serikali ya mapinduzi zanzibar care tanzania and department

Some species have beeen introduced to Ngezi as a conservation measure. Such
species which are endemic in their countries of origin were translocated to new
suitable sites which act as refugia in case of holocausts in their natural habitats. Ngezi
forest reserve in Pemba Island is a useful isolated refugium site for such rare species
facing extinction in their native countries. This principle is recommended in the
‘’Plant Conservation in protected Natural Areas’’ (Given 1994). These species include
Typhonodorum lindleyanum (Madagascar, Mascarene and now in most lawland
coastal East African forests), Calamus sp. and Quassia indica (India). Another species
also introduced to Ngezi is Quassia indica, which is endemic to India. Both species
occur in very fragile swamp habitats that can easily be destroyed and hence make the
species become extinct.
4.2 Fauna
4.2.1 Mammal occurrence and distribution
Only a few of the large mammal species reported to be present in Ngezi were
encountered during the survey either through direct observation or signs (Table 4.11).
Mammals tended to occur in all forest areas though habitat types and human
interference influenced the distribution. Various species of mammals were recognised
within Ngezi forest and the surroundings (Appendix 3). The most abundant group of
mammals at Ngezi forest are bats and the Black Rat (Rattus rattus) and Tree Hyrax
(Dendrohyrax validus) that were estimated by call sites. Other large mammals sighted
physically during the survey included the Zanzibar Red Colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii),
Pemba Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops nesiotes). Basically Pemba Green
monkeys was the most commonly sighted animal and almost in all habitat types. It
was also the only animal which featured most from foot count transects records. Most
other species were recorded from signs such as galagos, genets, civets and owls. The
team was lucky to get a specimen of the Greater galago at Konde village from
children who were playing with it and took photographs and measurements. The
distribution of most species was widespread within the forest and their occurrence
outside the forest reserve was not common except for few such as monkeys who are
also common in farmland areas. The distribution of most species is possibly shrinking
due to hunting, farming, settlements and human disturbances. Below is a synopsis of
some key animal species of Ngezi - Vumawimbi forest reserves.
Table 4.11: Animals and animal signs observed during foot count in Ngezi – Vumawimbi
forest reserves, Pemba (January 2005)
SN Species Observation Sightings
Transect/Frequency
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
1 Vervet monkeys Animals 1 18
Animals 1 12
Animals 1 1
Animals 1 2
Animals 1 3
Sign Food remains 1
Sign Droppings and
1
food remains
Sign Ground mark 1
Signs Urine 2
Animals 1 9
Sign Droppings 1
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