THE ISLAND NATIONAL PARKS IN TANZANIA MAINLAND

The great attracrtions in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the East African countries and the one among four leading countries in the world in term of biodiversities, the country have 16 national parks under Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA). Tanzania is rich in both wild fauna and flora. Some of national parks with unique features in Tania includes Rudondo and Saanane national parks both found in Lake Victoria in Mwanza region, the region which large part of it is dominated by Moist forest mosaic (Tropical rain forest).

Mwanza city Tanzania

RUBONDO NATIONAL PARK

Rubondo national park is one of the two island national parks found in Tanzania mainland, The park has 456.8 km2 of which 236.8 km2 is dry land and 220 km2 is water comprising of 11 small islets of varying sizes. Rubondo Island became a game reserve in 1965, to provide a sanctuary for animals and Rubondo Island National Park was gazetted in 1977. It is an important breeding ground for both migratory birds and fish species (especially Tilapia and Nile perch) as for a long time it stood to be the only area in the waters of Lake Victoria which was well protected and preserved. It is 1,134 metres above sea level. The highest point on Rubondo is the Masa Hills in the far south, at an elevation of 1,486m (350m above the level of the lake).The main island measures 28 km from north to south and is 3–10 km wide. Rubondo Island is on a rift in the lake. Rubondo essentially consists of a partially submerged rift of four volcanically formed hills, linked by three flatter isthmuses. The island has no rivers and the soil is volcanic. The habitat is mixed evergreen and semi deciduous forest, which covers about 80% of the island’s surface area,  when you visit Serengeti you will find out that about 80% of the park is covered by a dense forest thus providing a variety of habitats to wildlife ranging from savannah, open woodland, papyrus swamps to dense forest.

Native animals species in the park includes, sitatunga, bushbucks, velvet monkeys, genet cats, spotted necked otters, hippopotamus and crocodiles

Introduced animal species includes chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, black and white colubus monkeys, suni and African grey parrots. The park is famous by holding a variety of migratory birds from different parts of the world and some birds native to the area like the African fish eagles

The park is located on the south-western part of Lake Victoria in Geita region about 150 km (95 miles) west of Mwanza city. The Lake (Victoria) is the second largest lake in the world and is also the source of the longest river in the world, River Nile.

Rubondo island national park

Several attractions are found in the island park the includes

A variety of water birds , Eurasian migrants and introduced African grey parrots

High density of African fish eagles distinctly seen

Animal species including Sitatunga, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Bushbucks, Pythons, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees (not fully habituated), Bush pigs and Suni

The Lake Victoria forming a spectacular sight for visitors with the deepest point in the lake (Irumo) forming part of the park

Magnificent view of one of the last remaining representatives of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique habitat mosaic in the midst of high biodiversity value

Beautiful and attracting beaches such as Fly catcher, Mchangani and Michicoco

Important gulfs of Irumo and Kamea

Clear sighting of both sun rise and sun set

Cultural sites such as “Ntungamirwe”, “Maji Matakatifu”, “Altare” and “Solo” which explain the life of natives who once stayed in the park, Birds Islands”, breeding sit for water birds,Crocodile island

Park Seasons

The Park is open and operates the whole year through with the peak/high season from July to February (The best time for game viewing) and low season that commences on March through June. The park normally opens at 0630am and closes at 1800hours the time in which all visitors are supposed to be in hotels, bandas, lodges, campsites or any places sought for their accommodation.

SAANANE NATIONAL PARK

Saanane Island is a fully fledged National Park since July, 2013, covering an area of 2.18 sq km comprises of three islets and aquatic environment.  The islets lie on the southern part of the main Island. The Park is located 2km Southwest of Mwanza city centre, which lies in the Gulf of Lake Victoria (Latitude 2.5 S and Longitude 32 E).

