African Wildlife and Environment Issue 68

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& ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE African ISSUE 68 (2018)

The Magnificent MARAKELE NATIONAL PARK

The world of SOLITARY BEES

Water lessons from AUSTRALIA

THE MAGAZINE OF THE WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA

CONTENTS

Region, area office, branch & centre CONTACTS

Editorial

Good reads

Conservation 6

Water lessons from Australia

Destination 10 Marakele National Park

Page 10 Magnificent Marakele

Page 20 A burning issue

Fauna, Flora & Wildlife 16 Biodiversity expeditions in the Okavango Catchment 20 A burning issue 24 Gardening for wildlife: the role of healthy soil 27 The world of solitary bees 30 Why are many tropical succulents so tall? Environmental Education 34 Bush Pigs: An African experience in the Waterberg 38 Eco-schools for ecosystems

Page 46 Swainson’s Spurfowl

Page 34 Bush Pigs

Published by:

Eco-hero 42 Dr Robbie Robinson

Birding 46 The successful Swainson’s Spurfowl

Consulting Editor John Ledger Production Manager John Wesson jwesson@wessanorth.co.za Design & Layout Marlene McKay

Copyright ©AfricanWildlife & Environment.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by and means, electronic or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. African Wildlife & Environment retains the right to make alterations to any material submitted. The publisher, while exercising due care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to material submitted. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WESSA. Copyright on all content belongs to WESSA and the individual contributors.

editor@wessa.co.za Tel +27 31 201 3126 www.wessa.org.za

Cover photo : Marakele National Park © John Wesson

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GENERAL

EDITORIAL

Dr John Ledger

One of the pleasures of editing this magazine is that I receive, read and review a number of books for each issue. The natural history publishing arena in South Africa is quite remarkable for a relatively small country, with probably a limited number of people interested in nature. The variety and quality of books on animals and plants published locally is astonishing. In this issue, two particular books have stood out for me. The first is by Professor Mike Bruton, one of our leading ichthyologists and a person who has done a great deal to bring science and conservation to South African citizens. As someone who studied at Rhodes University, under Professor JLB Smith and Margaret Smith, and who subsequently succeeded Margaret Smith as Director of the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, there is no better person to recount the story of ‘Old Fourlegs’, the discovery of the Coelacanth, which was thought to be extinct for 66 million years! The book is in an unusual format, because it comprises an exact copy of the original book, Old Fourlegs: The Story of the Coelacanth , but there are wide margins in which Professor Bruton has inserted comments, notes, and photos, which add background and interest to the riveting tale woven by JLB Smith, whose own writing is really fine, and brings to life the dramatic science story in which he became involved, almost ‘science-fiction’ in parts, to tell the truth. What a wonderful book that I hope many readers will get to own and read for themselves. The other outstanding book reviewed in this issue of the magazine is the latest, greatest, completest guide to the frogs of southern Africa. Vincent Carruthers, himself a former CEO of WESSA, has a deserved reputation as one of our leading natural history experts, with a special interest in frogs. His books, photographs, and recordings of frog calls have done much to popularise these charming and interesting animals. It is remarkable that Carolus Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, and one of the great naturalists of his time, had this to say about frogs in 1758: ‘These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale colour, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them.’

In this latest frog book, Vincent has teamed up with Professor Louis du Preez of North-West University, and they have produced a magnificent piece of work. They write: ‘Harmless, colourful, melodious and ecologically vital, frogs are the antithesis of Linnaeus’s disdain. Some 6 000 species of amphibians are known worldwide, and more are discovered every year. At the same time, the decline and extinction of species is occurring at a disturbingly high rate, indicating widespread environmental malaise.’ Thank goodness for enlightened scientists like Louis du Preez and Vincent Carruthers, who can tell the world a much better story about frogs than Linnaeus could! Another highlight in this issue is the tribute to Dr Robbie Robinson, past Director of SA National Parks, and one of South Africa’s internationally recognised conservationists. He was a person of great integrity and courage, and who spoke out against the opening of the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Areas for angling, a decision by a government minister that contradicts the letter and spirit of the whole concept of MPAs. Against the background of Cape Town’s water woes, Professor Anthony Turton shares with our readers his water lessons from Australia. It is often invidious to draw comparisons with other countries that are as water-stressed as South Africa but seem to manage much better than we do. On the other hand, it is silly for us not to learn from those who have themselves learnt to cope with unpredictable rainfall, or at least regular cycles of drought and good rains. We hope you will enjoy this latest issue of African Wildlife & Environment and thank you for your ongoing support of WESSA. We need more people like you to stand up for the fishes, frogs and other wonders of nature. Do consider a gift subscription to WESSA for family, friends or business associates.

