Academic literature on the topic 'Mkuze Game Reserve'

The uMkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa is a key biodiversity asset which protects diverse natural resources of regional, national and international importance. The park has a notorious history of poaching, which is considered to be the second most important threat to biodiversity. Paramilitary patrol operations are crucial to regulating poaching in the park, and to the collection of data important for the monitoring of the state of biodiversity. The effectiveness of the patrol system as a whole is gauged primarily from enforcement-related data, and it was the intention of this study to present a landscape level perspective that would bolster current evaluation metrics. Home range and use-availability analyses of patrol data collected in 2009 and 2010 were used to construct area coverage boundaries, and to understand whether the distribution of patrol effort within patrol areas was influenced by habitat type. Results suggest that average monthly patrol area coverage ranged from 8.38 km² to 23.15 km². This indicates that although designated patrol areas could be covered with relative ease within a few months, information gaps were consistently occurring in the system. To determine how differences in the amount of area covered by patrol units influenced the quantity of information collected, annual area coverage was correlated with the number of biological sightings, illegal incidents and snares reported. Results show that differences in the size of the area covered did not necessarily influence the quantity of information collected in the field. However, certain areas of the park remained unpatrolled annually. All patrol units visited habitats differently than expected based on the proportion of habitat types that were available to them. The preferential use of habitat types could result in incorrect inferences being made about information outputs generated by the patrol system. The number of biological sightings, illegal incidences and snares reported were associated with the total area of each habitat emphasizing the importance of covering habitats proportionately to their availability in the park.<br>Thesis (M.Env.Dev)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

