Tw. Oloo et al., SEASONAL-VARIATION IN THE FEEDING ECOLOGY OF BLACK RHINOCEROS (DICEROS-BICORNIS L) IN LAIKIPIA, KENYA, African journal of ecology, 32(2), 1994, pp. 142-157
Daily indirect observations were made on the diet and feeding habits o
f the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis L.) on Ol Ari Nyiro Ranch, La
ikipia, Kenya over a six-month period. Individual rhinos were followed
along their feeding tracks, plants consumed by tracked animals were i
dentified and herbivory quantified. In total, 9665 individual feeding
points were recorded at 1967 feeding stations. At least 103 plant spec
ies from at least 37 families were identified as rhino food plants. Th
e diet of black rhinos on Ol Ari Nyiro was at least as species-rich as
that in bushland habitats in Tsavo National Park and considerably mor
e species-rich than the diet of rhinos in Masai Mara Reserve. Black rh
inos ate selectively and showed a marked reference for Acacia species
and Phyllanthus fisheri. They apparently fed less on each plant in the
dry season than in the wet season. This may be due to decreased palat
ability of food plants, and implies that rhinos may travel further per
day in the dry season than in the wet season.