By Yvonne A. de Jong and Thomas M. Butynski
Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program, Nanyuki, Kenya

It took us only a second to realize what we were looking at. On the track in front of our Land Rover was a flat, turtle-like, creature scurrying from one rocky hill (or ‘kopje) to another. What we were seeing was an adult male Pancake Tortoise (or Crevice Tortoise Malacochersus tornieri). The Pancake Tortoise is referred to locally, in Kiswahili, as ‘Kobe kama Chapati’---Chapati Tortoise.

Read the full blog on www.wildsolutions.nl/pancake-tortoise

New report to Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations

Thomas M. Butynski and Yvonne A. de Jong
Horn of Africa Antelope Program & Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program

Summary: Northeast Kenya is the most poorly known region in eastern Africa as concerns the taxonomy, distribution, abundance, threats, and conservation status of its larger mammal fauna. Nonetheless, this region has a high number of endemic and threatened genera and species. Among the larger mammals, 15 species of antelope are known to occur. Diurnal surveys, nocturnal surveys, and camera trap surveys were conducted to cover as much of northeast Kenya (130,000 km²) as possible in four fieldtrips (total of 48 days, total distance driven 7,163 km). The objectives of the Northeast Kenya Antelope Survey were to: (1) considerably improve our understanding of their taxonomic status, distribution, relative abundance, and threats to the region’s species of antelope; (2) contribute to the reassessments of their IUCN Red List degree of threat status; (3) provide practical, prioritized, recommendations for ameliorating the threats; and (4) bring local, national, and international attention to the unique biodiversity of northeast Kenya, using antelopes as a flagship group.

During this survey, antelope species were nowhere common outside of protected areas. Ten of the 15 antelope species of northeast Kenya were encountered. The most frequently species encountered was Kirk’s Dik-Dik ,Madoqua (kirkii) kirkii, followed by Southern Gerenuk Litocranius walleri walleri and Bright’s Gazelle Nanger notata. The least common were Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus and Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros. The five species not encountered (Common Eland Tragelaphus oryx, Salt’s Dik-Dik Madoqua saltiana, Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, Peter’s Gazelle Nanger petersii, Coke’s Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii) have geographic ranges that are on the margins of this region. ...read the full summary and full report on: https://www.wildsolutions.nl/northeast-kenya-antelope-survey/