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 manicured, natural garden offering an oasis of greenery amidst the khaki bushveld shades. It accommodates up to 10 guests and is bordered by a riverbed and waterhole which draws a variety of wild life which is clearly visible from the Camp.
The intimate Camp provides a welcome mixture of African rondavel suites that can accommodate 10 guests, and a modern, clean farm style main building and entertainment area. A flagstone pathway leads guests to the awe-inspiring lookout deck, built above the Klaserie River, incorporating a second entertainment area with breath-taking views.
The Klaserie riverbank separates the Camp from a frequently used watering hole, which lies adjacent to the extensive entertainment area and commonly attracts jackals, hyenas, warthogs and elephants. Across the green lawn and under the large trees, the charming, large house provides ample accommodation for eight guests.
Reservations: 015 793 3521 / 2077 • talitha@klaseriedrift.co.za • www.klaseriedrift.co.za
KLASERIE CHRONICLE NO 37
In this issue
Photo by Ziggi Hugo
Regulars
Community 9
Cooking up a storm at Hloaia
A serious reputation
14
Eco Children sow more seeds of change
19
Birding: Sounds like spring
20
Success and celebration at KPNR AGM
28
A-Z Klaserie Terminology
21
Queen graduates at the top of her class
31
Greater cane rat: a special rodent
21
Young entrepreneur does it again
34
Photography: Bushveld moments
22
Wildlife photographers of the future
32
Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders
33
Cassie represents at AfricanGerman Youth Initiative
36
Ssssss-ensational
4
Observing a rare pangolin in the wild
5
Features
5 16
An exception to the norm COVER STORY
6
Lost and alone
24
Animal communication: The dawn chorus
8
26
Mystery solved
Kruger almost green
10
Getting to the bottom lion
27
Mica: An interesting piece of geology
12
Large lizards of the Lowveld
30
Water: Liquid of life
16
36
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Editor’s note unawareness, just to keep going, and sometimes we need to be reminded of the good in life and the goodness inside ourselves.
A
s it recently dawned upon me that I have been in the Lowveld for four years this spring, the anniversary inevitably led to introspection and retrospection. It is quite surreal to think that I was able to escape the rat race that so often consumed my existence. The privilege and haste that surround you in the race that is city life, can cause you to lose yourself as it hardens your soul and makes you forget the value of a good deed. We tend to cover ourselves with layers of
The opportunity to work for an organisation that is constantly striving to create change within communities that face great adversity has been, and still is, an incredibly enriching experience. From my very first day at Eco Children, the community’s positive nature and pure zest for life have never failed to inspire and I still cannot help but smile when I see how a small change makes a big difference in the lives of so many. However, the past four years have come with its own set of challenges that needs innovation and determination to resolve. Take, for example, the current poaching crisis. It is daunting to see how rapidly rhino numbers are decreasing and heartbreaking to see little calves distressed and traumatised when orphaned (make sure you read “Lost and alone” on page 6).
than ever, we need to stay positive and mindful of this ever-increasing problem. Thankfully we have many passionate people who are giving their resources to help fight this problem – just as we have fought other problems in the past and will keep fighting in the future. This edition of the Klaserie Chronicle is once again proof of the passion of the people of the Lowveld, who all do their part in the conservation and growth of our area. From the fight against rhino poaching, to several research projects, mapping the birdlife of the Kruger National Park, and empowering young people in the area – each and every project in the magazine makes a positive impact and it is an honour to be a part of one of these.
It is, unfortunately, the reality of the current day and now, more
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, Colin Rowles, Peter Lawson, Derek Solomon Judy Meeser, Ziggi Hugo, Chloe Cooper, Mike Kendrick, Orla McEvoy, Carolynne Higgins, Cassandra Mnisi, Amy Stevens
Editorial Editor: Corné Havenga Sub-editor: Catharina Robbertze Advertising and articles: Laura Craig Layout and design: Cecilia Theron-Du Preez Photographs Carlene Frank, Colin Rowles, Ziggi Hugo, Jacques de Villiers, Kevin MacLaughlin, Derek Solomon, Peter Lawson, Mike Kendrick Heinrich Human, Leon Marais, Judy Meeser, Andrew Gorman, Brad Timms, Tim Feherty, Chad Cocking, Andre Burger, Bryan Swift, Lilla Szanto, Neil Baynes, Martin Cassidy, Susan Mclure, Pietro Baroni, Lorine Magnier, Luan Oosthuizen, Raynard Moolman 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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Observing a rare pangolin in the wild T Article by Chloe Cooper, photo by Luan Oosthuizen
he pangolin is a somewhat shy and solitary nocturnal creature endemic to Asia and Africa. Due to worldwide poaching and the illegal trade of wildlife, the pangolin is now on the endangered species list. These animals are incredibly difficult to spot in the wild because of their neurotic tendency to skirt away when approached. Their defence mechanism comprises two techniques – to make a quick exit, or roll themselves into a tight ball. When the ball position is assumed, the body is hugged by the tail which has sharp edges protruding outwards.
The pangolin is often mistaken for being a reptile because of its scaly, armoured appearance. It is, in fact, part of the Manidae family whose members include anteaters, armadillos and sloths. This “spiny anteater” has a multilayered covering of scales which are keratin based and makes up 15% of its entire body weight. Spotting a nocturnal endangered species, such as the pangolin, is a rare occurrence, so coming across one at
a Sun Destinations camp in the Klaserie was indeed a momentous occasion.
Guiding teams at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp spent a considerable amount of time observing the antics of nature’s curious, lone-ranger of a creature. They found the pangolin close to an aardvark burrow, which is where they sleep, scratching away at the ground, and we can only assume it was foraging for its favourite source of protein – ants. A pangolin’s sharp claws are used to destroy nests and break open termite mounds littered with armies of ants. They use their long, sticky tongues to extract the ants. These fascinating members of the wild are high up on the bucket list of any safari-lover, and even those lucky enough to spend every day in the wild, count encounters with pangolins as unforgettable experiences they were lucky to enjoy.
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A serious reputation Article by Carolynne Higgins, photo by Ziggi Hugo
T
he notorious honey badger has the confidence of a lion, the personality the size of a giant pachyderm and the cuteness of a bunny rabbit. The honey badger is probably one of the most loved, misunderstood and revered little creatures of the safari world. It’s built quite a name for itself online, and videos of this small carnivore quickly go viral.
to the boma area where stories are exchanged around the campfire. Frequently a rough scuttling can be heard around the corner, in the vicinity of the kitchen. The honey badgers sense and smell when dinner is finished, and they regularly scurry down to see what they can destroy. They’re relentless and can even open steel doors with their raven-like claws.
Honey badgers have a habit of eating bee larvae and honey and will also eat an array of small animals, grubs and snakes. If threatened, this ferocious little animal will emit a foul smelling secretion from their anal glands which deters predators from approaching. Interestingly enough, the colouring and coat of the honey badger can easily be mistaken for that of a skunk. It is thought that these markings warn predators that they have a chemical weapon which they’re not afraid to use.
