Dung pellets used to identify the distribution and density of dik‐dik

Estimates of the population density of elusive animals based on counts of dung deposits are often inaccurate. We report a refinement of this technique for territorial ungulates which exploits variation in pellet characteristics between individuals. In a study of Kirk's dik‐dik (Madoqua kirki) we found that pellet size and shape were less variable within individuals than between individuals. These findings were used to census a Kenyan population entirely on the basis of uniquely identifiable pellet groups, without any prior knowledge of the identity and location of individuals. The estimates were later compared with the results of an extensive capture and radio telemetry study. Population density estimated by the pellet‐matching method and by telemetry differed by less than 5%. In addition, only one border of 18 territories was incorrectly assigned, and only one territory was not detected. This represents a significant improvement in accuracy over indiscriminate dung counting techniques. We suggest that this method may also provide an accurate and non‐intrusive way of estimating population density in other solitary ungulates.