Klaserie Chronicle 01-2005 by Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

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Klaserie Chronicle KlaserieKroniek

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1 Francois i makes a 1 differeke 1 at AGM

01 2005

250 by Klaseri'e AJV Daar is min wat kan verbeter op 'n algemenejaarververgadering op die oewers van die Klaserierivier binne 'n natuurreservaatsoosdie een wat op Saterdag 10 Julie gehou is.

Nie minder nieas250 lede, vriende en gaste het die dag saam deurgebring, middagete genuttig en ook die veiling ondersteun om fondse in te samel vir twee belangrike gemeenskapsprojekte wat in die Klaserieen onmiddellike omgewing aangepak word. Die ruim bedrag van R95 000 is ingevorder om die drieledige program te fundeer. Die program sluit in die opleiding en opgradering van spoorsnyers om omgewingsbewustheid onder kinders in die streek aan te wakker en verder ook 'n VlGS bewustheidsprogram van stapel te stuur

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Francois Pienaar's presence ; at the annual general meeting ; really did make a difference. j I

There in his capacity as part of MAD (Make-a-Difference), Francois, the rugby icon, turned into an auctioneer of considerable acumen, auctioning a collection of notable art, sculptures and artefacts to raise funds to suppofl the eco-training, comrnunity and AIDS Teachers Training programme launched in September within the Reserve and neighbouring region. This fund-raising event raised the tidy sum of R95 000, a fine 'kick-start' to fund the threepronged initiative designed to: train and upgrade staff working within the Klaserie Nature Reserve to enable them to teach environrnental education; launch a Going, going, gone! Francois Pienaar stands children's eco-training prolarge and in charge at the fund-raising auction with the gramrne to raise enviranmental backing of the microphone. Fred Ruest in the foreground. awareness in groups of rural Works by Anton and Esra Bosch, Sue Dickinson, Mark children drawn from the immeWatson, plus works donated by Gerhard Potgieter and diate surrounds of the Klaserie many more went under the hammer wielded by Francois. and thirdly, to initiate an AIDS Teachers Training project.

cially named) K f a . ~ e rChrowicle i~ (for instance) could be produced, say, once every quarter. Suitable news and messages could be sent to and held at N Q until deadline This newsletter is an initiative to for the following publication. Naturally find out whether there is support out any constructive criticism and good there for a regular pub1icati~nto conbe welcomed. It would be ideas would vey news on matters of interest to important to keep costs o f production landowners and management in the to a minimum perhaps landowners, Klaserie Private Naturc Reserve. In the early stages the (still to be o f i - companies and/or connected business

The name of the game in the 21st Century is cornmanication, communication, communication.

would support production costs in some way. To set the ball rolling, so to speak, one cauld call in to HQ to register the 'ayes' and 'nays'. If the 'ayes' are on the ascendancy then the ideas and news for the next edition could come rolling in by the same doorway. Telephone HQ and speak to Janice on 0 15 793 305 1 or telephone Sandy on 015 793 3521.

"Know Earth is doomed when the haunting call of the Fish Eagle is no more, Anonymous while in the Klaserie

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Do we need and do you want a regular newsletter?

