KZN North Lecture on Animal Behaviour

As the FGASA KZN North committee we realise that many learners have already started studying for the next national sitting, and that some people struggle with certain modules. Hence we are happy and proud to offer a lecture on Module 16: Animal Behaviour, to help those learners that struggle to come to grabs with group hierarchies, the differences between flash colouration, counter shading and disruptive markings, the differences between home ranges and territories, and what all the different definitions of animal behaviour and related aspects actually mean. The lecture will focus on FGASA material, and will be specifically aimed to get you ready for the exam. The lecture will be given by Dylan Panos, a FGASA Level 3 trails guide with years of experience.

When: Tuesday the 17th of May, 7 pm to 10 pm (including time for questions, actual lecture will be shorter)

Where: Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay. (Take R22 from Hluhluwe Town towards Sodwana Bay. Just before you get Amorello on your left, there is a turn off into a dirt road on your right, sign posted with Ehlatini Bush Camp. Take the first left, follow the road as it turns left, first right again and there you go. Follow the signs Ehlatini Bush Camp/Bhejane Nature Training)

Costs: Paid up FGASA members: R50, Non-FGASA members R100. Fees payable upon arrival.

Need transport? Comment on this post to find buddies so you can drive up together.

Regards,

The FGASA KZN North committee

Report on a great tree outing at Ehlatini!

It was my first participation in a tree outings organized by the Tree Enthusiast Working Group, and I didn’t quite know what to expect. I am glad to let you know that I found it a resounding success! The trees in KZN North are often considered very difficult to identify, partly due to the enormous variety of species we get here, and partly because of the fact that many of them are the almost non-descript single leaf species. Now what is the best way to learn trees? No, it is not going out with a good tree book yourself… Yes, it is true that any tree fully keyed out by yourself is likely to get stuck in your memory, but this process is just too time consuming and for that reason alone few people/guides even try. And how often do you key out a tree and then come to the conclusion that you are ‘not sure’ if you keyed it out correctly? No, a better way to learn trees is to get taught by an expert, and then go over those newly learned trees over and over again. You avoid the risk of memorizing mis-identified trees, it is much quicker and if you do if with a group of people it is a lot more fun too. And this is exactly what how the tree outings are conducted. Dr. Du Randt is a true tree expert, not only able to identify every tree on sight, but also able to explain and point out WHY it is that tree. In other words, being able to explain where to look for to come to a definitive conclusion as to what tree it is. Another great aspect of his teaching is that he works toward a genus first, and then suggests you look in a book to work out which individual species it is. You see a tree/shrub that looks a bit like a Croton? Just check if it has two small glands where the petiole joins the leaf, and you know it for certain. Then just check in the book which one of the 7 Crotons it is. Oh, you see 4 winged pods? Check whether the leaves are alternate and whether the veins below are prominent and you can be pretty sure you are looking at a Combretum. Now just look in the book again to see which one you are looking at. Being able to work with trees in such a way is much quicker than to key a plant out from the beginning.

Dr. Du Randt likes repetition, and throughout the 2 hours excursions he keeps on asking the things he taught that day before, to ensure it gets stuck in your head. He also ‘only’ does about 20-25 trees at a day, as he realizes that that is about the maximum you can learn and process in a day. Then you get a month or so to practice these before the next tree outing.

All in all, I found it a fun and very valuable learning experience, and will definitely attend again. And I would advise any guide in the region that wants to know his/her trees a bit better to come and join us next time. Just look at the agenda for dates/places.

An overview of trees we did on the 9^th of April.

1. Grewia microthyrsa Sand raisin

2. Croton steenkampianus Maputaland croton

3. Hymenocardia ulmoides Red heart tree

4. Pteleopsis myrtifolia Stink bushwillow

5. Cleistanthus schlechteri False Tamboti

6. Newtonia hilderbrandtii Lebombo wattle

7. Rhipsalis baccifera Epiphyte

8. Albizia adianthifolia Flat crown albizia

9. Vangueria randii Coast wild medlar

10. Strelitzia nicolai Natal Wild banana

11. Ficus tremula Tremble leaf fig

12. Trichilia emetica Natal mahogany

13. Tabernaemontana elegans Toad tree

14. Haplocoelum foliolosum Galla plum

15. Trema orientalis Pigeonwood

16. Vitex ferruginea Plum finger leaf

17. Combretum mkuzense Maputoland bushwillow

18. Strychnos henningsii Natal Teak

19. Acacia sieberiana Paperbark thorn

20. Cereus jamacaru Queen of the night

21. Brachylaena discolor Coast silver oak

22. Antidesma venosum Tassel-berry

23. Sclerocroton integerrimum Duiker-berry

24. Vangueria infausta Velvet wild-medlar

It was a great productive outing…we added 9 new species to the accumulative list collected since starting the dendrologists outings in 2010.

