Animal Behaviour Research Unit
Mikumi National
Park, Tanzania
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Animal Behaviour Research Unit
Mikumi National
Park, Tanzania
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About ABRU and Mikumi National Park
The Animal Behaviour Research Unit (ABRU) was established in Mikumi National
Park, Tanzania, in 1974. ABRU's research in to the behaviour and ecology
of yellow baboons is now into its third decade. It is one of only a handful
of long-term primate fields studies, like those of Jane Goodall on chimpanzees
or Diane Fossey on gorillas, in the world. Although ABRU is best known for its primate studies (over 50 scientific
papers, 10 PhD, several popular articles and a television programme),
it is increasingly involved in ecological monitoring and other conservation
and management related work. For example, ABRU is now involved in studies
on the African Elephant and the most expensive wood in the world, African
Ebony (used for making woodwind instruments). ABRU also supports a number
of education and training initiatives promoting wildlife conservation
and management as well as the production of Mkata - the newsletter of
Mikumi National Park. ABRU is currently under the direction of Guy Norton, Senior Lecturer
in the Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Polytechnic University (Cambridge,
UK). Up to three research assistants and two research rangers are based
permanently at the ABRU field station. The stations facilities include
accommodation for staff, visiting scholars and research students plus
computers, a library and a small laboratory. ABRU collaborates with many scientists and institutions within Tanzania
and works particularly closely with Tanzania National Parks. For further information contact:
Mikumi National Park in central Tanzania, is a protected
area of outstanding natural beauty and high biodiversity. Mikumi is the
park closest to the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam which is only 300
km to the east and supports a wide range of large mammals, including elephant,
lion, giraffe, sable antelope, zebra and buffalo, which attract thousands
of visitors each year. Besides recreation, Mikumi National Park offers
unique conservation, education and research opportunities. Mikumi National Park is visited by more Tanzanians than any other National
Park in Tanzania, not only through organised visits but also as a consequence
of transit viewing of game animals from passing vehicles. Mikumi National
Park is one of the best opportunities for wildlife enjoyment, education
and research by Tanzanian citizens. Although Mikumi National Park has
a large number of total visitors, revenue is much less than that for northern
parks such as the Serengeti. These other parks are heavily visited by
foreign tourists (often travelling from Kenya) who pay much higher fees.
As a consequence, management in Mikumi is seriously underfunded and the
potential for tourism and education is not yet realised to any significant
degree. The Animal Behaviour Research Unit (ABRU) was established in Mikumi National
Park, Tanzania, in 1974. ABRU is currently under the direction of Guy
Norton, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Polytechnic
University (Cambridge). Up to three research assistants and two research
rangers are based permanently at the ABRU field station. The station's
facilities include accommodation for staff, visiting scholars and research
students plus computers, a library and a small laboratory. A main research focus of ABRU since its inception has been the long-term
observation of baboons in their natural environment. Over 50 scientific
papers, 10 Ph.D. theses and 2 nature films have resulted from this work.
There have been several popular articles and a television programme produced
on ABRU, its researchers and the baboons. Currently one major focus of
this research is how and why baboons use their cheek pouches. Scientists
studying the Mikumi baboon are the first to recognise the full potential
significance of cheek pouch use for our understanding feeding behaviour
and patterns of evolution in primates. Another current topic is grooming
in relation to ectoparasites and hygiene. ABRU has been involved in research on many other species including, lion,
giraffe, elephant and warthog. Elephant studies are seen as particularly
crucial. Elephants are an important flagship species. In Mikumi, as elsewhere,
elephants have a major effect on habitat structure. In addition, the Mikumi
elephants are part of what the IUCN believes to be the largest wild elephant
population remaining in Africa. Research on elephants in the northern
third of Mikumi National Park has formed part of ABRU's routine work for
some years and now this is being expanded parkwide (see Darwin Initiative
Elephant Project). Data on elephant damage to and use of trees has been
collected as part of ABRU's Ecological Monitoring Programme since 1992.
