Seasonal changes in the abundance and distribution of large terrestrial mammals in old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

Seasonal distribution of large terrestrial mammals in African protected areas is shaped by factors such as food and water availability, breeding cycles, and predation risks. This study utilised encounter rates derived from diurnal distance sampling to examine seasonal variations in the abundance and distribution of these mammals within Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. Notably, the abundance and distribution in the Marguba range, characterised by mixed open savanna woodland, differed significantly between the dry and wet seasons, as well as among various sub-habitats and ranges during the dry season. The impact of key factors—(1) resource availability (food and water) and/or (2) poaching threat—remains critical and potentially influential in driving these seasonal differences. Further investigation to ascertain the effect of poaching and determine the impact of other controlling factors is crucial. Understanding the effects of these factors is essential for the effective and sustainable management and conservation of large terrestrial mammals in the study area.