Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Africa is home to a unique animal- and plant life and contributing knowledge that in some way promote conservation of these species is vital for a functioning world in the future. The International union for conservation of nature has listed giraffes as vulnerable; as wild giraffe populations have declined by up to 40% over the past three decades, while 60% of all major wild herbivores in the world are threatened with extinction. This means that giraffes are a high priority to preserve. Giraffes play a significant role in biodiversity with contribute functions such as seed dispersal and pollination. Removing giraffes from ecosystems would have devastating consequences. The loss of giraffes can have consequences such as less pressure on the vegetation. An increased understanding of reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) activity in relation to various environmental factors can lead to new important knowledge about the species' natural behaviours and the reasons behind them. The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of how the activity patterns of reticulated giraffes in Ol Pejeta conservancy differ in relation to different environmental factors, such as moon phases and rainfall. This study was conducted in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya by using camera traps that recorded the activity of the giraffes as well as information about moon phases and rainfall. The results showed that the activity of the giraffes is highest at the highest measured amount of precipitation during a 30- and 60-day period and at half-moon after new moon. Also, that the activity of the giraffes was at its lowest during full moon and the least measured amount of precipitation during a 30- and 60-day period. Contributing factors to the result may depend on the hunting luck of predators, access to food and water, and the structure of the herd.