In recent years several regions in South Africa including KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have experienced a significant shift in their farming practice, moving away from conventional commercial farming to the apparently more lucrative private game farming. This is clearly evident in the northern parts of KZN, where most Private Game Reserves (PGRs) occur in semi-arid areas, which are poorly suited to agriculture or livestock farming. These conversions of land cover or change in land use (i.e. from conventional commercial farming to private game farming) is occurring fairly swiftly even though the extent (area of change), impacts and implications of this trend have not been established. Very limited scientific research has been carried out on the environmental effects, impacts and implications of these land cover/use changes related to PGRs. In an attempt to document these changes as well as the environmental implications, three PGRs i.e. Kube Yini, Thanda and Phinda and the Mkhuze Game Reserve within northern KZN were selected for in-depth study. Mkhuze, which is owned and managed by the state, was selected as the control for this study, as it has remained relatively undisturbed for a long period of time. A comparison between the PGRs and Mkhuze was carried out to compare the land cover/use changes within the study area since the establishment of the PGRs. Remote sensing software was used to achieve the aim and objectives of this study. Using satellite images from 1990 and 2007, a change detection analysis was performed to determine the land cover/use changes that occurred within the study area during the period 1990-2007. Sixty-four land cover/use classes were generated from the analysis. These sixty-four classes were reclassified into five broad land cover/use classes which were identified as (1) water and riverine vegetation, (2) sand forest, forest and rock faces, (3) woodlands, (4) old fields and disturbed areas, (5) and grasslands. The results illustrated that during the period 1990 to 2007, the land cover/use of the entire study area changed significantly, with the overall land cover/use changes illustrating a decrease in the water bodies and riverine vegetation (6 percent to 3 percent); sand forest, forest and rock faces (19 percent to 16 percent); woodlands (26 percent to 25 percent); and old fields and disturbed areas (26 percent to 25 percent) whilst an increase in the grasslands (23 percent to 31 percent) was evident. Within each individual PGR, significant land cover/use changes related to private game farming were evident. In Kube Yini PGR, a decrease in the water bodies and riverine vegetation (4 percent to 1 percent); old fields and disturbed areas (23 percent to 11 percent); and grasslands (6 percent to 5 percent) were observed whilst an increase in the sand forest, forest and rock faces (31 percent to 47 percent); and grasslands (6 percent to 5 percent) land covers were seen. There has been no change in the woodlands cover (i.e. remains 36 percent). Old fields and disturbed areas have decreased due to the clearing programme that was implemented by Kube Yini, which has also contributed to the increased sand forest, forest and rock faces; and grassland land covers. At Thanda PGR, water bodies and riverine vegetation remained the same overall, while an increase in the grasslands cover (19 percent to 49 percent) was clearly evident. A decrease in the sand forest, forest and rock faces (13 percent to 4 percent); woodlands (29 percent to 18 percent); and old fields and disturbed areas (38 percent to 28 percent) was also noted. This was due to Thanda‟s Management Plan, whereby management had cleared the old fields and disturbed areas to accommodate the increased tourist accommodation, increased game species as well as the increased space that is required for these species. Furthermore over the recent years, Thanda has been practicing bush clearing and thinning of vegetation, which has resulted in the creation of a grassland landscape. A grassland landscape was required for viewing the game species, which resulted in a decreased sand forest, forest and rock faces; woodlands; and old fields and disturbed areas. In Phinda too, the water bodies and riverine vegetation remained the same (i.e. 1 percent). The sand forest, forest and rock faces (32 percent to 19 percent); and woodlands (43 percent to 41 percent) decreased whilst an increased old fields and disturbed areas (15 percent to 26 percent); and grasslands (9 percent to 13 percent) were observed. Sand forests are sensitive and decrease in extent rather easily as a result of disturbances experienced in the area. The decrease in sand forest, forest and rock faces during this period may be due to the increased wildlife and especially elephant population experienced on this reserve. The woodlands land cover decreased in size as a result of clearing to accommodate tourist infrastructure as well as creating a grassland landscape i.e. open space and clear viewing for the game species. The changes in Phinda‟s land cover resulted can be explained by the different management practices that were practised on the reserve. The results from the PGRs were compared against Mkhuze so as to determine whether private game faming was in fact changing the landscape of the study area. During this period 1990 to 2007, Mkhuze experienced only slight changes within it‟s land cover/use classes: water and riverine vegetation (2 percent to 1 percent); sand forest, forest and rock faces (16 percent to 15 percent); and grasslands (29 percent to 26 percent) decreased whilst an increase in the woodlands (27 percent to 30 percent); and old fields and disturbed areas (26 percent to 28 percent) were noted. Since Mkhuze is managed by the state with its priority being conservation first and not increased monetary gain, competition between species and habitants occurred with the least amount of human influence. It is most likely that the water and riverine vegetation; and grasslands decreased due to the drought experienced in the area between 2001-2006, which may have led to the increased old fields and disturbed areas. In addition woodlands may have increased due to its resistance to harsh conditions. Also contributing to the increased old fields and disturbed areas could be the increased wildlife numbers experienced in the reserve. The slight drop in the sand forest, forest and rock faces land cover most likely resulted due to natural competition between the vegetation species as well as management realising the significance of the sand forest, thus assisting in the preservation of the sand forest, forest and rock faces cover. An accuracy assessment was carried out to determine the accuracy of the image classification, and a 75 % accuracy was achieved for the overall analysis. The results illustrate that during the period 1990-2007, the study area‟s land cover changed significantly and that this was mostly like due to the changes within the land cover of the individual PGRs. Climatic data for this period was also taken into consideration to see whether climate variations had occurred and whether this had impacted the change in land cover/use of the study area. The results from the PGRs were compared against the state reserve results as well as the climatic data. The results suggest that the majority of the land cover/use changes within the study area had occurred largely due to private game farming rather than natural processes. The climatic variables such as temperature of the area remained fairly unchanged whilst humidity remained fairly high. With the exception of the drought experienced in the area between the period 2001-2006, it is most likely that the changes in the area are the result of the change to private game farming. Private game farming is having a significant effect on the landscape of the study area and this is largely due to the different management practices practised on each individual PGR. It is recommended that PGRs be monitored and regulated consistently in order to prevent the degradation of the environment and its ecosystem. The study exhibits the value and usefulness of satellite imagery in detecting land cover/use changes related to private game farming. Landsat 5 TM imagery was the most suitable and accurate in identifying and mapping broad scale land cover/use changes related to private game farming. If a more detailed level of investigation is required, the use of higher resolution imagery (e.g. Spot/Landsat 7) is advised.<br>Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