Dr John Ledger Consulting Editor john.ledger@wol.co.za

Fish scientists ‘D-netting’ for species in a shallow channel in the Okavango Read the article on page 16

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GENERAL

GOOD READS

Book reviews by Dr John Ledger

Frogs of South Africa Du Preez, Louis & Vincent Carruthers (2017). Frogs of Southern Africa – a Complete Guide (new edition). Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 17x24 cm, 519 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, sketches and distribution maps.

A guide to mammals Stuart, Chris & Mathilde (2018). Stuarts’ Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa, including Angola, Zambia & Malawi . Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 15x21 cm, 456 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, sketches and distribution maps.

Old Fourlegs Bruton, Mike (2017). The Annotated Old Fourlegs. The Updated Story of the Coelacanth. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 21.5x21.5 cm, 336 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs and sketches. ISBN 978-1-7758-4499-0. R350 The Coelacanth was believed to have evolved some 400 million years ago, was known only from fossil remains, and was also believed to have gone extinct around 66 million years ago. And so when a specimen was captured by a trawler off the mouth of the Chalumna River near East London in 1938, it created a sensation in scientific circles. Miss Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer of the East London Museum realised that the fish she

found on the trawler was something special, and got in touch with JLB Smith in Grahamstown. He recognised what it was, and described it as Latimeria chalumnae . After an extensive publicity campaign to alert people living on the Indian Ocean islands about the possible existence of coelacanths, a second specimen was captured in the Comores in 1952. In a dramatic turn of events, the then Prime Minister of South Africa, Dr DF Malan, approved the use of an air force Dakota aircraft by Smith to collect the specimen, subsequently named Malania anjouanea . Professor Smith published the dramatic story of the coelacanth in his 1956 book Old Fourlegs – The Story of the Coelacanth . This turned the fish scientist into a cult figure, and put South African science firmly on the world map. The book has been translated into nine foreign languages, and six English editions. This excellent new publication by Professor Mike Bruton includes a facsimile reprint on the original book, but with wide margins in which notes and images have been added that provide interesting and revealing commentary on Smith’s text. There are also new introductory and explanatory chapters that bring the story of the coelacanth fully up to date. This is a superb book about a remarkable man – everyone interested in South African biology and history will want to have a copy!

ISBN 978-1-7758-4544-7. R450 This is a true ‘blockbuster’ of a book, a fantastic contribution to the natural history of southern Africa, and the most authoritative and comprehensive account of the frogs of the region ever produced. It covers all aspects of identification, and frog and tadpole behaviour of all 164 southern African frog species. Completely up to date, the book reflects the taxonomic changes based on the most recent research and DNA studies, and includes seven new species recently discovered and described. There is also information on conservation status, calls, habits and habitat. Identification is aided by large, excellent photographic images, distribution maps, keys to species and summary panels on ‘Key ID points’ and ‘Distinctive Characters’. Frog calls can also be accessed instantly via QR codes in the book, or can be downloaded from www.frogbook.co.za . This excellent publication will be prized by all nature enthusiasts, amateur ‘froggers’, as well as by students and professional scientists.

ISBN 978-1-7758-4111-1. R390 This classic guide has been extensively updated to reflect the most recent taxonomic findings, and has also been expanded to include three additional southern African countries. This guide will help nature enthusiasts to identify the larger iconic mammals, as well as the often bewildering array of smaller species. In addition to detailed descriptions of each species, the text brings insights into key identification features, typical behaviour, preferred habitat, food choice, reproduction and longevity. The region has almost 400 mammal species, ranging from tiny shrews and bats to the mighty elephant and the two rhinos. There are also many marine mammals, such as seals, dolphins and whales, which inhabit both coastal and deeper waters. All these are depicted in almost 400 species accounts, 800 photographs and over 370 distribution maps. Highly recommended!

An indespensable guide Stuart, Chris & Mathilde (2018). Stuarts’ Field Guide to National Parks & Nature Reserves of South Africa . Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 15x21 cm, 519 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, sketches and distribution maps. ISBN 978-1-7758-4611-6. R300

Bird calls of East Africa Richards, Dave & Brian Finch (2015). 100 Common Bird Calls in East Africa . Struik Nature, an imprint

of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 15x21 cm, 64 pp, illustrated in colour throughout

