Appendix O2 - Biophysical Report.pdf - Zitholele.co.za

February 2011 74 12619Red data Flora SpeciesThe red data species that potentially could occur along the route is listed in Appendix A. A total of85 red data species potentially occur within the study area.7.3 Terrestrial Animal SpeciesInvertebratesA total of 796 arthropods and 308 butterflies are recorded for the study area. The large number ismainly due to the wide range of habitat available and the large area covered by the variousalternatives.ReptiliaA total of 96 reptilian species were recorded for the study site. The known red data specie is theAfrican Rock Python.AmphibiaThirty seven species of amphibians were recorded as occurring within the study area and are givenin Appendix 1. These species are not restricted in terms of habitat or distribution and none of thespecies recorded are classified as Red Data species.MammaliaMammal species diversity was low across the bulk of the study area, as very little natural habitatremains. Most of the mammals occur in small pockets of remaining natural vegetation or withingames farms or reserves, with a total of 102 species being recorded. Six of these species arelisted as endangered, including the Black Rhino, Tonga Red Squirrel, Marley’s Golden Mole,Swinny’s Horseshoe Bat, the Damara Woolly Bat and Sclater’s Forest Shrew.In addition 12 near threatened species that are included is Honey Badger, Serval, Spotted-neckedOtter, Water Rat, Red Squirrel, Darling’s Horseshoe Bat, Lander’s Horseshoe Bat, Geoffrey’sHorseshoe Bat, Anchietta’s Pipistrelle, Temmick’s Hairy Bat, Schreiber’s Long Fingered Bat, andthe Lesser Long Fingered Bat. Due to the habitat requirements for all the sensitive speciesmentioned above, there should be very little conflict with the proposed power line, with theexception being the Black Rhino. Several sections of the proposed routes near the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park is aligned through areas that are prime Black Rhino habitat that have beenearmarked by the KZN Provincial Government as an area with high conservation status.ZITHOLELE CONSULTING