FGASA KZN North exam workshop

Dear FGASA members,

The KZN North Working Group wishes everyone writing the national exam the 7th of July good luck! For the people writing in Hluhluwe, we do offer an 'exam workshop' for learners writing the FGASA Level 1 exam, where you can come and ask questions about the topics you still might struggle with. The KZN North facilitators will then try to help you by answering your questions and explaining things where necessary, hopefully helping you passing your exam. This service is for free. These workshops will be held Bhejane Nature Training on the 5th of July from 6 PM till 9 PM.

Should you wish to make use of this service, please ensure that you make a reservation with the facilitators, to avoid finding them too busy with other students, and to avoid them sitting there for nothing. For the exam workshops, please text Christa Panos on 083-7263826 or email her on dpanos@tiscali.co.za. Make sure you mention your name, and the time you wish to meet. Also ensure that you actually go to the workshop on the specified time, and should you not be able to, make sure you cancel your appointment with your facilitator in time.

Once again: Make a reservation with your facilitator! No reservation might mean the facilitator has no time for you that evening. And: If you have a reservation, make sure you come: No show (without cancellation) is no more future exam workshops for you... And please come prepared with your questions. If you have no questions, your facilitator unfortunately cannot help you. 

We hope this free service will ensure a higher pass rate amongst learners in this region.

Sincerely yours,

The FGASA KZN North Working Group

New Tree Outings!

New tree outings planned for this month! Make sure you join in as it is probably the best way to get to know the trees in your area of operation. And it is for free!

14 July and/or 15 July

Tree Outing: Lake Sibaya Dune Forest outing - contact me directly to join from Hluhluwe on Saturday morning, or to arrange for the weekend, contact Denis Oscroft at Denis.Oscroft@icfr.ukzn.ac.za for more details regarding Sunday outing and/or camping at Mabibi. I will be joined by Hartwig von Durckheim and Naas Grove, the President of the Dendrological Society Head-Office in Pretoria, on Saturday morning to join the other Zululand Tree Society members at Lake Sibaya for an interesting outing to some rare dune forest trees. (We will also do a walk in the sand forest at False Bay Park on the Friday for those die-hard tree lovers!) The outing to Lake Sibaya and Mabibi is an official dendrological outing. Tel Cary Lang 035 562 2509

21 July

Sand Forest Dendrological Outing at Sand Forest Lodge and False Bay Park, in combination with Sand Forest Lodge and Richard Boon, the author of the Revised edition of Pooley's Trees of KZN tree book. He will be available to sign copies and will be able to bring copies up to buy. This book is highly recommended for all tree lovers. We will do some tree walks at Sand Forest Lodge and in False Bay Park. Accommodation is available at Sand Forest Lodge in chalets or camping facilities for this ‘Tree enthusiasts’ weekend. Tel Cary Lang 035 562 2509

Participate in the KZN North Top Shot Trails Guide Shoot Out Competition!

FGASA KZN North Feedback

On the 11th of June 2012, the most recent KZN North Regional Meeting took place at the Amorello Golf Lodge. There was very good attendance and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that attended and nominated members for the now growing regional working group.

New members of the KZN North working group are

Ivor van Rooyen –Zululand Rhino Reserve

Amon Ndlovu – Representing the local communities of the region

Khyle Pretorius – FGASA member

David Haveman – Thanda Private Game Reserve

Ashley Wormald – KwaZulu Private Game Reserve

A key discussion point during the meeting was around the FGASA Advanced Rifle Handling and Trails Guiding qualifications. For many guides, finding the time or opportunities to update or complete their Advanced Rifle Handling qualifications is proving to be very challenging and a suggestion was made by local ARH assessor Dylan Panos, to introduce an event that would enable guides to get together, practice their shooting skills, get their assessments up to date, and get to know each other better around a potjie at the end of the day.

Those present at the meeting supported this suggestion, and we have proceeded to organize the first KZN North Top Shot Trails Guide Shoot Out Competition. This is an exciting initiative that will allow guides to learn from each other and make best use of the facilities and resources available in the region. The day will consist of several exercises starting with a compulsory assessment Rifle and Ammunition inspection. All entrants will then compete in an ARH shootout which will be held under assessment conditions. Times and scores will be recorded to be able to determine the top shots of the region. The second half of the day will consist of 4 further exercises, to be completed in full trails kit, with specifications for pack weight and contents. The top shots of the day will be selected to represent the KZN North Top Shop Trails Team. We are hoping to gain enough support from other regions to implement similar initiatives so that our local team can then compete against the top shots of the other FGASA Regions.