Faculty of Science School of Animal,Plants and Enviromental Science 0204279a craigm.kznwildlife.com<br>Fire is a key determinant of savanna dynamics, and would thus have a major influence on the vegetation dynamics of Mkuzi Game Reserve. Given this logic, it is an important and commonly used management tool in this reserve. Its main uses in the reserve are for either removing moribund material or for reducing woody plant encroachment, both of which normally entail dry season burns. As a consequence, fire often results in a green flush of vegetation that is highly favoured by grazing herbivores. A further management goal is maintaining or improving biological diversity by promoting vegetation heterogeneity. Current policy prescribes this should be achieved through point-source ignitions rather than by block-burning, which was the earlier practice. This study explores spatial and temporal fire patterns at a landscape scale in Mkuzi Game Reserve using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Much of our understanding of the dynamics of fire has previously been determined at a plot scale and scaling up of these insights to a landscape scale is problematic, hence this project aimed to contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of fire at a landscape scale. The study also specifically examined how the fire regime in the reserve has changed with a change in the burning philosophy and strategy, namely from block burning to the point source ignition (PSI) strategy, which began to be implemented in the mid-1980's. Fire frequency was related to both geological type and vegetation type. The fact that geology was related to fire frequency was not surprising because the relationship between geology and vegetation in the reserve has previously been established. The varying amount of herbaceous material per vegetation type apparently influenced fire frequency. Spatial variation in fire frequency was also positively related to rainfall variation over the reserve, while the total area burnt per annum was positively related to the preceding wet season rainfall, but not for years with a high dry season rainfall. The influence of rainfall on grass production and thus fuel load explained these relationships. In addition, there was some evidence of a carry over effect of rainfall where the previous wet season rainfall together with the preceding wet season rainfall influenced total annual area burnt, but this was only significant for years when dry season rainfall was low. Contrary to an expected negative influence, dry season rainfall had no effect on the total annual area burnt. Grazer biomass had a significant limiting effect on fire frequency over the reserve (spatially), most likely due to consumption of herbaceous ii material, but there was no relationship between grazer biomass and total annual area burnt (temporally). Dry season burns were significantly larger than wet season burns and can be attributed to the more favourable fuel condition during the dry season. Intense burns were also generally larger than the cooler burns, namely those rated as patchy/very patchy and clean. This was mainly attributed to a high fuel load which is critical for intense fires but also positively influences the spread of fire. The comparison of the block burning strategy and the point source ignition (PSI) strategy showed that fire frequency was greater during the PSI burning period than during the block burning period. The total area burnt per annum was greater during the PSI burning period than during the block burning period, but individual burn sizes were not significantly different between the two strategies. Evidence showed that individual burns that occurred during the PSI period had boundaries that were more irregular than those of block burns. Fires were most common during the dry season for both burning strategies, but the proportion of the burns that occurred during the dry season was greater for the PSI burning period than for the block burning period. Evidence also showed that a much greater emphasis was put on applying dry season prescribed burns during the PSI period than during the block burning period. A greater effort was also made during the PSI period to burn firebreaks, which were only implemented during the dry season. Arson fires (started deliberately or accidentally by neighbours) were more common during the block burning period than during the PSI period, while under both burning strategies, they were more common during the dry season than the wet season. There was no distinguishable difference in the burn intensity patterns between block and PSI burning, that is, the proportions of burns in the different burn intensity classes were not significantly different between the two burning strategies. Although the contribution of the individual fire barrier types showed some change with a change from block burning to a PSI strategy, the combined contribution of natural barriers did not increase, and that of management barriers did not decrease, as would have been expected. In addition, natural and management barriers were apparently of equivalent importance during both burning strategies.

Rangers, as vanguards of wildlife conservation, are constantly fighting off armed poachers. That makes their work stressful and dangerous. In spite of this, their needs are neglected and are not considered as the focus is on saving wildlife. Undoubtedly, the African continent is not spared from the unrelenting poaching menace that threatens to drive the world’s wildlife spicies into extinction. In response to this scourge, countries, in their quest to safeguard these species from extermination, have signed various treaties, continuously come up with different strategies and pledged their support to fight illegal wildlife trading. This study was conducted at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HIP) and Mkhuze Game Reserve, which are under the management of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Wildlife Management. These parks have turned into a battlefield between poachers and rangers. The intrinsic case study approach, which is explorative and interpretive in perspective, was used to unravel and describe the experiences from the world view of rangers. A descriptive qualitative research design was used to gain insight from the rangers about their challenges and needs in the workplace. Furthermore, developmental research was used to design and develop a tailor- made technology – a ranger resilience-building model – to assist rangers to deal with their workplace challenges. Focus group discussions were conducted with a group of rangers, while individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers in order to solicit information from purposively selected sample of rangers and managers at HIP and Mkhuze Game Reserve, that assisted in the development of the model. Ethical considerations, which involve the informed consent of the participants, confidentiality and privacy, participants’ right to withdraw from the study and the management of information, were applied to ensure that the participants were protected from harm. The collected data was analysed by using codes and themes that best described the experiences of the rangers, and data verification was done before the process of model development. It was evident that rangers are faced with a variety of workplace challenges, such as poor quality of work life, unpleasant living conditions, coupled with poor amenities, inadequte wellness interventions, and the poor management and implementation of policies by the Human Resources (HR) Department. Nevertheless, teamwork and their cultural practices were positive aspects that promoted their coping capacities in dealing with their everyday challenges.<br>Social Work<br>D. Litt. et Phil.(Social Work)

