Our work on Mapungubwe National Park is well underway and we are already seeing great differences in predator densities when compared with Venetia. Mapungubwe has a lot of leopards! We expected this from camera-trapping work we carried out a few years ago, but the difference between the two reserves is startling. Mapungubwe is wonderful leopard habitat, as it stretches along the Limpopo River which provides dense cover, and has many rocky outcrops in the area behind.

We have also picked up a number of lions in the area; up to 10 individuals on a section of the park that is only 10000ha. At least one group is thought to have crossed the river from Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana and been caught on this side when the rains caused the normally dry Limpopo to flow. As we head into the dry winter, and the sand resurfaces in the Limpopo, it is possible these lions will head back across the border. The fantastic thing is that with the fences coming down, these beautiful animals now have the freedom to move like this in a way that has been almost impossible for much of the last century.

Share This

The meeting in Zimbabwe to discuss the predator management plan for the new transfrontier conservation area, covering the corners of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa where they meet, was highly productive. It seems that March next year is the date that we will see the fences beginning to come down, which is a huge triumph for the conservation of this region. Without the fences animals can move more freely and so the populations need less management, and the freedom of movement of herbivores can reduce the unnaturally high pressure on some habitats that is forced by fences. Looking at the predators in particular, it will be of most notable effect with the Lions and Wild Dogs who will be able to form contiguous populations with the residents on the other side of the borders. The cheetahs, as we have seen, seem to be moving quite freely anyway, and trees along fences form easy paths in and out of reserves for the leopards.

One of the single biggest issues in conservation in Africa is the pressure on land and the contraction of habitats, so by expanding conservation areas, we are taking huge steps in the right direction. This process is something I am extremely proud to play a part in.

 The following map shows the area that will be incorporated into the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area

Share This

Some exciting news on the lion front! We have some newcomers in the area and they are looking in fabulous condition. Mungojerrie was found on our northern fenceline late in the afternoon, pacing up and down and obviously extremely agitated. Wendy was out tracking the Wild Dogs at the time and left him, only to cross over into Mapungubwe National Park later on opposite where Mungojerrie had been. The park lies directly to the north of Venetia with a tar road in between. Not far inside the park and close to the fence, Wendy found a wildebeest kill with a very large lioness on it, accompanied by two sub-adult lions. The lions were all in great condition and were very relaxed. A visit later on that night showed up a total of four sub-adult lions with the lioness. This is great news for the lion population in Venetia as well as the park, as the fences between the two are due to be removed in early 2009. This will allow free movement of animals and effectively double the size of the conservation area. Healthy breeding lions in Mapungubwe National Park will add very welcome new blood to the Venetia lions, and will allow all of them to disperse in a more natural fashion.  The removal of the fences will be fantastic news for all the species and is definitely a move in the right direction. I am off to Zimbabwe for a few days for the annual meeting of the Shashe Limpopo Predator Research Group, a group of scientists and land managers in the area of the new Transfrontier Conservation Area. It promises to be a very productive meeting so I will keep you posted on my return.

Share This

We have Wild Dog news that is both good and bad. Beginning with the sad news, I am sorry to have to report that we have lost another dog. This time, Carat, a subordinate dog who was wearing a collar, was picked up as being away from the pack and stationary for a couple of days. This usually only means one thing so we went in knowing to expect the worst. Harriet, the head of the Carnivore Conservation Group at EWT tracked the collar until she could hear she was almost on top of it, and then saw the badly chewed collar lying in the grass. There was no sign of a body at all, and it may be that the collar had been carried by a hyaena or lion for some distance from where poor Carat met his end. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing what the cause of death was, and the Venetia pack has now dwindled to only 3 adults and one yearling.

 Venetia Wild Dogs on the move.

The good news is…. we think that Stellar, the alpha female, is now underground in her den with this year’s litter of puppies. The dogs are sticking closely to one area and Stellar has not been seen for a few days. She was certainly pregnant and this is the right time of year for denning so we are very hopeful. Had she also met a grisly end, we would not expect the rest of the pack to remain in such a close area. I will keep you posted on the puppies that may well bring the Venetia pack back from the brink.

Last year’s litter of puppies, of which only one, Rory, is remaining.

Share This