Klaserie Drif AD
An Authentic Bush Experience The Klaserie Drift Safari Camps Group comprises of 3 camps which are ideally located to enjoy all the wildlife Africa has to offer, in a private and secluded setting; featuring the big five, incredibly diverse landscapes and comfortable accommodation with all modern amenities.
Camp George Safari Camp features a
The intimate Camp provides a welcome
The Klaserie riverbank separates the Camp
manicured, natural garden offering an
mixture of African rondavel suites that can
from a frequently used watering hole, which
oasis of greenery amidst the khaki bushveld
accommodate 10 guests, and a modern,
lies adjacent to the extensive entertainment
shades. It accommodates up to 10 guests
clean farm style main building and
area and commonly attracts jackals,
and is bordered by a riverbed and waterhole
entertainment area. A flagstone pathway
hyenas, warthogs and elephants. Across
which draws a variety of wild life which is
leads guests to the awe-inspiring lookout
the green lawn and under the large trees,
clearly visible from the Camp.
deck, built above the Klaserie River, incorporating a second entertainment area
the charming, large house provides ample accommodation for eight guests.
with breath-taking views.
Reservations: 015 793 3521 / 2077 • talitha@klaseriedrift.co.za • www.klaseriedrift.co.za
KLASERIE CHRONICLE NO 36
In this Issue
c/o African Impact
Community
Regulars 13
Birding: Ghost of the bush
14
Makwetše joins the Eco Children family
24
Unknown legends of the Lowveld
21
Teedi crèche gets a makeover
28
A-Z Klaserie Terminology
26
Addition of workshops multiplies benefit
34
Photography: Bushveld moments
33
Winners’ excursion continues to thrill
36
Eco Children appeals for help
38
Arachnids invade KPNR HQ
18
Features 4
Cheetah sunrise
18
White lions and the protection of K2C COVER STORY
5
Three leopards for the price of one
20
Elephant shrews
6
Moving a twig snake
22
Our feline family is growing
8
The circle of life’s lighter side
27
Restoration of Mariepskop
9
Rescuing Muddy, the baby rhino
30
Tracking giants
10
Equipping the custodians of Africa’s wildlife
16
Painted wolves
16
30
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Editor’s note change and the transformation of the Eco Children brand. This was a strategic decision to increase our reach and social impact. We relaunched our website at the end of 2015 to reflect the vibrancy of our organisation and the beneficiaries we work with, and improved our donation platform to receive foreign currencies and credit cards. All these changes have added value to the organisation and will assist us in achieving our goals of changing more lives for the better.
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hange. It can cause anxiety and highlight a fear of failure. It can also make us feel unsure, insecure and unsafe. But change, as they say, is as good as a holiday. It invigorates us, excites us, moves us forward and keeps us on our toes. Change requires courage and an open mind and the Eco Children team have been put through their paces in the past few months to not only keep up, but embrace all the changes that have occurred in the organisation wholeheartedly. Some of the more obvious changes, as you have already noted in previous editions of the Klaserie Chronicle, is our name
Now it’s the magazine’s turn. With this issue, we’re unveiling a new look for the Klaserie Chronicle. We hope you like what you see. Our editorial team have worked tirelessly to develop and implement a design that is elegant, eyecatching and easy to navigate. Our aim is to retain the heritage of our beloved Klaserie Chronicle and continue to grow and share more informative articles on our local wildlife and the unique bush lifestyle we get to experience every day. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and farewell to our marketing coordinator, Brad Timms, who will be returning to Sydney, Australia at the end of June. In a short space of time he has added
Klaserie Chronicle Readers’ Queries The Klaserie Chronicle is published quarterly and distributed to KPNR members, as well as Eco Children donors, partners and Chronicle advertisers. For any contributions or queries please email admin@ecochildren.co.za or contact Laura on 082 713 7550. We love to hear from you. Contributors Corné Havenga, Willem Pretorius, Brad Timms, Peter Lawson, Judy Meeser, Troy Meeser, Hans Bornman, Chloe Cooper, Jason Turner, Talitha Jansen, Stefan Kruger, Mike Kendrick, Dimikatso Nonyane, Jeanné Poultney
immense value to our organisation, and played an integral role in all the changes we have implemented. Brad assisted me expertly in making key strategic decisions and it has been an absolute pleasure to rely on his vast marketing and fundraising knowledge. Brad, it has been awesome working with you and inspiring to see the great connection you have with our beneficiaries and our cause. It has been evident from the start that your heart is in the right place and that you care deeply about the children we assist. You will be greatly missed, not only as a valuable colleague, but also as a sincere and trustworthy friend. We wish you all the best for your future endeavours and know that you will achieve great success wherever you go. As we are all aware, change is inevitable and even though it evokes good and bad emotions, it will help us move forward as an organisation. We will continue to embrace change and hope that these changes will make a difference in our beneficiaries’ lives.
Editorial Editor: Cornè Havenga Sub-editor: Catharina Robbertze Advertising and articles: Laura Craig Layout and design: Cecilia Theron- Du Preez Photographs Ziggi Hugo (cover photo), Brad Timms, Jacques de Villiers, Garth Batchelor, Chloe Cooper, Kevin MacLaughlin, Tim Feherty, Greg Moran, Troy Meeser, Dawie Jansen, Estienne Janse van Rensburg Stefan Kruger, Sam Thornton, Debby Thompson, Kailey Schwerman, Lieke Exterkate, Carlene Frank, Mike Kendrick Thank You Eco Children would like to thank all our sponsors, donors and supporters for your continued support. Your contributions, however big or small, are invaluable in our mission to sow seeds of change. .
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Cheetah sunrise Article by Chloe Cooper, Photo by Kevin MacLaughlin
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othing beats a cheetah sighting first thing in the morning and a few guests at nThambo Tree Camp were recently treated to this rare sighting.
The cheetah was relaxed and enjoying the shade in classic cheetah pose – outstretched on her side with her head raised off the ground, keeping an eye on her surroundings. Female cheetahs are most often found alone, as they generally live solitary lives, unless they have a litter of cubs. They are famously good mothers,
and commonly have litters of about three to five cubs, which stay with their mother until about 18 months old. Once the cubs have matured and move off on their own, the mother returns once again to her solo lifestyle. Guests watched the single lady panting, yawning, and snapping at flies as she reclined in the shade, blinking her big amber eyes at us. Eventually, she got up, stretched and walked off into the thicket.
Three leopards for the price of one Article by Chloe Cooper, Photo by Greg Moran
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reg and Enoch, two guides at Africa on Foot, recently interrupted their guests’ dinner when they heard the unmistakable call of a jackal alerting the night to the presence of a leopard. They promptly packed their guests back into the game viewer and followed the sound of the alarm call. It didn’t take long to arrive at the incredible scene and see Ross Dam female with not only one, but two leopard cubs. This regularly sighted leopardess has been seen with a single cub on a couple of occasions, but it turns out, that in fact there are two cubs. In the darkness, the mother leopard and her two cubs fed on an impala carcass, unbothered by the presence of their admirers. The two cubs, one male and one female, were approximately 4 months old. The female cub was more
timid than the male, and a little smaller, which is normal for a female leopard. The male has two spots above his whiskers on the left, and a rather dramatic smudged eye marking on the right. He fed alongside his mother and pounced playfully around a termite mound, giving guests many fantastic photo opportunities. Everyone spent a long time enjoying this rare and beautiful sighting in the Klaserie wilderness, before returning to camp and turning in after an unforgettable African experience.
