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White-eared Kob, Kobus kob leucotis, Lichtenstein & Peters, 1853, is known to occur in the Gambela-Boma landscape in western Ethiopia and South Sudan. They live in herds and are generally found near water, in such places as plains, woodlands, swamps, and flood plains. We deployed 36 camera traps in Omo National Park and one of them took two images of a White-eared Kob. This is the first documentation from Omo National Park and showing that its range extends further to Omo than previously known and, therefore, the entire area (Gambella to Omo) can be considered as a range extension.

Species delimitations by morphological and by genetic markers are not always congruent. Magnolia kobus consists of two morphologically different varieties, kobus and borealis. The latter variety is characterized by larger leaves than the former. For the conservation of M. kobus genetic resources in natural forests, the relationships between morphological and genetic variation should be clarified. We investigated variations in nuclear microsatellites, chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences and leaf morphological traits in 23 populations of M. kobus over the range of species. Two genetically divergent lineages, northern and southern were detected and their geographical boundary was estimated to be at 39°N. The northern lineage consisted of two genetic clusters and a single cpDNA haplotype, while the southern one had multiple genetic clusters and cpDNA haplotypes. The northern lineage showed significantly lower genetic diversity than the southern. Approximate Bayesian computation indicated that the northern and southern lineages had experienced, respectively, population expansion and long-term stable population size. The divergence time between the two lineages was estimated to be 565,000 years ago and no signature of migration between the two lineages after divergence was detected. Ecological niche modeling showed that the potential distribution area in northern Japan at the last glacial maximum was very small. It is thus considered that the two lineages have experienced different population histories over several glacial-inter-glacial cycles. Individuals of populations in the central to northern part of Honshu on the Sea of Japan side and in Hokkaido had large leaf width and area. These leaf characteristics corresponded with those of variety borealis. However, the delimitation of the northern and southern lineages detected by genetic markers (39°N) was not congruent with that detected by leaf morphologies (36°N). It is therefore suggested that variety borealis is not supported genetically and the northern and southern lineages should be considered separately when identifying conservation units based not on morphology but on genetic markers., ファイル公開：2020/11/01

This study investigated feeding preference and habitat association of waterbucks in Nechisar National Park from November 2016 to August 2017 by total count and direct observation methods. From this survey, 20 plant species were observed to be the food items consumed by waterbucks. Waterbucks were mostly grazers than browser. The plant species consumed by waterbucks was highly significant between seasons (χ2 = 121.34, df = 1, p < 0.05 ). Out of 20 total plant species consumed, annual grass (11.5%), Leersia virginica (8.4%), and Cynodon dactylon (8.4%) were the most frequently consumed food items, but Tamarindus indica (2.9%), Balanites aegyptica (3.3%), and Acacia polycantha (2.36%) were the least consumed food items. There was significant difference between plant species consumed during both seasons (χ2 = 177.67, df = 19, p < 0.05 ). The Shannon–Wiener diversity index result revealed that there were different varieties of food items for waterbucks in dry season (H’ = 2.9) than in wet season (H’ = 2.6). Young leaves comprised the largest proportion of plant parts consumed by waterbucks compared to others. There was a highly significant difference in feeding plant parts in both seasons (χ2 = 88.5, df = 7, p < 0.05 ). Waterbucks spent more time on feeding in the morning and late afternoon during both seasons. The total number of waterbucks in each habitat varied due to food availability in different seasons. Different conservation measures should be taken against waterbuck reduction and create appropriate environment for waterbuck.

Alkaloids are basic nitrogen-containing chemicals that have important physiological and pharmacological characteristics. Many vascular plant species contain alkaloids, and their roles in planta are of interest. However, the detailed distribution of alkaloids remains unclear because of their low water solubility and low concentrations in plants. In this study, we visualized the distribution of salicifoline, a water-soluble quaternary ammonium alkaloid, in the freeze-fixed stems of Magnolia kobus by cryo time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Most of the salicifoline was distributed in living phloem tissues. In the xylem, salicifoline was detected in ray cells, lignifying wood fibres, and in vessels in the latest annual ring. The salicifoline distribution in the xylem varied with the cell wall formation stage. These results provide new insights into the storage, transportation, and role of the alkaloid salicifoline in M. kobus.