Letters from the Southern Rift Ferrar, Sandy Dacombe (2017). Xafrica . Letters from the Southern Rift. Volume 1 . Self-published by the author. Soft cover, 15x23 cm, 192 pp, illustrated with line sketches by the author. ISBN 978-1-9790-5962-6. Available from Takealot/books. R155 Sandy Dacombe’s name is well known to more mature South Africans (like me) for her wonderful natural history radio programme called Talking of Nature , one of the longest-running programmes of the old SABC radio station. It was discontinued with the revamping of broadcasting when Radio South Africa became SAfm in 1995. This book is a collection of observations and reflections on the charm and mystery of natural southern Africa, its wildlife and nature reserves, spanning five years and the four countries of Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa. The chapters are short, charming, beautifully written, easy to read (thanks to the large type used) and illustrated by Sandy’s own excellent line drawings in black and white. The latter are testimony to her training as an artist, and add an extra dose of charm to the book. Sandy’s writing is excellent, and this is a book you might ‘keep handy to dip into from time to time’. Sandy is married to Tony Ferrar, a WESSA stalwart, and they live in Barberton within a geological paradise with some of the oldest rocks in the world. I loved reading this book, and I am sure you will too!

This is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of an indispensable guide to South Africa’s best and most accessible conservation areas. Each of the 43 featured reserves (arranged by province) includes information on the history, landscape, geology vegetation and wildlife, a detailed map indicating places of interest and top viewing spots, and text panels with highlights, climate and facilities. The book is lavishly illustrated with more than 900 colour photographs, and a pictorial ID guide at the back features the most commonly seen birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, flowers and trees. This book will be valued and used by tourists and nature lovers, and will also inspire people to visit protected areas that are new to them, or off the beaten track. Have you heard of the Goegap Nature Reserve (spring flowers and dramatic granitic scenery), or the Witsand Nature Reserve (an isolated sand dune system rich in life), or the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve (spectacular scenery in a Cape heathland setting)? Go out and visit them!

with photographs and distribution maps, plus

CD with bird calls. ISBN 978-1-7758-.4251-4. R130

This handy little book with its accompanying CD will be useful to visitors to East Africa who are interested in the birds of the region. Each of the birds is illustrated by a colour photo and a distribution map. There is also information of habitat, behaviour, feeding and nesting preferences of each bird, along with a description of the call. Whether it is a duet of Tropical Boubous, the liquid whistle of a Black-headed Oriole, the beautiful song of a secretive Grey-capped Warbler, or the less than melodious call of the Pied Crow, this is a valuable aid to birdwatchers in appreciating, identifying and understanding bird sounds.

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CONSERVATION

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is widely used to store surface water underground, but also to prevent the salt water intrusion into the aquifer, as heavy abstraction alters the interface between salt and fresh water in what is known as the Ghyben-Herzberg Principle. One of the unintended consequences of this is a rising water table, even as the salt water intrusion is kept at bay. Trade-offs need to be fully understood by decision-makers when making hard choices about sustainability over time. This is where it becomes interesting and relevant to South Africa. From my own observations as a guest of the Burdekin Water Forum, there are at least three lessons to be learned: 1. When altering fundamental hydrological parameters such as flood pulse of surface water flows, and abstraction of groundwater on a vast

deficits by 2025, based on the High Scenario of the first National Water Resource Strategy published in 2004, mandated by the newly promulgated National Water Act (1998), by specific Water Management Area (WMA) are as follows: • Upper Vaal WMA will have a deficit of 764 million cubic meters per annum. • The Mvoti – Mzimkulu WMA will have a deficit of 788 million cubic meters per annum.The Berg WMA will have a deficit of 508 million cubic meters per annum. • The only WMA to be in surplus is the Crocodile West – Marico, with a projected flow of 335 million cubic meters per annum, mainly sewage return flows out of Gauteng. • The combined national deficit will be 2 044 million cubic meters per annum.

Water lessons from AUSTRALIA

Anthony Turton

I was recently invited to participate in the Burdekin Water Forum, hosted by the Water Futures Group in the small but beautiful town of Ayr. Located in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia. This was an eye-opening event for me as a South African scientist working on water related strategies.

and sustained basis, it is extremely important to have a reliable and all-encompassing monitoring system in place. 2. The second major lesson is that the Australian government at national level, the state government at middle tier level, and the local government at shire level are all deeply respectful of science and the contribution that can bemade by academic institutions. 3. When speaking of integrated water resource management, it is vital to understand the interaction of both surface and groundwater flows, as well as the linkages arising from those flows with the ocean. The Great Barrier Reef is globally significant, and it is in severe distress, caused by a complex set of drivers including an altered

The Burdekin River has many tributaries, feeding water from the monsoon into the ocean, in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef. The basin is in the dry tropics, which receives over 1 000 mm of rainfall per annum, but this falls in just three to four months. The rest of the year is very hot and dry. It lies adjacent to the Ross River, flowing to the ocean near the city of Townsville, and epicenter of the notorious Ross River Virus.