Honey badgers are famous for their brazen, nonchalant attitude and are quite happy to walk through a pride of lions, attack a cobra (they simply sleep off the venom) and approach lodges at night – simply out of curiosity.
At Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp we often get to experience honey badgers first-hand. As night settles in and guests have finished dining, it’s a tradition to retire
Although cute-looking, honey badgers are not afraid of attacking. They’ll scurry away at first, but under threat they will fight for survival and defend themselves against an entire army. They are brave, fearless and should be approached with caution (or rather not approached at all)!
Lost and alone Article & photos by Colin Rowles
“Her soft brown eyes were open and a thin trickle of blood ran down her face from a small bullet hole below her large ear.”
I
stood close to my mom. It was dark and cold, and I could feel her warmth as she stood over me, every now and then touching me with her long curved horn. In the distance, I heard a lion roar and a hyena whooping, the sound carried down the valley by the cold dense air. I felt reassured, knowing mom was close. I could hear her deep breathing as she shuffled her heavy feet on the stony ground and I felt safe and content. Suddenly, a deafening shot rang out. I was terrified and bolted into a gallop, leading my mom as I’d done before when alarmed. I ran blindly, weaving through the mopani scrub, hearing my mom close behind. Together we ran. She started to slow and she called out to me as her breathing became laboured with intermittent gurgling sounds. I heard her crash to the ground behind me.
I thought she’d tripped and kept running into the darkness. I ran on but still could not hear her. I stopped to listen and heard her distant gurgling squeals, then quick running footsteps and human voices. Another deafening gunshot and mom’s pleas were silenced. I could hear the human chatter. Then I heard it – the heavy bladed axe blows, ripping into her skull. I ran and ran, crying out for mom, falling over rocks and crashing through brush and debris, as fast as my terrified little legs could carry me. I collapsed – exhausted, alone and terrified. The long dark hours before dawn seemed colder and darker than I could remember. My body shivered and my little bleeding feet ached. I snuggled up against a rock and tried to rest. The nightmare, the gunshots, the human voices, and the axe blows haunted me.
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A Crested Spurfowl announced the new day. I opened my teary eyes and staggered to my aching feet. I sobbed as I called for mom. Where is she, what happened to her? Head hanging low, I stumbled back down the path. The early morning sun was warm on my back. I crossed little dry streambeds and rocky watersheds as the path led me towards where I thought I’d find my mom. I subconsciously slowed as I entered a dense mopani thicket. Suddenly, a large bare-necked bird launched out of the tree above me. I ran, then stopped, my terrified heart pounding in my little chest. I remember mom had told me that these birds signify death. I sobbed, expecting the worse and trudged on. A smelly spotted hyena ran past me but I didn’t care, I just wanted mom. The beating of heavy wings and squabbling birds ahead left me hollow. Could this be my mom? My little heart was broken as I peered through the undergrowth and dust. There I saw her, lying in a halo of blood - my mom. I cried out. Her face was viciously brutalised and her beautiful horns were gone. Her soft brown eyes were open and a
thin trickle of blood ran down her face from a small bullet hole below her large ear. My world fell apart. I was an orphan, bewildered, alone and terrified. Five long days and cold nights later, the next chapter of my life began. Battered and bruised, scratched, torn, dehydrated and on the verge of death, I was rescued by a dedicated ranger team. I now have a foster mom committed to my rehabilitation, and three other young rhinos as companions. I am alive and safe and will be forever grateful. At night when I’m alone, I often think of my mom, the wonderful mother that she was. I hope that the perpetrators of the horrendous crime that took her from me, will be brought to justice. Please help the rangers fight the rhino war, for our sake.
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Kruger almost
Green Article by Peter Lawson & photo by Jacques de Villiers
T
he Greater Kruger National Park project, named Turning Kruger Green due to the SABAP2 (South African Bird Atlas Project) website map turning each pentad green once four bird lists have been submitted, has only a short while longer to run. Registration with SANParks Scientific Services expires on 31 December 2016. The study area includes the entire Kruger National Park (KNP) as well all pentads east of 31°E and north of 26°S. This means private reserves such as the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR), external farms, rural areas, and towns are also included. A pentad encompasses an area of 9km x 10km and the total study area has 446 pentads. Six of the 446 pentads are west of 31°E but fall within the KNP boundary and are therefore included. Since each pentad requires a minimum of four lists to be submitted, a total of 1,784 lists were necessary in the three years during which the project ran. This sounds like an impossible task but I am pleased to announce that up until July 2016, only 13 lists are still required from six pentads. This achievement is not mine alone, but thanks to dedicated bird atlassing from numerous citizen scientists, as well as a small team of registered observers permitted to work in areas of the KNP away from tourist routes. Some really interesting results have been extracted so far, some on the positive side but many showing alarming decreases in certain species over the 20-year period since
the previous SABAP. The Secretary bird had a median reporting rate of 20.21% during SABAP1 and it is only at 0.38% in SABAP2. The Southern Ground-hornbill has decreased from 31.36% to 9.26% and the Kori Bustard’s figures are down from 24.59% to 2.38%. This could be attributed to the loss of large tracts of grassland habitat patches within the savannah woodland mosaic, and further to overgrazing, bush encroachment linked to in situ elephant population densities, the loss of large suitable nesting trees and the location of permanent water points. Species with very specific nesting requirements may be particularly vulnerable to these impacts. On the other hand, most of the species showing striking increases are associated with savannah woodland, and especially with the development of thicket-type vegetation, or ‘closed’ woodland savannah and dense, faster-growing Acacia species, or Dichrostachys cinerea encroachment. This includes species such as Long-billed Crombec, Sombre Greenbul, Green-backed Camaroptera and Yellow-breasted Apalis, plus others reliant on dense multi-strata vegetation, as opposed to open woodland savannah. A massive paper near completion compares the relative abundance of 213 bird species that occurred in 20 or more of the 72 pentads in a specific area. This chosen study area consisted of 39 pentads in protected areas and 33 pentads outside, with a large and growing human population, characterised by overgrazing, removal of trees for firewood, and high levels of human disturbance. The findings are explosive, particularly when a number of bird species are found to be more abundant outside of protected areas. The paper gives reasons for this and other phenomena. It will be available soon and we eagerly await the publication.
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Cooking up a storm
at Hloaia
Except for the direct advantage of feeding 520 children each day, the project will further contribute to the community’s pride in the school.
H
loaia Primary, one of Eco Children’s adopted schools, can boast with a brand new kitchen area thanks to the financial support of Planet Wheeler and the Mary Oppenheimer and Daughters Foundation, and the management expertise of Eco Children. Eco Children secured funding from these two foundations after adopting the school last year and committing to improve infrastructure. This forms part the organisation’s whole school development approach as they aim to transform their adopted schools into model institutions that are conducive to learning. The kitchen was revamped from a basic and unhygienic space with no running water to an area where food can be prepared hygienically and efficiently. The installation of running water and food preparation areas as well as gas cooking facilities, do not only make the actual preparation of the food easier but will also improve sanitation and reduce illness amongst learners. Local cooks prepare a meal in this area every day for each learner at the school, using fresh produce from the school’s own Eco Village. For many learners, this is the only food they receive all day, so it is essential that they receive a well-prepared meal that will not cause illness.