Ruminants have been classified as having a ‘moose-type’ or ‘cattle-type’ digestive physiology. ‘Cattle-type’ ruminants have a clear difference in the mean retention time (MRT) of fluid vs. small particles in the reticulorumen (RR), with a high ‘selectivity factor’ (SF=MRTparticle/ MRTfluid,>1.80), and are typically grazers and intermediate feeders. ‘Moose-type’ ruminants have lower SF (< 1.80), possibly because of defensive salivary proteins that constrain amounts of (high-viscosity) saliva, and are typically restricted to browsing. To further contribute to testing this physiology-diet correlation, we performed 55 individual passage measurements in 4/6 species that have/have not been investigated previously, respectively. Co-EDTA was used as a solute (fluid) and Cr-mordanted hay particles (< 2 mm) as particle markers. Results are related to the percentage of grass in the natural diet taken from the literature. Moose (Alces alces, n=4 on 4 to 5 diets each and n=2 on a single diet, 5% grass, SF 1.46 ± 0.22) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis, n=3 on 3 to 5 diets each, 1%, 1.42 ± 0.23) as classical ‘moose-type’, and cattle (Bos taurus, n=2, 70%, 2.04) as classical ‘cattle-type’ ruminants yielded results similar to those previously published, as did waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus, n=5, 84%, 2.46 ± 0.49), corroborating that the SF represents, to a large extent, a species-specific characteristic. Results in oryx (Oryx leucoryx, n=1, 75%, 2.60) and sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii, n=4, 68%, 1.81 ± 0.21) correspond to the concept of ‘cattletype’ ruminants being grazers or intermediate feeders. However, European bison (Bison bonasus, n=1, 10%, 2.74), nyala (T. angasii, n=6, 20%, 1.95 ± 0.25), bongo (T. eurycerus, n=3, 13%, 2.39 ± 0.54) and gerenuk (Litocranius walleri, n=1, 0%, 2.25) appear as ‘cattle-type’ ruminants, yet have a browse-dominated diet. While the results do not challenge the view that a ‘moose-type’ digestive physiology is an adaptation to browse diets, they indicate that it may not be the only adaptation that enables ruminants to use browse. Apparently, a ‘cattletype’ digestive physiology with a high SF does not necessarily preclude a browsing diet niche. High-SF browsers might have the benefit of an increased harvest of RR microbiota and grit removal prior to rumination; how they defend themselves against secondary plant compounds in browse remains to be investigated.

How do large-mammal communities reassemble after being pushed to the brink of extinction? Few data are available to answer this question, as it is rarely possible to document both the decline and recovery of wildlife populations. Here we present the first in-depth quantitative account of war-induced collapse and postwar recovery in a diverse assemblage of large herbivores. In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, we assembled data from 15 aerial wildlife counts conducted before (1968–1972) and after (1994–2018) the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992). Pre-war total biomass density exceeded 9,000 kg km-2, but populations declined by >90% during the war. Since 1994, total biomass has substantially recovered, but species composition has shifted dramatically. Formerly dominant large herbivores—including elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), zebra (Equus quagga), and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)—are now outnumbered by waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and other small to mid-sized antelopes. Waterbuck abundance has increased by an order of magnitude, with >55,000 individuals accounting for >74% of large-herbivore biomass in 2018. By contrast, elephant, hippo, and buffalo, which totaled 89% of pre-war biomass, now comprise just 23%. These trends mostly reflect natural population growth following the resumption of protection under the Gorongosa Restoration Project; reintroductions (465 animals of 7 species) accounted for a comparatively small fraction of the total numerical increase. Waterbuck are growing logistically, apparently as-yet unchecked by interspecific competition or predation (apex-carnivore abundance has been low throughout the post-war interval), suggesting a community still in flux. Most other herbivore populations have increased post-war, albeit at differing rates. Armed conflict remains a poorly understood driver of ecological change; our results demonstrate the potential for rapid post-war recovery of large-herbivore biomass, given sound protected-area management, but also suggest that restoration of community structure takes longer and may require active intervention.