environments. Home to salt water crocodiles, and a complex array of billabongs, it is also blessed with highly fertile soil of great depth. In the 1920s a group of Italian cane cutters migrated there, partly driven by the rise of fascism in Europe, but also drawn by the needs for labour in the recently-created sugar cane industry. Today almost all the residents of the Burdekin Shire are descendants of, or intermarried with, those hard-working and industrious cane cutters. The total population of the Burdekin Shire is around 18 000 living across the roughly 5 000 square kilometers of fertile and well-watered land. The population density is very low at around 3.6 people per square kilometer. With such a low population density it is a great surprise to see the massive impact they have had on the original pristine environment. In just four generations, this small population of diligent cane cutters have become prosperous cane farmers, but they have also fundamentally altered the ecological systems. What used to be a complex array of inter locking billabongs, sustaining an area of great biodiversity in a massive wetland system driven by a distinct annual flood pulse, has now become a steady state system maintained by the Burdekin Falls Dam, also known as Lake Dalrymple. When it was commissioned in 1988 it held back the significant floods, and allowed irrigation on a major scale. Irrigation comes from both surface water and groundwater, given that the entire basin is in effect an ancient alluvial aquifer that stores vast quantities of water. This in turn enabled more land to be cleared, more cane to be grown, and as an unintended consequence, altered the fresh water / salt water interface in the lower parts of the basin. The best available information from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) suggests that the water table is steadily rising, and the land will become waterlogged within the next decade if nothing is done about it.

The First National Water Resource Strategy published in 2004 provided the highest level of confidence available and projected specific deficits by 2025

flood pulse, agrochemical flows from intensive farming, and the growing intensity of tropical cyclones driven by global warming. It is also the canary in the cage down a mineshaft, because it has triggered massive amount of scientific research. Located in various institutions, I visited the James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, and the CSIRO office located on the campus. Cooperative research, adequately funded from multiple sources, has made these two institutions world leaders in their field. But more importantly, there is a respect for, and intimate contact between all scientists working in those two institutions, and all levels of government decision makers. This is the big lesson for South Africa. Currently the local water sector is in severe crisis. The known

Unlike in the Burdekin case, scientists were ignored in South Africa. When the major El Nino drought hit with all its fury in 2015-16, KZN was decimated and Gauteng came to within a few days of losing its supply of water. Parts of KZN, such as the Ugu district centered on Port Shepstone, have never recovered. What is now being reported by the City of Cape Town as being ‘Day Zero’ – that specific moment in time when water stops flowing in the taps – has been in existence at places like the Murchison Hospital since 2015, despite the drought having been broken in that specific province. Cape Town, located in the Berg WMA, is now in the grips of the worst drought in recorded history, with best available information suggesting that Day Zero will be in March 2018.

Map of Burdekin River Basin (courtesy of James Cook University)

The Burdekin is an ‘interesting’ river. Just four human generations ago, it was a vast natural wetland linking the dry hinterland of the continent with the globally unique Great Barrier Reef. Flood pulses and nutrient flows are critical drivers of ecological processes in both terrestrial and oceanic

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CONSERVATION

a large algae farm in the lower Burdekin catchment. Astaxanthin is a high value food colourant with various health properties that can be commercially harvested from the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) . Significantly South African water resources are highly contaminated with E coli (and other bacteria), so if we had a collaborative political culture we could convert a problem into an industry. When comparing the decision-making processes of both countries, we see a startling difference. In Australia we see a highly responsive government, ready to adapt with policy and legal instruments in response to a changing risk profile, drawing on the expertise of well-funded institutions of science. In South Africa we see a non-responsive government at municipal, provincial and national level, generally rejecting science as being an artifact of our colonial legacy and thus an instrument of oppression rather than development, sidelining the under-funded institutions of science. The big lesson from the Burdekin, specifically relevant to Cape Town as it grapples with the need to ward off the apocalyptic scenario of Day Zero, is that the excessive use of groundwater as planned, will have many complex unintended consequences. Instead of having the scientific community standing outside the decision-making forum, pointing fingers inwards but being ignored, that body of knowledge should be embraced with vigour to search for new solutions. For example, if desalination is used as the basis for water security in a climate change scenario – something that I personally see as being inevitable – how many people know that UCT has developed a cutting-edge technology known as Eutectic Freeze Crystallization? This allows the water recovery from highly saline acid mine water in Mpumalanga to be as high as 99%, with the brine stream capable of being ‘mined’ for chemically pure elements made possible by freezing the effluent at different temperatures. As another example, themanaged aquifer recharge technology that is gaining global traction, can be used to store surplus water from desalination plants, safe from the ravages of evaporation in confined aquifers. This will allow the sustainable use of groundwater, managed in conjunction with desalination and the recovery of water from waste (that uses desalination technologies). In short, maybe the South African water crisis will rekindle the desire to have a national programme of science in the service of society as we see so successfully applied in Australia.

