Mon, Aug 23rd, 2010

Ruvubu National Park

By

Ruvubu National Park is located in the east of Burundi. It occupies a surface of approximately 50.900ha, with altitudes ranging between 1.350 and 1.836m. On its main axis, it is 62 km long, whose general direction is south-west to northeast.

Its width varies between 5 km and 13 km near the Tanzanian border. For the vegetation, there are several assemblages; namely, woodland savannas with Parinari curatellifolia, thicket and woodland savannas with Parinari curatellifolia, Pericopsis angolensis and Hymenocardia acida, open grassland savannas, forest galleries, and marshes with the tall Cyperus papyruses and mixed with the shorter species of Cyperaceae. The vegetation is little studied, and only 300 species have so far been recorded.

The fauna of the Ruvubu National Park comprises 44 species of mammals, that belong to 18 families of which the most important are Bovidae and Viverridae. Big game species are Syncerus caffer, Kobus ellisiprymnus defassa and Tragelaphus scriptus. Among the predators, there are Panthera pardus (leopard) and Canis aductus (wilddog). Three species of primates are found there.

Our hundred twenty one species of birds have been recorded in the park. There are several species of aquatic birds, and these are typical of the aquatic environments of eastern and southern Africa, with a species like Ardeola rufiventer. The fauna of savanna includes elements that characterize Zambezi biomes, such as Souimangas amethyst, Monticola angolensis, etc. There are forest birds, including mountain spcies, like Trichastoma pyrrhopterum. The vultures are now rare. The most observed reptile is the Nile crocodile, Crocodilus niloticus. More than 9 species of snakes have been recorded here. Fourteen (14) fish species have been recorded of which catfish (Barbus) are the most represented. A recent inventory made on the amphibians indicates the presence of many frogs and toads such as Ptychadena uzunguensis, Ptychadena loveridgei, Bufo maculatus, etc.

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.

0 comments

Ruvubu National Park