Photo by Carlene Frank
Eco Children CEO, Corné Havenga was thrilled at the completion of the kitchen and said the objectives of the project – to improve hygiene at the school, reduce illness among learners, and reduce the environmental impact of collecting and burning firewood – were definitely met. “We would like to thank the Mary Oppenheimer and Daughters Foundation and Planet Wheeler for their kind support in making this possible. Except for the direct advantage of feeding 520 children each day, the project will further contribute to the community’s pride in the school and we hope this will contribute to school enrolment numbers, which in turn will contribute to increased funding from the government,” she said.
TLB to rent.
Ideal for digging septic tanks, ash pits, pipelines and cable trenches. General road maintenance, opening of drains and rebuilding drain humps. Slasher also available. Contact Martin: martin@rockfig.co.za or 0835563271
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Getting to the bottom lion LiMF Researcher – Orla McEvoy
In order to address key management concerns outlined by the Lion Management Forum of South Africa (LiMF), we are currently investigating lion social behaviour and vital rates across South African reserves and protected areas. This information will be used to support the ongoing development of holistic and evidence-based management plans for conserving our wild lion populations within small reserves (smaller than 1,000 km2). Working across a total of 37 reserves with free-ranging lion, this project represents a united movement to support best-practice lion management strategies across small reserves.
Photo by Andre Burger
KLASERIE CHRONICLE NO 37
Lion monitoring As part of this project, a monitoring scheme for lions has been initiated across several participating reserves, which focuses on lions’ social and feeding behaviour. Participating reserves vary in many aspects, including their overall lion population and the lion management plans in place. Many small reserves for example have a single pride and few nomadic lions – those lions which roam without protected territories. In these circumstances, with reduced need to protect their territory or cubs from other unknown lions, individual lions can become more independent in nature, subsequently affecting their feeding patterns. With this monitoring we are seeking the best ways to maintain or mimic natural lion social dynamics, along with predatorprey consequences, on small reserves. This monitoring entails finding lions from a vehicle and recording the age and gender breakdown of the animals sighted, along with location. If known, the identities of the lions are recorded, while photographs are also taken and being used to help confirm identification later. Each lion’s body condition is rated, based on the extent of fat and muscle layer visible, and the visible condition of the coat. Behavioural notes such as general activity are also recorded, along with particular information regarding prey animal when the lions have made a kill. Wild lions are currently being monitored like this across various participating reserves varying in size from 60km2 to over 500km2. Dedicated teams of researchers, field guides and other interested parties at participating reserves are contributing invaluable information to this dataset on an ongoing basis.
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some of the more intimate day-to-day habits of these wild lion populations. With the help of committed teams, the small details when taken across a large scale can confirm trends and assist with guiding lion management strategies. I will spend the remainder of this year in the field, monitoring the sites of lion kills, assisting with lion monitoring programmes and running some small tests at participating reserves. Fieldwork is scheduled for completion by the first month of 2017, allowing the following months to be used for analysis and write-up. With the help of all those involved we are happily driving this research forward on schedule. Throughout the changing landscapes, and inevitable minor pitfalls, the invaluable support and keen enthusiasm of all those involved at participating reserves and otherwise have been a constant merit throughout this project. SANParks and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife reserves with lion, along with Rhodes University have formed part of this vital support network. This research has also been made possible through sponsorship from the National Research Foundation of South Africa, who have provided essential financial support in this large-scale project. SATIB Conservation Trust, who’s recent newsletter contains further project updates, and Great Wall Motors are providing integral support, ensuring researchers’ safe travel to wild lion populations across some of South Africa’s more remote terrain. Please keep an eye out for further updates on this research project in subsequent Klaserie Chronicle issues. To share your sightings or for more information please feel free to contact Orla McEvoy at sa_lions.limfresearch@ru.ac.za.
Associate Private Nature Reserves getting involved Recently many invaluable participants across the Klaserie, Timbavati and Balule Private Nature Reserves have been getting involved with the project. With the help of this growing and enthusiastic team, we are hoping to gain a wider understanding of the lion pride dynamics as they move freely across the open landscape. It has been fascinating learning about the renowned prides in the area, such as the large Dundee pride of 17 lions in the north of Klaserie; the River pride with young cubs seen at Klaserie Drift; the Giraffe pride with white lions seen by Kings Camp; and getting to know about the clashes between the Hercules and Ross prides as seen by Africa on Foot. Where we are headed Since initiating this programme, I have been privileged to get familiar with
Photo by Chad Cocking
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Photo by Bryan Swift | African Impact
Large lizards of the Lowveld Article by Ziggi Hugo
“These bigger lizards control insects, other lizard populations and even bats in your roofs.�
D
uring the dry winter months and early spring, the bush is still dry and there is not much cover. This cooler weather and easier viewing gives us an opportunity to see more reptiles basking in the sun. In the Lowveld we have large lizards, Reptilia squamata, that can be spotted on termite mounds, rocky areas, sand banks and big logs. These lizards are covered with a thin horny layer and will shed skin regularly during ecdysis. The
epidermal scales or plates cover the body like roof tiles. Three plated lizard species are seen in the area. They are the yellow-throated plated lizards, giant plated lizard and rough scaled plated lizard. Size ranges from about 35cm to 70cm. The yellow plated lizard lives in holes, cracks and in, or under, logs and rocks. The rough scaled lizard lives in old termite mounds and the giant plated lizard in cracks in rocky areas. All three species eat other lizards, soft fruit, leaves, termites and other insects.
Chameleon
We also have two monitor species, the rock or veld monitor and the water monitor. The rock or veld monitor mostly lives in hollows in trees, under rocks or burrows. They can grow over a metre and can be intimidating when confronted. It will hiss and lash the tail and lift the body to look bigger to any challenger. Rock monitors eat beetles, millipedes, birds’ eggs, snails and some smaller animals they can catch and swallow. They climb trees very well, and honey badgers and Martial Eagle prey on them.
blue head during breeding, while females are more difficult to see. They eat termites, ants, grasshoppers and a variety of other insects.
Water monitors are normally found around rivers and dams. They live in burrows and look for food around the water’s edge. Their diet consists of bird and crocodile eggs, small fish, crabs, frogs and mussels, and they swim into reeds or dive under water when threatened.
These bigger lizards control insects, other lizard populations and even bats in your roofs. Try to avoid using poisons around your dwellings, the natural pest control system works fast and effectively.
Chameleons are also one of the lizards we will see with warmer weather approaching. They are well camouflaged but can be spotted when they cross roads or footpaths. Look out for them on night drives with a spotlight as they stand out from the darker background.
