2005/2006 - SANParks

2006South African National ParksSpecies2005 CensusImpala 100947Giraffe 6692Wildebeest 12018Kudu 6705White rhino 6942Waterbuck 3213Warthog 2283Zebra 21102Elephant 12500Buffalo 30000PEOPLE AND CONSERVATIONThe People and Conservation Department of the KNP has continued itsefforts to build a purposeful relationship with neighbouring communities.Collaboration between the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA),the KNP and the Hlanganani Forum, culminated in the constructionof a community arts sales outlet at the Punda Maria Entrance Gate.In an effort to support a culture of learning, 800 boxes of booksdonated by the Book Smart Foundation were distributed to 150schools within seven community forum areas on the western boundaryof the KNP.Two busses were donated by Shell South Africa through the assistanceof the Honorary Rangers and one of the busses is currently beingused effectively for the community awareness programme which iscalled Take Kruger to Kassie.The Punda Maria Environmental centre was completed and will beopened in the new fi nancial year while the Letaba Elephant Hall hasbeen re-opened following an extensive upgrade.CONSERVATION SERVICESThere has been considerable progress with regard to the inclusionof neighbouring areas into the Greater Kruger National Park. Somereserves which are part of the Associated Private Nature Reservesgroup have applied to become contractual parks. These applicationsare currently receiving attention in line with the relevant legislation.Cooperation between the KNP and the Makuleke community isgrowing and the relationship is improving. Two new lodges and atraining camp were completed in the Makuleke area during the periodunder review.The last of the huge alien trees (Tipuana species) in Skukuza wasfelled with the help of “People for Wildlife” volunteers. Other alienclearing continued very well and a total of 27 Roan and sevenLichtenstein’s Hartebeest were captured and removed from theNwaswitsumbe enclosure and translocated to the Limpopo NationalPark in Mozambique.Good rain fall characterised the period under review and has sincerestored the grazing conditions in the KNP. The dry conditions duringthe winter and some early dry thunderstorms as well as the patch burnsset by Section Rangers in the KNP contributed to reducing high fuelloads which resulted from the above average rain in the southern regionof the park. A total of 25% of the park burnt during this season.The removal of 30km of fence along the eastern border with LimpopoNational Park was completed during August. Cross border movementof animals seems to be on the increase in these areas.All law enforcement offi cials in the KNP received their designationsas Environmental Management Inspectors (EMI’s) during Novemberand successfully completed a specially designed EMI training courseaimed at equipping them with the necessary background to effectivelyconduct law enforcement under the new legislation.Other park-based economic opportunities yielded R308 108 for thelocal communities. The project of identifying rock art in the KNP wascompleted with the identifi cation of over 150 rock art sites.TOURISM AND MARKETINGA total number of 1 243 467 tourists visited the KNP during the periodunder review. There was a 16.2% increase in the number of blackvisitors. A Standards Manual was developed and implemented andas a result there was a 32% decline in complaints from visitors.TECHNICAL SERVICESThe third group of trainee contractors in the Contractor DevelopmentProgramme completed their NQF level 2 labour intensive training modulesand successfully completed the fi rst two practical training projects thatwere funded by the Development Bank of Southern Africa.All glass and tin waste from the park is currently recycled. The KNPsuccessfully negotiated an agreement with the Plastic Federationof South Africa for the supply of a bailer to recycle all plastic wastefrom the park. A total of 58km of tar roads was resurfaced and there-gravelling programme is earmarked for 2006 after the appropriatesoil stabilizer was determined.45