Bold three-pronged initiative launched

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benefit of his knowledge of the African bush. Elvis is in tune I with Africa. Elvis is in tune with the animals of Africa. Africa 1 is Elvis' life. Elvis is one of six staff members in the Klaserie Nature Reserve who participated in a bold new initiative set in motion by the landowners ofthe Klaserie, an initiative with a three-pronged I purpose, but wait, we are getting ahead of ourselves. I To create a 'war-chest' to fund the initiative an in-the-bush- II fund-raiser (on the banks of the Klaserie River) encompassing I an art exhibition, a fine luncheon. and an auction - with former I Springbok rugby skipper, Francois Pienaar wielding the harnmer took place on Saturday, July 10, a suitable date as it coinSuddenly the vehicle halts, a muscled a m shoots out from uncided with the holding of the AGM.. der the distinctive shoulder epaulettes of a tracker and Elvis points Francois is now a member of a very select group of individuto a group of five elephant within 30 metres of the Landrover. als who do charitable work to raise funds to assist children in Elvis had read the signs and now his tourist wards are reaping the education. The group conducts its work under the odd acronym, MAD Mke IQ D~serence. With verve, humour plus a few anecdotes from his rugby-playing days Francois Pienrtar, auctioneer, had the audience in I the palm of his hand. On auction were items donated by ex- w hibitors. Among the items on the block stood ceramic work by Anton and Esra Bosch; a painting of a leopard, 'Me and &41f Tree', by Sue Dickinson; a Lex Hess portrait photograph of a leopard in the Sawti; a sculpture of a Dung Beetle by the Loop Gallery; another leopard by Marie Vermeuelen; magnificent handcrafted cutlery by Mark Watson, and a diamond donated by Marie Kruger. First prize must go to a Marid Verrneuien serigraph 'WildDws 'donated bv Gerhard Poteieter. n ~ &NE This supzrb work, " ~ h i going, ... for the magnificent sum of R 15 000 to the gentle~nan over there from Gardenview, Gauteng, Mr F Crabbia!" MAD itself also made a substantial cash donation to the fund. I Adding up the figures produced a bottom line blinking on a tidy sum of a R95 000, a fine 'kiccstart' to i'und the three- ' pronged initiative designed to: Y ( I) train and upgrade Reserve staff to en- 1 able them to teach environmental education (2) launch a children's eco training programme to raise environmental awareness in groups of rural children and I (3) thirdly, to initiate an AIDS project modelled on a successful programme conducted in Mozambique in 2603. In September the six selected staff members in the Klaserie engaged in a skills upgrading course, conducted by Zani Kunz, a specialist educationist who is the Southern Cross Schoots' 'reach-a-cross coordinator ' i n a programme focusing on rural community development and enviLandRover and sculpted hippopotamus (by Mark Watson) ronlnental education. The six acquired the skills to enable them to become environat the July 10 event in t h e Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. mental educators. His liquid black eyes a r e constantly in motion as the safari Landrover rumbles powerfnlly through the bush. Then his eyes a r e on the road ahead, and then they a r e scanning the sand in the dry riverbed as they descend the steep incline. His left hand expertly lowers the gear and the vehicle lurches and growls up the far side. But the eyes are never still, as now they rapidly scan the near, middle and far distance. An ebony nose Witches as he takes in the smells of Africa and the sun beats down from a cobalt sky. His face radiates expectancy.

"All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth," ... Chief Seattle

1 AJV voorafgegaan deur 'n bosberaad Die dag voor die Algemene Jaarvergadering (Vrydag 9 Julie 2004) is 'n bosberaad onder voorsiRterskap van Deon Huysamer gehou. Die 'bosberaad' is goed bygewoon, het goeie debat opgelewer, en is as 'baie suksesvol' bestempel.

Beide die AJV (Saterdag 10 Julie) en die middagete (foto onder) is goed bygewoon. 'n Spesiale wood van dank gaan uitnadie Transfrontier spanwat die kroeg beman het asook Maureen Suacha vir die blomme rang-skikkings. Die inkomende uitvoerende komitee sien soos volg uit: Voorsitter, Mike Myers; 0-Vooaitter. Tommy Bach; lede, David Crookes, John Braithwaite, Lou van der Merwe, Louis Taljaard, Deon Huysamer, Adrian Anderson, Phillip Pappin, Jenny Howson (nuwe lid, vervang Ivan Gillatt wat najare getroue diens I Planning the way forward! At the~nnual ~ e n e r a~l e e t i nfrom ~ . the afgetree het)en die Sekretaris, Dave left. Warden Colin Rowles, Chairman, Mike Myers, Vice-Chairman. Tommy Bach Tindall. and Secretary, Dave Tindall. I

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"To see what is right anct not to do it, is want of courage" Confucius

Eco Training Teachers Jirnrllynlaurabulainrr~res; dany thanks to KPNR to give us the the time to learn and be able to teach ourchildren the bush life. Wewant to thank thosewha thought of the idea to do this. I have been here in the bush a long time but now I have learnt manv new thinas for the first tim63 so; piczase dG not stop now. LE?tour kicjs team and know the bu!sh."