eighteen scientists ranked in order of visibility come from the University of Cape Town (ranked No 1), Wits University (No 2), Pretoria University (No 3), Stellenbosch University (No 4) with Rhodes, UKZN and University of Johannesburg in a tie (joint No 5), and the National Research Foundation (NRF), North West University and University of Free State (UFS) also tied (in joint No 6). Nowhere is the CSIR mentioned. This is highly relevant because it is funded by national resources and is mandated by an Act of Parliament to apply its mind in the area of science, engineering and technology in the national interest. In the case of Australia, and specifically related to theBurdekin, amajor newcommercial venture isbeing rolled out using biotechnology jointly created by the CSIRO and JCU in partnership with a private company, MBD Energy, in which Astaxanthin is harvested from

The city of Townsville, located in Queensland Australia, and the city of Cape Town are both in similar environmental predicaments. The monsoons have not been regular for the last three years in Australia, just as the normal wet season flows have been diminished in the Western Cape. Both cities face an existential crisis in terms of security of water supply on which to grow the future economy. However, that is where the similarity ends. In the case of South Africa, the CSIR (equivalent of the Australian CSIRO) is under-funded and largely invisible. A recent study published in the South African Journal of Science , entitled ‘In the footsteps of Einstein, Sagan and Barnard: Identifying South Africa’s most visible scientists’, shows that the top Best available information showing that Cape Town will run out of water in March 2018 unless unseasonal rainfall on an unprecedented scale fills up the dams. (Data source – engineers within the City of Cape Town)

Algae farm in the lower Burdekin producing commercially viable Astaxanthin using technology jointly developed by the CSIRO and James Cook University in Townsville

Anthony Turton Professor: Centre for Environmental Management, Univeristy of the Free State

Astaxanthin blooms in a commercial race ready for harvesting. In the final stage of production the algae turns red

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DESTINATION

MARAKELE NATIONAL PARK

This magnificent SANParks-run, malaria free, ‘Big Five’ reserve is nestled in the south west corner of the Waterberg mountains, about three hours’ drive north of Johannesburg and approximately 18 km from Thabazimbi. The park can be reached using the R511 from Brits via Beestekraal, or the R516 from Mabula via Leeupoort. As the Tswana name for the park aptly implies, this ‘place of sanctuary’ is a key part of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

John Wesson

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The scenic Marakele reserve in the magnificent Waterberg mountains

Photographs: John Wesson

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

This 670 square km reserve is home to an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regionsof SouthAfrica.Majesticmountain landscapes, which give way to grass-clad hills and deep valleys, characterise the park. Yellowwood and cedar trees, Eugene Marais cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found in this Waterberg sanctuary. Typical alpine species like proteas are found growing in belts just below the escarpment. The greater part of the reserve is classified as Waterberg Mountain Bushveld with the higher altitude areas beingWaterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld. Typical high-altitude species like Cape Bunting, Mocking Cliff-chat and Cape Rock Thrush are found on the top of the mountain, especially at picnic spots where they wait for that dropped crumb or two from human visitors. During the summer months, and when the various plants are flowering like the mountain bottlebrush and the proteas, one can find Gurneys Sugarbird and Malachite Sunbirds. The reserve is home to over 270 bird species, including a number of red data species, (African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, Half-collared Kingfisher, Black Stork and Cape Vulture, to name a few) and Marakele hosts a large number of migrant birds during the summer months. The Kransberg is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Cape Vultures in South Africa,

numbering over 800 breeding pairs. One can view the birds soaring up into the thermals from the Lenong view-point on top of the escarpment. To get a view of the actual nesting sites, one has to leave the park, turning right at the main gate and travelling along the dirt road, over the Rankin Pass, to get good views of the Kransberg cliffs in the distance, from the road below. Binoculars or a spotting scope will be beneficial. The dirt road is often in poor condition. Apart from the ‘Big Five’, the park is home to 16 species of antelope includingTsessebe. Great sightings can be had of Klipspringer, on the escarpment in the morning, being relatively used to cars and often close to the road. Visiting the reserve and where to stay Roads are generally in a good condition, with some being concrete or tar, but the majority are dirt. Most roads are accessible by normal vehicles. The one road to the top of the escarpment and Kransberg is very steep, narrow and winding one lane road, with ‘passing areas’ up the mountain pass. This road is not recommended for nervous drivers! In times of late rain, the early part of the summer can become rather dusty. The park has two camps. Tlopi safari tented camp set inwoodland surroundings of the Apiesrivierpoort Dam, deep in the reserve approximately 17 km from reception.