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Moving a twig snake “The snake chewed on the frog in order to get its fangs, which are situated in the rear of its mouth, to inject its highly potent hemotoxic venom into its newly acquired prey.” Article and photos by Troy Meeser
My theory for their continued presence is that we are currently heading into a drought. There is less food and water available in the surrounding bushveld and the manicured lawns and lush vegetation within the camps appear to be an oasis for different species of animals, including the prey species of snakes, such as squirrels, rats, frogs, lizards and birds. I have encouraged my colleagues to inform me when there is a snake in one of their camps instead of taking action into their own hands, as the possible misidentification and handling of a snake could be dangerous to both human and snake. Other reasons include the safe relocation of the snakes and the
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opportunity to educate people about them. Snakes are unfortunately often not given the opportunity to be properly understood. They are usually thought of as slimy and wet, with the intention to harm or kill anything that come across their paths. In reality this isn’t the case and the majority of snakes within southern Africa are in fact harmless. A few weeks ago one of the ground staff members informed me that there was a skinny, stick-like snake on the lawn. We were thrilled that we were called to come and catch the snake instead of it meeting its end. To our surprise it was a twig snake, Thelotornis capensis also known as a vine snake. This species is known to be prominently arboreal so at first glance it was strange to see it lying calmly on the lawn a few feet away from us. On closer inspection it was actually drinking water droplets that had collected on the blades of grass from the sprinkler being on. The twig snake was surprisingly calm
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ithin the last couple of months I’ve noticed a few slithery visitors in and around our various camps. Yes, I’m talking about snakes. Their presence at this time of year when our temperatures start to drop is strange, as we usually start to see less and less of them as we head into the winter months.
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and possibly a little dehydrated. Not having the correct tools to catch this snake we made do with what we had, which happened to be a feather duster and broom. We lifted it slowly and placed it into a lockable container for transport. We drove the snake down to the Klaserie River, about a kilometre away, where we knew there was a small amount of surface water in pools left behind after elephants had dug there. While keeping an eye open for the local river pride of lions we carefully released the twig snake near the water’s edge. It slithered calmly in the direction of the water and started drinking, which confirmed our suspicion of it being thirsty. We decided to take refuge in a small piece of shade to appreciate this unique moment. The twig snake stopped drinking and raised its head to allow gravity to move the water deep into its digestive system and be absorbed as fast as possible. The snake then slowly moved through the sedges that are prevalent in sections of the Klaserie River. As it was moving we noticed it taking a particular stance in the reeds and going all stiff. Thanks to the twig snake’s unique pupil and the positioning of its eyes, it
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has binocular vision and can see and identify stationary prey, similar to a boomslang. Its orange and black forked tongue made its appearance as it was trying to pick up some sort of scent, and after a quick strike there was a reed frog in its mouth. The snake chewed on the frog in order to get its fangs, which are situated in the rear of its mouth, to inject its highly potent haemotoxic venom into its newly acquired prey. Shortly thereafter the frog was ingested and the twig snake realigned its jaws and moved into the dense riverine vegetation surrounding the banks of the river. Haemotoxic venom destroys haemoglobin, the clotting agent in blood, and there is no anti-venom for this highly venomous snake, mostly because of how infrequently people are envenomated by this elusive serpent.
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The circle of life’s lighter side “ Out of the shrubbery, the tiniest and wobbliest little imbabala appeared, still shining and covered in blood and placenta.” Article by Talitha Jansen, photo by Dawie Jansen
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t the beginning of this year, Mother Nature opened her doors and allowed us to experience the softer side of the great circle of life, the magic of birth and renewal. Whilst out on an early morning game drive with guests, we were able to witness the birth of the elusive and solitary antelope, the bushbuck. Our vehicle was abuzz with early morning excitement and chatter when we became aware of an ewe as she emerged from under a small shrub just two metres off the sand road. We were drawn to the sight as we noticed afterbirth still trailing behind her. Out of the shrubbery, the tiniest and wobbliest little imbabala appeared, still shining and covered in blood and placenta. The lamb, still trying to find its legs, stumbled along, fell and got up again eagerly to make its way to its mother who had characteristically walked away slowly to find some cover after being startled by our vehicle. As these mammals are extremely shy, we were very fortunate to witness the first few moments of this
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interaction as the mother slowly and gently started to clean the lamb. Natural survival instinct drives the mother to eat the placenta and the dung of her young to remove all smells that would otherwise attract predators such as leopard, hyenas, wild dogs, and lions. This continues for a while after birth as the lamb does not accompany its mother to forage until after it is 4 months old and will therefore remain behind in dense vegetation. It was a rare privilege to witness the social interaction between mother and new-born as, going forward, she will only spend a few hours a day with her young. The lamb was calm and very relaxed, and offered us the opportunity to photograph it out in the open where we could even note its characteristic white marking on its cheek. It eventually disappeared behind a bush where the mother had laid down to resume cleaning and we continued our drive to give mother and lamb the opportunity to bond.
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Rescuing Muddy, the baby rhino
“ The only thing that gave away the rhino calf’s location was its ears moving, which grabbed the game viewers’ attention.” Article by Willem Pretorius, photos by Sam Thornton
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baby rhino was found on the morning of 4 May by a landowner and his family in the southwest of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) while on a game drive on their property. The rhino, who has since been named Muddy, was stuck in a mud puddle and barely recognisable as he was completely covered in mud. The only thing that gave away its location was its ears moving, which grabbed the game viewers’ attention. On closer inspection they realised it
was a baby rhino and called me to assess the situation and take the necessary action. Upon arrival I was astounded as to how small the rhino was. I immediately removed my shoes and went into the mud to assess the condition of the trapped animal. At first he was a bit scared of me but he soon settled down and I put my thumb in his mouth to open it and give him water. I then proceeded to lift and move his feet one at a time to ensure
the blood circulation did not get cut-off. He moved his feet just fine and was still nice and strong with no other injuries. I called two ranger teams to try and locate the mother, but unfortunately, she was long gone and could not be found. All that was left of her at the scene were footprints in the mud – evidence of failed attempts to free her calf. After assessing the calf, I contacted Provet Wildlife Services to assist us with the safe recovery of the rhino. I knew we were in for a long, hot morning and ensured that Muddy got all the water he could drink. The landowner drove back to his farm to bring us more water to assist in keeping him cool and help quench his thirst. It was during this time, while looking at myself and the calf, that we all agreed that Muddy is a suitable name for the little one. The state vet arrived at the scene a short while later and prepared to dart Muddy so we could safely remove him from the mud. After he was darted we did not waste any time and got him out as soon as possible to be transported to a rhino sanctuary. Thank you so much to all the role players in ensuring Muddy received a second chance at life.
