Kori Bustard Husbandry Manual - Gruiformes

Kori Bustard Husbandry Manual – Section 1. Natural History
occurs in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, southern Angola, South Africa and
Mozambique (Johnsgard 1991), and prefers wooded grassland areas and dry savannas. In
arid grassland areas it is found along dry watercourses where patches of trees offer shade
during the heat of the day. In eastern Africa, A. k. struthiunculus occurs in Ethiopia,
Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania in areas of open grasslands including karoo,
bushveld, thornveld, scrubland and savanna habitats (del Hoyo 1996). The miombo
woodland of Central Africa separates the two populations.
4.3 Population
Throughout its range, the species is uncommon to locally common, but generally
declining (Urban et al. 1986). The habitat of both subspecies is under threat from the
spread of agriculture, high human densities, illegal hunting, over grazing by livestock and
bush encroachment. According to del Hoyo (1996), the kori bustard is showing signs of
chronic decline and local extinction over its entire range. Total population size has not
been reported for either subspecies.
Status of habitat, total population size and size of population fragments of Ardeotis
kori struthiunculus
The entire East African region is currently undergoing widespread ecological
changes as a result of increased agricultural practices and other forms of land use
(Mwangi 1989). Since 1950, the area of land used for agriculture has increased by 26%
(Happold 1995). Lado (1996) states that the most serious threat to the future of wildlife
in Kenya is habitat destruction and/or altercation. In the Masai Mara for example, the
area used for wheat production has grown from 4875 ha in 1975 to over 50,000 ha in
1995. In the nearby Loita plains, (where kori bustards are known to frequent), wheat
production continues to expand as the human population grows and farmers realize the
agricultural potential of the land. As areas used for agriculture expand in Kenya, it can
be expected that the numbers of wildlife, including kori bustards will decline (Ottichilo
2001).
The spread of agriculture, urbanization, pollution, pesticides, (including those that
are banned in other countries), and other consequences of an exploding human population
are all contributing to a deteriorating situation for many species of wildlife, including kori
bustards. Total population size has not been reported in East Africa nor has it been
reported for individual countries.
Country Population size/status
Sudan Breeding populations exist in the extreme southeastern area of the country,
but total population size is unknown. Possibly only a dry season visitor to
this country (Nikolaus 1987).
Kenya Kori bustards are most numerous in the dry grassland areas of northern and
western Kenya and the Rift Valley highlands south to Mara Game Reserve,
Loita Plains, Nairobi National Park and Amboseli National Park. They are
scarce and localized from the Tana River south to Tsavo West and Tsavo
East National Park (Zimmerman 1996). Total population size is unknown.
Mwangi (1988) estimated 0.3 birds per km 2 in Nairobi National Park in
1986/87.
- 4 -