Lower Mpushini Eco Focus
Focussing on Wildlife Conservation, Area Rehabilitation, and Lifestyle Education in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy
May 2007
In this edition:
Poachers and their dogs: Guidelines for Landowners
Creatures of the Valley: The Crowned Hornbill
Habitat preferences of Game Animals found in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy
Bushbabies Environmental Education Project
Community Focus: The Aloe Festival 2007
Annual General Meeting
From the Editor
It is that time of the year again when poachers become active, especially at Full Moon. These poachers show no regard for wildlife or the owners of properties. Some illegally use dogs for hunting and an article on the guidelines for landowners is included in this edition.
It is also that time of the year when veld is burned both accidentally and deliberately for veld management. The veld is extremely dry at present and extra care needs to be taken with any outdoor fires.
The Aloe Festival will be held on 30 June and 1 July. Please give this event your active support.
Poachers and their dogs: Guidelines for Landowners
We are now in that time of the year when poachers are particularly active. These poachers often use dogs in their illegal pursuits. I would like to take this opportunity to inform landowners and occupiers of land within the conservancy of their legal rights regarding actions that they may take against anyone found to be poaching on their land or suspected of poaching on their land.
The following information was obtained from a circular distributed within the SAPS entitled: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE - S A POLICE SERVICES KWA-ZULU NATAL. I would like to thank Commissioner T. Naidoo the Station Commander of the Mountain Rise for letting me have a copy of this document.
Section 43 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance No 15 of 1974 provides that any dog not under the immediate control of its owner or other person having lawful custody thereof, which is found destroying or in pursuit of game, or any dog under the control of any person who is found hunting unlawfully on any land, may be destroyed forthwith by the owner or occupier of such land, or the holder of the shooting rights over the same, or by or upon the order of any officer.
Emphasis must be placed on the issue of “hunting unlawfully” i.e. without the necessary permit, without the landowners written permission, and without a hunting licence being produced. The Section provides for “destruction forthwith” by various persons.
The words “immediate control” does not mean that the dogs have to be right next to the owner or custodian or be on a leash for him to have control. The ordinary meaning of control is that the person who has the control of a thing has possession / custody of it and that he has the management of it. This management may be to a limited extent, but provided that he is able to direct and regulate then a person will be said to be in control. The Ordinance refers to immediate control which means that the power to direct and regulate must be relatively strictly controlled. The notion that a dog more than 10 metres away is not under immediate control is not entirely correct, although case law indicates that in general a dog approximately 50 yards away is too far away to have immediate control. Each case however must be decided on its own facts, taking into account the circumstances.
The dogs which are allegedly not under immediate control must also be “found destroying or in pursuit of game”. The owner or custodian of the dogs may not be there at all or he may be there letting the dogs run free without proper control.
The Ordinance also provides that any dog which is under control of any person who is found hunting unlawfully on any land may also be destroyed. In these circumstances it is not necessary that the dog was involved in the hunting, but as long as the accused is alleged to be hunting, then the dog may also be destroyed.
The Ordinance provides that the following people may destroy a dog found unlawfully hunting:
· The owner of the land
· The lawful occupier of the land (which would include the person in control of the land including the security company which is employed by the owner of the land)
· The holder of any shooting rights over the land
· Any person ordered to destroy the dog upon the instruction of a Magistrate or an officer of EKZN Wildlife.
· A member of the SAPS or a peace officer.
· An officer of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Administration (including a officer of EKZN Wildlife)
- A person authorised to issue dog licences.
Creatures of the Valley: The Crowned Hornbill
Scientific name: Tockus alboterminatus
Other names: Gekroonde Neushoringvoël (Afrikaans); umKholwane (Zulu)
This is a medium to large bird. It is mainly sooty-black with a white belly. The head is greyish with a white streak on the nape. The bill is casqued in adults but immature birds lack the casque. The bill is also red in the case of mature birds but yellow on immature birds.
The iris is yellow in mature birds but grey in immature birds. The legs and feet are blackish.
They are a common resident but have some local movements. They are usually seen during May – June in the Mpushini Valley. Their voice is a high-pitched plover-like pi-pi-pi-pi when flying and a pi-eee with the head thrown back when settled.
Their habitat varies from dense dry thorn thicket, to dense woodland, and the edges of evergreen forests.
They are normally seen in groups of 2 to 5 birds and occasionally on flocks of up to 50 birds.
Their flight is slow but agile with a pronounced dip after every few wing beats. They are inclined to twist and tumble just before alighting
They roost communally on slender branches that are exposed from above.