The impact of abiotic and anthropogenic factors on the distributions of buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ), harte­beest ( Alcelaphus buselaphus ), roan antelope ( Hippotragus equinus ) and waterbuck ( Kobus defassa ) at Mole National Park was assessed by transect survey. Generalized linear mixed effects logistic re­gression was used to model mammal presence/absence as a function of ecological factors. Hartebeest inhabited highlands and avoided floodplains but buffalo and roan avoided floodplains by selecting both lowlands and highlands while waterbuck inhabited lowlands but not necessarily the floodplains. Fire, water availability and anthropogenic activities were limiting factors, which constrained habitat use to make some areas unexplored for foraging. Buffalo, roan and hartebeest did not inhabit areas close to the park’s boundaries. Herbivores need optimal environment almost free of constraints to construct their distribution patterns. Therefore, management should address the problems identified in this study to ensure the herbivores’ redistribution to maximise their use of resources for their effective conservation.

Setyawan AD, Sugiyarto. 2015. Diversity of Selaginella in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 1312-1317. Eastern Java has a relatively drier climate than other parts of Java, but it still has quite a lot of cool mountain areas and provide enough water, for example, Bromo Tengger and Semeru Mountains complex. Selaginella is a herbaceous plant that need water for reproduction, thus it is important to know its existence in the dry climates region due to global climate change. This aims of this study was to determine the species diversity of Selaginella in the National Park of Bromo Tengger and Semeru (BTSNP), East Java. Field study was conducted in August 2007 and May 2015, and followed by observation of specimen collection of Herbarium Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences Cibinong, Bogor. From the field research, there were collected five herbarium specimens, while the herbaria collections observed were 49 sheets of specimens. The results showed that in this park and its border areas, there were found eight species of Selaginella, namely: S. ciliaris, S. intermedia, S. involvens, S. opaca, S. ornata, S. plana, S. remotifolia and S. singalanensis. However, the morphological characteristic of S. intermedia and S. singalanensis needs to be further confirmed since each of them was only observed from a single sheet herbarium, namely O Posthumus 1615 and Kobus Tosari 147, respectively. In Java, S. intermedia was mainly distributed in the western part of Java. Meanwhile, the presence of S. singalanensis in Java was relatively rare.

The present study was conducted on six Magnolia species in the period 2006-2008 in the Botanical Garden of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. The soil and leaves from the locations of the following species of Magnolia were subjected to evaluation: cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata L.), Kobushi magnolia (Magnolia kobus DC), purple lily magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora L.), Japanese willow-leaf magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia Siebold et Zucc. Maxim.), saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana Soul.-Bod.), and umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala L.). The studied plants were planted during the period 1968-1989 on grey-brown podzolic soil derived from loess. The significantly lowest content of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium as well as the lowest pH were recorded in the soil from the location occupied by the purple lily magnolia (M. liliiflora). The other sites were characterized by an optimal range of pH, high soil phosphorus and magnesium availability as well as medium potassium availability. An optimal content of nitrogen and calcium was found in the leaves of the cucumber tree (M. acuminata), of phosphorus and magnesium in the leaves of the Kobushi magnolia (M. kobus), and of potassium in the leaves of the Japanese willow-leaf magnolia (M. salicifolia). A low content of nitrogen and calcium was shown in the leaves of the purple lily magnolia (M. liliiflora), of phosphorus in the leaves of the saucer magnolia (M. x soulangiana), and of potassium in the indicator parts of the cucumber tree (M. acuminata). The study found that among the studied species the cucumber tree (M. acuminata) could be a good biostabilizer of nitrogen, while the Kobushi magnolia (M. kobus) a good biostabilizer of phosphorus and magnesium. In spite of significant differences in soil nutrient availability and clear variations in macronutrient contents in the indicator parts of the investigated plants, no visual symptoms of nutrient deficit were found in the Magnolia species under study.

