1.3.1 Point Pattern Analysis
It was noted that for the year 2019, Greater Kudu dispersal map shows a density of between 10 and 40 Kudus/km2 on the rangelands around Maji Moto and Koitumet wards (Figure 6). The depressed rainfall for all the seasons in 2019 contributed to this population pattern. Being shy, the Kudus numbers ranging between 1 and 10 Kudus/km2 were sparsely spread on the western side of the Lake in the agricultural lands of Molos and Kamar wards. This may lead to Greater Kudu population instability and possibly local extinction due to increase in human-wildlife conflicts. Greater Kudu prefers to inhabit wood and thick bush land, mixed scrub woodland, mopane bush on lowlands, hills and mountains and anywhere with a constant supply of water (20, 21].
Figure 4: Greater Kudu population (2020) at the LBNR and its environs
Figure 5: Greater Kudu population (2019) at the LBNR and its environs
Figure 6: Greater Kudu population density (numbers/km2) for Year 2019 at LBNR
Greater Kudu dispersal map for the year 2020 (Figure 7) shows a density of between 10 and 40 Kudus/km2 in the leafy vegetation located in Maji Ndege and Chibirebei wards. This could be due to above normal rainfall for all the three seasons of the year (2020) in the landscape; most Kudus met their water needs elsewhere other than the Lake. The Kudus were densely populated in vegetated areas. Socio-economic activities tend to reduce the Kudu population as was evidenced by low numbers ranging between 1 and 10/km2on the western side of the Lake in the agricultural lands of Koitumet and Kamar wards.
The dispersal map for year 2022 shows dense population of Kudus (ranging between 40 and 50/km2) near the shores of the Lake Bogoria in Koitumet sub-ward (Figure 8). More Kudus were also observed in Chibirebei and Maji Ndege wards in the highly vegetated areas around the Lake. Marginal numbers of Kudus ranging from 1 to 10/km2 were seen in Tinosiek Olkokwe and Kamar wards, respectively which further affirms the importance of water sources/watering on dispersal of Greater Kudus [13, 19].
Figure 7: Greater Kudu population density (numbers/km2) for Year 2020 at LBNR
Figure 8: Greater Kudu population density (numbers/km2) for Year 2022 at LBNR
It was evident that ecological needs of Greater Kudu affected their dispersal for instance; water requirements as was indicated by high concentration of Kudus around the Lake shores in the year 2019 when rains were depressed; food as the case for high concentration of Kudus in Chebirebei ward in 2020; breeding behavior as is shown by dispersal of Kudu calves mostly being away from the mature herds; and their seasonal movement patterns or home range. This agrees with what Bennett (2003) indicated as factors to be considered when establishing and managing wildlife corridors [22].