Ralf Kalwa Presentation Veld and wildlife management is a complicated process which requires more management the smaller the area enclosed. It relies on several factors some are fixed and others are variable. All of which, affect the management of an area and are linked. Climate: A fixed factor governing an area. Areas are divided according to annual rainfall figures. If the Kruger Park is taken as a guide line it is divided into 4 areas from North to South. The far North of the Kruger Park is the driest with annual rainfall of 400-450mm. The 2nd quarter has an annual rainfall of 450-500mm. The 3rd quarter has an annual rainfall of 500-550mm. The southern most portion which Marloth Park falls under has the highest annual rainfall of 550-600mm. This affects the type of vegetation that is able to grow in those areas and the water availability for the wildlife. Another factor is the proximity to mountains as the rising air causes increased rainfall in localized area to the east of the mountainous area. (i.e. Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria) Geology: This is also a fixed factor. The underlying rock governs the type of soil in an area. The Kruger National Park is roughly divided in half with Granite on the eastern side and Basalt on the western side. Granite produces a sandy soil which is well drained and consequently leached of nutrients. Resulting in a nutrient poor soil. Basalt produces a clay soil which does not allow good drainage. The soil is nutrient rich with increased surface water. Running through some areas are seams of Gabbro, also nutrient rich soils which result in open grassy plains and highly palatable grasses. The Lebombo mountains dividing Kruger National Park with Mozambique are Ryolite, a red rocky soil with underlying pebbles. There is also a central pocket of rock which is made of sandsone, mudstone and shale. A cocktail of soils is produced. Marloth Park has a Gabbro and Basalt rock base which produces a nutrient rich soil, clay and surface water. Diversity of an area: A fixed factor. Affected by Topograpy(shape of the land), Aspect( which way the land faces, affects the amount of sunlight an area receives), Slope (soil washed down from higher regions to lower regions) This in turn affects the diversity of vegetation and diversity of wildlife and the diversity of habitat. The Kruger Park is divided into 35 different landscape models and therefore has a very diverse animal species. Wildlife is divided into 4 types: Type 1 Habitat changers: Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra and White Rhino. They eat vast quantities of grass, medium to long grass and change the habitat. Shorten the grasses. Type 2 Sensitive species: Sable, Roan, Tsessebe and Lichenstein Hartebeest. They only eat the best grasses, medium to long grasses and open vegetation structure. Type 3 Short grass feeders: Impala, Blue Wildebeest and Warthog. Mixed feeders. Type 4 Browsers: Giraffe, Kudu., Nyala and Bushbuck affect bush encroachment. Grasses can be divided into 3 basic categories’ ‘Steak grasses’ ( Called Decreases): These are the best grasses. Leaves and florescence are high in Nitrogen and protein. Palatable, strong roots, high ecological value, good fodder. ‘Hamburger grasses’ ( Called Increaser 1 and 3 grasses) They loose palatability, less nitrogen and protein, becomes underutilized. ‘Hot dog grasses’(Called Increaser 2 grasses).These are avoided by most animals. They have other ecological factors Availability of water: From the model of the Kruger National Park, it was discovered that increasing waterholes in an area that is sensitive has resulted in highly detrimental effects, to the grasses and vegetation and wildlife. Increased numbers of animals with devastating effect on the grasses, loss of habitat. Type 2 wildlife numbers decrease. Others increase in number. An area the size of Marloth Park should only have a maximum of 2 water holes! There must be over 500 water holes in Marloth Park. Fire management of the veld. This has been studied since 1954 in the Kruger Park. This controls woody growth in grasses, bush encroachment, release of those seeds dependant on fire for germination and lowers parasites. It ideally should be done in October every 3rd year. Unfortunately this is not possible to do in Marloth in its current veld condition as there is no woody growth of grasses due to the fact there is so little grass and it is overgrazed so mainly forbs and weeds- no biomass of grass! In order to improve the conditions in Marloth Park it is necessary to not only rehabilitate the soil, grasses with a mixture of Decreasers and Increaser 1 and 3 grasses, thin the bush encroachment and most importantly REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS OR IT IS POINTLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A SEVERE REDUCTION IS NECESSARY FOR THE VELD TO RECOVER AND THEN IT WILL ONLY BE NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE ANIMAL NUMBERS 3 YEARS LATER FOR IT TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF RECOVERY. The community must decide what they want and reach a consensus 1. A petting zoo 2. A breeding farm 3. A nature reserve Supplementary feeding results in bigger litters and an increase in wildlife numbers. An Increased risk of injury to people due to hand feeding. Wrong type of foods been given to wildlife. It is detrimental in the long run to the animals and the veld. It should not be the main food source for the animals as they are designed to eat the natural grasses and leaves etc. It is only a supplement as the name suggests.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 21:36:46 +0000