They feed mainly on fruit but also eat insects, diplopods (millipedes), chameleons, small birds and seeds. They forage mainly in trees, hawk insects in flight, and nibble their food with the tip of their bill before swallowing. They also hop on the ground when looking for insects.
In South Africa they breed from October to November in a hole in a tree or rock face from 2 to 14 metres above the ground. The entrance to the nesting hole is sealed with mud to form a vertical slit. The female lays from 2 to 5 eggs and incubates them for 25 to 30 days. During this time the female is fed by the male through the slit. The nestlings remain in the nest for 50 to 52 days, remaining in the nest for 23 to 34 days after the female leaves the nest, plastering the entrance unaided with faeces. The young remain in the parental territory for 6 to 8 months.
Habitat preferences of game mammals found in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy
The phenomenon that all antelope species are not equally abundant is determined primarily by body size and feeding style. In addition, each game mammal has its own particular habitat preferences with regard to vegetation type, terrain, living space and climate.
Farmers often want establish game in an area that is totally unsuited to domestic livestock.
In general, however, if an area cannot support large numbers of livestock, it will not support large numbers of game.
The habitat preferences of hoofed game animals, which occur on farms, or have been introduced or re-established on farms in the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy, are listed below. Knowledge of habitat preferences will help you to appreciate the current distribution of game and whether your property is suitable for other introductions.
Bushbuck
Favoured vegetation of the bushbuck is forest or dense bush, irrespective of the degree of slope.
The species is a browser, living mainly on the leaves of bushes and young trees. In frost habitats, the bushbuck take cover in the forest but feed mainly on the forest margin. Each bushbuck requires 12 to 20 ha of living space.
Duiker, blue
The blue duiker or impiti lives in forest or dense bush. It is a very selective feeder, eating mainly fallen leaves, and seldom browses.
Duiker, grey
This duiker is the most widely distributed antelope in KwaZulu-Natal. It occurs in any habitat where there is sufficient woody vegetation to provide cover. Grey duiker are selective browsers.
Eland
This large antelope has a wide habitat tolerance; occurring in savanna, woodland, grassland, and montane grassland, on terrain ranging from level to steep slopes. It is a mixed feeder, eating grass when it is green and nutritious, then switching to browse at other times. Eland are not easily contained, even by high game fences. Each animal requires 20 to 50 ha.
Impala
Ideal habitat is woodland or bush that is not too dense, on flat to gently undulating terrain. The impala is both a grazer and a browser, feeding fairly selectively, and is very dependent on water. When they graze, only the short grass is eaten. Impala are prolific breeders and if introduced to properties which include very thick bush or bush on steep hills, problems arise in trying to reduce the numbers, as they hide in inaccessible areas when attempts are made to shoot or capture them. If introduced to heavily utilized areas, or if overstocked, impala cause damage by concentrating on the short grass areas, eventually denuding them. The stocking rate should never exceed 1 impala/4 ha.
Kudu
Kudu favour bushveld, thicket or woodland. The terrain may be flat to fairly steep. The kudu is a browser, which feeds very selectively and requires a large home range - about 35 ha per animal - and should be introduced only to areas in which there is a year round supply of browse. Kudu are not easily contained, even by high game fences.
Nyala
Nyala occur naturally in bush, thicket, or woodland, mainly on flat to gently undulating terrain. The nyala is both a grazer and a browser, showing some degree of selection, and is very dependent on water. Nyala have been introduced to a number of areas outside of their original distribution range including the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy. The species is very vulnerable to cold and in areas that experience frost or sudden cold spells, the animals have died. In warmer areas, nyala introductions have presented other problems - the animals have bred prolifically and over utilised the browse available to the naturally occurring bushbuck and blue duiker, with the result that the last-mentioned two species have decreased in number or died out. Furthermore, nyala are very difficult to manage as they hide in thick bush and it is extremely difficult to remove them in sufficient numbers.
Reedbuck, common
Common reedbuck occur in grassland or woodland near water, favouring flat to gently undulating terrain, particularly valley bottoms. This reedbuck is a selective grazer that favours short, young grass for feeding and long grass for cover. Under ideal conditions reedbuck exist at 1 animal to 10 ha.
Wildebeest, blue
Blue wildebeest favours grassland or open woodland on flat to gently undulating terrain. The species is a grazer selective for growth stage of grass. Social organisation is similar to that of the black wildebeest, hartebeest and blesbok; therefore they should not be confined to small camps. Because of the danger of transmitting snotsiekte, translocation is subject to veterinary controls.