Another large lizard species, the southern tree agama or bloukop can be found on the ground or on the side of trees. They are well camouflaged. Males have a distinctive Photos by Ziggi Hugo
Rock monitor
Water monitor
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Eco Children sow more seeds of change
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
T
here were ecstatic celebrations and ululations in Green Valley as Makwetše Primary School officially took ownership of their Eco Village this July.
The establishment of the Eco Village is the first step to improved education at the school after being adopted by local non-profit organisation, Eco Children. Makwetše Primary is the fifth school that has been adopted by Eco Children, which focuses on hands-on environmental education and whole school development in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. As part of their Support-a-School programme, Eco Children adopts local schools that are in need of outside help to improve infrastructure and education. Schools go through a strict vetting process and Makwetše’s strong leadership impressed the Eco Children team. CEO, Corné
Havenga said they observed and evaluated many primary schools in the greater Hoedspruit area and while there is obvious need in most schools, the strong leadership at Makwetše was the deciding factor. “We are confident this partnership will meet our objectives of empowering children, improving the quality of education in the area, and greatly benefit learners at the school.” Eco Villages are developed in partnership with sponsor, Make A Difference Leadership Foundation and is seen as an entry point in developing a broad-based relationship with a school. Eco Villages consist of a large vegetable garden as well as refurbished classrooms with vibrant murals for conservation-based lessons. Once a school has shown that they value their Eco Village, Eco Children works with them to improve essential infrastructure and transforms previously dysfunctional spaces into educational havens with a strong eco focus.
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Eco Children has also established a strong partnership with The Classic Wallabies Indigenous Exchange and, for the third year running, a group of volunteers travelled all the way from Australia to build a new Eco Village. The group of six indigenous youngsters made the most of their time in South Africa and worked hard to complete the garden and classroom on time for the official handover.
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
At the opening, Havenga expressed her pride to be associated with Makwetše and said it is the beginning of a great journey. She highlighted the strong leadership at the school and commended the initiative of the school principal, Mr. Kgaugelo Monareng. “Mr. Monareng worked alongside the volunteers on a daily basis and he and his team went the extra mile to get this partnership off on the right foot. This project allows people to connect with one another, learn from each other and develop friendships. Teamwork makes a dream work and the beautiful garden we are opening today is proof of this,” said Havenga. Likewise, Monareng was equally excited by the adoption and the new facilities at his school. “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,” he said. As with most government schools in the area, there is a long list of issues requiring attention at Makwetše, but first off learners will acquire much-needed skills and values in areas of food production through the Eco Village programme. Later benefits will include the upgrade of infrastructure at the school, the establishment of a library and literacy programme, and capacity building workshops for educators.
Photo by Lilla Szanto | African Impact Photo by Mike Kendrick
Photo by Mike Kendrick
2016 CWIE volunteers
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An exception to the norm Article by Colin Rowles
Photo by Raynard Moolman
Let us help you with all your property needs! Hoedspruit Office Tel: 015 793 1686 / Cell: 082 205 4798 Email: hoedspruit@everitt.co.za Shop 10, Pick n Pay Centre, Hoedspruit, 1380
HOEDSPRUIT
KLASERIE CHRONICLE NO 37
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was in Gauteng, cursing the late afternoon traffic on my way to Onderstepoort, when I received a call from a local safari guide, reporting a wild dog that had been in an altercation with a porcupine. Wild dogs are curious animals by nature, so this came as no surprise. The dog, the alpha female of a small pack of only three wild dogs had recently given birth to nine pups, and had a large porcupine quill deeply embedded in her chest. Under normal circumstances, the accepted view is that wild animals that sustain naturally inflicted injuries be left to their own devices without human intervention. This particular situation was somewhat different though. Wild dogs are an endangered species and, in this case, the animal in question was the alpha female whose survival was imperative to ensure the successful rearing of her litter. The survival of ten wild dogs was at stake. At the first opportunity I made an illegal U-turn and headed straight back to Hoedspruit, arriving home just before midnight. Early the next morning, accompanied by my two daughters, we met with Jason from Baobab Ridge Game Lodge. We followed his Land Rover in the first light of dawn as it bounced along the bush track to the den site. The den was just across a small dry sand spruit, and the burrow itself was situated in the side of a small, low profile termite mound. The surrounding area was powdered dust from frequent dog activity. Perched in a dead tree just above the den, sat an adult male Bateleur eagle. I marvelled at how ingenious this bird was – he’d worked out that his presence at the time of the pack returning from a successful hunt could lead to an easy meal. Adult dogs, when arriving back at the den, regurgitate meat for the alpha female and pups, the bird would then swoop down and pick up the scraps overlooked by the ravenous dogs. I picked my way through the dense bush, steering my vehicle to avoid sickle bush and zebra wood shrubs and stumps, for fear of picking up punctures. Slowly, I inched the vehicle forward to where the female lay in the shade, near the entrance to the burrow. A bit closer I crossed the line into her zone of concern and she stood up. Protruding from her chest, just behind her front leg, was a thick quill which appeared to have been bitten off. It seemed to be lodged between the skin and her sternum. I withdrew to make arrangements for her capture and treatment.
Photos by Colin Rowles
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Photo by Kevin Maclaughlin
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We returned later in the afternoon, the Bateleur had moved away and the dogs were active, perhaps preparing for the afternoon hunt. Dr Pete Rogers and I discussed the best approach. The target female lay close to the den, her two adult male companions were a short distance off. We moved closer very slowly, allowing the dogs to get used to the approaching vehicle. Once in range, doc tapped on the roof and I stopped. The expulsion of air from the dart gun and thud of the striking dart sent the female bounding off. She stopped and glared at us in disbelief at having betrayed her trust before walking back to the den and laying down. Alerted by the action above ground, the nine black pups emerged from the dark burrow and jostled for a position to suckle on their drowsy mom. Soon she was asleep, or so we thought. I opened my door and the sound sent the pups scurrying for the safety of the burrow. The female leapt up, staggered a few paces and collapsed. A few minutes later we approached and she was fast asleep. Surprisingly, the quill was gone. All that was visible was an open wound which received the necessary veterinary attention. We assumed that the quill had been dislodged when the female jumped up and ran through some scrub following the darting. When all was done and she’d recovered from the anaesthetic, we watched as the three adults reunited back at the den, the female keeping us in her view as we departed.
Photo by Kevin Maclaughlin
Article by Peter Lawson, photos by Heinrich Human
Sounds like spring Article by Peter Lawson, photo by Heinrich Human
T
o me, the first sign of approaching spring is hearing the lovely, loud and ringing song of a Rufous-naped Lark, Mirafra africana, “tsee-tsee,ooo”, repeated every few seconds. I like to imagine the call sounds like “you-can see meee”. It always brings a warm feeling to my chest and I know summer is on the way as it does not call during winter.
on the back. A typical “Little Brown Job”, but I love this bird!
This is a common lark in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in open grassland, recently burnt areas and open patches between trees in woodland. It needs a low perch in an open area to sing from, such as a termite mound, rock or low bush. The call is repeated endlessly throughout the summer. If you watch it singing, you will note that between bursts of song it excitedly jumps up, audibly flutters wings and raises a rufous crest. Males sing mainly when breeding, before egg-laying.