News: Leopard project in Somkhanda Game Reserve

South of the Pongola river lies the Somkhanda Game Reserve, which is situated between the Pongola Game Reserve and Zululand Rhino Reserve. The Gumbi community successfully claimed 20,000ha of land in 2005. 16,000ha of this the Gumbi’s consolidated into a single game reserve and 4000ha were set aside for the 650 families that comprise the community. The reserve consolidation involved the dropping of internal fences with three different farms, and gave rise to the Somkhanda Game Reserve. Thanks to the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, 11 black rhino were released onto the reserve in 2008. Also, many other animals occur here naturally and amongst those are a number of leopards. The Northern Zululand Honorary Rangers have recently concluded their leopard survey and published their results. In brief this is what they did and found:

From July 2010 to December 2010 digital camera traps were set up throughout the reserve, and 13 distinct leopard individuals (+ at least 2 cubs) were photographed and identified, including two adult territorial males. Using a scientific method and formula the leopard density for the area could be calculated and came to approximately 7 leopards per 100 square km, which is quite a decent score for a newly established protected area. A similar study done in the Mun-ya-wane leopard project revealed densities of approximately 11 leopards per 100 km² in core conservation areas, 7 leopards per 100 km² in a buffer protected area, and 2 leopards per 100 km² in unprotected farmland.

The population in Somkhanda appears to include a healthy distribution of adult males, adult females, subadults and cubs further indicating a healthy, growing population. Although the population in Somkhanda appears to be recovering and maintaining better than a comparable reserve, there is still room for population growth, and we believe the population is still vulnerable.

As usual, many other species of animals were also ‘accidentally’ captured on camera. These are two of the most unusual ones.

For the full report, please email Nick.vandewiel@gmail.com. For questions regarding the project email leopardproject@gmail.com.

9th of April: Tree Outing Ehlatini Bush Camp

The Tree Enthusiast Working Group in Hluhluwe is organising tree outings every second Saturday of the month. They are led by Dr Du Randt which is a tree specialist in the area. Every time a different area will be visited and will focus on identifying trees and learning about them. This is of course a great way to learn about the trees in this area which are usually considered so difficult to ID. On the 9th of April 2011 the outing will explore the surroundings of Ehlatini Bush Camp in False Bay, which is famous for its enormous ancient Lebombo Wattles. All FGASA members are welcome to come and participate for free. Start at 11:30 AM, Ehlatini Bush Camp, (on the R22 from Hluhluwe to Sodwana, turn right just before Amarello and follow the signs Ehlatini Bush Camp/Bhejane Nature Training). The outing ends about 2 PM. For more info phone Greg Davies on 0791893996

A Potjiekos will be held at the Bhejane Nature Training camp for the afternoon, all members are welcome to stay for this. Fee for Potjiekos is R60 per person. Contact dpanos@tiscali.co.za to get directions and further details.

News: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Count 2010

For us as guides it is always interesting and good to know approximately how many of each species of animal actually occur in given parks. The latest figures for game numbers in the 96:000 hectare Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park are listed below.

Species	Estimate	Long Term Trend
Buffalo	4789	+ Increasing
Giraffe	874	+ Increasing
Impala	14054	- Decreasing
Kudu	717	- Decreasing
Nyala	4082	- Decreasing
Waterbuck	136	- Decreasing
Warthog	1531	- Decreasing
White Rhino	2312	+ Increasing
Wildebeest	3002	- Decreasing
Zebra	2749	- Decreasing
Black Rhino	200	- Decreasing
Cheetah	40
Elephant	550 - 600	+ Increasing
Hippo	20	Stable
Leopard	80
Lion	200	+ Increasing
Wild Dog	110	+ Increasing, Stable
Hyena	303	Stable

News: Suspected Rhino Poacher shot in Ndumo.

EZEMVELO KWAZULU-NATAL WILDLIFE MEDIA RELEASE No: 2011 - 10

25 March 2011 - SUSPECTED POACHER FATALLY WOUNDED IN NDUMO - A suspected rhino poacher was fatally wounded in a shooting incident with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo) field rangers in the Mganu area in the north of central Ndumo Game Reserve at about 18.00 on 24 March 2011.The death of this rhino brings the KZN total of poached rhinos to nine - seven from KZN protected areas and two from private properties, and follows the shooting of another white rhino in Ndumo on 22 March 2011.

For the most recent news concerning rhino poaching check: http://www.stoprhinopoaching.com/

Did You Know: Why lions live in prides...

