Population Ecology of the Uganda Kob (Adenota kob thomasi (Neumann)) in Relation to the Territorial System in the Rwenzori National Park, Uganda

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Abstract
The number of kob in the Rwenzori National Park was estimated from the air by stratified random transects. An average of about 12,500 kob was recorded at a density of 8.6 km-2, with up to 52.1 km-2 in the vicinity of territorial grounds. Eleven territorial grounds were identified including 1 which was probably only temporary. All were associated with dense concentrations of kob. Counts showed that in 2 of 4 study areas there was a significant correlation between the size of the territorial ground and the number of non-territorial kob. The kob are divided into more or less discrete populations each centered around a territorial ground similar to the situation described for the Toro Game Reserve and indicating that the territorial system is universally present in the species. The territorial grounds in the park are smaller and occur at a lower density than in the Toro Game Reserve. The density of the single territories in the 4 study areas varied from 1-4 km-2. Six age classes based on the sequence of tooth eruption are described with a further 8 based on tooth wear. A life table for males is constructed from the age at death of found skulls. From an analysis of the population structure, it is concluded that males live for about eight years and females possibly for ten years. Mortality factors are discussed. The kob, although an abundant species in the park, contributes very little to the total biomass of large mammals. There is evidence of a slight increase in numbers between 1964-1971.