Breeding also takes place on the ground and a pair will build a concealed cup-shaped nest under a grass tuft, sometimes completely domed, but usually only partially. Nesting material consists of dry blades of grass. The nest is course on the outside but the nest cup is lined with fine grass. It is sunk into a hollow for best concealment. Usually three eggs comprise a clutch and the laying period is from September to March, but mainly between October and January. Eggs and young are brooded by mom only, but a devoted dad assists with feeding and does not have time to sing during this period. The young leave the nest before they can fly.
The wings are also rufous on the underside, with just a rufous panel at the top. The rest of the robust body is light brown with diffuse spots on the chest and scaly bars
On the ground this lark is silent and the crest is not raised. Feeding takes place on the ground and food consists of both seed and terrestrial insects. They are usually solitary but sometimes are seen in pairs.
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Success and celebration at KPNR AGM Article & photos by Colin Rowles
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he 47th Annual General Meeting of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve took place on 2 July this year. As has been the case with all AGM subsequent to 2012, the meeting of members was held on the lawns of the reserve’s headquarters, among beautiful flowering aloes and bright metallic coloured sunbirds. Tradition has it that this annual event is preceded by an informal meeting of the members the day before. This meeting provides the membership with an opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns that they may have with the executive committee, management or their fellow members. The informal meeting was very well attended and some interesting topics were raised, discussed and debated.
The AGM was very much a routine affair with the various formalities taken care of, including motivations and discussions relating to the resolutions which were to be voted on. Despite routines, this year, the format of the AGM was a little different from those of the past. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Eco Children, the agenda included some delightful and entertaining presentations such as readings, poetry and short plays, presented to the members by some of the senior graduates of Eco Children. The meeting was concluded with the annual certificate award ceremony, during which staff were recognised for their academic and training achievements during the past year. Staff that had qualified for long service recognition were also presented with certificates and awards recognising their term of dedicated service. The day was concluded with an informal gathering of members around tables spread with delicious snacks and finger foods, while thirsts were quenched with ice cold beverages from the bar.
Paradise Ndlovu received a certificate for 5 years service to KPNR
Qualifying Field Rangers were presented with their tracking certificates at this year’s AGM
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Queen graduates at the top Q
ueen Manyike, one of the first learners to be a part of the Eco Children holiday workshops and subsequently became involved as a facilitator and trainer, has graduated at the top of her class in the Introduction to Conservation & Environmental Education Bridging Course at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC). In March of this year we reported that Queen was enrolled in the course and, true to her character, she didn’t disappoint as she won the award for top learner when she graduated in July. Her project coordinator, Siboniso Phakathi was extremely impressed with Queen’s positivity and spirit, and said: “Queen is and was amazing from the beginning until the end of the course. I think in addition to her being a beautiful soul, a large part of her moulding and shaping is due to the input and mentorship received from Eco Children. I have no doubt that she is going to shake things up and ignite many others into action along her life journey.” SAWC opened its doors to school leavers from communities across South Africa for the first time in 2010 when the course started off as a pilot project. It has been a great success and has since been extended to empower school leavers who are interested in and
Photo by Brad Timms have a passion for a career in conservation and/or environmental education. Eco Children is incredibly proud of Queen and can’t wait to see how she keeps making positive changes around her.
Young entrepreneur does it again
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seven-year-old entrepreneur who is passionate about rhinos raised R1,500 at this year’s Klaserie Private Nature Reserve AGM for the Protect the Rhinos Foundation. Anna Ruest, the granddaughter of Fred and Rosmarie Ruest, kicked off her fundraising efforts at the 2015 AGM when she raised R180 by selling decorated fruit from a sausage tree. This year, she went much better as she sold keyrings made by herself and her friends. Anna’s
mom, Tanja Ruest said her daughter received Perler ironing beads from a friend in Sweden and started making keyrings before she also roped in her friends to help. It is encouraging to see young people so passionate about conservation and contributing to a future where we will still have rhinos and other endangered animals in the wild. We salute you, Anna!
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Wildlife photographers of the future
Article by Mike Kendrick
The saying goes: “Never work with children or animals.” Teaching wildlife photography to school children covers both of these no-go areas, so could such a project succeed in Hoedspruit and Acornhoek? Empowering young photographers Wild Shots Educational Outreach engages young people from disadvantaged communities in wildlife and wild places through photography. The parent organisation, Wild Shots, is Africa’s premier wildlife photography conference. The outreach programme is aimed at children attending government schools bordering the Greater Kruger Area, in partnership with Southern Cross Schools’ Reach-a-Cross initiative. Though they live within 20km of the Kruger National Park, the vast majority of children in the area have never been through the gates of the Park, let alone seen iconic
Photo by MK Madizi
African wildlife such as elephant and rhino. Despite this, many have a real passion for nature and conservation. The Wild Shots Outreach course is practical in nature and the students use donated second-hand digital cameras. Sessions start with an introduction to the cameras and build toward techniques such as shutter and aperture priority, to a photojournalism project. Creative composition The classroom sessions are always enthralling, with students contributing their own innovative ideas and creative new angles. They study composition, depth of field and other techniques, and we look at and discuss the work of top wildlife photographers as well as review the students’ images from their previous session. The discussions in these sessions are always very positive and the students move forward quickly, often bringing in their unique perspectives. Because they have not been exposed to traditional photographic styles the resulting images can be completely different and innovative. Every workshop begins with a presentation of the best images from the previous session from every individual. In this way self-belief is strengthened and the young photographers are even more motivated and determined to produce great images.
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At the end of the practical, hands-on course the students go on a game drive in a local game reserve. It is thrilling to see African wildlife through the students’ eyes. With many of the children seeing these iconic animals for the first time, the excitement levels are off the scale when we encounter one of the big five and the cameras go into overdrive. The resulting images have been really inspiring. Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Discussions range from how an animal or a photograph make us feel, to their feelings about conservation, and to how it feels to take on and master a new skill. Students often report that they feel special to be able to study wildlife photography and it boosts their self-esteem and confidence. Anyone witnessing the students seeing their own framed photos on exhibition will testify to this. Wild Shots exhibition Wild Shots Educational Outreach raises the aspirations of learners, showing them that they can acquire new skills and create inspirational images of the natural world. An exhibition of their images at iNyoka Gallery in May further enhanced the self-esteem of the students. Sam Nzima, legendary photographer of the iconic image of Hector Pieterson, opened the exhibition with a passionate message for the Wild Shots students about the power of photography.
African Wildlife College. If you can assist with cameras or funding please contact Mike Kendrick on 072 281 3157 or email mkmikekendrick@gmail.com. To view some of the children’s images, visit the Wild Shots Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wildshotseducationaloutreach.