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Equipping the custodians of Africa’s wildlife The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) is thinking out of the box when it comes to the business of conservation education. Article by Jeanné Poultney
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he conservation industry faces an uphill battle with constant challenges. The growing demand for scarce commodities such as rhino horn, poverty, climate change, and community development make the task of addressing the ever-increasing environmental challenges facing Africa a daunting one. As such, it has become more and more important for conservation organisations to equip the custodians of our natural resources with the skills needed to tackle the testing times ahead and by implementing innovative solutions. The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), located inside the western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP) west of Orpen, is one such organisation who is thinking out of the box when it comes to the business of conservation education. The SAWC was established in 1996 in close cooperation with all interested and affected parties in southern Africa, including national and provincial government departments – specifically South African National Parks (SANParks), other conservation agencies, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Their dynamic and adaptable business plan has allowed them to implement new initiatives and forge partnerships in response to the current needs of the industry, thereby expanding their relevance, reaching across borders and greatly impacting the training of conservationists in Africa and beyond.
Strength in partnerships The SAWC, together with its partners World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa and Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), has established relationships with other conservation organisations and agencies across the region. With the support of various national, provincial and private parks and nature reserves such as the Kruger National Park and the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR), the SAWC is constantly developing its scope of training to ensure an innovative and unified approach to the sustainable management of natural resources,
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As a SADC recognised centre of specialisation in conservation education, training and skills development, the SAWC has since its establishment trained more than 14,000 students from 26 countries in Africa, mostly from countries in the SADC region. Approximately 80 percent of the learners who have received training at the SAWC are still in wildlife management and most of the graduates have been promoted to more senior management positions.
conservation areas and wildlife species across the African region. Through its African Field Ranger Training Services Division, the college trains field rangers at various levels whilst also conducting aerial patrols through its Bat Hawk project which assists with the monitoring and protection of rhino and other species in the area. Both of these programmes are currently being implemented in the KPNR and in return, the KPNR recently donated a buffalo hunt to the college to raise funds and promote responsible hunting. The hunt was sold for almost R250,000 and was unique in that it had the added opportunity of learning more about buffalos, the area, and responsible hunting which included ageing the buffalos in KPNR. This money does not only cover the KPNR’s bill but also brings in valuable resources to plough back into the SAWC’s training initiatives; many of which are aimed at equipping wildlife guardians with the necessary skills to help counter the onslaught of poaching of wildlife crime in the region. Educating for positive change Through cutting edge, hands-on training programmes, the college is producing highly competent and motivated protected area managers and conservationists that are able to manage and conserve their protected areas on a sustainable basis in cooperation with local communities. The training covers a wide spectrum of skills needed by
those who are already in the service of conservation and environmental agencies, as well as individuals starting their careers in the conservation field. One such talented individual is one of the Klaserie’s very own bright young stars, Queen Manyike. She is currently enrolled in the Youth Access: Conservation and Environmental Education bridging course at the SAWC thanks to the good relationship between the college and its donors – in this case Zürich-based Friends of African Wildlife, the KPNR and Eco Children. According to Eco Children CEO, Corné Havenga, Queen is a prime example of the development of human capital through transfer of skills and competence as well as facilitating the participation of local communities in the conservation and tourism value chain. “We are extremely proud of Queen’s achievements and wish her all the best in her studies and look forward to her graduation in June,” said Havenga. The college offers courses that will open career opportunities for existing personnel who do not have formal qualifications, as well as courses that will allow participants to seek and find gainful employment within the conservation and tourism industry. In addition, a host of certificate programmes, learnerships, skills programme and short courses aimed at upskilling people within the conservation sector are available through its four key training units: Wildlife Area Management, Protected Area
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Integrity, Sustainable Use and Guiding, and Community Development and Youth Access. “There is no doubt that adequate training is vital if protected areas are to be sustained. A high priority is placed on community-based natural resource management, poverty reduction, alternative livelihoods and biodiversity economy strategies to contribute to biodiversity conservation, socio-economic and tourism development,” commented SAWC CEO Theresa Sowry. Staying relevant “The SAWC does not receive a government subsidy and has, since the development of its new business plan, taken deliberate strategic steps to review its business structure to ensure operational efficacy and efficiency, whilst staying true to its vision and mission,” says Sowry. “The college recognises that in order to remain relevant in a dynamic sector, there is a need to establish strategic long term relationships, strengthen its networks and expand its training to include capacity building mechanisms that allow for the protection of the rights of ordinary people in buffer zones who are the ultimate stewards of land and natural resources,” she said. Southern Africa’s network of parks and reserves is an important means of safeguarding the region’s biological
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wealth. Whether parks are transfrontier, state-run or privately owned, if managed well they are focal points for rural development and economic growth. As a result, adequate training and skills development programmes, such as those offered by the SAWC, are vital for the conservation of the continent’s rich biological diversity whilst also enabling the flow of benefits from protected areas to communities as part of the development of the wildlife economy. “As strategic conservation development partners, the SAWC and PPF jointly strive to develop functional wildlife parks through various initiatives including the training of conservation managers. As part of this imperative, PPF presents a powerful vision of a shared ecological heritage and a mutually sustainable future by facilitating the establishment and development of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA’s) in southern Africa,” Sowry added.
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Ghost
of the bush
Article by Peter Lawson, photo by Jacques de Villiers
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he Grey-headed Bush-shrike Malaconotus blanchoti is the largest shrike with predacious habits and carries the apt name of Spookvoël in Afrikaans. So named because of its strange mournful call – a monotonous, far-carrying, drawn-out “whooooooo”, often heard in the heat of the day when all other birds are quiet. It usually remains hidden in the upper foliage of a leafy tree when calling, which makes the sound even more ghostly. To add to it being inconspicuous, the call is ventriloquial and usually does not come from where you think the bird should be. This is a common bird in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) but not often seen as it prefers to remain hidden in broad-leaved woodland and is pretty good at doing so, in spite of having bright plumage. It is a beautiful bird when you do see it, with olive-green back, wings and tail and bright yellow underparts, washed with orange on the breast. Of course it also has a grey head and neck – hence the vernacular name. Its eyes are yellow and piercing and the bill is black, large and powerful. Due to this, and because of its predacious eating habits it’s called the Gladiator Bird in west Africa. No cuckoos have been recorded parasitizing this shrike and it is easy to see the reason for this. A cuckoo would likely end up as a meal should it dare attempt depositing an egg in this gladiator’s nest. Our ghost of the bush has a varied diet, including insects such as wasps, eggs, nestlings and even adult birds, mice, bats, small snakes, and other reptiles. Sadly, it is particularly fond of chameleons. Large prey is wedged in the fork of a branch when feeding and it then tears off chunks of meat with its powerful bill that has a sharp hook at the tip for this purpose. Breeding takes place in spring and early summer. A breeding pair will occupy an area of about 50 hectares and this territory is fiercely defended from intruders of the same species, or raptors. Intense alarm is signalled loudly by harsh and explosive “SquoK-SquoK” calls, often
“ A cuckoo would likely end up as a meal should it dare attempt depositing an egg in this gladiator’s nest.” uttered in flight whilst dive-bombing the intruder. Only the female incubates and she usually sits tight when disturbed, but gives loud and hoarse “Skwaar-Skwaar” calls, which brings her gallant partner in to chase away the intruder. When the eggs hatch they are fed by mom, who is lovingly provisioned by dad until the nestlings fledge. He approaches the nest along a devious route to avoid giving away its position, fluttering his loosely held wings and uttering soft, mewing “phoee” whistles. Typical of small children, the nestlings beg for food with a quiet “zzhoreer” call. This is a special bird so get to know its calls and search for it in the KPNR. It is bold and beautiful and you will not be disappointed.
