This proposal intends to clarify the contribution of my study about ecological and behavioral study of giraffe, to our research project “Behavioral, Ecological and Conservation Studies of Chimpanzees and Other Larger Mammals in the Greater Mahale Area.” In the Mahale Mountains National Park of Tanzania, many researchers from Kyoto University carried out limited investigation about wild chimpanzees, fauna and flora for the last few decades. However, there are a few studies of other larger mammals or ecosystem in other area. Now, environmental change is tremendous and the demand for conservation of animals is escalating. It is therefore urgent matters for us to survey larger mammals in Mahale as well as fauna and flora in the other areas of Tanzania. According to these backgrounds, I will conduct research on the giraffe in the Katavi National Park which should serve as a barometer for conservation. To clarify the giraffe nursing strategy and wildlife–human relationships, I am sure this study will contribute to conservation of wildlife, especially giraffe, and the habitat.

Overall aim of this project is to have better understanding of ecosystem surrounding chimpanzees at the Mahale Mountains National Park and adjacent areas in Tanzania. This is essential to have better knowledge of behaviors and societies of chimpanzees, one of the endangered species and closest living species to us humans, and to have sufficient information for the park management on the wildlife. In order to achieve this overall goal, this project includes various approaches from different disciplines including ecology, behavioral ecology, primatology, anthropology, molecular ecology, etc. Specific topics of this year will be: 1) ecological influences of chimpanzee ranging and behaviors; 2) social behaviors and social relationships among chimpanzees and other large mammals; 3) feeding behaviors and techniques; 4) hunting and meat-eating; 5) genetic analysis of chimpanzees and other mammals; 6) cultural behaviors of chimpanzees; 7) mammalian fauna and microbes; 8) inter-group relationships; 9) development of chimpanzees; and 10) wildlife conservation in and outside of national parks. Among the research topics above, I will take part in; 2) social behaviors and social relationships among giraffes, 3) feeding behaviors and techniques; and 10) wildlife conservation in and outside of national parks, to promote conservation of giraffe which is currently facing the “silent extinction”.

My study aim is consisted of two parts: (A) reveal the nursing strategy of giraffe under the human presence/in miombo woodland, (B) reveal the relationship between life-history and knowledge of wildlife among rangers.