Short duration overnight cattle kraaling in natural rangelands: does time after kraal use affect their utilization by wildlife and above ground grass parameters?

Short duration overnight cattle kraaling in natural rangelands creates nutrients hotspots attractive to a diverse suite of large mammalian herbivores. However, few studies have determined the use of these sites by large mammalian herbivores. We determined the number of animal sightings per day from camera traps and used them as proxies for use of these newly created nutrient hotspots of varying ages (1, 2, 3 and 4 years) and surrounding vegetation. Six mammalian herbivores of different sizes belonging to three feeding guilds viz. grazers (Burchell’s zebra Equus quagga burchelli and warthog Phacochoerus africanus), mixed feeders (impala Aepyceros melampus and African savanna elephant Loxodonta africana africana) and browsers (northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa and greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros) frequently used these nutrient hotspots. The number of sightings per day of mammalian herbivores was determined during three periods of the year (January – wet season; June – early dry season; October – late dry season) to ascertain their use of these nutrient hotspots. In addition, above ground grass biomass and height was measured and related to grazer sightings. Furthermore, we tested if repeated grazing in the newly created nutrient hotspots stimulated grass compensatory growth. All the mammalian herbivores used the newly created nutrient hotspots similarly throughout the year, with impala the most active users. Grazer and browser use of nutrient hotspots was not influenced by their age, while mixed feeders mostly used the one year old sites. Grazer use of nutrient hotspots was not influenced by aboveground grass biomass and height. Repeated clipping (proxy for grazing) resulted in compensatory aboveground grass biomass growth in nutrient hotspots. Impala benefited the most and zebra the least from the creation of nutrient hotspots in natural rangelands. We conclude that creation of nutrients hotspots through short duration overnight kraaling results in rangeland heterogeneity that improves availability of herbivore foraging sites.

Trophy Hunting and Possible Source-Sink Dynamics in Protected Areas: Insights from Trophy Size and Offtake Patterns in Southeast Zimbabwe

Developing harvest management strategies in designated hunting areas requires systematic and robust monitoring. We assessed the trophy size, quota utilization, and distribution of kill sites of African elephant, Cape buffalo, greater kudu, and leopard for the period 2007-2014 in Malapati Safari Area, southeast Zimbabwe. Trophy sizes for African elephant significantly increased over time albeit being below the expected minimum Safari Club International (SCI) score. Cape buffalo trophy sizes declined significantly over time but were not different from the SCI minimum score. However, greater kudu trophy sizes were higher than the SCI minimum score despite being constant over time. Leopard trophy sizes were higher than the SCI minimum score and increased with time. Quota utilization for African elephant and Cape buffalo increased while that of greater kudu and leopard did not change between 2007 and 2014. Some kill sites, in particular, for the African elephant and Cape buffalo, were within the buffer area with the state protected area, i.e., Gonarezhou National Park. Increased hunting pressure likely leads to poor trophy quality and hunting within the protected buffer areas. In contrast, effective adherence to hunting ethics and scientifically and conservatively set quotas largely does not compromise the trophy quality of harvested species. The observed trophy size patterns and kill sites distribution suggest the possible existence of source and sink dynamics of trophy species occurring in a protected area complex within the Zimbabwe’s component of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park. To ensure sustainable trophy hunting in the study area and similar ecosystems the following are recommended: (i) scientifically robust, adaptable, and participatory quota setting process, (ii) enhanced adherence to good practice in terms of ethical hunting conduct, and (iii) development of a robust hunting monitoring system covering all elements of hunting for adaptive wildlife management.

Mad buffalo?

The article describes an unusual behaviour by three Cape Buffalo regarding a pride of Lions on a Greater Kudu kill at the Shingwedzi River in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Population Structure of Ungulates in Waterberg National Park, Namibia

A study on the seasonal variation in population structure of seven (7) ungulate species, African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eland (Tragelaphus oryx), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), oryx (Oryx gazella), sable (Hippotragus niger), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) was carried out using the field census approach during the wet (February– April) and dry (July–September) season, and a water hole census (September) at seven waterholes in the Waterberg National Park, Namibia. Male warthog, oryx and black rhino on average comprised about 40 % of the population, whereas male sable, roan antelope, eland and buffalo comprised 30 % of the population. Male kudu and male white rhino comprised 20 % of the sex structure of the population, whereas male giraffe comprised more than 50 % of population. Age structure was dominated by adults, with 60 % of the total population in warthog, sable, eland and the white rhino, and 70 % in kudu, roan, buffalo, giraffe and black rhino on average. Oryx had the highest number of adults, with only 10 % of the population comprised of juveniles. Larger herds were observed during the wet season and smaller herds during the dry season. Animals were observed more abundantly in three of the vegetation types (Terminalia sericea — Melhania acuminata vegetation, Terminalia sericea — Thesium megalocarpum, Terminalia sericea — Blepharis integrifolia), with lower abundances in the rock-inhabiting Peltophorum africanum during both seasons.

Trophy Hunting Versus Ecotourism as a Conservation Model? Assessing the Impacts on Ungulate Behaviour and Demographics in the Ruaha-Rungwa Ecosystem, Central Tanzania

Trophy hunting may influence wildlife populations in many ways, but these effects have received little consideration in many of Africa’s protected areas. We assessed the effects of trophy hunting on group size, behaviour, flight initiation distance, sex ratio and calf recruitment rate in two model species, impala (Aepyceros melampus) and greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), in Rungwa Game Reserve (RGR), Tanzania. The adjoining Ruaha National Park (RNP) served as a control site, since only ecotourism is permitted. Road transects were driven and data recorded immediately upon sighting animals. Both impala and greater kudu had higher flight initiation distances, smaller group size, lower calf recruitment rates and higher levels of vigilance behaviour in RGR compared to those in RNP. Sex ratios did not differ between the two areas. The observed differences are ascribed to the direct and indirect effects of trophy hunting in RGR. Low calf recruitment rates in RGR are of concern, as this may directly compromise population growth rates. Long-term studies may therefore be required to assess how hunted populations are affected by different hunting intensities and at what point this may threaten population persistence.