The area was once dominated by acacia brush, which
also houses the tsetse fly, the carrier of “sleeping
sickness” disease. However, management efforts aimed at
reducing incidence of the disease have led to government workers
and indigenous communities clearing major tracts of acacia over the
last half century (Lamprey and Reid 2004). Pressure from elephants
(Walpole et al. 2003), as well as fire and cattle grazing, have
also reduced the extent of acacia and other woody plants (Salvatori
et al. 2001; Dublin 1991).
MMNR and Serengeti National Park share a grassland
ecosystem that extends into surrounding areas. The region is most
famous for the annual zebra and wildebeest migration that stretches
across the national border. The annual Great Migration has been
described as “one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on
earth.” In addition to migratory species, MMNR is also home
to a wide range of other large mammals, including buffalo,
elephant, leopard, lion, and black rhinoceros (Walpole et al.
2003:page x).
