Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus desmarest1804) food plants and feeding habits in the Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

The habitat changes in Borgu sector of Kainji lake National Park affects the food plants and feeding habits of roan antelope. The changes which are usually seasonal variation in climate and the effect of uncontrolled bush burning by poachers. The objectives of the study were to determine the food plants and feeding habits of Roan Antelope. A total of 97 observations were made consisting of 48 in the wet season (May – October) and 49 in the dry season, while the animals were feeding. Observations were made with the naked eyes and where distances were far, binocular was used in observing food plants and feeding habits (graze /browse) of Roan. The result on food plants and feeding habits of roan showed that eight forage plants were fed upon by roan from four different families (Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Verbenaceae. The forage species were; Hyparrhenia rufa, H.cyanescens, Andropogon tectorum, A.gayanus, Gardenia aquala, G. ternifolia, Afzelia africana and Vitex doniana. The poaceae family was dominant with four species. Rubiaceae had two species while Caesalpiniaceae and Verbenaceae had a single species each. The study further revealed that roan preferred Andropogon gayanus (28.9%) and Hyparrhenia rufa (21.6%) both in wet and dry seasons. Roans were observed to graze on leaves of Hyparrhenia rufa, H.cyanescens, Andropogon tectorum and Andropogon gayanus. Furthermore, Roans were observed to browse on fruit / leaf part of Gardenia aquala, leaf part of G. ternifolia, tender leafy part of Azelia africana and fruits of Vitex doniana.