AIDS - Positive Living Training of Trainers program Put Winky Girdwood (in centre of group pictured below) in a situation where there is nothing and she will make something of it with thatwhich is around her and survive grandly too. In a course conducted late in August, Mr David Patient, Dr Neil On and Mrs Winkje Girdwood were central to a program training 11 selected trainers: basic knowledge ofHIVand AIDS; nutritionand the ability to grow vegetables on a small piece of land

with little water and natural pest control; eating the right balance of foods; how to prevent and deal with intestinai infections; nutrition and anti-retrovirals;and home remedies for common, non life threatening HIV conditions. This is an ongoing programwhere the initial 11 go out and each train a further ten, starting a snowball effect in the dissemination of the important facets of dealing with HIV AIDS.

Elvis Mathebulawrites:"...Ithink the seven of us were working as a team with Zani and a whole lot of other people. I thank the organizers of the workshop and the people who provided us with their transport. ltwasa pleasurefor me to be in the workshop and thank mostly Sandy and Zani for their big hearts. Thanks.

Edw tthebulr!I, writesi: "I want ro rnank you tor ine children's eco-training and giving the chance to teach the childrenabout keeping nature for tomorrow, about the trees and the animals, birds and insects ..." 1 .

When you see a new trail, or a footprint you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing" Anonymous

ECO-kds get tree-wise Under the Leadwood Tree!

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* Sincere thanks to the f

' stances for their ruppon

Waltons Stationers for 4 t ~CupDoaras; t c o unK Tor the donation of educational aids u:;ed durir~gthe first training; As part of the next training sessionthe teach.^ L* A^ t uc tarten to visit ers will, at the invitation of the centte, E the Mahololo Rehabilitatian C:entre; thanks to ; Transfrontiers Walking8 Trailse, namely, Bruce i tawson, for bird identification train'ing at no1 charge to the project; Foto First, Riverside Malt, Nefspruit, for production of photos at special tariffs; and Korck Publishing for the great discounts on materials used as educational aids in forthcoming training There is an earnest appeal for funds , offers of vehicles for future training projects; use of camp g~ir--:[:A:-: j den; kitchen (for catering needs), and toilet fdctt~ile:,lor children, trainersandworkc3rs. Plea act SancJY on 015 793 3521 (cell: 082 909 6E sandy@pumula.co.za.

At the end of the last training session each child was handed a packet containing, seeds (knobthorn, marula, and waterbessie) plus black plastic plant bags. They were instructr?d on how to plant and care for their seedlings. Successful growers will have a colour photograph taken of themselves with their plant.

on the riaht with the select la sene staff wtio unckwent special tralning to convey messages of emimportance to 185 ch~ldren.They have recently completed their tra~ningin the field of birdltfe for the next childrens's course on December7 to 10. The SIX are ElvisMathebula (Camp George), Rexon Moeng (Senalala), Phanuel Mdlhuli (Buffalo Lodge), Jimmy Mathebula (Camp Mkombe), Edward Mathebula (KPMR HQ), Richard Mkhomolo (Ntoma Estates)whlle the NovemberlDecember tralning wtll also see Ruben Motloutsi joining the team.

185 children aged between six and 15 years attended the first four-day seminar in September. The six Klaserie staff with their newly-acquiredskills conveyed a threefold message to the 185: (1) What is ecology (2) Why is it important and (3) The significance of the need to retain the country's resources in nature. The 'Klaserie Six' took the 185children on a 'journey" a 'journey' that conveyed them to the roots of their proud ancestry. They learnt that an impala is more than just meat, that a tree is more than just a source of firewood, and so the story of life in nature was and is still to be revealed. Then it was "trees", next - in December - it will be birds!

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" D o as $

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and perhaps tomorrow Isaac Newton

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be able to do better," 5

: Collaring elephants in I

the Klaserie 1

by Michelle and Steve Henley WE HAD STARTED o u r search for Benjamin a week before we were due : to fit the collars. The days were long, ! hot and dusty and the sightings of elephant bulls infrequent. Breeding i herds were plentiful and we regularly j found them seeking refuge from the heat and dryness in the reedbeds of the Klaserie River. We knew that if we were to fly along this green artery we would be sure to find a family unit / which wecould collar. But whereeould i we find Benjamin for Stefan Breuer? '

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Benjamin-to-be (Photo: Stefan Breuer)

