Social preferences of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Bc. Lenka Malyjurkova

Master's thesis

Sociální preference žiraf (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Abstract:

Giraffe herd structure and relationships arechanging the former ideas of weak social bonds into understanding of complex social structures of giraffe herds. Our study focused on the 28 neglected Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa). We investigated the social preferences of 28 introduced giraffes in semi-captivity of Bandia reserve, Senegal. Our aim was to assess the group size of Cape giraffes outside their native range and describe their social relationships. We evaluate whether the focal female associated randomly or patterned theirclose association in manner indicative of social relationship. The dyads were classified according to strength of relationship (weak, medium, strong), using the association index. We reported weak and medium relationships in all types of dyads except female-juvenile. The strongest bond was found in mother-calf dyads. Three of 21 possible female dyads also demonstrated stronger association patterns.Affiliated interaction, proximity and nearest neighbor were analyzed for each adult female, suggesting that giraffe cooperate and maintain relationships. Females associated and interacted more frequently with calves of familiar female then with the others, even if the mother were not presented. Giraffes are sharing the maternal care. The social preference of the mothers, continuously involve the preference of their calves. We concluded that Cape giraffes in new environment have shown similar group size and nonrandom preference for conspecifics as were described in wild and captive studies. The research was supported by CIGA 20135010, CIGA 2134217, IGA FTZ 20135123, ESF/MŠMT CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0040

Abstract:

Giraffe herd structure and relationships arechanging the former ideas of weak social bonds into understanding of complex social structures of giraffe herds. Our study focused on the 28 neglected Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa). We investigated the social preferences of 28 introduced giraffes in semi-captivity of Bandia reserve, Senegal. Our aim was to assess the group size of Cape giraffes outside their native range and describe their social relationships. We evaluate whether the focal female associated randomly or patterned theirclose association in manner indicative of social relationship. The dyads were classified according to strength of relationship (weak, medium, strong), using the association index. We reported weak and medium relationships in all types of dyads except female-juvenile. The strongest bond was found in mother-calf dyads. Three of 21 possible female dyads also demonstrated stronger association patterns.Affiliated interaction, proximity and nearest neighbor were analyzed for each adult female, suggesting that giraffe cooperate and maintain relationships. Females associated and interacted more frequently with calves of familiar female then with the others, even if the mother were not presented. Giraffes are sharing the maternal care. The social preference of the mothers, continuously involve the preference of their calves. We concluded that Cape giraffes in new environment have shown similar group size and nonrandom preference for conspecifics as were described in wild and captive studies. The research was supported by CIGA 20135010, CIGA 2134217, IGA FTZ 20135123, ESF/MŠMT CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0040

Keywords

Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis, group, female, calf, sociality, social bond, fission-fusion system, relationship, friendship, association index, inter-individual distance

Keywords

Cape giraffe, group, female, calf, fission-fusion system, association index, inter-individual distance, social relationships, movement, Africa

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 4. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Karolína Brandlová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Wildlife Management in the Tropics and Subtropics