2005/2006 - SANParks

2005South African National ParksFRONTIER PARKS CLUSTERConditions across the park vary considerably due to the very patchydistribution and varying intensity of rainfall. A very hot and dry Decemberfollowed by a relatively dry last quarter (with the exception of good rainsin January) has desiccated the veld in the low-lying dwarf shrubland areasof the park.CONSERVATIONA wildlife census of the park was undertaken in February 2006 and resultsare still pending. The following table provides numbers of some prominentspecies in the park from the wildlife population register of November 2004to provide an indication of population sizes in the park:SpeciesNumberKudu 693Buffalo 41Cape Mountain Zebra 101Springbok 175Black Wildebeest 80Red Hartebeest 115Gemsbok 61Eland 25Copper defi ciency in the blesbok population appears to affl ict just aboutall of the animals in the Game Viewing Area of the park.In the past, this problem has been controlled by annually culling about30 animals which showed obvious signs of ‘swayback’ or those mostwhite in colour.Eighty-two Gifbol (Boophane disticha) bulbs were planted in the nurseryat Gannaleegte after they were confi scated by local DEAET offi cials.Poaching by means of wire snares remains a problem in the park, althoughit has decreased following a number of arrests during the last quarter ofthe year. With one conviction, we have one outstanding case pending adecision on whether to prosecute by the Regional Public Prosecutor.One Cape Mountain Zebra has recently been observed a number of timeswith a wire snare on its hind-leg. The CNP currently has four operationalfi eld rangers while an additional three personnel have been selected andappointed to commence duty in the new fi nancial year. A new fi shingpermit for the Nqweba Dam was developed and printed.Work is all but complete on the collection of the information required forthe park’s Conservation Development Framework which will be used toplan future development within the park.68