The Swallow-tailed bee-eater surveying the surroundings

A rare spotting of one of the park’s lions

A family of elephants enjoying an afternoon walk

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FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

The sun sets over the central park

Bontle Camp has 38 well laid out camp sites, in three clusters, modern ablution facilities and power points as well as a number of well-equipped safari tents on site, close to the main entrance. Bontle has resident Ostriches that patrol the camp site looking for odd scraps of food left around. The colourful Crimson-breasted Shrikes are often seen working their way through the camp sites. If one is lucky, one can also get great views of game, such as giraffe and White Rhino, when they come to visit the

waterhole in front of the camp. In recent years weed growth has obscured the view of the waterhole, but hopefully one day it will once again be clear. Petrol and provisions are available from a number of shops and petrol stations in nearby Thabazimbi. Weather The park falls in the summer rainfall region, and rainfall occurs in the form of heavy thunderstorms or soft rain. Winters are moderate with frost occurring

in the low-lying regions only. Mornings and nights can be very cold, but day temperatures can be pleasant. Wrap up warm when visiting the top of the escarpment, and be prepared as it can also become cool in summer, especially under misty conditions. The area receives about 500-700 mm of rain per year. The park is an ideal setting for a truly memorable and relaxing bushveld experience. For info and bookings go to www.sanparks.org

John Wesson WESSA Regional Chair: Northern Areas jwesson@wessanorth.co.za

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Angola: Biodiversity expeditions in the OKAVANGO CATCHMENT

Military tanks are littered all around southern Angola and offer a reminder of the region’s past conflict.

As a researcher working in the Okavango, the Angolan Highlands become a very important part of your work and everyday life. As the source waters of the Okavango Delta, the rain captured in the Angolan Highlands predict the type of natural flooding event that the Okavango will receive each season. The ‘flood’ plays a critical role in a number of ecological and practical aspects of life in this region. How will surface water affect fish breeding, herbivore and predator movement and more practically, the accessibility of the bush airstrips which the tourism sector relies so heavily on? These highlands have always been a mystical place, mainly due to the difficulty of getting into the country, and then the many restrictions for exploring these vast wilderness areas.

Vincent Shacks

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Photographs: Vincent Shacks

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

and crocodile, and in one village we also found a live Pangolin which was apparently on its way to a local market in Rundu, Namibia. The Halo Trust kindly escorted us through one of the largest active mine fields in the country, and these mixed woodlands seemed to show increased bird numbers as well as a clear increase in small mammal burrows and tracks. The active landmines are a strong deterrent for people to hunt and burn in these woodlands and have ironically provided a form of habitat and species protection. We also noted that once portions of land were adequately cleared of the mines, the woodland would immediately be cleared of all trees through slash and burn techniques, and either maize, sorghum or cassava would be planted in its place.

The long and tormented history of civil war has left its scar on the place, and entering Angola as a visitor is not a straightforward process. I was beginning to think that I would never get to see the source of the Okavango and explore the water ways that provide such crystal-clear water to Namibia and Botswana each year. But in 2012 and 2013, I was given the opportunity to join a team of scientists to carry out two one-month-long biodiversity expeditions along a number of the catchment’s many tributaries. The team included ichthyologists (fish), botanists (plants), herpetologists (reptiles and amphibians), ornithologists (birds) and entomologists (insects). All members of this team had extensive experience in their fields and the Southern African region, but few of them had had the opportunity to extensively survey this region of Angola before. I was lucky that many of the team were also good friends with whom I had shared expeditions in the past. My role in these two surveys would be to assist with all species collections but also with trip logistics and the safety of our team. In preparation for the first trip, our logistics team arranged meetings with landmine clearing officers who were active in Angola, in order to discuss protocols for traveling through these areas and the various risks we may encounter as we attempted to survey the remote and war-torn habitats. The risk was very real, and immediately

