Wild Ungulate Population Dynamics and Vegetation Interactions in Kainji Lake National Park

Understanding the population dynamics of wild ungulates and their interactions with vegetation is fundamental to adaptive wildlife management in West African savanna protected areas. Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State, within Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone, supports one of the most diverse ungulate communities in the country, including kob, waterbuck, hartebeest, and buffalo, yet population monitoring has been inconsistent and vegetation-wildlife interaction studies absent. This study investigates wild ungulate population dynamics and vegetation-herbivore relationships in Kainji Lake National Park over two years using distance sampling surveys, vegetation composition plots, and remote sensing of vegetation productivity indices. Distance sampling was conducted along 28 km of established transects during wet and dry seasons. Vegetation plots were established at 80 locations to measure grass biomass, shrub cover, and tree basal area. Results indicate significant seasonal fluctuations in ungulate density and distribution, with a strong attraction to recently burned grassland areas where grass regrowth provides high-quality forage. Buffalo populations show a declining trend across survey years. Vegetation analysis identifies overgrazing by buffalo in concentrated water proximity zones. The study proposes adaptive burning management to distribute ungulate grazing pressure and recommends targeted population assessments for buffalo, which may require management intervention. Findings contribute to the National Park Service ungulate monitoring program for savanna parks. Keywords: ungulate population dynamics, Kainji Lake, North Central Nigeria, vegetation interactions, wildlife monitoring