Those that complete the FGASA ARH Assessment exercises will be able to use this as a valid assessment toward updating or gaining their ARH Certificates, provided off course that Level 1 and the necessary SASSETA competencies are also in place. No assessment fees are charged on the day, making this a great opportunity for guides to upgrade their qualifications.

Rifles and ammunition will be available for hire for guides that cannot supply their own. Competition is open to all registered FGASA guides with the necessary SASSETA Competencies in place.

Top shots will also be awarded prizes sponsored by Magnum Shooting Academy, Talon Gear and Bhejane Nature Training.

Guides in training are welcome to attend the day to observe and keep the potjies going.

Participants must be registered by the 15th of August. Registration forms and competition guidelines can be requested from dpanos@tiscali.co.za

For more on the FGASA KZN North Region, visit us on Facebook (FGASA KZN North) and the regional blog which can be accessed at http://fgasakznnorth.blogspot.com/

Tracking devices for Somkhanda Community Game Reserve

Teams from the Wildlands Conservation Trust are busy preparing to fit rhino herds at a game reserve in Northern KZN with special anti-poaching tracking devices.


The trust's Kevin McCann says officials will dart and capture about 10 animals at the Somkhanda Community Game Reserve this weekend.

The rhinos will then be fitted with animal friendly surveillance foot collars.

McCann says a lot of planning has been done to ensure the operation is successful.

"We're making sure that everything is done logistically to make sure that the operation goes smoothly, and we have all the right information and equipment up front," he said.

The government revealed this morning that 251 rhinos have been poached since the beginning of the year.

KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Limpopo were the hardest hit provinces.

McCann says the project will allow rangers to learn more about the herds and their movement within the park.

"Unless they start deviating from their normal behavioural patterns that we can work out over time, then we can get our field rangers to start changing their patrols to respond to that, or if there is anything out of the ordinary, we can actually have the anti-poaching units respond to it".

Source: http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-news?oid=1650118&sn=Detail&pid=6028&Anti-poaching-devices-for-KZN-rhino 

A strawberry coloured leopard...

So there is such terrible news going around about poaching and the death of our animals – and it seems so bleak for Wildlife in Africa… Then I hear about a rare type of leopard that has been spotted in a reserve in Mpumalanga – and it kinda makes me feel all warm and fuzzy – it’s a strawberry coloured leopard. Yes strawberry coloured…

Normal leopards have a tawny coat with black spots but this one may have erythrism, a little-understood genetic condition that's thought to cause either an overproduction of red pigments or an underproduction of dark pigments.



How awesome is this?

I really hope that it doesn't fall prey to a poacher.

Source: http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-blogs-damon-beard?oid=1591176&sn=Detail&pid=6028&A-Pink-leopard- 

Great turnout for FGASA Meeting

We had a great turnout for the FGASA meeting held at Amorello Golf Lodge on Monday the 11th. Its great to see that the rgion is growing and getting more active. We are looking forward to working with all of you guys. For the ones that attended the meeting: Many thanks for coming and contributing, for the FGASA members that were not there: Hope to see you next time!

Minutes will follow shortly, but here are a few photos already.

FGASA Regional Meeting

Dear FGASA member


We are planning a FGASA regional meeting for next week – Monday Evening from 18h00 – 20h00 at the Amorello Golf Resort. Brian Serrao, Standards Director at FGASA will attend the meeting.


As a FGASA member, this is your opportunity to ask questions and raise any issues or concerns you have.


We will be discussing the suggested changes to the FGASA Level 3 Qualification as well as the suggested split between the Full Trails Guide and Advanced Rifle Handling Qualifications


We will also be looking at the future projects of the KZN Working Group and would like to invite lodges, reserves, operators and guides to nominate representatives to represent them in the FGASA KZN North Working Group. The only time requirement of such guides would be to attend the 4 annual regional meetings with feedback from the lodges and or reserves they represent – this way one person can carry the communication of several guides and other interested stakeholders that may not be able to attend and ensure that the issues that affect your operation are given an opportunity to be considered in feedback and the decisions taken by FGASA.


