During all survey in Kasanka NP, a total of 1,194 sightings of antelope species were noted. Eight antelope species were observed (Table 2-6). Group sizes ranged from 1 to 169 individuals. The highest perpendicular distance to the line was 368.80 m. Even small group sizes of puku were detected up to far distances (Figure 2-9) e.g. one animal was recorded at 348.76 m perpendicular distance to the line. 627 sightings, more than half of the sightings, were made in a distance of up to 100 m from the line. Concerning group sizes, more than half of the sightings (603 sightings) accounted for group sizes of up to 5 individuals, 836 sightings (about 70%) resulted in a group size of up to 10 animals. About 8% of the recorded group sizes are groups of 30 and more individuals. The largest group of 169 was observed at about 79 m perpendicular distance from the line. The sightings yielded a result in 12,202 individuals of observed animals. The antelope species observed the most concerning both the sightings and the number of observed individuals was the puku (Table 2-6). A total of 1,082 sightings of puku were recorded which split up into 11,972 individuals. All other antelopes were recorded in much fewer sightings and individuals: sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), Lichtenstein’s hartebeest (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii), orebi (Ourebia ourebi), bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and sable (Hippotragus niger). Differences between species with regard to sighting numbers (Chi²-test: p<0.001, N=1,194) and observed animals (Chi²-test: p<0.001, N=12,202) were significant.
In Kafue Region, a number of 284 sightings of antelopes were made on all transect lines, without taking into account the resurvey of the transect lines River and Plains in September. They subdivided into 133 sightings for the 9 transect lines in PPKR and 151 sightings for the 4 transect line in Kafue-NP. The highest observed distance was 590 m. The largest observed group size was 79. Generally observations decreased as the perpendicular distance to the line increased. But small cluster sizes were detected at high distances from the line (Figure 2-10): e.g. a single individual was observed at a distance of 496 m. About 83% of the sightings were made at a perpendicular distance less than 100 m. 61% of the
sightings included group sizes of up to 5 individuals, 77% of the sightings included group sizes of up to 10 individuals. Only 3% of the sightings were groups with 30 and more individuals (Figure 2-10). Puku reached a total of 146 sightings, whereas 102 sightings of impala (Aepyceros melampus) were recorded. Beside puku and impala, the following antelopes were noted: bushbuck, greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, reedbuck and Sharpe’s grysbok (Raphicerus sharpei). Other antelope species only reached small numbers of sightings. The differences in the amount of sightings were generally significant (Chi²-test: p<0.001, N=284) as well as the differences between sightings of puku and impala (Chi²-test: p=0.005, N=248). Concerning the amount of recorded animals, impala had a number of 1129 which exceeded the 845 puku observed (Table 2-6). Recorded individuals of puku and impala were many more than of other antelope species. The general differences in observed individuals were significant (Chi²test: p <0.001, N=2,061), and so were the differences in observed individuals between puku and impala (Chi²-test: p<0.001, N=1,974).
Table 2-6: Total amount of sightings and recorded individuals per species in Kasanka NP and Kafue-Region.
study area antelope species sightings observed individuals
Kasanka NP puku (Kobus vardonii) 1,082 11,972
sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii) 46 83
bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) 28 33
reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) 22 41
Lichtenstein's hartebeest (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii) 7 46
orebi (Ourebia ourebi) 1 1
bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) 7 7
sable (Hippotragus niger) 1 19
Kafue Region puku (Kobus vardonii) 146 854
impala (Aepyceros melampus) 102 1,129
bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) 13 16
greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) 8 33
reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) 1 1
waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) 7 28
Lichtenstein's hartebeest (Alcelaphus lichtensteinii) 2 3
Sharpe’s grysbok (Raphicerus sharpei) 1 1
bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) 4 5
The different antelope species were recorded to different extent (in sightings and individuals) through the survey period and over the different transect lines in Kasanka NP (see Table A. 6, Table A. 7). Puku were not seen at Nafulwe. They were seen once at Luwombwa and Chikufwe. They were observed in low numbers at Katwa, Kafubashi and Mulembo. They were noted in high numbers along Wasa and Fibwe. Surveyed in double amount, the numbers from Puku-Loop had to be divided by two for July 2009 to get comparability and for statistics. Nevertheless, puku reached highest numbers in both sightings and individuals along this transect line. Reedbuck, hartebeest, sable and orebi were
seen only at Chikufwe. Sitatunga were seen at Puku-Loop, Fibwe and Wasa. This was similar for the bushbuck, whose sightings are supplemented by a single animal seen along Luwombwa. Comparing the observations of puku in July and August 2009, it can be stated that for the transect lines resampled in August, puku sightings and observed individuals increased along Fibwe and Puku-Loop. Comparing puku in October and November 2010, the amount of sightings increased, but the number of individuals decreased at Puku-Loop and Kafubashi. For Katwa, puku sightings and individuals increased. Comparing puku in July 2009 and November 2010: in the two periods they occurred in very low numbers reaching even zero at Luwombwa, Chikufwe, Nafulwe and Kafubashi. At the line transects Katwa, Puku- Loop, Fibwe and Wasa, numbers for both sightings and individuals were much higher in November 2010.
Concerning the distribution of species on the transect lines in Kafue Region differences were evident (see also Table A. 8, Table A. 9). Puku reached a high amount in sightings along the transect lines Kafue North and Hippo, but also on Kafue South, Dambo and Camp. Except for Camp, these trends were the same in impala. The distribution of the observed animals on the transect lines showed similarities to the distribution of sightings. Compared to the sightings, the numbers of puku were much higher on River. The opposite applied for Kafue South transect line. Puku and impala showed an overlap in occurrence on the transect lines:
the two species were frequently observed in numbers on the transect lines Kafue North and above all on Hippo. The transect line Camp resulted in more individuals for puku; Kafue South and Dambo showed more observed impala.
The transect lines River and Plains were resurveyed in September 2010. River was driven only thrice. Overall sightings on these two transect lines showed a slight increase from August to September (see also Table A. 10). There was no big increase in sightings, same goes for the observed animals. Also the amount of observed animals remained more or less the same in puku and impala. But remarkable differences could be found in the distribution of the animals on the two transect lines: Puku were noted to a much higher extent on River, whereas the number of impala increased on Plains. Sightings and numbers remained stable for kudu and hartebeest, but there was a small decrease in sightings and numbers of waterbuck. Bushbuck and reedbuck were generally not often noted, but it has to be mentioned that reedbuck could only be observed in September on transect line Plains.
Figure 2-9: Scatter plot showing the group sizes in relation to the observed perpendicular distances in Kasanka NP: only sightings of puku (Kobus vardonii) are presented, the largest group size of 169 puku is excluded.
Figure 2-10: Scatter plot showing the group sizes in relation to the observed perpendicular distances in Kafue Region: observations of puku (Kobus vardonii) and impala (Aepyceros melampus) are shown.