it occurs between 1500 and 2000 m. Nowadays the
pigs are only hunted for meat but previously they were killed also to protect
crops of cassava, sugarcane and potatoes. The population size has been markedly
reduced. Field observations: Our
only records of pigs comprised tracks in the dirt near the summit of Kimhandu
Hill and fresh tracks at Tegetero, 1500 m.
Harvey's
Red Duiker Cephalophus harvei: Interviews: At Kimhandu and Lanzi it is usually seen at high
altitudes (1700-2500 m), deep into dense forest. The population is said to have
decreased. None of the villagers interviewed at Tegetero had any knowledge of
this species. Field observations: This
species was not recorded during the 2.5 months of fieldwork in the Uluguru
North and South F.R.s.
Blue
Duiker Cephalophus monticola: Interviews: Only the villagers at Tegetero knew this duiker. It is
reported to be found between 1200 and 2000 m. It is hunted and is now seen more
rarely than previously. Field observations: A small and probably young individual was seen at Tegetero, 1535
m.
Abbot's
Duiker Cephalophus spadix: Interviews: The villagers interviewed in Ukwama and Lanzi explained
that this species is only seen at high altitudes, deep into dense forest. The
population size has decreased. The villagers interviewed in Tegetero did not
know this duiker species. Field observations: No individuals were seen
of this species.
Suni Neotragus moschatus: Interviews: Only the villagers interviewed in Ukwama and
Lanzi had any knowledge of the Suni. It occurs at high altitudes far from
villages. It has been hunted in the past and is now considered rare.
Lord
Derby's Flying Squirrel Anomalurus
derbianus orientalis: Field
observations: Recorded
at Tegetero, 1345 and 1530 m.
Squirrels,
Sciuridae sp.: Field
observations: Squirrels
were among the most frequently recorded mammals. Most squirrels observed were
very much alike and probably represent the same species, but species
identification of squirrels is difficult. At Kimhandu and Lanzi squirrels were
recorded from the lower forest edge up to 2145 m. At Tegetero they were seen
between 1300 and 1530 m. At Tegetero an additional unidentified species of
squirrel was seen between 1300 and 2150 m.
6.4.2.
Species previously recorded from the Ulugurus (confer Table
6.1).
A review of the available literature has allowed
me to compile a list of the species of mammals, which are known from the
Uluguru Mountain forests (Table
6.1). This allows an assessment of the species richness and levels of
endemism in the Uluguru forests.
6.5.
Discussion.
6.5.1.
Diversity and endemism.
More than 60 mammal species have been recorded
in the montane forests of the Ulugurus (see Table
6.1). Some, e.g. Abbott’s Duiker and Tree Hyrax, are strictly adapted
to life in dense forest (Kingdon and Howell 1993). Many of the other species
are not considered true forest dwellers but also occur in savanna or in other
habitats.
The mammal fauna of the Uluguru montane forests
is of high diversity compared to other forests in Eastern Africa (Rodgers et al. 1982). Two mammal species (the shrews
Crocidura telfordi and Myosorex geata) and at least one
subspecies (the Golden Mole subspecies Chrysochloris
stuhlmanni tropichalis) are endemic to the Uluguru forests. All three species
are insectivores. The Eastern Arc endemic Abbott’s Duiker also occurs in the
Ulugurus. A number of other species which are regarded as threatened with
extinction globally (on the IUCN list) are also present. Thus, the mammalian
forest fauna of the Ulugurus is of high conservation value.
The recent discoveries of one new species and
one new subspecies of shrew (Jenkins 1984 and Hutterer 1986) show that the list
in Table
6.1 is probably incomplete. Furthermore, our knowledge of population
densities and geographic distribution in the Ulugurus is scanty for most
species.
6.5.2.
Species abundance.
The scarcity of larger mammals in the forests
other than the two monkey species is striking. Although the information from
the villagers presented above has to be treated with caution, the general
pattern seems clear: a decrease in almost all populations of larger mammals
because of intensive hunting, leading to remarkably low population densities of
e.g. duiker species. Elephant Loxodonta
africana, Buffalo Syncerus caffer
and Aardvark Orycteropus afer are
apparently not present in the mountain forests of the Ulugurus. In some other
montane forests in the Eastern Arc, e.g. in remote, undisturbed forests in the
Udzungwas and in disturbed forest in the Rubehos (which are situated close to
Mikumi National Park), these species are fairly common (pers. obs. and JF pers.
comm.). It is not known if they have been removed from the Ulugurus, or never
was present.
In general the field team saw and heard ground
living mammals on remarkably few occasions and there were extremely few foot
prints and faeces pellets from medium sized and larger mammals on the forest
floor, compared to what we have seen in other parts of the Eastern Arc,
especially in remote and relatively undisturbed forests in the Udzungwa
Mountains (JF, LAH, JK, JNK and JOS pers. obs.).
The absence of Tree Hyrax around many of the
camps is also surprising, since suitable habitats are abundant: There are many
large old trees with holes and lianas, and boulder areas, habitats which Tree
Hyraxes use (Kingdon 1971, Kundaeli 1976, Kristiansen and Bertelsen, in prep.).
It seems to be the hunting pressure and not the lack of suitable habitats,
which restricts the occurrence of Tree Hyraxes. From what we have seen, the
Tree Hyrax is an easy prey for hunters. Snares are used in some places and dogs
are used for catching the animals. With a gestation period of 7-8 months,
usually resulting in only a single offspring (Fischer 1992), the susceptibility
of this species to hunting is clear.
The local villagers are well aware of the
consequences of the illegal hunting but the restricted supply of protein from
farming forces many to hunt in the forest. It is clear that prohibition alone
cannot stop hunting from taking place at the scale that it does at present. A conservation programme is highly needed.
6.6.
References.
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Haltenorth, T. and H. Diller 1992. Mammals of Africa including Madagascar.
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