Wild Shots Outreach was founded and is run by Mike Kendrick, a photographer with a background in education, and specifically with disadvantaged students. After moving from the UK to South Africa in 2011 he managed a Second Chance Matric Centre on the Cape Flats, was Director of the NPO Taurus Schools Solutions, and founded an International Academy in the Northern Cape. In recent years he’s become more involved in wildlife photography and has been published both nationally and internationally. He founded Wild Shots Educational Outreach to engage government school children with nature and conservation, and to encourage and inspire young South African photographers of the future.
Photo by Kutullo
Wild Shots have also recently been contacted by the Everard Reed Gallery in Johannesburg and the exhibition will be mounted there as part of the celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Mammal Research Institute. A group of Wild Shots students will be travelling from Acornhoek to attend the opening night. Further developments To ensure a lasting impact, the Wild Shots Outreach project identifies outstanding students with a passion for wildlife and conservation. A programme to provide opportunities in training courses in the wildlife and tourism areas for these students is being developed in partnership with the Southern African Wildlife College. Links with existing students and partner schools are maintained, and a library of cameras is available for students to use at school events. Courses have been customised to suit the requirements of particular schools and build on the existing programme. Wild Shots Educational Outreach is grateful for the support of Ant de Boer of Southern Cross Schools, Sharon Haussmann at Balule and Kevin Robertson at Southern
Photo by Shadrak
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Animal communication Part 2: The dawn chorus Article & photos Derek Solomon
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The ability to communicate effectively with other individuals plays a critical role in the lives of all animals. The methods used vary from visual signals to chemical, tactile or acoustic signals, or a combination of them all. This series focuses on acoustic or sound communication between animals that occur in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.
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he dawn chorus is an integral part of life in the bush. But why do so many birds choose the early morning to do so much singing?
Firstly, male birds are declaring their territory and telling non-territory holders that they survived the night and should keep out. Territory is all important for a breeding bird. Without it, a bird is not able to attract a mate and there are always non-territory holders on the look-out for a vacant spot to take over. In addition, dawn is one of the best times to call as the air is still and, with little other background noise, sound travels much further. This also applies to a lesser extent at dusk, but it is not only birds that choose this time to call. Lions also make good use of this time to advertise their territory and research has shown that elephants are able to send infrasound signals much further at these times of the day. Another reason for the dawn chorus is that it is still relatively dark and finding food at this time is difficult, particularly for insect-eating birds, so using this time to sing is a good use of birds’ time. In some habitats, particularly forests where many birds are all singing at once, it can be quite deafening. So how are the individual sounds picked up by members of the same species? One way to avoid interference from another bird’s song is to broadcast on different frequencies, rather like different radio stations. The Southern Ground-Hornbill with its deep booming voice chooses a low-range frequency, whereas the Red-eyed Dove uses a frequency in the mid-range, with the little Yellow-breasted Apalis hitting the high notes. Exactly the same applies to frogs. As soon as the sun goes down in our summer months, thousands of frogs start calling. Around a pond this chorus can be ear-splitting, so once again each species chooses a sound frequency to broadcast its signal to attract a mate. Their evening starts with a chorus of “stay away” calls to other males until all the competitors are approximately evenly spaced out and then the males begin the difficult task of luring a female with whom to mate. Another way in which birds try to avoid their signals getting muddled is by having different broadcast times
and some species definitely call earlier than others. The Crested Francolin is a good example of an early-riser, announcing its presence well before one’s alarm clock gets underway. Researchers in the UK have shown that the time of calling is related to the size of a bird’s eyes – those that sing earlier tend to have larger eyes than those that sing later. Birds with larger eyes can see better at lower light levels and can start their female-attracting and territory-defending dawn chorus earlier. This is yet to be proven in our region though. The territorial songs of birds are usually delivered from a raised song perch, which helps to increase the effective range. However, like other means of communication, sound has its drawbacks. It is susceptible to interference from factors such as wind, vegetation and humidity, and of course it draws attention to the caller from enemies as well as friends. So animals have had to develop some ingenious ways of getting their message heard by the right individuals in their own specific environments.
Southern Ground-Hornbill calling
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Mystery solved Article & photos by Colin Rowles
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he first report I received was a message passed on to me on behalf of someone who had heard an unfamiliar sound emanating from a passing elephant herd during the night. From amongst the usual deep, rumbling elephant sounds, and the intermittent branch breaking and twig snapping, came a metallic clanking sound. This odd intriguing sound was reportedly regular, then quiet for some time, and then audible again. I took note of the report and began to ponder the origin of the odd noise. A week or so passed when I received the next clue. An observant landowner sent me a cell phone photo of the screen of a camera. The photo on the camera was a zoomed image of an elephant cow’s foot. Around the foot, just above the sole, was an odd-looking halo like object. I could determine that the foot in question was the left front foot. I shared the photo with numerous others and, as could be imagined, the interpretations of what the object could be were numerous – possibilities ranging from broken cooking pots to a Volkswagen car door. As luck would have it, the cow and her herd of approximately 26 disappeared. Tracking this herd through an area of the reserve, crisscrossed with elephant tracks, and looking for one particular elephant proved challenging.
Another week or so passed until I received a WhatsApp photo from a reserve resident. The photo came with a report that the object was possibly a trap; the previously reported clanking noise was also evident. I collected the herd’s location details and set about making arrangements for her capture. Still, the photo of the strange object was doing the rounds and one possible explanation was that it was a tracker seat handle from the front of a game viewer. With Ben, the pilot, Pete, the vet, and myself on board, we searched the area by helicopter. On the ground we had Willem, armed with a generator and an angle grinder. After assessing approximately 100 elephants, looking closely at the left front foot of every cow, we eventually found her. The object still remained a mystery. Eight minutes after the cow was darted and she went down, we landed and approached the sleeping elephant with interest. We were amazed to see it was a wheelbarrow frame! Nobody had guessed it correctly. I can only assume that the wheelbarrow had been washed from a camp during the floods of 2012 and had become lodged in the riverine vegetation. It had rusted away, leaving the frame into which the unsuspecting elephant cow had stepped. Fortunately, the pipe frame had not injured the elephant at all. We removed her ankle bracelet, administered the antidote and watched her walk back to join her herd, silently, without any clanking noise.
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Mica an interesting
piece of geology Article and photo by Judy Meeser
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ica is an easily recognisable mineral and we see it in rocks all over the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. This seemingly delicate mineral made up of layers of shiny thin sheets is, in fact, the stuff of rocket science. Mica is able to withstand very high temperatures like those encountered in jet engines, missiles and yes, rockets. It is made up of 37 different minerals of which silicon and oxygen are the two major components.
The word mica comes from the Latin word micare, meaning to shine. There are many different forms of mica, the most common being muscovite, which can be split into fairly large transparent sheets. In the 1700s, before the invention of glass, muscovite was used in buildings as window panes – particularly in an area of Russia close to Moscow, hence its name muscovite. Muscovite is potassium (K) rich mica which gives it a yellow tinge. When
chromium (Ch) is present in mica it has a distinctly green colour, we see this in the semi-precious stone verdite. Ground mica has many everyday uses in the most surprising ways. The shine brings the lustre we find in cosmetics such as eye shadow, blusher, and nail polish. In the cars we drive, the metallic finish of the paint is enhanced with mica while the plastic fittings have mica as a component to absorb sound and vibration as well as increase the strength and stability. The tar roads we drive on have added mica to withstand weathering. Mica is a pigment extender in quality paints, brightening the colour and tone and reducing weather. Mica cannot conduct electricity and is used as an insulator in transformers and electrical appliances. The mineral mica is all around us in our everyday lives and we, the privileged people of the Klaserie, get to see its shine in the rocks and soils of our reserve.