All regional members of FGASA are welcome to attend this meeting, and non-members with an interest in the organization are also welcome to attend.


You are also welcome to send me your issues for discussion in advance so that we can table this for discussion on Monday.


Kind regards
Christa Panos
FGASA KZN Regional Chairperson
dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Freelance job opportunity KZN North

Tailor Made Safaris is looking for a Dutch speaking guide to conduct a tour running from 2-10-2012 to 18-10-2012. The tour will take 4 guests to Mkhuze, Kosi Bay, Tembe Elephant Park, St. Lucia Estuary and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. You will be required to drive the guests, as well as cater (prepare meals) for them on some days.

During the 17 days, you will have 2 full days off. Remuneration for the 15 days of work: 8000 rand, plus all expenses and accommodation. Some of the meals in a restaurant will be for your own account.

Requirements:

Must speak Dutch fluently
Must be older than 25 years
Must have guiding qualification (minimum NQF 4/FGASA Level 2)
Must be registered with DEAT
Must have C1 (Code 10) driver license
Must have PrDP
Must have experience with hosting
Must have experience with nature guiding

Interested: Send your CV (with photo) as well as a cover letter explaining why we should employ you in particular for this tour/period to info@tailormadesafaris.co.za.

Look at www.tailormadesafaris.co.za or see http://tailormadesafaris.co.za/Welcome_files/Tailor%20Made%20Safaris%20e-brochure%20USA_1.pdf for our company profile.

Job opportunity St. Lucia

SHAKAbarker tours is looking for qualified and registered guides with PrDP. You will guide on the hippo & croc boat cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary, and do walking safaris, snorkeling safaris, game drives and bicycle tours in the St. Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park area. For more info email Kian Barker at info@shakabarker.co.za. Interested? Send your CV to the same email address.

In the Picture: Tembe Elephant Park

Ryan Tippet, senior instructor at Bhejane Nature Training and a FGASA Level 3 guide is passionate about the Tembe Elephant Park! Below his view on this gem of KZN North. 

“Tembe Elephant Park is an altogether different experience from the others. It is an expanse of dense sub-tropical woodland, sand forest and swamp that carries a distinct wilderness feel. Entrance to the park is kept to a daily limit and a four wheel drive vehicle is essential. This means that one often gets do drive around and not have to see another soul the entire day. The reserve lies adjacent to the Mozambique border and has a hot and humid climate. The thing on most people’s minds when they arrive at Tembe is the elephants. These herds are the last naturally occurring elephants in Kwazulu natal. They are also unusually large elephants and are amongst the biggest in the world. As if this wasn’t enough, some of the older bulls are now also amongst the biggest tuskers in Africa. To see one of these immense bull elephants is a truly wonderful experience. There are currently around 250 elephants in the park and the chances of seeing them are high. You need a lot of luck, however to lay eyes on one of the giant bulls. They are usually seen alone and are often out of sight in the wilderness areas of the park. Tembe is not only notable for its elephants; it is in fact home to all of the big five. There is a healthy lion population and they are often seen. The buffalo herds tend to confine themselves to the swamps that run up the eastern flank of the reserve. They are not fond of the dense, dry woodlands and forests that span most of the reserve due to the paucity of water. There are good numbers of both black and white rhinos and Tembe is a key reserve in their continued fight for survival. The often shy black rhinos are seen regularly and they seldom fail to entertain with their quick tempers and nervous temperament. The last of the big five is the one you’re the least likely to see, the leopard. They are around but remain elusive. The dense bush in the reserve does not help in spotting them either. Since a couple of years, also Wild Dog roam free in the park. I always associate Tembe with the chance to see something different, rare or unusual. On previous visits I’ve seen Side-striped Jackal, Tonga Red Squirrel, Selous’ Mongoose, Striped Polecat and African Civet. Other mammals that are often seen include Nyala, Kudu, Giraffe, Samango Monkey, Blue Wildebeest, Water Buck and Bushbuck amongst others. Tembe’s sub-tropical bushveld is also home to several bird species close to the southern limits of their distribution. These include Retz’s Helmet Shrike, Barred Owlet, Plain-backed Sunbird, Woodward’s Batis and Bat Hawk. The birding is very rewarding and the majority of the regions ‘specials’ can be seen here. The opportunity to view game amongst patches of forest containing huge trees and colossal termite mounds, gives you an entirely different perspective of the bush, indeed one you won’t find anywhere else in South Africa.” Northern KwaZulu Natal can definitely be considered as an absolute mecca for nature guiding!

