Spatial and temporal habitat use of kob antelopes (Kobus kob kob, Erxleben1777) in the Comoe National Park, Ivory Coast as revealed by radio tracking

Spatial and temporal habitat use of kob antelopes (Kobus kob kob) have been investigated in the Comoe National Park (Ivory Coast, West Africa) by use of radio telemetry. A total of 23 kob were equipped with radio collars and radio tracked for up to 15 months. Home ranges of males were smaller and th ose of females larger than expected from theoretical models. Adult males us ed smaller areas than adult females and did not show seasonal home range sh ifts. Daily distances travelled did not differ between sexes. Kob walked le ss during the night than by day and covered shorter distances in the wet se ason. Whereas an increase in home range overlap between females resulted in higher rates of association among individuals, association of adults of mi xed sexes was not correlated with the degree of home range overlap. Territo rial behaviour of males and predator avoidance by females are suggested to explain the sex-specific differences in home range size of adults and the d eviation from the predicted sizes. Predator avoidance is presumed as the ma in reason for the reduced walking distances at night as well as in the wet season. Reproductive behaviour and feeding ecology are assumed to determine the degree of association of conspecifics.