Artiodactyla Id code: amd161
Bovidae Damaliscus lunatus (Burchell, 1823) (Eng) Topi, sassaby, tsessebe, tiang, korrigum (Fre) Sassaby, damalisque Taxonomic notes It includes numerous subspecies, sometimes given full species status, such as: D. l. lunatus (tsessebe), D. l. korrigum (korrigum), D. l. tiang (tiang), D. l. jimela (topi), D. l. topi (coastal topi) (East, 1996). D. hunteri is treated here as a full species. IUCN threat category Lower Risk, but Conservation Dependent (LR:cd) both as a species and as D. l. jimela in Burundi (ex), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, former Zaire, as D. l. lunatus in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique (ex), Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland (ex), Zambia, Zimbabwe, as D. l. topi in Kenya, Somalia, but near threatened (LR:nt) as D. l. tiang in C.A.R., Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda. Vulnerable (VU: criteria A1a) as D. l. korrigum in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia (ex), Ghana (ex), Guinea (ex?), Guinea-Bissau (ex), Mali (ex), Mauritania (ex), Niger, Nigeria, Senegal (ex), Togo (ex?). Available information The species' ecology has been quite widely studied particularly in East Africa. East Africa: The main aspects of the ecology of the species have been studied by Duncan (1976) in the Serengeti Plains. Yoaciel & van Orsdol (1981) investigated the effects of the reduction of available open grassland on the topi population of the Ruwenzori National Park, while Wisley (1996) focused on the use of burned sites in the Serengeti Plains. A comparative study of the diet of some big antelopes, including the topi, was also conducted in the Serengeti by Murray (1993). Population size and structure, and reproductive behaviour were studied respectively by Eltringham & Din (1977) in the Ruwenzori National Park (Uganda) and by Gosling & Petrie (1990) in the Mara Game Reserve (Kenya). Some information on the ecology and distribution of the species in Somalia is found in Funaioli (1971). Yalden et al. (1996) report on its distribution in Ethiopia and Eritrea. West and Central Africa: Most of the literature available concerns its status and distribution. Status, density and habitat preferences were investigated in the Waza National Park (Cameroon) by Tchamba & Elkan (1995). Causes of its drastic decline in this part of the continent are analysed by Sayer (1982). Some data on its presence and status in former Zaire and the Central African Republic are given respectively by Verschuren (1975) and Spinage (1981). Population status and numbers in the W National Park (Niger) are reported by Grettenberger (1984). A study on population structure and survival rates was conducted by Mertens (1985) in the Virunga National Park (former Zaire). Southern Africa: General information on its ecology and distribution is found in Mills & Hes (1997) and Skinner & Smithers (1990). In South Africa, status, distribution and ecology in Natal are analysed by Rowe-Rowe (1994), while data for the Orange Free State are given by Lynch (1983). The tsessebe population has recently been monitored in Botswana (Anonymous, 1993, 1994a, 1994b). General information on the species' ecology and distribution is found in Estes (1991), Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Status and distribution, together with some information on its ecology, for each country in which the species occurs are reported by East (1988, 1989, 1990). Known extent of occurrence 
D. lunatus is discontinuously distributed throughout almost all sub-Saharan Africa (Fig. 8.6.6.a), but it has been completely eliminated in West Africa except for a small area across Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Niger. It has been introduced or re-introduced in Natal, Transvaal and other part of South Africa (East, 1996). A source map was obtained from Skinner & Smithers (1990), then updated using country maps in East (1988, 1989, 1990) as indicated by Dr. R. East (23 June '97). Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model Typically found in floodplain grasslands and open woodlands, the species is water bound (Haltenorth & Diller, 1980; Kingdon, 1997; East, 1988, 1989, 1990). Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 8.6.6.b) (Tab. 8.6.6.a):
Tab 8.6.6.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to the different environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
Tab 8.6.6.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes. Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 8.6.6.c. Validation
Tab 8.6.6.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters. Comments and conservation issues The known EO is what is left of a wider distribution in the past: the small pocket in Burkina Faso and adjacent areas is an example of the gradual extermination of the species from West Africa. Thus, the EO is broken into several portions of different size. The CD model indicates that the EO is generally of moderate suitability (69% of moderately suitable areas) with large unsuitable areas, particularly in Sudan, coastal Kenya and Somalia, Uganda and where populations have been re-introduced in South Africa. The PC confirms most of these unsuitable areas but is less negative in classifying central Sudan, evening out the suitability values within the largest EO patch. The good degree of accordance (61.67%) of the CD model to field data reflects the quantity of information available on the species' ecology. As for most of the large ungulates in Africa, the species has been hunted and eliminated over most of its range, but it can be very abundant locally, especially within the protected areas which account for little less than 10% of the total AO. Fragmentation is obviously very high as shown by both the NP and the LPI of the suitable areas and the total AO.
