Unraveling the parenting strategies of giraffes and impalas in diverse human activities

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 64040:Social-ecological systems-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2021-2023); Osaka University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Saito Miho 京都大学, アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科, 助教 (10868459)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 仔育て / 対捕食者戦略 / 動物行動学 / キリン / タンザニア / 人間活動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I focused on the parenting strategies of giraffes and impalas, and analyzed the impact of various human activities on their vigilance behavior and choice of parenting sites. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the influence of human activities on the crucial parenting strategies for reproduction in giraffes and impalas, and to consider their adaptability to the environments of both species. I primarily followed giraffe nursery groups and found a tendency for them to select areas near human houses within the park as places where their calves stay. On the other hand, giraffe and impala calves were not observed near human houses or fields near the boundary between the village and the park. These findings were disseminated through academic papers and research presentations, and further made available to the public through the publication of the book.

Free Research Field

動物行動生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で、今まで一元的に捉えられてきた野生動物と人間活動の関係を細分化・再検討することで、野生動物とヒトの共生を考える上での有用な提言が可能になると期待される。また、個体数維持のうえで重要な繁殖活動の一過程である「仔育て」に焦点をあてることで、絶滅危惧種として数が減少しているキリンの保全策を立てる上でも有用な知見を提供すると考えている。