Thirty-eight taxa of Zygomycetes distributed in 15 genera were recorded from tapir (Tapirus terrestris), camel (Camelus bactrianus), horse (Equus caballus), deer (Cervus elaphus), agouti (Dasyprocta aguti), donkey (Equus asinus), llama (Llama glama) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) dung collected at the Reserva Ecológica de Dois Irmãos located in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. The samples were collected on a monthly basis from June 2005 to May 2006, taken to the laboratory and incubated in moist chambers. Higher number of taxa was observed in the excrements of tapir, followed by deer and donkey. The highest number of species was detected for Mucor, followed by Pilobolus. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in richness of Zygomycetes taxa between the herbivore dung types. Differences of species composition, however, were weak. Seasonality influenced the Zygomycetes species composition but not its richness. Variations in taxa composition between ruminants and non-ruminants dung were non significant.

We revise here the entire collection of Bovidae from the Pliocene Hadar Formation collected at Hadar and Ledi-Geraru, Lower Awash, Ethiopia. Some additions are provided to previously published descriptions, and other forms are described. The complete list includes 28 species, but is dominated by a new species of impala, Aepyceros datoadeni, a kob that we assign to Kobus oricornus, although it belongs to a type distinct from the Omo one, a lineage of alcelaphins that is poorly known elsewhere, Damalborea, and the bovin Ugandax. We also describe a new gazelle, Gazella harmonae, with very peculiar features, including long spiraled horn cores. Changes in the bovid fauna can be detected both within individual lineages, and in the composition of the assemblage. Impala and bovins far outnumber the reduncins in the lower part of the sequence (Basal and Sidi Hakoma members, from ca. 3.8 to 3.2 Ma), but relative abundances become more equal higher up. Biometric changes do occur in the Ugandax and Aepyceros...

V Aha1a J., F. Kale: Blood Serum Biochemical Values of Neonatal Antelopes of the Subfamilies Reduncinae and Hippotraginae. Acta vet. Bmo, 63, 1994: 109-113. Values of 17 blood serum biochemical indicators obtained in 1to4-day old antelopes of 10 species of the Subfamilies Reduncinae andHippotraginae kept in the Zoological Garden at DvQr Kd10v6 are reported. Interspecies differences in the values were more pronounced in the Hippotraginae than in the Reduncinae. The values recorded for the neonatal antelopes were compared with the published data on adult animals of the same species kept in the Zoological Garden at DvQr Kdlov6. Antelopes, neonates, captivity, blood serum, biochemistry. Blood serum biochemical values of captive antelopes have received little attention to date. The present study reports the values obtained in neonatal antelopes of 10 species of the subfamilies Reduncinae and Hippotraginae, namely, mountain reedbucks (Reduncafulvorufula), Lady Grey's waterbucks (Kobus megaceros), lechwe waterbucks (Kobus leche), defassa waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa), common waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus), roan antelopes (Hippotragus equinus), sable antelopes (Hippotragus niger), addax (Addax nasomaculatus), scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), gemsboks (Oryx gazella gazella) in the Zoological GarI den at DvQr KIilov6 during the period 1982 to 1990. I Materials and Methods Blood samples were withdrawn from the vena jugularis of manually restrained clinically healthy 1to 4-day old antelopes on the occasion of preventive measures throughout the year. Included in the study were only those neonates that developed no disease during the following 14 days. Basic information on animals of the individual species are presented in Table 1. The blood samples were collected into glass test-tubes and allowed to stand at room temperature. The samples were forwarded to the laboratory for processing within 60 minutes of collection. The bloodserum biochemical values weredeteImined with methods usedroutinely in clinical practice (pos pi m et al.1987). Means (x) and standard deviations (S.D.) were computed from the values obtained for each species regardless of sex. The significance of the differences between the species was analysed using Student's t -test separately for each subfamily.