Below 10 photos from a futile attempt to catch at least some of the beauty. Click on the photo for an enlargement.

White Rhino on morning game drive

Elephant at sunset

Herd of buffalo approaching through the savanna

Parade of elephants

Elephant youngster quenching its thirst

Grumpy old fella

Beauty Queen

Isilo, said to be the biggest tusker in the Southern Hemisphere

Isilo once again

And Isilo again

Good Luck!

The FGASA KZN North committee wishes everyone in South Africa writing a FGASA national exam today the best of luck! We trust you studied well and that one day you will be proud to have achieved your FGASA qualification.

Best Regards,

The FGASA KZN North committee.

KZN North Exam Workshop

Dear FGASA members,

The KZN North Committee wishes everyone writing the national exam the 31st of March good luck! For the people writing in Hluhluwe, we do offer an 'exam workshop' for learners writing the FGASA Level 1 exam, where you can come and ask questions about the topics you still might struggle with. The KZN North facilitators will then try to help you by answering your questions and explaining things where necessary, hopefully helping you passing your exam. This service is for free. These workshops will be held in St. Lucia (location to be announced), as well as in the Hluhluwe Hotel on the 28th of March from 6 PM till 9 PM.

Should you wish to make use of this service, please ensure that you make a reservation with the facilitators, to avoid finding them too busy with other students, and to avoid them sitting there for nothing. For the St. Lucia workshops, please text Nick van de Wiel on 072-7055124, for Hluhluwe please text Christa Panos on 083-7263826. Make sure you mention your name, and the time you wish to meet. Also ensure that you actually go to the workshop on the specified time, and should you not be able to, make sure you cancel your appointment with your facilitator in time.

Once again: Make a reservation with your facilitator! No reservation might mean the facilitator has no time for you that evening. And: If you have a reservation, make sure you come: No show (without cancellation) is no more future exam workshops for you... And please come prepared with your questions. If you have no questions, your facilitator unfortunately cannot help you. 

We hope this free service will ensure a higher pass rate amongst learners in this region.

Sincerely yours,

The FGASA KZN North committee

uMfolozi River and the Lake St Lucia system to re-join

In 2011 iSimangaliso publicised its strategy to let the uMfolozi River and Lake St Lucia rejoin in a bid to restore system functioning to close to its former state, prior to human intervention. This is a change from the practice of the last 60-odd years which has been to actively keep the uMfolozi and the Lake St Lucia system separate through the use of dredgers and the building of berms. This new strategy follows from new scientific findings and monitoring of the Lake system.

“New scientific work has highlighted the importance of re-establishing the link between the uMfolozi River and Lake St Lucia, and has shown that the risk of sediments to the health of the estuary has been overstated. By enabling the two systems to join, iSimangaliso is reversing a 60-year-old management approach which saw extensive manipulation of the Lake St Lucia estuary. Our ultimate aim in the restoration of Lake St Lucia is to protect iSimangaliso’s World Heritage Site without setting up a management regime that includes endless manipulation” says iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis.

Since 1952 the uMfolozi River has been artificially cut off from the main system, which has reduced freshwater inflow to the lake. Combined with drought conditions, the St Lucia estuary mouth has remained closed to the sea for the best part of the last decade. This has resulted in St Lucia being unable to function as an estuary.

Following the adoption of the strategy and since the uMfolozi River was breached on the 5 November 2011 it has moved 330 metres. This northward migration of the uMfolozi Rver is a natural process that has been accelerated by a combination of high flows in the river from rainfall in the catchment and big seas generated by Cyclone Dando.

The uMfolozi mouth is now well positioned to re-join the St Lucia Lake system. iSimangaliso, together with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, has begun to facilitate the linking of the uMfolozi to Lake St Lucia, with the assistance of a tracked excavator and wheeled dozer. This entails the removal of old dredger spoil and marine sediments that have been deposited on the beach creating an artificial berm that deflects the uMfolozi River away from St Lucia. Heavy swells and rain such as those predicted for this weekend may assist with the re-joining process.