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Makwetše joins
the Eco Children family “ We were impressed with the strong leadership at Makwetše and are confident this partnership will meet our objectives and greatly benefit learners.” Article by Brad Timms, photos by Tim Feherty | African Impact
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akwetše Primary School in Green Valley was recently adopted by local non-profit organisation Eco Children and will soon see the development of a new Eco Village. This brings the total number of local schools supported by Eco Children to five and the number of beneficiaries to around 2,700. All of Eco Children’s Eco Villages are exclusively sponsored by the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, and the establishment of these gardens are the first stage of Eco Children’s whole school development approach. Once a school has shown that they value their Eco Village by caring for it appropriately, Eco Children will work with the school to improve
essential infrastructure such as libraries, kitchens and toilets and create an environment that is more conducive to learning. Eco Children CEO, Corné Havenga said of the adoption: “We observed and evaluated many primary schools in the greater Hoedspruit area. While there is obvious need in most schools, we were impressed with the strong leadership at Makwetše and are confident this partnership will meet our objectives and greatly benefit learners.” The new Eco Village at Makwetše, consisting of a permaculture garden and a new classroom with vibrant
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murals for nature-based lessons, will be developed with the invaluable assistance of Classic Wallabies’ Indigenous Exchange (CWIE) volunteers, a group of young indigenous adults from Australia, as well as the participation of learners and local community members. School principal, Mr Kgaugelo Monareng said of the adoption: “We feel honoured and privileged to have been adopted by a progressive organisation such as Eco Children. The school management team, all categories of members of staff, the school governing body and the community at large are excited about the partnership. We believe the learners will also be thrilled when we share the news about this exciting encounter. We really appreciate this relationship.” As with most government schools in the area, there is a long list of issues requiring attention. “Challenges faced by the school include a lack of adequate toilet facilities for learners, insufficient classrooms resulting in over-crowding, no extra room to be used as a library, and the lack of a kitchen for preparing meals for learners,” Monareng said. The principal believes the adoption will go a long way in addressing the knowledge gap and inadequacy of skills for the educators in teaching certain subjects, especially mathematics. In addition to realising their academic potential, learners will acquire much-needed skills and values in areas of food production through the Eco Village programme including commitment, responsibility and collaboration. The eight CWIE volunteers will arrive in Hoedspruit in mid-June and will spend the first week developing plans and designs for the Eco Village. The subsequent four weeks will be spent building the Eco Village in conjunction with members of the local community. The volunteer programme will be delivered in partnership with the Classic Wallabies, Australian Volunteers International and the Australian Government’s ‘Australian Volunteers for International Development’ programme.
The Eco Village will be formally handed over to the community at a ceremony on Friday, 15 July. Photos of the new Eco Village and opening ceremony will be shared in the September issue of the Klaserie Chronicle.
Tara Liddy, 2015 CWIE participant
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Africa’s painted wolves Potential for KPNR African wild dog population to grow due to drought.
Article by Stefan Kruger, photo c/o African African Impact
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he painted wolves of Africa, Lycaon pictus are one of the continent’s most endangered species. These animals, also known as African wild dogs, are in a struggle for survival, with human population growth one of the major causes for its listing as endangered as farmers often shoot them to avoid losing livestock. They are also very prone to diseases such as rabies and canine distemper. This year however, the painted wolves in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) should do well as we are in the grips of a tough drought, conditions in which they thrive. These predators normally den from around May to July, and will actively defend the den site against intruders. Painted wolves are nomadic animals, living in packs of about three to 30 and their home ranges are very large, from around 450 square kilometres and up. They normally give birth to up to 21 puppies of which not even a quarter reach adulthood, but we are hoping that the drought conditions will help them increase their numbers this year. Painted wolves are formidable predators in their own right, they are co-operative hunters and can chase prey for kilometres on end at top speed. In fact, they are the most successful hunters in the African bushveld with a success rate of nearly 100 percent, whereas lions’ success rate is only approximately 30 percent. Gomo Gomo Game Lodge in the KPNR have had numerous sightings of painted wolves throughout their traversing area during the past three to four months. Currently there are three known packs roaming around our area, one pack consisting of only three individuals, Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
another pack of seven and the third pack containing 12 to 14 individuals. A sighting that really stood out was in the riverbed at Noixhe crossing, close to the northern and southern Ross cutline. I came across a female leopard and followed her for a while when, suddenly in front of us a pack of 12 or 13 painted wolves were lying in the shade in the riverbed. I pulled over to see what the animals would do, while my guests’ jaws were hanging on the ground in astonishment. The relaxed female leopard simply proceeded to move on with the painted wolves just staring at her as she walked
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact right past them. I don’t think my guests know just how lucky they were to have experienced this. I have been working in the bush as a professional field guide for the past 12 years and this was probably the highlight of my career as a guide! When we encounter painted wolves they’re usually either sleeping or resting or on the move, looking for prey such as impala. They disembowel their prey within 15 minutes as they feed very quickly once they have made a kill. Painted wolves are very social animals and when the youngsters are ready to leave the den you’ll often find them playing and chasing each other, which is always fun to watch.
of chacma baboons. The young painted wolves were resting close to a natural pan when the baboons came for a drink. The youngsters started chasing the baboons around the pan but their fun was interrupted when a massive male baboon started to chase them around. The little painted wolves then ran straight to mom for help and she joined them in the chase. The baboons’ facial expressions were hilarious as they decided to get out of there very quickly and went straight into a massive jackalberry tree to safety. We hope at least one of the three packs of painted wolves den in our area this year and that we’ll get to experience many more unforgettable sightings of these rare and wonderful animals.
Another sighting that stands out was when a pack of youngsters decided to have some fun with a troop
Photo by Lieke Exterkate | African Impact
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White lions
and the protection of K2C Extract taken from Africa Conservation Telegraph:
Newsletter of the Society for Conservation Biology
Article by Jason Turner, photos by Ziggi Hugo
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n light of the proposed down-listing of the conservation status of lions in South Africa by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) from “Vulnerable” to “Least Concern” on the list of Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS), the Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) has asserted that the survival of lions in the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere is likely to come under threat.
the Kermode bear Ursus americanus kermodei in Canada, whereby this rare white variant of the black bear Ursus americanus has been declared as critically endangered due to its conservation and cultural value, such that the Kermode bear is a flagship animal for protecting a 4 million ha wilderness area. As with the Kermode bear, by protecting the white lions the entire lion population within the greater region would be protected.
As the proposed policy stands for the management of lions in South Africa, the down-listing will increase the hunting of wild lion trophies and the demand for lion bones from eastern markets, also increasing poaching and illegal hunting, thereby threatening the future of wild lion populations in South Africa. In the K2C Biosphere, the white lion is the ideal capstone animal to prevent this serious threat.
