Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) population and land use trends in the Tsavo landscape, Kenya (2021)
University of Nairobi
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Abstract: This study analyzed giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) population and land use trends in the Tsavo landscape. The main objectives of the study were: to assess the past and current distribution of giraffe; to analyze how land use and land cover has changed in the Tsavo landscape from the 1985 to 2020; and to determine how Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change and other factors influence giraffe distribution within the Tsavo landscape. Tsavo landscape was divided in to five regions, Tsavo West National Park (TWNP), Tsavo East National Park (TENP), South Kitui National Reserve (SKNR), Taita Ranches and Rombo Group Ranch. Current giraffe population, density, age structure and sex structure were established using road transect counts in the different regions. Data were also collected on the status and distribution of water sources during the road transect surveys. Past giraffe population was determined through review of secondary data from past large mammal censuses in the study area. Landsat satellite images for the years 1985,1999,2010 and 2020 were classified into various land and vegetation classes and later analyzed to establish LULC change.