Cuito), while within close proximity to one another, are significantly different in character. The Cubango and its source is dominated by hard underlying rock which leads to a faster flowing river which drains quicker and surges during summer rainfall months. The underlying structure of the Cuito is more similar to the Okavango and is dominated by soft Kalahari sand, and a water source characterised by soft peat beds which act as a large sponge. These peat beds receive rain in the summer and are able to absorb and store this fresh water. As the beds become saturated, they slowly purge the water into the drainage channels at a more steady and slow pace, which has led to a larger drainage pattern characterised by wide, slow flowing channels with largemeanders and extensive ox-bow lake formations. The filtering effect and slow flow of this water also means that it is exquisitely clear. The findings of these ‘blitz’ surveys would further display the differences in these two systems by the presence or absence of certain species in each river. The ichthyologists noted a number of species found in the Okavango Delta, which were not found in the upper catchment. A very interesting find was the inter basin variation of same species, such as the Hyphen Barb Barbus bifrenatus which showed as many as four different variations within the system. Fish such as the Copperstripe Barb Barbus multilineatus and the Spottail Barb Barbus afrovernayi were found in the Cuito but not in the Cubango while the Topstripe Barb Barbus dorsolineatus and Cubango Kneria Parakneria fortuita were present in the Cubango river but not in the Cuito. In total, 19 amphibian and 17 reptile species were documented on our first survey in 2012, the greater majority with voucher specimens. Every record made during this survey within the Angolan Okavango system represents a new confirmed record to the Angola fauna. The botanical surveys yielded more than 350 plant species and in most cases four specimens were collected of each of these species. The dragonfly and damselfly (insect order Odonata) findings were exceptional, with the first SAREP expedition yielding 87 species, 17 of them new to the country list and two new to science. One of these new species was in fact, named after the expedition itself - the ‘Sarep Sprite’ Pseudagrion sarepi . A new species for Angola also came from the second SAREP Expedition in 2013. These surveys, together with other national surveys carried out after 2011 have indicated that Angola is one of the most diverse countries for the Odonata in Africa and could hold more than 300 species. The impact of the war on terrestrial species was clear, with most large herbivore species almost completely wiped out and bird numbers dismally low. The consumption and sale of bush meat in these parts is an issue, and during visits into some of these communities we noted bush meat from kudu, buffalo

after entering into Angola from Namibia, warning signs for active landmine sites became the norm. Our role would be to manage and somehow control the movement of this team of very excited scientists who run into the bush with a net and bag. Our convoy for the first expedition took off from Maun, Botswana with an overnight in Rundu (Namibia) and then on to Menongue in southern Angola. Menongue would, according to our schedule, see the start of our surveying efforts. Four vehicles’ worth of scientists of course, had other ideas and the drive up took much longer than anticipated, as no stone was left unturned (literally) and every type of water body passed had us knee-deep with nets collecting fish, dragonflies and frogs. This biodiversity survey had been arranged and funded by the Southern African Regional Environmental Programme (SAREP), a USAID funded project which aimed to describe the biodiversity of the region with the hopes of providing protection to sensitive habitats and regions that require it. We would meet up with local Angolan scientists in Menongue, who would join us for the entire expedition, and in doing so would ensure that their Angolan institutions were also able to learn from the results of these surveys, and have the opportunity to house some of the collected specimens. The month-long survey focussed mainly on the aquatic environment and it was our intention to survey a number of different river profiles at different elevations. We would base these surveys on the two larger rivers of the Okavango catchment, the Cuito and Cubango Rivers, with a shorter survey of the lower Cuando River taking place in 2013. The Okavango River basin drains in a general north south direction. By moving from east to west, we would essentially be able to survey a cross section of the basin, giving us access to a number of different tributary profiles and a good diversity of aquatic habitats. The two main channels of the Okavango catchment (Cubango and

Identified land mines that are still to be cleared by the demining teams

To say that Angola is a complicated country is an understatement. From a conservation perspective however, it does seem that the tide may have finally turned in Angola, as the Ministry of Environment has shown a willingness to collaborate with outside organisations in an attempt to protect habitats and expand protected areas. The findings fromour surveys showed that Angola’s wealth of aquatic habitats harbours rich freshwater fauna. Although large areas are relatively untouched, Angola’s rapid economic and population growth will have a tremendous impact on the environment and thus human well-being in the future. In light of this, Angola’s development should consider (1) the establishment of efficient sewage works in cities and larger villages; (2) a stop to deforestation, especially along stream courses; (3) restoration of deforested water catchments; (4) village-level awareness campaigns for sustainable use of freshwater sources, e.g. no detergents and waste dumping in rivers; and finally (5) biodiversity surveys and monitoring to feed into a national conservation plan.

