The roan antelope, endemic to Africa, is drastically declining in Kenya and most of its range throughout Africa. Extensive research on roans in South Africa has not provided effective remedial management actions. The solution to Kenya’s roans will come from detailed research in Kenya. This paper reports an on-going research on “mapping and modelling the roan antelope population and habitat in Ruma National Park, Kenya.” The research is employing the state-of-the-art techniques in modelling and geographic information systems (GIS). Preliminary findings indicate that (i) the roan population has declined to 45 animals; (ii) the roans’ home range changes (a) with any slight change in surface water and/or rainfall frequency and (b) between and within seasons (dry and wet); and (iii) the roans’ behaviour implies possibilities of poaching. Among other interventions, establishment of a roan sanctuary (with intensive active management) in Ruma N. Park seems to be the best way forward. 1. Introduction The roan antelope endemic to Africa was formerly one of Africa’s most widely distributed antelopes found essentially throughout the African savannas, where water was adequate [1]. However, today they occur in small scattered groups over most of their range in the savannas of Africa. Although the roans are currently classified by the IUCN [2] as of “Least Concern,’’ if the present trends continue, the roan antelope’s status may eventually decline to threatened status as it disappears from large parts of its current range due to poaching and loss of habitat to the expansion of settlement. It is worth noting that in 1996 the same species was listed in the IUCN red list [3] as threatened and its survival dependent on active conservation measures. The roan antelope distribution range is now drastically reduced throughout Africa and the species is faced with the risk of extinction. The roan antelope got locally extinct in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania [4], and has recently been reported to be locally endangered in South Africa’s Kruger National Park [5] and Nylsvley Nature Reserve [6]. In Kenya the roan antelope got locally extinct in the famous Masai Mara National Reserve [7] and is now critically locally endangered in Ruma National Park, which is the only place where the remaining roan population is found [8]. The roan population in this park has declined from 202 animals in 1976 to the current 45 individuals. This is of serious concern to the park management because a population of less than 50 roan antelopes is not considered viable according to population
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