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Stefan. one of the Klaserie landowners, had shown a great interest in elephants and their ecology from the outset of the Elephant Research Programme. In 2003 he made a substantial donation toward the project and also offered to donate a satellite collar in August of this year to assist us in achieving our research objectives. Tony McClellan, who had previously paid for the collars of Mac in 2002 as well as Classic and Diney's collars in May 2004, has once again kindty donated an additional collar to be fitted onto a cow. A third collar was paid for by a number of smaller donations. Stefan indicated that he and his family would be coming to Makumu in the Klaserie at the beginning of November, and with the assistance of the International Wildlife Health Institute (IWHI) we were able to offer the Breuer family the opporhinity to participate in the collaring operations. This meant that we were in search of a bull in the vicinity of Makumu which, on Stefan's request, would be named Beniamin. Stefan also made a donation for rhe privilege of participating in the collaring operation. This

money went directly towards the management ofthe Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. On Monday, the day before the collaring operation was to take place, Chris Mayes contacted us while we were out searching for animals to the North of Makumu. They had just caught sight of a lovely bull associating with a breeding herd on Makumu. We rushed over to catch sight of Benjamin-tobe, feeding on reeds some distance ffom the cows. In spite of being in musth, he war paniculady relaxed and practically ignored us. We were elated, as the chances of him moving off overnight while the breeding herd was around, were slim. The following day the plan would be to collar Benjamin, a cow within a breeding herd and another breeding bull! The excitement was quite tangible when, at 06:OO on Tuesday 2 November, 2004, Stefan and his family, Colin Rowles and three ofthe Klaserie field rangers and Joel Hancock from Limpopo Provincial Nature Conservation met at Makurnu to await the helicopter. Steve Henley and I set off with Dr. Cobus Raath and his veterinarian team from theTimbavati Private Nature Reserve to join the others in Klaserie. Cobus Raath, wildlife veterinarian for IWHI, had offered to conduct the three elephant collaring operations free of charge as a show of s u p port for the Elephant Research Programme

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The feisty cow, back on her feet (Photo: Michelle Henley)

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in the Associated Private Nature Reserves. Being a project of the UK based charity, Save The Elephants, the Elephant Research Programme is dependent on donations for the collars as well as for the costs of the collaring operations. Cobus will be conducting all future elephant collaring operations free of charge. When the helicopter took off to search For Benjamin, Cobus gave a brief descrip tion of the procedures involved in a collaring operation. The tension was mounting. Would we find Benjamin again? i Would the family unit remain nearby so ' that we could collar one of the cows as well and get a grip on associations between breeding herds and bulls? Contniued on page 7

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& Out for the count, and a collar (Photo: Michelle Henley)

6 "Finding out - not knou~ledge- is the spring that makes life fascinating," E F Benson 1 I

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The antidote was delivered after the co~Grwas fitted. Elephant I Alex also rocked himself to his feet unaware that he would be / the sixth elephant with a satellite collar providing us with valu- I able information on the range behaviour of elephants within i the APN R. I Where are the collared ele~hantsnow? The 3rd ofNovember we s'et out to establish whether the col- j lared cow had reunited with her calf and family. We were surprised to catch up with her at Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC). Her temporal glands were not streaming, indicating that she was relaxed, and her calf was once again close by her side. We spoke to Tim Patterson from PMC whom had ricognised the herd that she is moving with and said that they have been I coming to that area for years. He also thought that it was the same herd from which they had removed a snare fmm a calf some years ago when they had driven the rest of the herd off by helicopter whilst workingto free the calf. This may account for the cow's reaction, and explain why Cobus thought that she was a particularly feisty cow. The herd is at present slowly making their \my south again, although they appear to be following the Olifants River course very closely. ~e~~ram hasi nalso moved north since the coilaring and is at present on PMC. Elephant Alex has reunited with a bull group - . j &d I s moved southsince the collaring operation.