Background Two types of lechwe antelopes exclusively exist in their natural ecosystems in Zambia; the Black lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) and the Kafue lechwe (Kobus leche kafuensis). Despite inhabiting similar ecosystems, tuberculosis has been reported in Kafue lechwe without its documentation in Black lechwe antelopes. However, the past few decades have seen a drastic decline in both lechwe populations. Whereas studies have postulated that infectious diseases such as tuberculosis are having a negative impact on the Kafue lechwe population, no information is available on Black lechwe antelopes. Thus this study was conducted to investigate tuberculosis in Black lechwe antelopes of the Bangweulu swamps in comparison with the Kafue lechwe antelopes of Lochinvar. Findings A total of 44 lechwe antelopes (Black (n = 30): Kafue (n = 14) were sampled from Bangweulu and Lochinvar respectively. A positive case was defined with findings of gross lesions with Ziehl Nielsen and culture confirmation. Out of the 14 animals examined in Lochinvar, 21.4% [95% CI: 15.4, 44.4%] had necropsy lesions consistent with tuberculosis. The corresponding samples from 30 Black lechwe of Bangweulu yielded negative results on all the three tests. Conclusions Current findings from this study intimate the possible absence of tuberculosis in Black lechwe antelopes whilst confirming the presence of tuberculosis in Kafue lechwe of the Kafue basin. The absence of tuberculosis in the Black lechwe suggests that the observed population decline may not be caused by tuberculosis. However, without detailed molecular epidemiological studies it is not possible to determine the association of M. bovis infection in sympatric animal populations. The possible role of transmission of tuberculosis between wildlife and cattle is discussed herein. Findings

The development of the Ethiopian biogeographic realm since the late Miocene is here explored with the presentation and review of fossil evidence from eastern Africa. Prostrepsiceros cf. vinayaki and an unknown species of possible caprin affinity are described from the hominid-bearing Asa Koma and Kuseralee Members (∼5.7 and ∼5.2 Ma) of the Middle Awash, Ethiopia. The Middle Awash Prostrepsiceros cf. vinayaki constitutes the first record of this taxon from Africa, previously known from the Siwaliks and Arabia. The possible caprin joins a number of isolated records of caprin or caprin-like taxa recorded, but poorly understood, from the late Neogene of Africa. The identification of these two taxa from the Middle Awash prompts an overdue review of fossil bovids from the sub-Saharan African record that demonstrate Eurasian affinities, including the reduncin Kobus porrecticornis, and species of Tragoportax. The fossil bovid record provides evidence for greater biological continuity between Africa and Eurasia in the late Miocene and earliest Pliocene than is found later in time. In contrast, the early Pliocene (after 5 Ma) saw the loss of any significant proportions of Eurasian-related taxa, and the continental dominance of African-endemic taxa and lineages, a pattern that continues today.

International audience; The sites of Kossom Bougoudi (KB) and Kollé (KL) are intermediate in age between the Sahelanthropus sites of Toros Menalla and the Australopithecus sites of Koro Toro, and their bovid faunas are also intermediate in composition and stage of evolution. Four new taxa are erected. The hippotragine Tchadotragus fanonei nov. sp. is more derived than the type-species of the genus, from Toros Menalla. Kobus ammolophi nov. sp. is also clearly related to the most common reduncine of the latter sites, rather than with other African forms. However, Jamous kolleensis nov. gen. nov. sp., a new bovine with extremely divergent, horizontal horn-cores, is unrelated to other Chadian Bovini. The KB and KL assemblages document the gradual replacement of hippotragines by alcelaphines in Northern Chad, but it is not necessarily linked with environmental change, as all Chadian assemblages virtually lack indicators of bush or woodland like Tragelaphini and Aepyceros. In spite of a significant endemic component, the KB and KL Bovidae compare best with some of those from Sahabi in Libya, confirming North-South connections.

The phytomass and species composition of the herbaceous layer in preferred grazing areas of zebra Equus burchellii, buffalo Syncerus caffer, waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus, blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, impala Aepyceros melampus and warthog Phacochoerusaethiopicus were investigated within the south-eastern portion of the Kruger National Park. The percentage frequency of herbaceous plants in Decreaser and Increaser categories, as determined by their reaction to different intensities of grazing, was established. The preferred grazing areas of the relevant herbivore species were compared in terms of phytomass, contribution of the Decreaser and Increaser categories, veld condition and degree of utilisation. The grazing areas of buffalo and zebra showed less utilisation than those of the other herbivore species. Warthog and impala were associated with over-utilised areas. It is clear that localised over-utilisation is an integral part of the natural grazing mosaic and should be managed as such in large African conservation areas.