Tab 8.6.6.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as derived from the categorical discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas. References Anonymous (1993). Aerial census of animals in northern Botswana. Technical report by ULG Consultants to the Dept. of Wildlife and National Parks, Govt. of Botswana England. Anonymous (1994). Aerial census of animals in Botswana: wet season 1994. Wildlife conservation in northern Botswana. Anonymous (1995). Status and trends of selected wildlife species in Botswana. Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana. Duncan P. (1976). Ecological studies of topi antelope in the Serengeti. Wildlife News: 11(1), 2-8. East R. (Ed.) (1988). Antelope Global Survey and Regional Action Plans. Part I: East and North East Africa. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. East R. (Ed.) (1989). Antelopes Global Survey and Regional Action Plans. Part 2: Southern and South-central Africa. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. East R. (Ed.) (1990). Antelopes Global Survey and Regional Action Plans. Part 3: West and Central Africa. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group. East R. (Ed.) (1996). Antelope survey update. IUCN/SSC Antelope Specialist Group: 2°. Eltringham S.K., Din N.A. (1977). Estimates of population size of some ungulate species in the Ruwenzori National Park, Uganda. E. Afr. Wildl. J.: 15, 305-316. Estes R.D. (1991). The Behaviour Guide to African Mammals. Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. The University of California Press. Funaioli U. (1971). Guida breve dei mammiferi della Somalia. Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare. Biblioteca Agraria Tropicale. Gosling L.M., Petrie M. (1990). Lekking in topi: a consequence of satellite behaviour by small males at hotspots. In: Mungall E.C. (Ed.). Proceedings of the Conference on Ungulate Behaviour and Management, Texas A & M University, May 1988. Grettenberg J. (1984). W National Park in Niger - a case for urgent assistance. Oryx: 18, 230-236. Haltenorth T., Diller H. (1980). A field guide to the mammals of Africa, including Madagascar. Collins, London. Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World. Leggett K. (1995). The present status of wildlife and its future in Botswana. Proc.of a symposium/workshop organised by Kalahari Conservation Soc. and Chobe Wildl. Trust. Lynch C.D. (1983). The mammals of the Orange Free State. Mem. van die Nasionale Mus., Bloemfontein: 18, 1-218. Mertens H. (1985). Structures de population et tables de survie des buffles, topis et cobs de buffon au parc National des Virungas, Zaire. Revue de Ecologie (La Terre et la Vie): 40, 33-51. Mills G., Hes L. (1997). The complete book of Southern African mammals. Struik Publishers. Murray M.G. (1993). Comparative nutrition of wildebeest, hartebeest and topi in the Serengeti. Afr. J. Ecol.: 31, 172-177. Rowe-Rowe D.T. (1994). The ungulates of Natal. Natal Parks, Game & Fish Preservation Board, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, R.S.A. Sayer J.A. (1982). The pattern of the decline of the Korrigum Damaliscus lunatus in West Africa. Biological Conservation: 23, 95-110. Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. Univ. of Pretoria, Pretoria. Spinage C.A. (1981). Some faunal isolates of the Central African Republic. Afr. J. Ecol.: 19, 125-132. Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers. Tchamba M., Elkan P. (1995). Status and trends of some large mammals and ostriches in Waza National Park, Cameroon. Afr. J. Ecol.: 33(4), 366-376 pp. Verschuren J. (1975). Wildlife in Zaire. Oryx: 13(2), 149-163. Wisley B.J. (1996). Variation in use of green flushes following burns among African ungulate species: the importance of body size. Afr.J. Ecol.: 34(1), 32-38. Yalden D.W., Largen M.J., Kock D., Hillman J.C. (1996). Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea. 7. Revised checklist, zoogeography and conservation. Tropical Zoology: 9, 73-164. Yoaciel S.M., van Orsdol K.G. (1981). The influence of environmental changes on an isolated topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela Matschie) population in the Ishasha Sector of Ruwenzori National Park, Uganda. Afr. J. Ecol.: 18, 167-174.
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