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Stefanadministering the antidoteunder the sion of Dr. Raath (Photo: Michelle Henley)

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Recluest

Thi; costly project is dependent on donations and sponsorships. Although .Save The Elephants and Tanda Tula Safari Camp have supported this project both financially and logistically, we are still dependent on donations for the duration of the project. As we plan to have 30 elephants satellite collared by 2007, we are in need of funds to manufacture more satellite collars. j We would welcome any landowner or company interested in donating a satellite collar. 1 Donations can be made to 'Elephant Research APNR', account number 033356165, Standard Bank, Hoedspruit, Branch Code 052752. Please feel free to contact us at (015) 793 0369 or enail us at michelephant@woridanline.co.za if you require further information about tit; project.

"Only the day dawns to which we are awake." E..IenryDavid Tkareau

1 [arficfebelow wriffenbj

MncSnait/t and 1/ Sarah adnpted by kind permission of Kruger2Cunyon, page 3 a

i Friday 24 September, 2004 I

'Kfaserierhino ear notching'/

Klaserie keeping tabs on the white rhino YET ANOTHER intrepid and "Dit was 'n voorreg vir my om uit te vind dat dit my taak was om water

farsighted undertaking by own- op d ~ erug van hierd~emasslewe pre-historiese-soort reus met haar komieklike ers and management of the klein stert, onlangs gekerfde oor, en rotsvaste lyf, te vryf," ... Kruger2Canyon Klaserie ~ r i v a t g ~ a t uwas r e the By the time we arrived, the cow was peacefully down and her September ear notching and micro chipping of the calf had quietly moved away. fourth white rhino on the Reserve. Each one of the group snapped to hisher appointed task and According to Colin Rowles, warden of the Reserve, the project serves a two-fold purpose. Firstly, as management aid, the ear notches make individual identification much easier and thus their movement and behaviour can be more accurately recorded, and secondly, for security purposes. The microchip identification inserted into the front horn and behind each ear provides vital information, either in the recovery of poached horn or in the event of a 'project' rhino migrating out of the Greater Kruger Reserve. A simple scan can reveal the identity of the rhino and the comparative records could be produced. The ear-notching method used is simple yet ingenious. By using both ears, con~binationsof 299 individual IDS are possible. The goal is to notch the entire adutt rhino population in the Reserve. The hope is this will be achieved through corporate and private sponsorships. A corporate sponsor could utilize the event as an inspirational team-building exercise. The participating company would receive a certificate and members would be entitled to participate actively in the process. Similar trearment would be accorded individual sponsorships, A group of 20 made up of Reserve management and owners was was brought together and led by Colin Rowles and Dr Pete Rogers. Colin briefed the group under a knobthom while awaiting the arrival of the helicopter. A variety oftasks were delegated t~ eager participants. These tasks included monitoring respiration, blindfolding, and putting on rather large earmuffs upon arriving at the sleeping beast. Colin and Chrisjan (the pilot) did a recce trip and returned shortly aAer sighting a rhino cow and her "large calr'. Dr Rogrs quickly and efficiently readied his 'cacktails' while in-between, fielding and answering our questions, and showing us his "box oftricks". Fie then took tothe air while we loaded the Landies and headed out.

the whole process went off smoothly. What a privilege to find myself with the task of rubbing water onto the back of this huge prehistoric-like giant with her comically small tail, recently clipped ear and rock hard body mass. There was nothing comical about her once Dr Rogers had administered the antidote and she had beam her sluggish return to consciousness.After a couple of lumbering circles and some hand clapping to give direction to the beast she lumbered back into the bush none the worse for her experience. We returned to the knobthorn for sandwiches and drinks. While the white rhino is not on the 'most critically endangered' list, the black rhino is. It is only through the efforts of forward thinking conservationists who undertake technologically advanced projects such as this that may ensure the white rhino stays off the list and continues to peacefully shamble through our bushveld.

Die mikpunt is om die hele renoster bevolking te monitor op hierdie wyse en dit te fundeer deur korporatiewe en private borgskappe. Die program dien 'n tweeledige doel. Eerstens, dit vergernakltk identifikasie en die moniteringvan die renostersse bewegings. Tweedens, vir sekuriteitsdoeleindessoos in die geval van stropery. Teiwyl die wit renoster nie op die 'ergste in gevaar' lys verskyn nie, die swart renoster is we1 daarop. Dit is net deurversiendeprojektesoos hierdie een wat sal sorg dat die wit renoster noo~top die gevaarlys sal verskyn nie

8 "We d o not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from ourchildren" ... Chief Seattke