New research suggests that lions do not live in prides because it is safer, nicer, easier to catch food or whatsoever. Instead, it suggests the primary reason for lions to have developed a social structure is that only then they can defend and maintain a good hunting ground. Read a summary on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12806519

or the full story on http://www.cbs.umn.edu/eeb/lionresearch/research/groupliving.shtml

News: Another Rhino poached

Another Rhino got poached in South Africa, this time in the KZN North Region. Bhejane Nature Training students were at Ndumo Game Reserve last week and came across a young rhino calf with a adult bull rhino.The calf was crying and nudging the bull for milk, and it was in a bad condition. They reported this to the section ranger, who told them that the calf's mother had been shot dead and her horn hacked off. The suffering this poacher caused to the calf must be immense. White rhino calfs stay with their mothers for 3 years and form a strong bond. This calf must have stayed by his mothers side suckling from her dead body till hunger drove him away!

In The Picture: The Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Todays 'In The Picture' features one of the gems of the KZN North Region: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park! The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the ‘new’ name for the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, and is considered the oldest game reserve in South Africa, being established in 1895. In December 1999 it became South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Site. It got this title for a reason: The 332.000 hectare park, stretching from just South of the town of St. Lucia all the way up to Mozambique, contains three major lake systems, 8 interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25.000 year old coastal dunes – amongst the highest in the world. It is a park where one can see elephants and whales or turtles in one day, where one can dive in the morning, go on game drive in the afternoon, and go on a turtle walk on the beach in the evening.

That might sound all nice and well, but in reality it is still very much a park in development. But in this fact lies the beauty in my opinion. We can see this development, we can be a part of it. Only 18 years ago they started to remove all 14.000 hectare of alien pine trees, the stumps of which can still be seen in some places. We can see them rotting away, and we can see new vegetation over successive generations. Elephants, cheetah, wild dog etc have been reintroduced again to different sections of the park, and new tourist roads are continuously being built to make it more accessible for tourists. And although it is officially a 332.000 hectare big single protected area, it is currently still ‘divided’ by wilderness areas, inaccessible areas, and stretches of disputed community land, resulting in the fact that it has multiple sections with different entrance gates. What it comes down to: If you enter the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Mkhuze, don’t think you’re gonna be able to drive to the beach and see whales, but you have a good chance of seeing cheetah and elephant. If you enter the park at Kosi Bay, you might not see any mammals but in the right season you might see loggerhead and leatherback turtles. So if you plan a visit, think about what you would like to do and see, and then see which section of the park can meet your needs and deliver your wishes. Because of this we have decide to make this blog post a bit of a sequel. In various weeks I would like to show you the different sections in a photo essay, which will allow you to make an informed decision as to which section of the park you would like to visit, if not all ;-)

For today, I would like to show you the ‘Eastern Shores’ of the Park. This section lies to the East of the Lake St. Lucia (hence the name), and in turn has the Indian Ocean on its East side. The Eastern Shores is the most popular section for bush & beach lovers, as a typical day here includes a game drive in the morning, lunch and a few hours on the beach at Cape Vidal, and then a afternoon game drive back to St. Lucia town. Highlights include:

Superb landscapes & sweeping vistas of the wetland savanna, which looks like no other savanna in South Africa. In fact, the openness of vast grasslands with only here and there a tree looks more like the classic East African Savanna, than like the usual ‘more bushy’ South African savanna.

[Typical Landscape]

Catalina Bay is a section of the St. Lucia lake, and is always worth a visit for bird lovers. Plenty of crocodile and hippo can be seen there too.

[Catalina Bay]

Chances of seeing elephant, cheetah, wild dog and lions here are remote to zero, as the latter three don’t occur here yet, and the elephants only cross the lake a couple of times a year to explore the Eastern Shores. The other days of the year one can find them on the Western Shores. However, the Eastern Shores has a large population of disease free buffalo which are often encountered, as are the rhino’s. For me one of the greatest assets are the magnificent kudu often found here out in the open. They have huge horns, and also the waterbuck are very impressive. The smaller relative of the Waterbuck, the Southern Reedbuck is very common here and easily observed. With a bit of luck one might encounter one of the many leopards in the area.

[Greater Kudu]

[Southern Reedbuck]

[Leopard]

The narrow strip of coastal forest running along the coastal dunes are home to the Sykes’ (or Samango) Monkey, which are quite habituated to humans (and photographers!).

[Sykes’ Monkey]

Once one drives over the dunes to visit Mission Rocks or Cape Vidal, a complete new world opens up. Beautiful beaches, both sandy and rocky, are great for fishing, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, sunbathing and of course photography. It is amazing how much colourful life lives on those rocks, and for the photographer patient enough hermit crabs come out of their shell, and ghost crabs out of their burrows. It can be really rewarding to sit dead still for a while.

Talking about little critters, the herpetofauna is great here to, thanks to the high diversity of ecosystems, of which most are relatively wet. For the photographer with a keen eye and the right equipment in terms of flashes, softboxes, tripods and remote releases, little frogs and chameleons are happy to pose and can yield really nice photos.

Enough for today, next month more about the Western Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Kind Regards,

Nick van de Wiel