What are white lions? The white lion is a rare colour variant of the African lion Panthera leo that has a white coat colour with either yellow, blue or green eyes, and has only ever been recorded in the wild in the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere, specifically the Timbavati, Klaserie and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves, and southern Kruger National Park (KNP). The white coat colour is not due to albinism, but rather leucism resulting from a double recessive allele or gene. The presence of white lions was documented for the first time by Europeans in the southern KNP in 1959, and in the TPNR in 1975, although African oral records long pre-date this.
Along with scientific research, a primary aim of the WLT is to harness the cultural importance of white lions to local indigenous communities, in order to help protect the K2C Biosphere and greater lion population in this region. This approach is based on the international precedent of
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From the 1970s onwards, prized for their rarity, white lions and many ‘normal’ coloured (tawny) lions carrying the white lion gene were removed from the wild, put into captive breeding and hunting programmes and sent to zoos and circuses around the globe. No adult white lion had been seen in their natural habitat since 1994. The Timbavati made two attempts to reintroduce white lions in 1989 and 1993, but these attempts failed in the absence of the successful lion reintroduction techniques that were only perfected in 1997. In 2001, using these successful reintroduction techniques, CEO and founder of the WLT, Linda Tucker initiated an ambitious and challenging project to return white lions to the wild, and asked for my assistance. Reintroduction Linda and I met while I was doing research for my MSc in the Klaserie, Timbavati and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves, focusing on the impact of lion predation on the prey populations in these reserves. She had spent 20 years researching and investigating the cultural history and beliefs, paleoanthropology, scientific perceptions, as well as the disastrous “canned hunting” of white lions, and published a book on the subject. In 2001, we formed the WLT, purchased 1,700 ha of land bordering on to Timbavati, Thornybush and Kapama, and subsequently initiated a world first re-establishment of white lions within their natural habitat in 2004.
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The wild born offspring of rehabilitated white lions were integrated with resident wild tawny lions, and released to free-roaming conditions on the WLT’s conservancy. We successfully established three lion groups of high genetic integrity that hunted self-sufficiently in their natural habitat at a predation rate comparable to the wild tawny lions in the same habitat. This finding was published in a peer reviewed scientific journal, and is consistent with observations of wild white lions in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The genetic marker determining the white colouration was identified in October 2013 in a collaborative study between the WLT and geneticists from five other countries, and is being used to ensure genetic integrity and ultimately to determine the frequency of the occurrence of the gene in the wild population. Subsequently, despite the continued artificial removals of white lions and gene-bearing tawny lions from their natural habitat, white cubs were born in the Timbavati, Klaserie and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and in the Nwanetsi Area of Kruger National Park in 2014 and 2015, confirming white lions’ conservation value as a natural occurrence in the biodiversity of this region.
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Elephant Shrews “The hind legs are much longer than the forelegs, and it has enormous hind feet. These are used for drumming the ground as a contact signal to other elephant shrews nearby...” Article by Peter Lawson, photo by Garth Batchelor
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e all know that the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) is home to the largest land mammal on earth, the African elephant. Not many of us are aware though that this protected reserve is also home to a very tiny mammal known as an elephant shrew. So named due to them having a long mobile snout resembling the trunk of an elephant. Elephant shrews resemble rats and mice but they are not related to rodents at all and are in a family of their own with only a few species. One that occurs in the KPNR is known as the short-snouted elephant shrew Elephantulus brachyrhynchus. So named because it has a slightly shorter nose than other species of elephant shrews. It is a cute little mammal with large eyes and ears and a long tail. The hind legs are much longer than the forelegs, and it has enormous hind feet. These are used for drumming the ground as a contact signal to other elephant shrews nearby, telling them “this is my territory, keep out”. It does have a voice though and lets out a shrill and penetrating shriek when alarmed. Being familiar with this alarm call is one way of finding these little animals. Their habitat is in wooded savannah with dense grass and scrub on sandy ground. They are active during both day and night and take shelter in holes in the ground, or in piles of debris and under fallen logs. When disturbed they shriek with alarm, dash for cover and sit motionless to avoid detection. Food consists mainly of termites and ants. Elephant shrews generally live in pairs. They breed in both summer and winter and females can have up to five litters in a year.
Rock elephant shrew Normally only two young are born at a time with fur and their eyes open, as opposed to rodents who are born with closed eyes and without fur. Baby elephant shrews are precocious and in no time at all are completely independent and can fend for themselves. This gives mom and dad freedom to start breeding very soon after birth and is nature’s way of making certain the species survives.
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Teedi crèche gets a
makeover
Previous kitchen
New kitchen and cooking facilities for Seganyane Primary’s sister crèche.
Article and photos by Brad Timms
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he crèche adjacent to Eco Children’s adopted school, Seganyane Primary School recently received a much-needed makeover thanks to funds raised by Dutch organisation, The Green Savanna Tree. Teedi crèche had very basic kitchen facilities and the structure itself was not stable. In March, Eco Children oversaw the demolition of the existing kitchen and the building of a new and improved facility, which includes food preparation areas and running water. The new kitchen was christened by eager cooks in April and the improved facilities will make a significant contribution to better sanitation and health amongst the young learners. Eco Children thanks The Green Savanna Tree for their continued commitment to improving the facilities at the crèche.
New kitchen
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Our feline family is
growing
“The resident pride, consisting of a two-brother coalition and three prime females had doubled in size with the arrival of five cubs.” Article by Talitha Jansen, photos by Dawie Jansen
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ast year, shortly after arriving in the Klaserie, I was fortunate to experience a most extraordinary event. In my article titled “Battle to the death” (Klaserie Chronicle, October 2015), I was exposed not only to death and brutal predator-on-predator warfare but also to the heart-breaking, harsh reality of disease, having witnessed TB strike down a lioness in her prime.
brothers and the courtships lasted a few days at a time. Guest sightings of the couples were always entertaining and educational as the cats’ mating rituals are filled with uneasiness and violent outbursts, quite the opposite to what we are accustomed to.
The winter months which followed were gloomy, with the veld taking on a grey and cold aspect, and pending water restrictions and basking heat meant the future did not look good for the animals. However, despite the gloominess, the drought afforded us the chance to see these predators, such as our resident lion pride, rise to the top of the food chain again with kill after kill. Their war grounds were the riverbed – the giver of life as one of the only remaining water sources.
Lions’ average gestation period is 105-110 days and towards the end of September we became aware of new arrivals on the property. The resident pride, consisting of a two-brother coalition and three prime females had doubled in size with the arrival of five cubs. We were ecstatic, but were only offered very short glimpses of each female coming and going at various spots in the riverbed after her reappearance from a secluded den area in the mountainous outcrops along the river. Shortly after the characteristic 1-2 month hiding period, the cubs were introduced to the rest of the pride.