The focus of this study is the effect of environmental conditions on the social relationships among females in a free-ranging troop of chacma baboons (Papio cynocephalus ursinus), in a southern woodland habitat. The female dominance hierarchy, rank related differential costs and benefits to individuals, and the nature of special relationships between females, were followed. The study was conducted for a total of 18 months during three years, at Mkuzi Game Reserve, Zululand, South-Africa. The study troop occupy a rich woodland habitat with abundant food resources. Visibility under these conditions is poor and the baboons are subjected to leopard predation. Intra-troop competition for food among female primates and its effect on lifetime reproductive success, has been widely stressed to be a major cost for low ranking females. No evidence of competition for food was found among females at Mkuzi. It is suggested that the main cause for mortality may be predation by leopards, and that females compete mainly over a safe spatial position. The following characteristics of female sociality at Mkuzi may support this suggestion: 1. While no indication of rank related feeding behaviour, reproductive success, or 'attractiveness' to others was found, the higher ranking females had more access to central, and thus better protected, spatial positions in the troop. 2. The importance of social associations among females at Mkuzi seems to lie in mutual grooming and protection from predation by the vicinity to each other, and not in coalitionary support. Female associates were thus not necessarily adjacent ranking and probably not kin. 3. Although female dominance hierarchy was usually stable, the lowest ranking adult female has promoted her rank independently, following the disappearance of her only female associate and during her pregnancy, when she was probably subjected to high risk of predation. 4. Following troop fission, most females chose to improve their own rank position by adopting the AYS strategy (Abandon Your immediate Superior in rank), rather than joining associates. It is suggested that the resident males were responsible for the initiation of troop fission, in order to decrease the high cost of sexual competition to them, by reducing the number of males in each daughter troop. High intensity of competition between males was the result of the high female reproductive success. Risk of predation, and therefore the cost to individual females, increased after fission. This study may present an additional accumulating behavioural evidence on adaptations environmental conditions. the of flexibility primates example to of social and to various environmental conditions.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1993.

Savannah baboons (Papio cynocephalus) have been studied in numerous sites throughout Africa. They have been found to display a wide variety of foraging and feeding behaviours. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify these for a troop in a southern woodland habitat and to determine what factors influence these in order to understand the choices made by baboons. This was done within an optimal foraging framework. The study included the development of random walk and optimal foraging simulation models of day journeys and a comparison of feeding and foraging before and after the troop divided into two daughter troops. The troop lived in a complex mosaic of habitat types with a high tree density. The troop's foraging strategies were found to be consistent with being time minimizers. Distance from the centre of the home range and distance from the nearest sleeping site had the most significant effect on utilisation of the home range. The effect of food availability on habitat use could only be distinguished by the use of simulation models. Comparison of food encountered by the troop and that encountered in the simulations demonstrated that the troop did better than could be expected if the day journey routes were random. The troop's results approximated those of a stochastic short-term optimisation model. The troop's diet consisted of a higher proportion of fruit than previous studies. The troop distinguished between commonly utilised foods and those only occasionally used on the basis of protein/fibre ratio, however food preference between main foods was not correlated with protein/fibre ratio. Any combination of the main foods would fulfil their protein requirement. Evidence is given that, without protein being limmiting, the troop's selection amongst the main foods is based on carbohydrate content. After troop fission the daughter troops had shorter day journeys, spent less time walking, more time socialising resting. They also spent more time in food-rich habitats and were more selective in their diet. These results reinforce the important influence in group size and suggest that troop fission may be seen as a time-minimising strategy.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1994.

Fire is used in the management of ecosystems worldwide because it is a relatively inexpensive means of manipulating thousands of hectares of vegetation. Deciding how, where and when to apply fire depends primarily on the management objectives of the area concerned. The decision to ignite vegetation is generally subjective and depends on the experience of the fire manager. To facilitate this process, ancillary tools, forming a decision support system, need to be constructed. In this study a spatial model has been developed that is capable of simulating fire dynamics in savanna ecosystems. The fire growth model integrates spatial fuel and topographic data with temporal weather, wind settings and fuel moistures to produce a time-evolving fire front. Spatial information required to operate the model was obtained through remote sensing techniques, using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite imagery, and existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) coverage's. Implementation of the simulation model to hypothetical landscapes under various scenarios of fuel, weather and topography produced fire fronts that were found to be in good agreement with experience of observed fires. The model was applied actual fire events using information for prescribed burning operations conducted in Mkuze Game Reserve during 1997. Predicted fire fronts were found to accurately resemble the observed fire boundaries in all simulations.<br>Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.