The finding that cytochrome c (cyt c) plays a role in programmed cell death after its release from the mitochondrion has recently renewed interest in this protein. The structural changes in cytochrome c observed at early stages of the apoptotic process have been related to changes occurring in the protein when it forms a complex with phospholipid vesicles. Among the lipids constituting the membrane, cardiolipin is the one thought to bind to cyt c. In this paper, we have investigated the influence exerted by ionic strength on cytochrome c-cardiolipin interaction and found that formation of the cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex occurs via two distinct transitions, implying a high-affinity site and a low-affinity site. Ionic strength significantly influences complex stability; sodium chloride dissociates the complex through two distinct transitions, the second of which occurs at a very high anion concentration. ATP also dissociates the complex, but under the conditions that were investigated, its action is limited to the high-affinity site. The dissociation process is characterized by a very slow kinetic rate constant ( k obs = 4.2 x 10 (-3) s (-1)) and requires several minutes to be completed. We ascribe it to the high activation barrier met by the protein when restoring the native Fe(III)-M80 axial bond. The peroxidase activity shown by cardiolipin-bound cytochrome c is indicative of a less packed protein tertiary conformation in the complex. In line with earlier reports, these data highlight the manifold functions of cytochrome c besides the well-known role it plays in oxidative phosphorylation, shedding more light on the properties of the cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex, involved in the progression of early stages of apoptosis.

A computer simulation model was developed to compare six alternative management strategies with respect to their economic performance and impact on population size and structure of Buffon’s kob (Kobus kob kob). The model allows for both controlled and illegal harvesting depending on the level of protection enforcement. Additional features include age–sex structure, density dependence, and environmental stochasticity. The compared strategies combine two enforcement levels and three harvest rates in both sexes. Under low enforcement regime, the population size either remained stable or decreased with legal harvesting. By contrast, an increased protection resulted in a population growth that was either logistic or dampened by legal off-take. Within the tested range of parameters, it appeared that a sustainable harvest could be achieved by taking up to 7% of the kob population. The sex ratio was slightly biased towards females under illegal but random shooting or when male harvesting was high. Both recruitment and yearling-to-cow ratios tend to be low in undisturbed, lightly hunted populations and relatively higher in depressed populations. A substantial reduction in the percentage of illegal harvest was achieved by raising the minimum anti-poaching effort from 0.15 to 0.3 (in arbitrary monetary units). Allowing a simultaneous controlled harvesting increased the amount of captured benefits (meat, trophies and their total value) and hence the household shares in the neighbouring community. At lower discount rates (10% or less), ecological and economic goals are better balanced by combining an increased protection with a high harvest rate. A sensitivity analysis revealed that small increments of the harvest quota return larger increase in revenues, especially for quota levels below 5%. Further, the rate of illegal harvest showed low sensitivity (i.e., hardly changed) when the model assumed that illegal off-take was a quadratic rather than a linear function of anti-poaching effort. In practical terms, the reduction in illegal off-take can be expected to decline linearly with the enforcement budget. Based on the obtained results, a number of suggestions are made with respect to the interpretation of survey results and the harvesting of kob populations.

International audience; The Australopithecus-bearing sites of Koro Toro in central Chad yielded at least 9 species of bovids (Ruminantia: Bovidae). They all belong to genera found in North and/or East Africa, but three new species are named. Kobus korotorensis n. sp. is quite distinct from East African species, and is probably an early offshoot from primitive Reduncines. Kobus tchadensis n. sp. is more like some East African forms. Parmularius pachyceras n. sp. should rather be compared with a North African species. This relative endemism hinders precise biochronological correlation, but the best fit is in the range 2.7 - 3.4 Ma. The lack of Tragelaphines, and an abundance of Reduncines, Alcelaphines and Antilopines definitely points towards an open environment, that was drier than most East African sites of this age.

Cowdria ruminantium causes severe, often fatal disease in domestic ruminants, whereas wildlife species usually are not affected. Blood and bone marrow samples from healthy, free-ranging Zimbabwean ungulates were taken during translocation from areas harboring Amblyomma ticks and tested for the presence of C. ruminantium, using a PCR assay based on the C. ruminantium map1 gene. Positive reactions were obtained in tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), and impala (Aepyceros melampus). Wildlife species may therefore be a reservoir for C. ruminantium thus contributing to the spread of cowdriosis.