Population status, Distribution and Threats to the Nile lechwe (Kobus megaceros,  M.T.Von Heuglin,1853) in the Sudd Wetland, South Sudan (2012)

Charles Lwanga; Paul Demetry

doi:10.15468/oayffr

Population status, Distribution and Threats to the Nile lechwe (Kobus megaceros, M.T.Von Heuglin,1853) in the Sudd Wetland, South Sudan (2012)

Citation

Lwanga C, Demetry P (2018). Population status, Distribution and Threats to the Nile lechwe (Kobus megaceros, M.T.Von Heuglin,1853) in the Sudd Wetland, South Sudan (2012). Version 1.3. Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/oayffr accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

The study was conducted between January and March 2010, within an area covering about 70,456 km2 of the Sudd Wetland in South Sudan, the distribution, population status and threats to the Nile lechwe were examined. Using systematic flight and questionnaires, results showed that Nile lechwes were distributed at the periphery of the Sudd Wetland.57.6 % of the population occurred outside protected areas, while 42.4% were observed inside Zeraf Game Reserve. The population was estimated to be 11,043 ( 7,839), there appears to be a significant decline between 1980 and 2010 Nile lechwe’s population estimates (χ2 = 33.7; Df =1; P = 0.00) and there was no significant difference between 2007 and 2010 population estimate on the lower side (χ2 =2.585; Df=1; P =0.108). A significant correlation was also observed between the Nile lechwe’s distribution and human activity signs (r2= 0.688 (69%); P=0.00).
The civil war was perceived as the greatest threat to the Nile lechwe followed by firearms used during hunting. Among other perceieved threats were hunting, wildfire, increase in livestock densities, agricultural expansion, floods, diseases, Jonglei canal reconstruction, drought, oil exploration and dykes.
Over 38.9% of the population were aware of the existence of a game reserve, 53.3% knew the existence of Wildlife laws and 65.6% had cultural values associated with the Nile lechwe, these were seen as indirect threats to the Nile lechwe and its habitat. If these activities continues uncontrolled, the future of Nile lechwe will be in jeopardy. To conserve the Nile lechwe an integrated management strategy addressing the threats would be need.

Taxonomic Coverages

All the Nile lechwe or Mrs Gray's lechwe (Kobus megaceros) were identified to species level.

Animalia
rank: kingdom
Chordata
rank: phylum
Mammalia
rank: class
Artiodactyla
rank: order
Bovidae
rank: family
Kobus
rank: genus
megaceros
rank: species

Geographic Coverages

The Sudd is located in the central part of South Sudan. It is bordered by Lakes state in the southwest, Unity state in the northwest, Upper Nile state in the Northeast and Jonglei state in the southeast. It lies between the towns of Bor in the South (Jonglei state) and Malakal in the northeast (Upper Nile state), at latitude 8.411462 and 30.706021.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Charles Lwanga
originator
position: Biodiversity Database Manager
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Juba
SS
email: tiba_lwanga@yahoo.com

Paul Demetry
originator
position: D/Director for Biodiversity/CBD & IGAD-BMP National Focal Point
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Bilpam Road
Juba
SS
email: ladolodemen@yahoo.com
homepage: http://www.mef-ssd.org

Charles Lwanga
metadata author
position: Biodiversity Database Manager
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
SS
email: tiba_lwanga@yahoo.com

Lawrence Monda
publisher
position: ICT Manager
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658
Nairobi
KE
email: lmonda@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Esther Mwangi
processor
position: Research Scientist
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658
Nairobi
KE
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Charles Lwanga
administrative point of contact
position: Biodiversity Database Manager
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
SS
email: tiba_lwanga@yahoo.com