ABRU's studies of the interactions between animals and their habitats
have revealed a great deal of information on the ecosystem of Mikumi National
Park. In 1992, ABRU decided to build on and extend its study of these
ecological processes by setting up a long-term Ecological Monitoring Programme.
This Ecological Monitoring Programme has integrated animal studies, long-term
climatic records, educational courses and the development of management
plans aimed at conserving the parks biodiversity. From the earliest stages of the Ecological Monitoring Programme it was
apparent that a separate detailed study of Dalbergia melanoxylon (also
known as African Blackwood or Mpingo) was needed. ABRU recorded vast amounts
of dead Dalbergia, despite many years of heavy harvesting of the dead
wood by park staff for firewood. In contrast very few live specimens were
found. Dalbergia is important economically to Tanzania. It generates over
$1.5 million annually in foreign currency, mainly through sales to makers
of woodwind instruments, particularly clarinets, but also through the
tourist trade in 'Mpingo' carvings. Many populations of this tree are
under threat within Tanzania due to this heavy commercial use. One of
ABRU's main priorities is the further study of the ecology of Dalbergia
in Mikumi National Park. Environmental Impact Assessments produced by ABRU have been instrumental
in protecting an especially ecologically sensitive area of Mikumi National
Park from development. These same assessments have been used to suggest
alternative more environmentally friendly areas for tourist facility developments
within the park. In addition, ABRU is collaborating closely with the park
management on Environmental Impact Assessments of tourist roads and the
tarmac highway within the park. A crucial step in the conservation of biodiversity is establishing which
species are present in a particular area. This fundamental knowledge is
very limited for Mikumi National Park. Therefore, in collaboration with
the Park Ecology Programme, ABRU has begun compiling inventories on the
major taxonomic groups. Species inventory lists have been produced for
birds (over 400 species) and plants (over 800 species). The ABRU team has worked hard to renovate the Park's museum and herbarium.
Both the museum and the herbarium represent important education resources
for students and tourists. ABRU is directly involved in the planned further
development of the museum as an information centre. The Darwin Initiative
Elephant Project is another way in which ABRU is helping to establish
a continuing training and educational programme within the park are currently
underway. In a joint effort with the Park authorities, ABRU is producing Mkata - the newsletter of Mikumi National Park. As noted, the Park is seriously underfunded and both educational and tourist potentials are not yet realised to any significant degree. One of the primary aims of Mkata is to help address this imbalance. Mkata raises money to assist in the management of Mikumi National Park and is supporting the development of the Parks educational role. ABRU works in close collaboration with the Principal Park warden of
Mikumi National Park and his staff, especially the Park Ecology Department.
Examples, described above, of this close association include, the renovation
of the Park museum, the environmental impact assessment of roads within
the Park and the production of Mkata - the newsletter of Mikumi National
Park. ABRU has strong links with the University of Dar es Salaam and regularly
participates in teaching students from the University of Dar es Salaam
that visit Mikumi National Park on field courses. ABRU also has links
with Sokoine University in Morogoro (the large town nearest Mikumi). ABRU has two permanent full-time Tanzanian employees, Charles Kidung'ho
and William Marwa, who are directly responsible for the collection of
the crucial long-term data. Their extensive experience helps insure the
continuity and reliability of these data. Permission has been given to ABRU researchers to work in Mikumi National
Park by: Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Tanzanian
National Parks (TANAPA) and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWRI).
ABRU is directly responsible to TANAPA and TAWRI and is in frequent consultation
with these agencies. Over its 20 year history, ABRU activities have been supported by a number of different organisations including: American Society of Primatologists, For further information contact: Guy
Norton (ABRU Director) or Dawn
Hawkins (ABRU, Research Associate), Senior Lecturer, Department of
Life Sciences, Anglia Polytechnic University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1
1PT, England. Tel: (0)1223 363271 ext 2590/2282. Fax:(0)1223 417712. Email:
g.norton@anglia.ac.uk /d.hawkins@anglia.ac.uk.
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 ©Anglia Ruskin 2008 |
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| Environmental Sciences Research
Centre , Anglia Ruskin University East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT Tel: +44 (0)1223 363 271 Fax: +44 (0)1223 417712 |
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