Tanzania Ruaha Buffalo Disease Study
With SCI Foundation’s help, the project is leading more in-depth research on health, ecology, herd movement, and habitat use of Ruaha’s African buffalos. Nothing was previously known about buffalo home ranges or seasonal movements, except that herds disappear from the park during the wet season and return to congregate at the Great Ruaha River during the dry season. This seasonal movement may overlap with pastoral livestock populations.
Species involved: Cape Buffalo
Project partners: UC Davis, Ruaha National Park
Total SCIF Investment: $65,000
Year SCIF began involvement: 2015 (Timeline: 2014-2018)
Project Objectives
- Conduct a health assessment of up to 35 adult buffaloes from at least 3 herds within Ruaha National Park (RNP), which includes testing bovine tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Rift Valley fever virus, and various other blood-borne pathogens.
- Quantify seasonal movement patterns for cape buffalo and determine ecological drivers for movements. 3) Identify high risk wildlife-livestock interface areas.
- Collect population and demographic data on buffalo herds within RNP.
Anticipated Outcomes
This project seeks to identify the disease and other factors governing populations of Cape buffalo, one of the most desired hunted species in Africa. The results will be used to manage this population more effectively for sustainable use. The project also takes place in one of the largest remaining contiguous ecosystems in the African continent on a hunted species of international importance. It will help build in-country capacity for wildlife research and management.
Since 2000, SCI Foundation has provided more than $80 million to promote science-based conservation through wildlife research, capacity building in governments, youth and teacher education, and humanitarian programs that show the importance of the hunting community in society around the world. Growth of SCI Foundation has continued to gain momentum through charitable donations from SCI members and direct grants from local chapters and the SCI organization. Throughout the world, SCI’s approximately 50,000 members and 190 chapters contribute time, talent, and financial support to local, national, and international projects.