Behavioral Flexibility of the Family Bovidae in Protected Areas

Flexible behaviours allow for populations and individuals to rapidly adapt to anthropogenic pressures such as landscape transformation, human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC), and habitat loss. As private reserves and protected areas become refuges for many species it is important to improve our understanding of behavioural changes they may display. Our work correlates variations in human involvement such as ecotourism with flexible behaviours such as changes in feeding habits, distribution, and habitat use. 

Species under observation include: 
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Impala Aepyceros melampus
Blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus
Eland Taurotragus oryx
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis
Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger
Bontebok Damaliscus pygargus