Vincent Shacks General Manager Ecotourism WESSA www.wessa.org.za

Herpetologist with a captured Platanna Xenopus laevis

The processing of fish samples

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FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

Fire is a very necessary tool in savanna ecosystems; however anthropogenic fires, when lit at the wrong time in the wrong place, can have devastating effects on both the vegetation and wildlife. Poachers in particular have learned that if they start a fire all human and equipment resources are usually diverted to try and stop it as soon as possible, and they can then hunt with impunity, without fear of being spotted and/or caught. Safety has always got to be a top priority when fires are being purposely lit by conservation personnel. During a particularly bad anthrax outbreak in the northern part of the Kruger National Park (KNP) in the early 1990s, we were tasked to burn all the confirmed anthrax carcasses we found. At the time it was thought that this would curb the spread of the anthrax spores. However, it was not that effective, and the spread of the anthrax was only stopped when good rain had fallen. Vultures and other scavengers, like hyena as well as blowflies, were the main vectors in spreading the anthrax, especially round artificial water holes where the spores were washed off into the water by the birds and mammals, or on leaves where the flies had regurgitated spores which would be consumed by browsers. One particularly blistering hot day I was out with the Punda Maria field rangers and labourers on an anthrax patrol when we saw many vultures sitting in trees, a tell-tale sign of a carcass. On closer inspection we found a big kudu bull that had succumbed to anthrax. It had the typical outward signs of external bleeding through all the orifices and I also took a blood smear as confirmation. I tasked the others to collect wood in the surrounding area so that we could burn the carcass. Once we had stacked the wood in a high pile over the carcass I coordinated with the team to burn tracer firebreaks around the kudu, so that we could control the fire once the bonfire on the carcass was lit. We cautiously lit a small area and then we all attacked it with our fire beaters, which were strips of thick conveyor belting rubber on the end of long lattice sticks, commonly referred to as ‘Shipundlas’ to contain the fire and prevent it spreading. Once we had burnt a big enough firebreak around the carcass, I hesitated before setting the pile of wood on fire as I had an uneasy feeling. The hot wind had picked up and it would have been advisable to rather wait till late afternoon, but we still had many other anthrax carcasses to attend to, so I thought let us get this one out of the way. As the fire started burning in earnest I realised that we had made a big mistake. The massive bonfire was now shooting burning embers far into the bush, starting mini fires which we were scurrying round like fire ants to beat out. Suddenly a huge gust of wind took the flames over the firebreak and into a dry bush which literally exploded into flames.

Despite our valiant attempts to try and put out the flames, the runaway fire quickly spread into the surrounding area of grass and shrubMopani. I radioed the Vlakteplaas Section Ranger and his team to come and assist us. The head of the fire was now careering through the bush like a runaway freight train, driven by a strong south-easterly wind. We fought the fire till late afternoon till it burnt into the foothills of Dzundwini Mountain, and because the grass was more sparse and the wind had died down we were able to put it out. The kudu was just a pile of ashes when we returned to collect our vehicles. The lesson learnt was; always err on the side of caution, don’t ever underestimate what fire can do and trust your gut feel. In the southern part of the KNP the section rangers were always conscious of the sugar cane that was often burnt on the farms bordering the KNP, before it was cut, and this had very black smoke that filled the horizon. Normal bushfires usually had white smoke which usually meant that there was an area within the park boundaries that was alight. After moving from Punda Maria in the far north of the KNP down to Pretoriuskop in the southwest of the park, I was still busy unpacking our furniture when we were alerted to a dense cloud of white smoke. The section ranger at the time was Tom Yssel, and I went out with him and his team to try and put out this fire that was set by arsonists. There are large tracts of land around Pretoriuskop that are sourveld with the characteristic very tall thatch grass species. It is almost impossible to put out fires in these areas, and one needs to put in back burns to try and contain the rapid spread of the head fire. The whole of the KNP is divided up into big blocks of thousands of hectares, and in those days the management roads around the perimeter were always graded which enabled one to put in back burns and contain the fire within that particular block. The problem was that there was someone wilfully lighting fires up behind us as we moved onto the next area, and we ended up chasing our tails. The danger of having fires on various fronts means that there is a big risk that wildlife in that block could find themselves trapped, with no way of escape. This is what happened this night when the wind picked up and as much as we tried, we could not stop the fire burning through the whole section. Early the next morning at first light, I went out with Tom Yssel, the then section ranger and Mike Landman, the Head of Wilderness trails, to assess the damage. As we drove through the blackened landscape we were appalled to see the devastation. Because of the intense heat large PodMahogany trees that had endured countless previous fires over hundreds of years were burnt to the ground. The toll on the wildlife was also heartbreaking. Herds of Impala had burnt to death and were lying

Game ranger stories: A BURNING ISSUE

Bryan Havemann

The first whiff of smoke in the air gets your heart racing and you anxiously scan the horizon to see if there are any tell-tale signs of a bushfire. As a game ranger this is always an anxious time, towards the end of the dry season when the bush is tinder dry and the threat of fire is a daily occurrence. The hot, dry winds just exacerbate this threat at the end of the winter and it is critical to try and neutralise an unplanned bushfire in the initial stages before it is allowed to really take hold. With the right ingredients such as lots of dry, moribund material and strong winds, a fire can be a very destructive force causing irreversible damage.

Photographs: Bryan Havemann

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