On various occasions between April and June 2015, whilst our lionesses were in estrus, we were able to witness the pairing off and synchronised breeding of the two dominant males, Warlord and his brother, with the females. There was no visible competition between the
We first caught sight of the cubs in late November and estimated them to be around 4 months old. The sighting was magnificent! One solitary vehicle, off road in the bush with the five cubs who were very jovial and happily played with each other to form the necessary hunting
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skills needed to start hunting on their own at around 11 months. We watched them make use of a freshly supplied buffalo carcass as an African jungle gym. The enjoyment and animation of their behaviour was contagious. They were very curious and crept closer to our vehicle to examine us, each time getting a little braver and closer, before running off for some more merry-making with their siblings. The females at this stage were still lactating and it was wonderful to watch the cubs suckle unencumbered in this very relaxed environment. Usually they begin to wean from 6 months old and from our close vantage point it was a rare valuable sighting. The cubs became a regular sighting on our game drives as we quickly learnt of their secret hiding place, a rocky outcrop where they spent most of their days, often supervised by Warlord or his brother not far away. It has been remarkable to be able to witness them pounce on each other and climb in and out of lowlying trees and rocky outcrops, and an absolute treat to be able to watch them grow – each one developing its own personality. Afternoon drives often end with a
vehicle tailing the family as they make their way from the island, across the bridge and into the Klaserie riverbed for a drink of water. The magic of the setting sun whilst watching the cubs tackle, romp and being plain cheeky with each other and their mothers is a premonition of exciting times ahead.
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Unknown Legends of the Lowveld Ethel Maud Travers
Ethel MAUD TRAVERS was born in Norfolk, England. She was educated at Northwood near London and met her future husband, John Edmund Delacoer Travers in Essex in 1912. She was a gifted singer but gave up her singing career sometime after John proposed and she decided to move to South Africa. Much later she was to write interesting episodes of her life and times under the pen name of Gail Cooper. What follows is a few snippets from these writings‌ Article by Hans Bornman
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t was with some trepidation that I left England for South Africa to be married. I had, of course, met my future husband in England. We were married in Durban and spent a few days there. The things that intrigued me most were the rickshaw boys and the yellow fruit everyone ate at breakfast, papaya. We travelled by train to the Lowveld, which was to be my home for many years. We came to what seemed like miles of desolate country called veld, with no homes and nothing but lots of game galloping away from the track as the train slowly wound its way to what seemed like nothing. I asked where the people were and John replied: “Not many white ones.” “When may I go back to England?” was my next question, and John reassured me by saying: “When you like.” I had no real wish to go, but John being the wonderful man that he was, indulged me. Eventually the train came to a halt at a place with a small store. A tall dark man emerged from the store to greet us, and off we went into miles of veld. Native women and children ran out of their huts to see the first white woman they had ever seen. At last we reached home – an attractive bungalow on the farm, Champagne. I met Piccanin, our houseboy, who proved a kindly and faithful man all through the years he served us. The house was large and clean and included a room with a full-sized billiard table. The next day dozens of native women arrived and when I asked what they wanted, John said: “They are here to see you, go show yourself for a minute.” Time went on and John taught me to ride and shoot – useful for despatching snakes. Riding was the only way of getting about as there were no roads or cars. There were no refrigerators, only one train weekly –
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provided the rivers were not in flood, and it was often two weeks before we had any mail. One day I was out with my three dogs – Mastiff, Pointer and Airedale, when we breasted a rise to find ourselves in the middle of a pack of wild dogs. We all stood and stared at each other, and I knew it would be fatal to turn and run. Suddenly my dogs rushed at the others and they all went off baying as they ran. I never expected to see them again but to my joy the three later returned unharmed and looking very pleased with themselves. At this time malaria was very prevalent in the Lowveld and John insisted on me going away during the summer months to a small cottage on top of the berg owned by the then Transvaal Gold Mining Estate. It looked forbidding in its isolation, but there was no malaria there. I was accompanied by my Mastiff, Rufus, pet cheetah, Rajah (a gift from Pump Willis), and sundry goods and chattels, not forgetting Piccanin. We set off for the berg’s summit, a stiff and hazardous climb. We rode where possible, and led the horses where it was too dangerous to ride. At the top the view was breathtakingly lovely and leopard and baboon often came to visit. John instructed Piccanin to put out a white sheet on the edge of the berg every day to signal that all was well. The only living soul for miles around was Bill Carr, an old sailor, stone deaf, who kept a small slate for conversation. He somehow eked out a living as a small storekeeper and over tea he inevitably told me his life story of a faithless wife discovered on his return from a voyage, his stubbornness in not taking her back and the life-long regret. He now lies in that desolate spot, his grave lost in the haunts of the leopards and the baboons, unmourned and forgotten
like many another pioneer. There were many bachelor friends of John’s, of many nationalities who came in relays on Sundays to our home for dinner, billiards and companionship. They wore all sorts of garments that had not seen the light of day for many a long year – stiff collars, and jackets green with age – and all looked extremely uncomfortable and grateful for my invitation to remove these, especially in the heat. We were all firm friends. Occasionally the District Commandant and his wife would come along for a night or two. I remember them for their ability to down large whiskies without turning a hair, and for their loud snoring which reverberated through our home. There were no doctors then for 100 miles or more, the nearest one lived at Komatipoort and the next in Pilgrims Rest. His charge in advance was £50 for risking malaria for himself and horse sickness for his horse. Our shooting trips were events to remember as we went by ox-wagon through the wilderness of bush and herds of game. The land was primeval, solitary, and as beautiful as when first created. There was a charm in sitting round a campfire at night, with the lions roaring in the distance and later tripping over the tent-ropes when the fires had died down. In 1918 I went down with blackwater fever and Dr. John de Villiers from Komatipoort came up on a special train and saved my life with an injection. I spent a long time in Barberton hospital, which I reached by train. Since it was necessary for me to live at a higher altitude, my husband bought Glenlyden before moving to my present home. Here we lived for many years until my husband’s death. Of that time it is too painful still to speak.
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Addition of workshops multiplies benefit Mentoring and capacity building of mathematics educators is improving education in rural areas. Article and photos by Brad Timms
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outh Africa’s education system faces many challenges, but when it comes to mathematics there is nothing short of a crisis, with many educators forced into teaching the subject without any formal training. Educators often lack an in-depth understanding of the concepts and content they are teaching and, consequently, learning outcomes are poor. This is especially the case in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. On average, younger learners here have around a third of the mathematical knowledge they should have and the situation deteriorates further as learners progress through school, with grade 9 learners’ knowledge at just one tenth of what it should be. In an effort to tackle the problem, Eco Children commenced maths capacity building workshops for educators in 2015, and the workshops re-commenced at adopted schools, Hloaia Primary School in Green
Valley and Mahlathi Primary School in Hluvakani in April of this year. The workshops are facilitated by Dr Hannah Barnes of BushMaths and are open to educators at Eco Children’s adopted schools as well as educators from surrounding areas. The intention is to build on the momentum developed last year to further the educators’ understanding of mathematics and expand their teaching skills. Feedback on the workshops from educators and district officials has been overwhelmingly positive. Barnes said: “The teachers are starting to show a shift in their thinking about the nature of mathematics. They are also beginning to open up more and more about their shortcomings and begin to reflect on their own teaching methods.” This year the programme has been expanded to include one-on-one mentoring of educators, with Dr Barnes visiting classes to observe educators, support them and engage in one-on-one debriefings with each teacher. “It’s a privilege to work with the teachers who, despite difficult circumstances, are keen to learn and improve their understanding of the subject,” she said.
