Rothschild Giraffe Forage Plant Diversity and Distribution in Rimoi National Reserve, Kenya
Keywords:
Giraffe Forage, Rimoi Reserve, Giraffe EcologyAbstract
The study was conducted in Rimoi National Reserve situated in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. Data collection was done between January and April 2023. This study examines the forage vegetation diversity and its distribution patterns for the introduced Rothschild giraffes in Rimoi Reserve, focusing on the ecological conservation of the habitat for better interactions with the available vegetation and other herbivores. Specific objectives were a) to determine the distribution of forage plants preferred by Rothschild Giraffe in the reserve, and b) to assess the diversity of the preferred forage plants by Rothschild Giraffe in the reserve. Over the course of the study, 16 tree species were identified as part of the giraffes' diet, with significant consumption of Balanites aegyptica, which constituted nearly half of their intake. The distribution of giraffe forages across upland and riverine areas within the reserve showed a significant difference (t= 2.302, df= 30, p=0.028), suggesting that forage availability in the reserve is skewed towards the upland area (64.73%). The diversity analysis using and richness using rarefaction curves revealed that the Riverine area had the highest plant diversity, providing a variety of plants beneficial for giraffes, while the upland area exhibited the lowest diversity (t= 7.325, df= 31, p=0.001). The study recommends active habitat management by the reserve to promote the growth of key forage species, regular monitoring of plant distribution and dietary patterns, and conflict mitigation strategies to reduce competition for resources among herbivores. Implementing these strategies can enhance the conservation of Rothschild giraffes and maintain a balanced ecosystem in the Rimoi National Reserve.
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