GROUND COUNTS FOR MEDIUM TO LARGE MAMMALS -LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK- 2018 GROUND COUNTS for Medium to Large Mammals in Lake Mburo Conservation Area Report by F. E. Kisame, F. Wanyama, E. Buhanga and A. Rwetsiba Uganda Wildlife Authority 2018 I UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT I 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1. CONSERVATION HISTORY OF LAKE MBURO II 1.1.1. Pre 1935: The Nkore kingdom ii 1.1.2. 1935 to 1964: Controlled Hunting Areas ii 1.1.3. 1964 to 1986: Lake Mburo Game Reserve ii 1.1.4. Lake Mburo National Park ii 1.1.5. 1987- Today: Lake Mburo National Park 1 1.2. MAMMAL SPECIES THAT HAVE SINCE DISAPPEARED IN LMNP 1 1.3. HUMAN POPULATION 2 1.4. WILD ANIMAL POPULATIONS AND SURVEYS 2 1.5. OBJECTIVES FOR THE SURVEY; 3 2.0 SURVEY AREA AND METHODS 2.1. METHODS 4 2.1.1. Foot -transect survey 4 2.1.1.1. Survey design 4 2.1.1.2. Data collection 4 2.1.2. Road counts 5 2.1.3. Hippopotamus count 5 3.0 RESULTS 6 3.1. MAMMAL POPULATION ESTIMATES IN LMNP AND THE RANCHES 6 3.1.1. Estimated Population Combined for LMNP and Ranches 6 3.1.2. Estimated Population in Lake Mburo National Park. 7 3.1.3. Estimated Population in the Ranches 7 3.2. ROAD COUNT ENCOUNTERS 8 3.2.1. Road Verses Transect abundance estimates 9 3.3. HIPPOPOTAMUS SURVEY IN LAKE MBURO WITHIN LMNP 9 3.4. MAMMAL STRUCTURE 10 3.4.1. Mammal structure in Lake Mburo National Park (Block 1) 10 3.4.2. Mammal structure in the ranches (Block 2 and 3 Combined) 11 3.5. DISTRIBUTION 11 3.5.1. Distribution of mammals in LMNP and the ranches outside the park 11 3.5.2. Carcass encounters and their distribution in LMNP and the ranches 14 3.5.2.1. Carcass distribution in LMNP and the Ranches 16 3.5.3. Cattle in Lake Mburo National Park 17 3.5.4. Poaching in the ranches adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park 17 GROUND COUNTS FOR MEDIUM TO LARGE MAMMALS -LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK- 2018 5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.0 REFERENCES 22 7.0 APPENDICES 23 7.5.1. Appendix I. Some of the survey team members 23 7.5.2. Appendix II: One of the training sessions before the census 23 7.5.3. Appendix III: Some of the teams practicing use of GPS during the training 24 7.5.4. Appendix IV: Briefing teams at the end of the training 24 FIGURES Figure 1. Ground survey map for LMCA (November, 2016) 4 Figure 2. Species encounter rate during road counts in Lake Mburo National Park. 8 Figure 3. A regression for species encounters on road and transect counts 9 Figure 4. Estimated Hippopotamus population trends in Lake Mburo (2009-2016) 9 Figure 5. Mammal structure in Lake mburo National Park 10 Figure 6. Mammal structure in the ranches (Block 2 and 3 Combined) 11 Figure 7. Distribution of Buffalo, bushbuck, eland and impala in LMNP and ranches 12 Figure 8. Distribution of Bush duiker, baboon, topi and oribi in LMNP and ranches 13 Figure 9. Distribution of Reedbuck, warthog, zebra and waterbuck in LMNP and ranches 14 Figure 10. Carcass encounters in Lake Mburo National Park and the ranches 15 Figure 11. Carcasses of Zebra, buffalo, impala, waterbuck and warthog in LMNP and the ranches 16 Figure 12. Cattle distribution during the survey in LMNP 17 Figure 13. Poacher arrested with nets and a bushbuck carcass. 17 Figure 14. Species population estimates for 2014 and 2016 in LMNP 18 Figure 15. Cattle in one of the containment areas (Kraal) in LMNP 20 TABLES Table 1: Total population estimates for wild animals in LMNP and the ranches (Nov, 2016) 6 Table 2: Total population estimates for wild animals in LMNP and the ranches (August 2014) 6 Table 3: Population estimates for wild animals in LMNP (November, 2016) 7 Table 4: Population estimates for wild animals in the ranches (November, 2016) 7 Table 5: Species encounters during the road count 8 PLATES Plate 1. Survey team during the boat census in Lake Mburo National Park 5 UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY ABSTRACT Lake Mburo National Park is an important biodiversity area with a large number of animals that currently survive in a habitat dominated by the invasive acacia woodland. The survey was to generate information on the population of medium to large mammals as well as their distribution patterns in LMNP and the ranches. This was to allow for further assessment of the effectiveness of current conservation strategies in LMCA. The survey was a ground count carried out towards the end of the dry season in November 2016. The transects used during the survey were designed using programme DISTANCE. The analysis of the results was done using by program DISTANCE also. The survey results showed that the Impala were the dominant mammal species in Lake Mburo landscape with a population