Historically, Saanane Island was managed as zoo in 1964 and elevated to a status of a Game Reserve in 1991. In 2006, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism directed Tanzania National Parks to assume full responsibility of managing and overseeing the overall running of the game reserve and initiate the process of elevating it to the status of a National Park.

Till 2013 TANAPA had taken a number of measures to fully utilize the area profitably by improving its marketability as a tourist attraction site in order to generate income as well as revenue for the government. Since 2006, TANAPA has been taking deliberate steps to realize this objective. One of the measures taken was the introduction of limited number of wild animals species (herbivores).

Recentry  TANAPA  have official 16 National Parks in the country, which includes Serengeti; Lake Manyara; Tarangire and Arusha National Parks, Kilimanjaro; Mkomazi; Saadani; Mikumi; Udzungwa Mountains; Ruaha; Kitulo; Katavi; Gombe; Mahale Mountains and Rubondo Island national parks.

Some areas of Saanane island park

Sadan national park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa. The Park is the home of mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys and Wild Cats. The presence of “De-brazas Monkey” underscores its potential as the only Park in the country inhabiting the species.  Reptiles are also dominant; they include crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, Snakes particularly Python.

De- brothers monkey 

The aquatic part of the Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

Saanane Island is an ideal place for game viewing, bird watching, rock hiking, boat cruise, walking, picnics, bush lunch, photographing/filming, meditation and sport fishing.  Special occasions like wedding, engagement, team building, family day and birthdays can also be organized.

Visiting Season Saanane Island is an ideal place for game viewing, bird watching, rock hiking, boat cruise, walking, picnics, bush lunch, photographing/filming, meditation and sport fishing.  Special occasions like wedding, engagement, team building, family day and birthdays can also be organized.

 My dear friend it is up to you now to visit these parks and all other protected areas in the country.

Puzzle: It is hypothesed that a male and female human being adds 10 and 7 years respectively only by visting protected areas!!!.Find out!.

IS TANZANIA ONE OF MEGA DIVERSITY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD OR NOT?

WHY TANZANIA IS CONSIDERED  AS THE ONE OF MEGADIVERSE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

Tanzania, encompassing the Mainland and Zanzibar Islands, is the largest country in East Africa ,It is located on the east coast of Africa between latitudes 10S and 12°S And longitudes 30°E and 40°E. It extends from Lake Tanganyika In the West to the Indian Ocean in the east; Lake Victoria in the North, to Lake Nyasa and river Ruvuma in the South. The country borders with Kenya and Uganda in the North, Rwanda, Burundi in the North west, Republic of Congo (Zaire) in the West, Zambia to the South- west, and Malawi as well as Mozambique in the South. The total area of Tanzania is 945,000 km2 of which The Zanzibar Islands Cover 2,400 km ². Inland waters cover an area of 61,500 km 2, 88% of which is covered with Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa.

Tanzania is among the Mega diversity countries in the World although there are some claims that Tanzania may not be  one of them. 

To be honest let me remind you that, Tanzania contains some 20 percent of the species of African's large mammals population, found across its reserves, conservation areas, marine parks, and 16 national parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and forming approximately 38 percent of the country's territory

Some of Main groups of chordates found in Tanzania are explained bellow,

BIRDS

The avifauna of Tanzania include a total of 1039 species, of which 23 are endemic, four have been introduced by humans and 43 are rare or accidental. Of these, 36 species are globally threatened.

Endemic species are includes  yellow-collared lovebird (Agapornis personatus), Pemba green pigeon (Treron pembaensis), Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis), Usambara eagle-owl (Bubo vosseleri), Beesley's lark (Chersomanes beesleyi), Mrs. Moreau's warbler (Scepomycter winifredae), Usambara hyliota (Hyliota usambarae), Usambara akalat (Sheppardia montana), Iringa akalat (Sheppardia lowei), Rubeho akalat (Sheppardia aurantiithorax), banded sunbird (Anthreptes rubritorques), Moreau's sunbird (Nectarinia moreaui), rufous-winged sunbird, Tanzania seedeater (Serinus melanochrous), rufous-tailed weaver (Histurgops ruficauda), Kilombero weaver (Ploceus burnieri), Tanganyika masked weaver (Ploceus reichardi) and Usambara weaver (Ploceus nicolli).  Nearly 1,500 varieties of birds have been reported with the course of time. The well known introduced species are rock pigeon (Columba livia) and Indian house crow (Corvus splendens).