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Restoration of Mariepskop
The Mariepskop State Forest is set to be rehabilitated as several organisations have committed to contribute to the eradication of alien vegetation in the forest and improvement of this diverse area. Article by Dimikatso Nonyane, photo by Debby Thomson
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he SANParks Biodiversity Social Project (BSP), in partnership with the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere Region, and with further planned inputs from the Wildlands Conservation Trust, have endeavoured to give rehabilitation support from April 2016 to the management authority of the Mariepskop State Forest – the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The rehabilitation efforts, which will be overseen by the DAFF and land claimants, include the selection, training and management of two harvesting teams and two wet mill teams. Exotic species, such as pine and gum trees, will be harvested, and the logs will be turned into planks at the wet mill. The planks will be used by SANParks BSP factories to make school desks for the Department of Education. The Mariepskop State Forest is located on the eastern escarpment of the Drakensberg mountain range in Mpumalanga, facing the Blyde River Canyon. It is an area of unsurpassed beauty within the K2C Biosphere Region. Mariepskop is one of the highest peaks on the
northern Drakensberg escarpment, at an elevation of 1,945m above sea level, and plays an important role in the catchments of the Klaserie and Blyde Rivers. It is unique in its floral diversity and comprises of several vegetation types of which the Northern Mistbelt forest is the most dominant one. Unfortunately, exotic species plantations were planted in the reserve in the 1950s. Mariepskop contains well over 1,400 plant species, more than the whole of the Kruger National Park. For example, there are 900 species of Psychotria in the world, 200 in Africa, and only two in South Africa. Both of these, the black bird-berry, Psychotria capensis and red birdberry, Psychotria zombamontana are found on Mariepskop Mountain. The forest’s diverse conditions also give rise to a variety of vertebrate species, especially birds, frogs and reptiles. Both the Mariepskop dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion sp. Indet and Three Rondavels flat gecko, Afroedura sp. Indet appear to have been isolated locally through natural island biogeography. Unusual local mammals include the Samango monkey, and special birds include
the Knysna Turaco, Long-crested Eagle and Narina Trogon. The invertebrate species are even more diverse than the vertebrates, with several butterfly endemics. “We welcome this project,” Winners Mashego, DAFF forest manager said. Further rehabilitation plans include the replanting of the clear felled areas with plants grown in the Trees for Life project through the K2C/ Wildlands Community Ecosystem Based Adaptation (CEBA) network. Dr John Job, chairperson of the K2C Board said: “This project demonstrates how partnerships can make a difference. The SANParks BSP, the DAFF, Wildlands and land claimants are all pulling in the same direction to heal our land. We are very grateful to SANParks BSP, who is initiating this project, and to the Wildlands Conservation Trust, who is also raising the profile of Mariepskop through the K2C Challenge Race, which take place from 17-18 June.”
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Klaserie Terminology Article by Judy Meeser, photos by Ziggi Hugo
PARTHENOGENESIS Reproduction without fertilisation. This remarkable process occurs in some plants and insects and also in some higher animals like certain sharks, lizards, birds and snakes that are able to reproduce asexually. Breeders of captive animals closely monitor their behaviour and breeding and have no doubt that this occurs. Insects like aphids and wasps are known to reproduce asexually. This is not to be confused with a hermaphrodite where an individual animal has both sexes in one body and can reproduce itself.
PALEARCTIC MIGRANT Birds that migrate from Eurasia to Africa, south of the equator. These birds breed in Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula and spend their winter in the sub-Saharan African summer. Steppe Eagles travel from Russia to feed on the termites, and Red-billed Queleas and White Storks return to their African feeding grounds with regularity. More than 100 birds migrate to our summer feeding grounds, 44 of which are Palearctic migrants. Thirty-five are intra-African migrants who spend our winter months elsewhere in Africa. Woodland Kingfishers return to Angola and Carmine Bee-eaters to the Zambezi Valley.
PILOERECTION Raising of hair that some animals do when threatened so as to appear bigger. This is an involuntary contraction of tiny pilorum muscles that elevate the hair follicles. Humans get goose bumps in response to certain stimuli while porcupines raise their quills making them bigger and scarier, warthogs bristle their manes and civets raise up the thick pelt of coarse hair to almost double their size. Impala puff up on chilly mornings to provide extra insulation and trap more heat between the hair and the skin.
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Q QUILL The shaft of a feather or the barb on a porcupine. The hollow shaft of a feather is called a calamus. A porcupine quill is simply an enlarged and specialised hair thickened with layers of keratin so it is strong and sharp and occasionally even barbed. The brown-black and white colour of porcupine quills is also indicative of its nocturnal habits.
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QUAGGA A subspecies of Burchell’s or plains zebra, extinct in the wild since 1878 and a fitting example of man’s arrogance and shameful attitude towards the wildlife that abounded during the 1800s. Quagga were ruthlessly hunted by the settlers who saw them as competition for the grazing of their livestock. The only photograph ever taken of a quagga was in the London Zoo, showing brownish stripes on the head, neck and shoulders only, leaving the rest free of stripes. This animal disappeared from the plains of the Karoo, Cape and Free State without being noticed. When the last quagga died in Amsterdam Zoo on 12 August 1883 no one even realised that the mare was the last of her kind. The name quagga is onomatopoeic of the sound they make and was the Khoisan name for this subspecies of zebra. Initially thought to be a distinct species, DNA studies have shown the quagga to be a subspecies of Burchell’s zebra, Equus quagga.
RIPARIAN Pertaining to the vegetation on the banks of rivers or alongside a body of water. Riparian vegetation has the advantage of deep alluvial soils and readily available water so the trees attain great height and grasses grow densely, making river systems attractive to grazers and browsers
RUMINANT ROSTRUM An anatomical term that refers to the beak or any stiff, projecting oral structure of various different animals. In insects this can be the piercing mouth part of mosquitoes, or the snout of a weevil. Some vertebrates’ beaks or snouts are also referred to as rostrums, such as turtles’ beaks, bottlenose dolphins’ beaks and the bills of billfish like marlin and swordfish.
An even-toed ungulate with a four-chambered stomach. The first two chambers, reticulum and rumen, continually exchange contents and the animal regurgitates the bolus and re-chews the cud to break down the material into fine pieces and aid digestion. In the heat of the day ruminants have no need to graze and can seek out shade and rest while chewing cud.
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Tracking Giants:
Elephants Alive re-collar three “ The helicopter, piloted by Jacques Saayman, carried Cobus and his darting gun and we waited nervously for the radio call to tell us to move in.” Article and photos by Mike Kendrick
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lephants Alive have been tracking elephants in the Greater Kruger Area for close to 20 years. The data collected during this time is invaluable in providing insights into elephant movements and aid long term conservation management. Recently the decision was taken to replace the radio collars on three elephants, two older bulls and a cow, before their old collars stop transmitting.
were constantly monitored, paying particular attention to his blood oxygen levels. In record time, blood and DNA samples were taken to add to the comprehensive data collected on the elephants across this area. The antidote to the tranquiliser was administered and we waited, willing Gower to recover quickly. Slowly Gower rose to his full height and wandered away from our vehicles, a little drowsy but none the worse for his ordeal.
