Njule 92: an Oxford University expedition to Tanzania 1992

Neil Hanna

New transect techniques were used to determine the relative densities and the distribution of the Black-and-rufous Elephant shrew, Rhynchocyon petersi (Kiswahili name: Njule) in several natural forest habitats including the Pugu, Ruvu, Kazimzumbwi and Kiono forest reserves as well as in sites on Zanzibar, Kisiju Island and Usambaras. These densities were compared with those obtained in plantation, natural woodland, and agricultural land created by deforestation, to assess the ability of the Elephant shrews to survive outside pristine forest. There has been recent destruction of the forest habitats and the expedition became the first people to catch and photograph the shrew alive. Recommendations for habitat preservation are made. Local biologists from the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania and the IUCN project on the East Usambaras were involved in the project.

21/8/96. The aim of this study was to assess the conservation status and distribution of the Black-and-rufous Elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi) in the coastal forests of Tanzania and southern Kenya. After learning the survey methods in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest and Shimba Hill National Park, the team visited eight coastal forests in Tanzania.