MAMMALS

More than three hundred species of mammals have been reported in Tanzania. Some of the species reported are: African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), Burchell's zebra (Equus burchellii), Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), woodland dormouse (Graphiurus murinus), kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji), Thomas's bushbaby (Galago thomasi), Prince Demidoff's bushbaby (Galagoides demidovii), puku (Kobus vardonii), gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel (Idiurus zenkeri), suni (Neotragus moschatus), mbarapi (Hippotragus niger) and North African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Predators: these includes are:Lion (Panthera leo), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and serval (Leptailurus serval).

Some of the primate species reported are: chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and baboons (Papio): anubis baboon (Papio anubis), yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus), and hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas).

Giraffe as one of large mammals in Tanzania

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Tanzania is internationally recognized as a key country for the conservation of African biological diversity. Its herpeto-fauna numbers about 121 amphibians and over 275 reptiles, many of them strictly endemic and included in the “IUCN” Red lists of different countries. Despite the vicinity of a major road, the rain forests of the South Nguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania were virtually unexplored until 2004, particularly from a herpetological point of view. New surveys have resulted in the discovery of 17 reptile and amphibian species new to science. These species are only known from the Nguru Mountains.  The surveys recorded a total of 92 herpeto-faunal species of which 15 were species previously only known from other areas.Recently there are different researches being conducted to find out whether there new species in Tanzania particularly in the Eastern arc mountain where many heperto-fauna were discovered.

Biological Diversity in Tanzania is generally threatened. Human activities, such as agriculture and felling of trees for fish curing, woodfuel and timber are major threats to forests. Coastal forests have disappeared at an alarming rate as a result of agriculture, pit sawing, charcoal production and mining of salt, limestone and beach sand. Poaching of animals for meat and trophy, particularly in the protected areas and loss as well as fragmentation of wildlife habitats are also a threat to biological diversity. Bio-diversity in wetlands is threatened by pollution and human activities. Because of these threats, the future existence of individual species and ecosystems is in jeopardy. The world community is concerned about the threats to species and their habitats.

Overall, Tanzania is home to more than 11,000 species of plants, 339 mammals, 1036 species of birds, 290 reptiles, 121 amphibians, and more than 331 species of fish. 

Being reach in wild fauna and flora Tanzania is listed  as the one of the Mega diversity Countries of the World.

Mammals	Birds	Reptiles
Mexico (450) Indonesia (436) USA (428) DRC (415) Brazil (394) China (394) Columbia (359) Kenya (359) Peru (344) Uganda (338)	Columbia (1,695) Peru (1,687) Brazil (1,635) Ecuador (1,559) Indonesia (1,531) Venezuela (1,296) Bolivia (1,274) China (1,244) India (1,219) DRC (1,096)	Australia (748) Mexico (687) Columbia (584) Indonesia (511) Brazil (468) India (389) Ecuador (374) China (340) South Africa (299) Peru (298)

The table1: Shows some of Mega diverse country in the World.

Taxon	No. of species
Mammals	339
Birds)	1,036
Reptiles	290
Amphibians	121
Angiospermae (Higher plants)	11,000

Table2: Different species of wild flora and fauna in Tanzania.

These two table may help you to decide whether Tanzania is mega diverse or not, but obviously the answer is that Tanzania is very rich in term of biological species as compared to other countries hence Mega diverse country.

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK AS THE HOME OF GREATEST APES ( GORILLA) IN THE WORLD.