The spillway is being established as far west on the beach as possible. The route has been selected where a natural gradient exists on the beach between the uMfolozi and St Lucia systems. It is anticipated that this will allow the unrestricted flow of the uMfolozi into the St Lucia system. This is particularly important before the upcoming winter period when rainfall is low and it is possible that the uMfolozi mouth will close. The process continues to be carefully monitored by Park ecologists and GEF specialists.

The spillway will provide much needed water for the St Lucia system; lifting lake levels and contributing towards the longer term plan to restore the estuarine functioning of Lake St Lucia which will be of benefit to all users of the 70 km long system which comprises about 60% of South Africa’s estuarine resource. Restoring the link between the uMfolozi river and Lake St Lucia is necessary for this is to occur.

The management strategy is based on a scientific investigation and monitoring of the lake system scientific undertaken. Indicators such as rainfall and lake salinity are monitored regularly. St Lucia received a total of 803.1mm rain from October to date, with the highest monthly rainfall in November (237.9mm).

The rainfall has influenced the salinity levels in the Lake. The salinity level in the Narrows is maintained at a low level by the freshwater inflows from the uMpathe River and local catchment. Salinity in Charters Creek is less than a third of that of seawater. In contrast, the northern parts of the lake are experiencing hyper-salinities (i.e. above the salinity of the sea). This represents a reversed salinity gradient that is not normally found in estuaries.

This process is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority’s development of long term solutions to improve the hydrological functioning of Lake St Lucia through the iSimangaliso/Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Project. The objective of the GEF project is to support key studies that improve knowledge of the Lake St Lucia system, and to select the best feasible option to restore estuarine function; and to implement the necessary interventions to achieve this.

For further information and updates on the GEF project please contact GEF@iSimangaliso.com.

Or visit www.iSimangaliso.com and download ‘Lake St Lucia: understanding the problem and finding the solution’.

Newsflash No.: 2012.02.29

Legalizing trade in rhino horn?

KZN to push for rhino-horn trade
http://www.zululandobserver.co.za/Pages/m08story2.html

STORY: Vivien van der Sandt

KZN Wildlife authorities are to push for the legitimisation of trade in rhino horn, Dr Bandile Mkhize said last week. The CEO of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was speaking at a function at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve. He said Ezemvelo was preparing a submission for Cites, due in September. ‘The solution (to the rhino-poaching problem) is to legalise the trade in rhino horn,’ he said. ‘We have to lobby. We have to convince government at national level. ‘We are going to run with this.’
The province had the support of conservationist Ian Player, and that was important as he had been instrumental in saving the rhino from extinction in the 1960s. Mkhize spoke of the difficulties of smashing the illegal trade. ‘The sophistication of the syndicates involved is amazing, as is the money involved,’ Mkhize said, mentioning in particular the use of night-vision equipment and helicopters. ‘One kilogram of horn is worth R650 000. The average rhino horn weighs five to six kilograms. So you can work out what that horn is worth,’ he said. He said there were five levels involved in the rhino-poaching network.
Law enforcement agencies often apprehended the bottom levels - one, two and three - that is, the poachers, the transporters, the sellers, and so on. But they could not crack the top levels, four and five. ‘Big businessmen are involved,’ he said. ‘They use people on the ground to do it. ‘What we do know is that all horns go to Gauteng. Whether they are poached in KZN or even if they are taken to Maputo first, they all end up in Gauteng. And from there, they just disappear.’ Mkhize’s views were not unanimously accepted, with members of the audience challenging his statement that flooding the market with rhino horn would stop the illegal trade and poaching.
Yvette Taylor, Executive Director of The Earth Organization said: ‘China has over a billion people, Vietnam has about 90 million. ‘How are we going to ‘flood the market’ and supply them all?’ Rhino are currently listed on Appendix 11 at CITES, an appendix that protects species that are not considered threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to Cites will be held 3-15 March 2013 in Thailand. The number of dead rhino in Zululand alone has risen by at least six in the past 10 days.
Members of the Richards Bay Organised Crime Combating Unit are investigating after two white rhino were found dead and dehorned near Mpila in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Park 10 days ago. Last Sunday at a private Game Lodge near Hluhluwe, a mother and calf were shot and their horns removed. Two male rhinos were found dead at Ndumo Reserve on Thursday, apparently as a result of fighting. However, the horns had been removed from the carcasses.