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A to Z S
Klaserie Terminology Article by Judy Meeser, photos by Ziggi Hugo
SCAT This is the correct term for the faeces of a carnivore. Scats can be deposited in a midden (or latrine) by carnivores that have territories, like hyena and civet, or randomly by those without territories. Scats will typically have hair, bone chips, and other indigestible body parts like insect wings and give us a good insight into what constitutes the diet of the carnivore. Don’t be afraid to examine scat, it is full of interesting stuff.
SCUTE An individual scale on the carapace of a tortoise or terrapin. Scutes are the bony plates that cover the upper shell, as well as those on the underside, called the plastron. Scutes are made from keratin similar to rhino horn and our fingernails. Crocodiles have horny scutes that protect them and help maintain body temperature, and pangolins have scales also called scutes.
SYMBIOSIS A relationship between two organisms or as in these examples, two animals. An association between two animals may benefit one or both, may be harmful to one, or neither. Different types of symbiosis are recognised:
Mutualism is an association where both animals benefit. An Oxpecker gains a meal by removing external parasites from a giraffe while the giraffe is rid of parasites that cause discomfort and perhaps infection.
Commensalism occurs when one party benefits and the other is not affected, as is the case when a Forktailed Drongo follows a white rhino as it moves through the grass foraging and preys upon the insects that are flushed out by the movement of the rhino. One wins, while the other is just going about its day.
Parasitism is also a form of symbiosis although, in this case, one animal stands to benefit to the detriment of another. Ticks are parasites benefiting from ingesting blood from the host animal they attach onto, causing discomfort to and weakening the host. Often parasites opt to keep their hosts alive for a long-term relationship rather than destroy them. Us humans all have symbiotic associations with internal parasites, some of which are necessary for our survival.
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TAPETUM Nocturnal animals can see better at night than we do because of this adaptation. The tapetum lucidum is a reflective membrane behind the retina that bounces incoming light back onto the retina that has a high percentage of rod cells. Retinas are made up of rod and cones cells - rod cells are light sensitive while colour vision needs cone cells.
TESTICOND Elephants and hippos have internal testicles and are called testicond. Being semi-aquatic in their habitat, it makes some sense that hippos are testicond like some other large aquatic mammals, such as whales, but it is a point of contention among scientists as to why elephants are. Elephants are sometimes difficult to sex due to their lack of a scrotum in bulls, but with maturity their differences become more apparent. Elephant cows have their mammary glands between their front legs, a sharp feminine forehead and smaller slender tusks. The difference in size between bulls and cows is accentuated as they mature.
TUSHERS The canines that male zebras have, wedge-shaped and sharp-sided for fighting among stallions. They are present in all males, but only in juvenile mares as they are lost in adulthood. The zebra gestation period is almost a year to the day and their mother-foal bond is well known. Stallions fight each other to win over young fillies who will then stay with that herd for life.
ULTRASOUND
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Sound with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound signals have a very short wave length and dissipate quickly. Bats use ultrasound in their echolocation as their high pitched sounds bounce off objects in their flight path. The sounds dissipate quickly, avoiding confusion between old sounds and newly emitted sounds. Insects use ultrasound to find mates and infant rodents call for parents with high frequency sounds.
UNGULATE An ungulate is a mammal with hooves. The hoof is an enlarged toenail and terrestrial ungulates walk on their toes. Ungulates are divided into two groups, those with an even number of toes, the Artiodactyla (buffalo, kudu and giraffe) and those with an odd number of toes, the Perissodactyla (zebra and rhino). As much as rhino is said to have hooves, so too do elephants, although they are not classed as ungulates. They are also not even-toed nor odd-toed, as they have five toes on the front feet and four on the back.
UMBRA The Latin word for shade. In this context, the dark central part in the shadow cast by the earth or the moon during an eclipse. The partial shade is the pre-umbra.
Water:
Liquid of life This valuable resource has profound consequences on life on earth and it is without a doubt our most valuable, yet also the most abused. Article by Judy Meeser, photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact
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ater, we know, is essential to life on earth. It is remarkable just how the properties of water are so fitting and accommodating; creating the ideal conditions for life. It has no taste, colour or odour and is the only substance that occurs naturally in all three phases – the liquid we are so dependent on, the gas that forms clouds and mists and as a solid, in the frozen masses of ice, glaciers and snow. We all know the molecular structure H2O, but how is it that two gases form a liquid at room temperature? The unusual properties of water are the result of the arrangement of the two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral shape. Ice cubes floating in a glass of water may seem natural, but by the laws of chemistry and physics, solids should sink in liquid. However, when water freezes it forms hexagonal structures with spaces between the molecules and so expands, making ice less dense than liquid water. Ice floats in your glass of water and on the oceans at the frozen ice caps of Antarctica and the Artic. If it didn’t, the earth would be a vastly different planet.
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Large bodies of water can absorb and store large quantities of heat. It heats up slowly in the hot summer months and loose heat slowly when it’s cold, thereby having a stabilising effect on local and global climate. Its surface tension means we can skip stones along the surface and sail ships, but also dive into it. Drops of water on your windscreen are drawn together to bead with other drops and rainwater conveniently collects to form puddles and lakes. Most substances on earth can be dissolved (at least partially) in this liquid but it can also form strong destructive acids or hydrates when combined with certain salts, and rust away metal when combined with atmospheric oxygen. Water is a closed system – nothing can be added or subtracted. From our narrow human perspective only 2.5 percent of all water is fresh and, of that, only 0.01 percent is drinkable. This valuable resource has profound consequences on life on earth and it is without a doubt our most valuable, yet also the most abused.