The name "gorilla" was derived from an ancient account by a Carthaginian explorer who sailed along the west coast of Africa nearly 2,500 years ago. Local people shared their name for the great ape with him - the rough translation of which meant "hairy person".

The Mountain gorilla is one of the largest primates in the World with the male mountain gorilla, known as a Silverback, often growing to twice the size of a female mountain gorilla. The Mountain gorilla has longer fur covering its body when compared to other gorilla species, allowing them to be able to withstand both hot and cold temperatures.

Mountain Gorilla carrying an infant.

Distribution

The mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. They are two populations; one is found in Virunga Volcanic Mountains of Central Africa, within three National parks: Mgahinga, in South-West of Uganda; Volcanoes in North-West Rwanda; and Virunga in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), (Stanford, 2001).

Classification

The Mountain gorilla belongs to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Gorilla, and Binomial name: Gorilla Berengei Berengei.

Historically humans and their extinct ancestors were classified in the Family Hominidae while all great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans) were classified in the Family Pongidae. However, biomolecular and genetic research along with recent fossil evidence have identified new similarities between species, leading to the reclassification of chimpanzees and gorillas into the Family Hominidae. The gorillas, are closely linked to Human by DNA, gorillas are one of the four species of great apes that are the closet living relatives of humans; like three others; Chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans,

In 2001 mitochondrial DNA research and morphological variances have led to the scientific reclassification of gorillas. Under the new classification gorillas are divided into two species, the eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). It is thought that the two species diverged from one another about 2 million years ago and both have two subspecies.

The eastern gorilla's two subspecies are the eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) and the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringi).

It has been suggested that there is a third subspecies of eastern gorillas because a small subset of mountain gorillas that inhabit the Bwindi National Park in Uganda possess distinctive characteristics such as morphology, ecology and behavior. Due to the small size of mountain gorilla populations and available samples for testing, it is difficult to determine whether the two populations are physically and genetically distinct enough to be considered two separate subspecies. The western gorilla's two subspecies are the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli).

	CLASSIFICATION OF GORILLA
Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)			Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
Eastern lowland Gorilla(G.b.graveri)		Mountain Gorilla (G.b.beringei)	Cross River Gorilla (G.g.diehli)	Western lowland Gorilla(G.g.gorilla)

The table showing the modern classification of gorilla

Unique Features of the Mountain Gorilla

The Mountain gorilla is diurnal and spends most of its waking life eating. Is highly sociable mammal and lives in groups of between 5 and 30 individuals, which includes mix of both male and female mountain gorillas. The alpha male mountain gorilla tends to rule for around 5 years, and as these mountain gorillas are non territorial.

Mountain Gorilla is Omnivore and its favourite food is leaves, seed and Herbs size: 1.5-1.8m, Weight: 204-227 kg, Top speed: 40km/h, Life Span: 35-50 years, Lifestyle: Social. Habitat: Tropical Forest and Jungles in Mountainous regions. Average litter size: 1 baby. Predators: Human, Leopard. Special: Sociable habits and agile hands and feet

The scientific order Primates encompasses about 233 living species classified in 13 scientific families. Most primates live in tropical forests and vary greatly in size. The smallest primate member is the pygmy mouse lemur weighing around 31 g (1.1 oz) and the gorilla is the largest primate weighing up to 220 kg

Feeding behavior

The Mountain gorillas have 32 teeth, the same in number as humans, they have large strong teeth adapted for coarse vegetation they consume, adult male develop big, sharp canines as they mature. They eat variety of plants; favorites include wild celery, bamboo, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and certain fruits. These plants seem to provide sufficient moisture so that gorillas do not need water.

