I just returned from Moz, and a question for all you readers of Africa and knowledgeable on animals in Africa

Is or was there a population of Sitatunga in Mozambique ?

And if where were they seen ?

I was stumped when I was told of this and now needs too get my ? answered

Hi Kwan, I do not have Smithers' Mammals of the Southern African Subregion with me. If you can get your hands on it, it probably has one of the most accurate distributions of any Southern African mammal you could want. I just looked at Chris and Tilde Stuart's book, and see that Sitatunga only seem to start from Zambia and extend upwards and westwards into the Congo.

It does not show any sign of them in Moz, but that is not to say there are isolated populations in the right kind of habitat there. I hope that helps, but I am sure you probably already knew that. If you ask some of the knowlegeable locals that would probably be the best bet.

Kwan,

Try www.ultimateungulate.com

They are in Mozambique according to this website.

Hi Walter

Yes

Sitatunga are on the list of protected species in moz. I got some older RW records of big game with an entry of one Sitatunga and we had some report of one poached on the northern side of the delta in Luabo described as a Nyala that had funny feet and did not look like a normal Nyala. By the time we got the word the poacher had dumped the head, skin and feet in to the Zambezi and eaten / sold the meat. The description fitted a Sitatunga.
Habitat in the delta would be perfect but never seen any or came across any spore myself? I guess, at one stage there where some?

Cheers

It was a looong time ago but FWIW, I seem to remember reading somewhere that Wally Johnson used to hunt them in Mozambique somewhere........

I was in Tete last week and the Tchuma Tchato took me too a area too survey for a possible new area, whilst there the scout told me about this funny antelope that lives in the one river and that someone from Tchuma Tchato actually did a study there 10 years ago, spoke too the researcher on Thusday and he said they did occur there, and was seen till about 10 years ago, aparently the are was protected by Portugese for Sitatunga,

I am so excited would it not be great if there is still a population out there,
am going back in May too look

Interesting thread and discussion. Sounds somewhat similar to the sitatunga that are found in Namibia - relatively small, localized population in extreme eastern Caprivi but not huntable (for now).

Nzou,

I agree that "Smithers" is T-H-E reference to consult on such matters. I do have my "Smithers" handy as it seldom leaves my desk. Incidentally the latest version is by "Skinner and Chimimba" - but it is just an updated and more accurate "Smithers".

This reference does show in the map that sitatunga does occur in a small area of the far western Tete province of Mozambique - next to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Kwan,

On the strength of this reference I'll say: Yes , sitatunga do/did occur on Moz.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Yip that is where Smithers claim them too be, I was not in that area at all ??


And of course till I verify all will keep mum about where I was