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Greater cane rat:
a special rodent Article by Peter Lawson, photo by Leon Marais
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hen the word rodent is mentioned the majority of humans think of rats, and out come the poison and traps. What they don’t know is that there are far more friendly rodents than the bad guys and many are delightful little creatures. The order, Rodentia includes a great many species, the largest of which in South Africa is the well-known porcupine, and the smallest, the diminutive pygmy mouse. This little chap is, in fact, the world’s smallest mammal and it occurs in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR). The second largest rodent in South Africa is the greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus which also occurs in the KPNR. Mature males weigh in at 5kg. The scientific name is derived from the Greek “thyron”, a reed, and “mys”, a mouse. This refers to their association with reed beds. In Afrikaans they are known as a rietmuis. There are two species but only one occurs in the KPNR. The best place to find them is in riverine vegetation along the Klaserie River and some drainage lines where reeds grow. They are shy animals though and not easy to spot, particularly as they are mainly nocturnal, but also crepuscular and venture from their hiding places in the dim light of dusk and dawn. If you do happen to
see one you will note that they are stockily built and their bodies have a rounded appearance with a small head and tiny ears. They have a scaly tail but not as long as that of a rat. A most unusual feature is that they have a fleshy pad on the muzzle extending beyond the nostrils. This is for the specific purpose of butting each other when aggressive, usually by courting males when there is competition around good-looking lady cane rats. They usually also thump the ground with their hind feet at such times as if having a tantrum. Cane rats have a vegetarian diet and are particularly fond of the stems of young reeds and tall grasses. Hence they can be a serious pest in sugar plantations and are not liked by farmers. Their fondness of sugar cane gave them their name, which is not actually correct as they are not rats and are more closely related to porcupines. Local people use them for food and they are a great delicacy. Evidently they have white veal-like flesh and are prized as excellent food. Well-known naturalist, Astley Maberly found it surprising in 1963 that these animals are not bred for food in South Africa. Of course, in the KPNR they are fully protected, apart from natural predators such as pythons,
leopards and smaller carnivores such as servals. They are also sometimes taken by Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, baboons and honey badgers. You can be sure cane rats are around if you see their distinct runs through reed beds, marked by small piles of the cut stems of grasses and reeds discarded in feeding, and by small scattered piles of faeces, where they have settled to feed. They forage alone but do live in small family groups consisting of a single male and two or three females. They are good swimmers and often escape predation by diving into water, uttering alarm calls of growls and loud whistles as they do so. Breeding takes place in the rainy season. Usually four pups are born in holes lined with grass and leaves. They are fully furred at birth, with their eyes open, and can follow mom within an hour. After one month they are weaned and mom sends them on their way to fend for themselves as she wants to start a new family and needs to get the kids out of the way. Life is tough if you are a cane rat.
Inspiring
tomorrow’s leaders Seven Eco Children bursary scholars, sponsored by Make A Difference Leadership Foundation (MAD Leadership Foundation), attended this foundation’s Annual Leadership Summit during the July school holidays and returned to Hoedspruit rejuvenated, inspired, and ready to make a difference in their communities and further afield. Article by Amy Stevens, photo by Andrew Gorman
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AD Leadership Foundation focuses on leadership development through education and, at the core of everything they do, developing their sponsored scholars into future leaders is a priority. The Annual Leadership Summit is a crucial part of their scholars’ leadership development and acts as a forum to expose scholars to various leadership styles, concepts and values, through the use of influential keynote speakers, discussions, exercises and experienced facilitators. The overarching goal of the event is to develop scholars’ unique leadership abilities by challenging them to discover the type of leader they can be, and instilling a strong sense of confidence for their roles as future difference-makers for South Africa.
This year’s summit was hosted at Kievits Kroon in Pretoria, with 125 MAD Leadership Foundation scholars from all over the country attending. Founding MAD Leadership Foundation Chairman, Francois Pienaar, kicked off proceedings and delivered an address titled: “Leading with values”. He shared the fundamentals of a high
performance culture that is based on values and centred on the principles of the five D’s: dedication, determination, discipline, desire and delight. On day 2, the visionary Dr Mamphela Ramphele delivered an address titled: “Civic responsibility for change leadership”. She shared with the future leaders, 10 citizen commitments required to reimagine and rebuild South Africa. Proceedings were expertly facilitated by Russell Raath, International Business Operations Leader and President of Kotter Consulting at Kotter International, and Rudi Buys, consultant in youth development, higher education management and activism for reconciliation and transformation in higher education. They provided invaluable experience on the subject of “Bridge building through conscious leadership”. Eco Children would like to thank MAD Leadership Foundation for their continued support of our efforts and for supporting and developing these talented scholars.
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Cassie represents in Germany Article by Cassandra Mnisi
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arlier this year I was once again given the opportunity to visit Germany during the winter holidays when I was selected as one of two Southern Cross learners to join the official launch of the African-German Youth Initiative (AGYI) in Bonn. I was to participate in a panel discussion that involved both German and South African students. There was a diverse audience from all over Africa and Europe, including the Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany, Dr Gerd MĂźller. The AGYI has made a huge difference in most developing countries like Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa by empowering young people through exchange programmes such as this. I was merely there to share my views as a young student as well as my experience of the exchange I was a part of two years ago in Germany. As a representative of Southern Cross Schools (SCS), the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, and Eco Children, I played a vital role in promoting the German-African dialogue at the launch. I was included in thematic concerns of the forum, expert discussions and I contributed my story as an experienced exchange student, sharing how it impacted my life. I was thrilled to attend. The launch was worth travelling for and I am now more aware and knowledgeable of the importance of the partnership between Africa and Germany. This initiative has helped so many organisations that support many aspects of economic and social development in Africa. I have gained more insight about global issues such as conservation, sustainability, and informal and active education from different representatives from many different organisations.
I am grateful for the opportunity as I contributed to a worldwide programme that is going to improve the lives of many. The trip was a great success and I’d like to thank the exchange coordinator and teacher at SCS, Sharifa Razak who accompanied Eric and I and worked hard in organising the trip. I would also like to thank Eco Children, the German government, and Engagement Global who made the trip possible financially and Southern Cross Schools for allowing my participation. I am looking forward to future opportunities that might come my way.
Photos by Engagement Global gGmbH/Neil Baynes
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Bushveld Moments “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.� Albert Einstein
Photo by Martin Cassidy, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
Photo by Tim Feherty | African Impact, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Nikon D750; 28-300 lens, 1/800 @ f/ 5.6
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Photo by Susan McClure | African Impact, Buffaloland Nature Reserve, Canon 5D MKIII; 100-400 lens, 1/160 @ f/ 8.0
Photo by Pietro Baroni | African Impact, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Canon 5D MKIII; 70-200 lens, 1/200 @ f/ 5.6
Photo by Lorine Mugnier| African Impact, Thanda Private Nature Reserve, Canon 70D; 18-135 lens, 1/800 @ f/ 8.0
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Ssssss-ensational! Photos by Tim Feherty | African Impact
T
he Eco Children winter holiday workshops were a great success as 364 children from the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) got to learn about reptiles. The Kinyonga Reptile Centre travelled to the KPNR headquarters and brought a few reptiles with them so the children could get a closer look at these slithery creatures. Some of the highlights were the bearded dragon, boomslang, puff adder, and cobra; but the greatest excitement came when a few brave children got to hold a live python. We also set up our very own reptile museum where the children could get up close and personal with a range of reptile skulls, skins and eggs. Everyone loved seeing crocodile, water monitor and python skulls, as well as gecko and python eggs. Of course, proceedings were concluded with some fun and games and the air was filled with laughter as the kids
imitated the reptiles they had learnt about, slithering and sailing their way across the lawns of HQ, learning all the way. A big thank you to all volunteers, Kinyonga Reptile Centre and the South African National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund for making it all possible. The next holiday workshop is scheduled for 3-6 October and will cover amphibians.
Photos by Tim Feherty | African Impact
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