of (21,240) individuals followed by zebra (19,589), waterbuck (4,983), warthog (3,083), eland (1,482), buffalo (1,479), bushbuck (1,239) and topi (515) in the order of reducing species population. We recorded 271 Hip- popotamus on lake mburo also. The adult females were more than the adult males in the mburo landscape. The Linear Regression Analysis showed a very strong relationship (R2=80.6%) between the population values for mammals obtained using transects during ground counts and the mammal encounter values obtained through a road count. On the other hand, Lake Mburo National Park had the highest number of mammal carcasses with carcasses of Impala, zebra, waterbuck, buffalo, warthog and hippopotamus being recorded whereas, the only carcass recorded in the ranches was for a zebra in block 2-the ranch. We arrested some individuals suspected to be poachers after they were found with hunting nets and a bushbuck carcass later recorded at police as exhibits. The change in the survey design from a low sampling intensity to a high sampling intensity provided better ground information on species numbers. As a result more species sightings were made than in earlier surveys due to change in the sampling intensity. There is need to encourage conservation management enterprises that improve relations with the communities and minimize human-wildlife conflicts. There is need for translocation of zebras and impala from the ranches to other protected areas such as, Pian Upe and Katonga Wildlife Reserves to increase their potential as well as minimizing the human-wildlife conflicts being caused by the zebras and impalas in the ranches. There is need to construct more water holes/dams that can store water long enough while ensuring adequate water supply at all times within the park. To improve the wildlife habitat, there is need to prioritize invasive species management. i GROUND COUNTS FOR MEDIUM TO LARGE MAMMALS -LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK- 2018 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1. CONSERVATION HISTORY OF LAKE MBURO Lake Mburo and its surrounding country side form part of an important conservation area. Over the years this area has been through many traumatic changes and the extent of the land under formal protection decreased dramatically. Wildlife and human numbers fluctuated significantly as a result of natural growth, disease, civil war and political unrest and many of the challenges facing the park today arose from issues that occurred during this troubled history. 1.1.1. PRE 1935: THE NKORE KINGDOM Traditionally this entire area, from Tanzania in the south to the Katonga River in the north, was the territory of the Banyankole people and was ruled over by the Omuabe, the king. Access to the Nshaara area around the lakes and swamps was restricted by the king and people were only allowed to live here or graze their cattle here with his special permission. Whilst wildlife was protected, carnivores such as lions and leopards which attacked livestock were killed. At the turn of the century the area was struck by rinderpest and smallpox and many people, livestock and wildlife died. 1.1.2. 1935 TO 1964: CONTROLLED HUNTING AREAS Throughout the early part of the 20th century the area slowly recovered and wildlife populations increased again. Human settlement escalated and hunting became a popular past time amongst the wealthy and influential. In 1935 in order to-protect the game the protectorate Government declared two adjoining controlled Hunting Areas, lake Mburo and Masha. Although hunting was regulated in these areas, grazing, farming and fishing was allowed to continue as before. In the 1940’s, a second disaster struck with a wave of sleeping sickness and Nagana carried by tsetse fly. Many people left the area with their cattle, leaving behind only a few farmers and fishermen. The tsetse fly eradication programme which followed, drastically reduced game populations. 1.1.3. 1964 TO 1986: LAKE MBURO GAME RESERVE By the 1960’s the tsetse fly eradication programme was complete opening up the area to cattle once again. The consequent increase in use and settlement by farmers and pastoralists prompted the newly independent gov- ernment to rationalize land use. The area was divided into a commercial cattle ranching scheme to the north and the lake Mburo Game Reserve to the south. The Masha Controlled Hunting Area, which was by now well populated, was degazetted. Families living within the reserve were permitted to remain and farm, but pastoralists displaced by the ranching scheme joined the increasing numbers of farmers entering the poorly controlled reserve. In 1969, a large block of land was cut from the reserve to form the Nshaara Dairy Cross Breeding Ranch.