The Elephants Alive team assembled early in the morning for a briefing by wildlife vet, Dr Cobus Raath. With individual tasks allocated, the team travelled to the area where the first bull, Gower had recently been sighted. The helicopter, piloted by Jacques Saayman, carried Cobus and his darting gun and we waited nervously for the radio call to tell us to move in.
Classic After this, we searched for the second bull, Classic, while the rest of the team moved up north to re-collar one of the cows. Despite the undulating terrain, all went well and soon the helicopter spotted Classic. We soon realised that Classic was shadowing a breeding herd as he was in full musth. Once darted, the Elephants Alive team raced to the stranded giant and immediately began replacing the collar and gathering data. With his airway secured and vital signs monitored the decision was taken to roll him onto his side. A steel cable was attached to his one tusk and, with the whole team pushing, his 6-ton mass was rolled onto his side. In this position it was possible to see Classic’s Jacobson’s organ in two
Gower The radio barked to life and Michelle Henley, Elephants Alive’s manager and principle researcher, was first to reach the tranquilised giant. Gower was resting in an awkward position but the team quickly secured his airway and the old collar was removed. His vital signs
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small dark pits in the roof of his mouth. While the air was heavy with the pungent odour of Classic’s musth, it was incredible to see this relatively small organ and realise just how powerful it is as it was driving the movements of one of the largest study animals being tracked by Elephants Alive. After about 20 minutes at Classic’s side all work was completed and the antidote injected. Within a few minutes he rocked up onto his feet and stood perfectly, displaying his new collar. Success!
Humbling It was a humbling experience and a real privilege to not only have had the opportunity to work in such close quarters with these peaceful giants, but also to share our time with experts like Dr Raath, Jacques Saayman, Colin Rowles and Bryan Havemann. A big thank you to Save the Elephants for helping to fund the collars and to the Elephants Alive team for the hours spent locating the animals before the event and ensuring all the participating guests had a memorable time.
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Winners’ excursion continues to thrill Article and photos by Brad Timms
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here were beaming smiles all round when Eco Children hosted their annual winners’ excursion in April. The camp is a reward for learners that applied themselves at holiday workshops during school holidays throughout the preceding year and have become a highlight on the calendar. Winners are chosen based on their attendance, participation, behaviour and knowledge. This year 20 learners were selected to attend the three-day winners’ excursion at Blyde Adventure Camp. Amongst beautiful surroundings and with perfect weather, the group were treated to tubing and swimming in the Blyde River and a visit to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre. They also undertook leadership challenges, had their knowledge tested in a quiz and learnt about river ecology and methods to assess the health of a river. Eco Children CEO, Corné Havenga, said of the camp attendees: “We are extremely proud of our learners, from their excellent conduct at the camp to their enthusiasm to learn about the environment and its conservation at holiday workshops.”
This year’s winners were: Admire Mhaleni, Brisco Mbetse, Charity Mathebula, Eugen Maholobela, Frikos Ngwenya, Harmony Moeng, Junior Mhlanga, Light Manyike, Maqawe Nyathi, Marcus Mogalaka, Michelle Maphanga, Mighty Mabika, Mtsako Manyike, Phulusho Moeg, Promise Mashile, Risuna Nyalungu, Sfiso Mathebula, Sibongiseni Mkhomolo, Stanford Mashile, and Tassneem Mathumbu.
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Bushveld Moments
We are immeasurably privileged to live in a part of the world where we get to live and breathe nature every day. As John Hemingway said: “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.� These are a few magic moments that were captured by our readers in the past three months
Photo by Stefan Kruger
Photo by Estienne Janse van Rensburg
Photo by Estienne Janse van Rensburg
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Photo by Kailey Schwerman | African Impact
Photo by Ziggi Hugo
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Eco Children appeals for help Article by by Brad Timms
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outh Africa has the lowest average literacy score of all developing countries and much needs to be done to improve the overall literacy and reading levels of learners. It will require the involvement of all sectors of our society to overcome this significant handicap if we are to develop as a nation. Literacy, specifically reading literacy, forms the foundation of academic success at all levels of schooling. Many studies have shown that proficiency in reading lays the foundation for personal development, and that there is a strong link between reading literacy, educational opportunities and wellbeing. Eco Children has launched an appeal to establish a library at Hloaia Primary School in Green Valley, an essential resource for stimulating the desire to learn and for improving literacy. Being a government non-fee-paying school, there is immense pressure on management to run the school effectively. However, with a miniscule annual budget, there are insufficient funds for upkeep, let alone for developing new facilities. Eco Children has already secured funding to cover half the costs to establish a library, but need to raise an additional R100,000 (US$6,700) to complete the much-needed project. The school has benefited from a number of projects since it was adopted by Eco Children in 2015, including the establishment of an Eco Village (vegetable garden and renovated classroom for eco lessons) and a renovated kitchen to improve hygiene. The school will also receive new Enviro Loos in the coming months, which will greatly improve sanitation at the school and reduce illness amongst learners.
Eco Children CEO, Corné Havenga, said: “The leadership at Hloaia Primary School is very strong and the school is exemplary. We would like to develop the school as a model for other adopted schools to follow.” A library was established at nearby Seganyane Primary School in 2013 through funding from DHL. Eco Children’s partner, African Impact, facilitates literacy classes each afternoon and have established a reading club once a week, with literacy amongst learners noticeably improving in a short time period. Replicating this model at Hloaia would similarly have a positive impact on literacy amongst the learners. Children who have greater access to books and other literacy materials learn to read more easily than children who lack access to quality reading materials. Most importantly, a library has the power to inspire a love for learning. Donations to Eco Children’s Hloaia library campaign can be made at www.justgiving/ecochildren or by direct deposit in the Eco Children account. Details below.
Account name: Eco Children Bank: Standard Bank Cheque account number: 013253611 Branch: Hatfield Branch code: 01-15-45 Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ Ref: Your name Please send confirmation of payment to corne@ecochildren.co.za
2016 RANGE ROVER SPORT
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Arachnids invade KPNR HQ Article by Brad Timms, photo by Carlene Frank A successful holiday workshop was enjoyed by hundreds of enthusiastic learners over the Easter school holidays, with some of the participants having to face their fears to tackle the controversial theme of arachnids, including spiders, scorpions and ticks. Eco Children’s holiday workshops are held on four consecutive days, when four different groups of around 100 children each converge on the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve HQ to attend a day of fun and learning. Each workshop has a different eco-based theme, with practical activities to demonstrate key concepts. The curriculum incorporates useful advice on sustainable living, together with many interactive activities and a generous dose of fun. Participants of the March holiday workshop left with a greater appreciation of arachnids, including
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
knowledge of how spiders breathe, what scorpions eat and the important role ticks play in ecosystems. As always the success of the workshop was reliant on the dedication and enthusiasm of the volunteer facilitators, and Eco Children thanks them for their continued commitment to conservation education. A big thank you also to the National Lottery for sponsoring the holiday workshops and supporting this valuable contribution to conserving our natural heritage.