Zebra
Grassland or open woodland on flat to gently undulating terrain is favoured. The Zebra is a grazer that feeds on longer grass than do antelope, such as wildebeest and impala. Zebra require a large home range and move about seasonally. They are not easily contained by a standard stock fence.
CONCLUSION
Landowners who are interested in acquiring game for their properties, or who require advice on managing or improving the habitat for existing species should contact their Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District Conservation officer.
Key points to remember
- Important aspects of the habitat are vegetation type, terrain, living space, and climate.
- Game numbers are limited by the amount of suitable habitat.
- Most game species favour veld in good condition.
- Game can be introduced or habitat can be managed for a species.
- Contact your local E KZN W District Conservation Officer for advice.
Bushbabies Environmental Education Project
On 14 May 2007 the Bushbabies Environmental Education Project was host to a number of trainee teachers from the UKZN Education Faculty. The purpose of their visit was to gather ideas on how they could incorporate environmental education into the subject curriculums of the subjects that they will be teaching.
Community Focus
Focussing on matters affecting the Community
Aloe Festival 2007
Our annual Aloe Festival will be held over the weekend of 30 June – 1 July 2007.
This year there will be four venues:
- The Tea Garden and stalls at Barry and Moira Dive’s “Nyala Place”,
- The Rocky Wonder Aloe Nursery at Angela and Winston Carr’s, “Rocky Wonder Farm”,
- The Aloe Trails on Neville Durow’s Nature’s Hideaway (H14). Guided trails will take place at 11:00 and 14:00 on each day. Self-guided trails will be open all day.
- A Self-guided trail and lunches at Alan and Louise Spencer’s Place.
All of the venues are on District Road 389 which is an extension of Pope Ellis Drive past the quarry.
Apart from the Tea Garden at Barry and Moira’s, there will be a number of flea market type stalls where you can sell any of your crafts. Pandora will also be running art classes for the children and there will be other things to keep the children occupied while their parents visit the other venues.
Angela and Winston Carr’s Rocky Wonder Nursery has a really impressive collection of indigenous aloes as well as numerous species from other parts of Africa and Mauritius. Their indigenous collection contains over 100 species, a large number of which are for sale.
The Aloe Trails on Neville Durow’s Nature’s Hideaway lead through the beautiful savanna bushveld of the higher ridges of the valley where there are a large number of the Aloe ferox (Callendula Aloe). These are all in bloom at the moment and they make a really wonderful sight. The trails also pass through a Tamboti forest, grasslands and thicket vegetation types. If you are lucky you are likely to see a number of Nyala and Impala antelope, and if you are really lucky the rare (for this area) Kudu. There are also numerous bird species that you may see.
The Self-guided trail on Alan and Louise Spencer’s Place leads through typical bushveld thicket with a large biodiversity. Louise will also be serving light lunches.
Tickets, costing R20-00, will be on sale at each of the venues. A ticket entitles you to visit all of the venues.
If you would like to help at any of the venues please contact Darlene Bond at 0829335036 or 033-3261343, or Pandora Long at 0726928124 or 033-3261777.
We would also appreciate it if you could bake a cake, muffins, etc. for the Tea Garden. Please let Moira know if you are able to help at 0720611410.
If you can’t assist in any way – then please support this event by buying a ticket and attending some of the venues.
Annual General Meeting
The Lower Mpushini valley Conservancy held its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 12 May at Galago Farm. The meeting was well attended and our guest speaker, Bhekathina Memela of E-KZN Wildlife gave an informative talk on the Stewardship Programme of E-KZN Wildlife. This programme is aimed at managing land use to ensure that natural systems are maintained and enhanced for the present and future generations. The main differences between Stewardship and other approaches to private conservation is that it requires commitment from landowners, provides long-term security to biodiversity, requires that the sites are managed for conservation, requires that the sites are monitored and audited and rewards landowners for committing their land for the public good. The three Stewardship categories that are available in KZN are: Conservation Areas (this category includes conservancies, single sites, Sites of Conservation Significance. This category is voluntary and has no legal support), Protected Environments in terms of the NEMA: Protected Environments Act of 2003 ( This category has legal clout and property title deeds are amended to include this fact), Nature Reserve (This affords the highest form of protection and these sites are proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs.).
After Bhekathina delivered his address the meeting continued. Neville Durow was re-elected as Chairman, Maureen Hansen was elected as Secretary and Tracy Farnsworth was elected as Treasurer.
