Pictures: Rare Antelope, Big Cats Caught by Camera Trap

Elusive Antelope

Photograph courtesy ZSL

Until the recent camera trap surveys, the Aders' duiker (pictured) was thought to live only in two shrinking forests—one in Zanzibar and another elsewhere in Kenya. The antelope, classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, has declined from 5,000 to about 1,000 animals in the past two decades.

The camera traps, which snapped roughly 3,300 pictures during the recent survey, revealed the new Boni-Dodori duiker population to be the largest known. Details of the discovery were published July 28 in the journal Oryx.

"This population is a lifeline for the critically endangered antelope," ZSL senior conservation biologist Rajan Amin said in a statement.

"Given time and conservation action, we could unearth even more new species in this isolated forest, but we are running out of time to stop the forest and its hidden secrets from being destroyed by rapid coastal development."

(Also see "Kenya Plans for Huge Sugar Factory Spark Bitter Dispute.")

Published August 1, 2011

Prickly Character

Photograph courtesy ZSL

The crested porcupine (pictured) was one of the more common species caught on camera in the Boni-Dodori forest.

The region is also home to the indigenous Boni people, hunter-gatherers who rely on the forest for survival. However, these peoples' numbers are falling, going from a population of 20,000 in the 1950s to just 4,000 today, according to ZSL.

(See "Kenya Honey-Gathering Forest Tribe Caught in Violence [2008].")

Published August 1, 2011

Monkeying Around

Photograph courtesy ZSL

A troop of yellow baboons looks on curiously as a camera trap goes off in the Boni-Dodori forest in a recent picture.

For the project, 52 camera traps were installed throughout 770 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) of the Boni, Dodori, and Lunghi reserves along the Kenyan coast.

(See "Pictures: 'Lost' Deer, Rare Cuckoo Caught in Camera Traps.")

Published August 1, 2011

Curious Caracal

Photograph courtesy ZSL

The caracal, a small cat species, is widespread throughout the African continent. (Related pictures: "Seven Cat Species Found in One Forest—A Record.")

In addition to the Aders' duiker, the recent survey uncovered populations of three other forest antelopes—Harvey's duiker, suni, and blue duiker—which previously were not known to occur in this part of Kenya.

(Also see "Pink-Hippo Pictures: Rare Youngster Spotted in Kenya.")

Published August 1, 2011

Elephant on the Move

Photograph courtesy ZSL

An African elephant strides through the forest in a recent camera-trap picture. In general, the large mammal's range is getting smaller as people clear land for agriculture and fell trees for charcoal, according to ZSL.

There are also plans to build a railway, a new deepwater port, and an airport on the nearby island of Lamu, all of which may further put stress on Boni-Dodori's forest resources.

(Read "Hold the Champagne: Highway to Split Serengeti After All?")

Published August 1, 2011

On the Prowl

Photograph courtesy ZSL

African lions (seen in a recent camera trap picture) are listed as vulnerable by IUCN.

Though the big cats still roam about 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) of Africa, they're declining in number due to indiscriminate killing in defense of life and livestock, coupled with loss of prey.

(Related: "Lions and People Must Learn to Get Along, Experts Say.")

Published August 1, 2011