Some behavioural characteristics of common hippopotamus (H. amphibius Linn. 1758) in Nigeria's Kainji Lake National Park

A study of behaviour of the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius Linn. 1758) in a dry season water pool was conducted at the Kali hippo pool (Km 19.5 from Oli Base Camp)Kainji Lake National Park, using both scan sampling and focal point techniques. The pattern of daily use of the sample hippo pool by the resident hippos centered on three areas of the pool, namely: the deep pool portion; exposed sandy riverbed and rocky outcrops with surrounding shallow water. The scan sampling showed that floating hippos' number diminished with prolonged stay of tourists (visitors) at the pools. The hippo's foraging range did not exceed 5km distance outside the Oli River fringing forest line into the savanna. The need for the hippos to emerge from water as early as 18.00 hours to forage is a behavioural tendency of significance. The tourists spending late hours at the pool sites should be advised on the danger of standing between the hippos and water on one hand, and between water and foraging areas on the other.Keywords: hippopotamus, behaviour, territoriality, game-viewingInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 5 2004: 27-3

Preliminary Studies On Performance Of Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) At The Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria (FRIN)

The study focused on the performance and reproductive traits of grasscutter being domesticated at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). Data was collected for a period of three years (2003-2006).Results revealed that elephant grass, which is the choice, feed for grasscutter is of low nutritional value, hence necessitating the use of formulated concentrates as supplement. Performance results showed that the mature bucks (male grasscutters) gained more weight than the does(female grasscutters) and also consumed more feed. The buck consumed 175.50+5.00g of concentrate per day while the doe consumed 150.80+7.50 per day. The average forage intake was 608.33+18.33g and504.00+5.10g for the mature bucks and does respectively. The result also showed that the average weight gain (g/animal/day) was greater in the buck (4.26+0.81g) while that of the female was (2.67+0.61g). Thefeed conversion ratio for the buck was 0.08+0.001 and 0.02+0.003 for the forage and concentrates respectively, while that of the doe was 0.005+0.0008 and 0.018+0.0007 for forage and concentratesrespectively. The cost of concentrate in Naira per kilogram is N 22 and the cost/ unit weight gain is N 0.90 and N 1.24 for the bulk and doe respectively. The doe had a gestation period of (151+3 days) and a littersize of (3.90+0.7). The litter ratio showed that the doe gave birth to more males than females and the male is heavier at birth than the female