Reproduction

The Mountain gorilla is highly social, and lives in relatively stable, cohesive groups held together by long-term bonds between adult males and Females. Relationships among females are relatively weak ( Stewart.at el., 1987). These groups are non-territorial; the silverback generally defends the group rather than this territory. In the Virunga Mountain Gorillas, the average length of tenure for a dominant silverback is 4.7 years ( Robbins, 1995)

The Mountain gorilla mating is throughout the year, the gestation period is 8.5 months with litter size of 1 baby, Gorilla infants are helpless at birth and weigh about 3-4 Ibs. The Gorilla males are ready to mate when they are approximately 15 years of age, for females it is about 8 years of age. Due to the age maturity and how much time they give to their offspring, each female may only have 3 to 4 of them in their lifetime.

Conclusion

 The Mountain gorilla is a critically endangered species, as the Mountain gorilla population has diminished rapidly through loss of habitat and illegal poaching. For example More than 100,000 people live in the remote areas where mountain gorillas are found, Between 1990 and 1994, large numbers of Rwandan refugees fled to camps at the edge of the Virunga National Park, leading to uncontrolled firewood harvesting as well as increased poaching, also in 2004, 1,500 hectares of prime mountain gorilla habitat were cleared by illegal settlers in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). All these factors contributed in one way or another in endangering the population of mountain gorilla. However recent data shows that Mountain gorillas are experiencing a population increase this is due to intensive conservation efforts and successful community engagement in conservation process.

Mountain gorillas hunted illegally for trophies in DRC. 

Watching birds along the ocean shores

What is bird watching?

Bird watching is one of the common and well known activities in the study of wild animals this practice enables watchers to identify, classify or even study behaviors of birds. Bird watching is recreational activities which can be done by direct observation with the naked eyes or using devices which magnifies images for clear observation these are binocular and telescopes.

One of the student of The University of Dar es Salaaam watching birds at Mwalim Nyerere Campus in Dar es Salaam 

How bird watching can help in identification of bird species?

To answer this question let us consider the example below,

Identification of the common tern ( Sterna repressa ).

Non breeding common tern caught at oyster bay beach in Dar es salaam

Descriptions

The bird has black cap and pale grey upper parts, under part are washed pale grey, always have black bill but it may sometimes have a red bill with a black tips, Non breeding has the white fore crown and blackish bar across the lesser wing covert. when year old (1st year) are similar but may show few brown fringes above

Location Large number may be seen offshore in mixed feeding flocks, and at estuary roots rarely in inland areas.

why naturalists do identify birds?

Bird watching is one of the important work made by ecologists in understanding the composition and behavior of nature.

OYSTER BAY AS HOME OF MANY ALGAE

Algae is the group of eukaryotic organisms comprises of unicellular such as Chlorella and the diatoms as well as multicellulars such as the giant kelp, Most are autotrophic and lack stomata, xylem and phloem, rhizoids in nonvascular plants, and the roots, leaves, and other organs that are found in vascular plants. The largest and most complex marine algae are called seaweeds.

Algae include organisms having chlorophyll as their primary photosynthetic pigment but lacking a sterile covering of cells around their reproductive cells. Some scientists excludes prokaryotes and thus do not consider cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) as algae.

Examples of algae found at Oyster Bay rock shore includes; sargassum (sea weeds), vulva and green algae.

Green algae arethe group of unicellular organisms containing chlorophylls. Algae derives their energy from photosynthesis but some are heterotrophs (do not manufacture their own food) sometimes parasitic, relying entirely on external energy sources and have limited or no   mechanism of acquiring energy.

Fig 1: Green algae on the Koko beach at oyster bay in Dar es salaam Tanzania.

Sargassum is a genus of brown, family Sargassaceae and class Phaeophyceae (seaweed) in the order Fucales. 

Fig2:The brown algae (sargassum sp) on the Oyster Bay's rocky shore in Dar es salaam Tanzania.

They inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. However, the genus is known for its planktonic (free-floating) species. While most species within the class Phaeophyceae are predominantly cold water organisms that benefit from nutrients upwelling, genus Sargassum appears to be an exception.