Conservation Centre for Wild Africa (CCWA) Projects

Vulture population monitoring:

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is one of the rarest species found in Zimbabwe and so far the only record the organisation Birdlife Zimbabwe has of the species is a photograph at Antelope Park’s ‘Vulture’s Restaurant’. The vulture monitoring program extends to the six vulture species known to visit Antelope Park and includes bird counts, feeding behaviour extending to locating and protecting breeding sites as well as providing an important food source and crushed bones.

Ground hornbill status assessment in the Zambezi National Park:

The ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri), a bird indigenous in southern Africa to Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo province and scattered around northern Namibia, is an unmistakable-looking bird with a conspicuous red face and throat patches and a large black de-curved bill.

There are many myths surrounding the ground hornbill, such as the belief that it is ‘muti’ (medicine) for bringing rains. In some areas they are considered sacred, while in others it is thought that in large numbers they signal drought.

Regarded as vulnerable in South Africa, a population estimate of 1,500 to 2,000 has been put forth, and Zimbabwe’s population is believed to be on the decline as well. Habitat fragmentation has resulted in fewer suitable areas for the hornbills to occupy, but they have also been killed through feeding on poisoned meat, left for problem carnivores predating on farmer’s livestock as well as being killed for meat in their own right.

Sable habitat selection in the Zambezi National Park:

Debates among large mammal natural scientists have developed on the effect of sport hunting on wildlife populations. One side argues that hunted mammals have adjusted to hunting pressure and therefore thrive better than those in non-hunting areas while the other side believes the opposite is true. Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park is contiguous with the Kazuma Pan-Matetsi-Hwange complex, forming a total conservation area of over 1,846,700ha, excluding forest reserves. Of particular interest to this study is the Matetsi Safari area where sport hunting is permitted.

This is a specific study of sable antelope and is a comparison of habitat use between safari areas and National Parks. The central hypothesis is that hunted sable will select safer but not optimal habitat for the species. Utilisation levels of sable quotas have been recorded to be 100% in all years, and therefore represent a species with high hunting pressure; hence its selection among many other large herbivores for this study.

It is hoped that the results of the study will allow improved conservation management plans to be created for the species, with consideration for other species resident in the Park as well, with particular respect to the regulations controlling sport hunting within the area.

Biodiversity monitoring in the Zambezi National Park:

Six kilometres from the Victoria Falls lies the 52,600 hectare Zambezi National Park; wild with bush and big game it stretches along the Zambezi River for 40 kilometres.

Game includes mega fauna such as elephant (Loxodonta Africana), buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and lion (Panthera leo); antelope including the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), along with a large number of smaller mammal species such as small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta) and honey badger (Mellivora capensis).

In addition to the above mentioned Kazuma Pan-Matetsi-Hwange complex, the Zambezi National Park and surrounding safari areas are also part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, established with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Situated in the Okavango and Zambezi River basins and incorporating 36 National Parks, game reserves, community conservancies and game management areas the total conservation area spans approximately 287, 132km².

The results of the study coupled with comparison to historical data collected since the 1970s will allow improved conservation management plans to be created, especially in respect to the development of the Transfrontier Park.

Large predator assessment in the Zambezi National Park:

The Zambezi National Park is home to five species of large predator including spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Densities of large predator species are estimated to be low despite the fact that a high concentration of antelope exists in the basalt woodlands below the sand ridge and stretching all the way to the Zambezi River. This habitat should under normal circumstances be good hunting ground for predators and should therefore support a healthy population. Knowledge of a reliable estimate of predator populations will go a long way in understanding predator-prey ratios and relationships in the eco-system. Predators provide a sure check on mammal populations in the Park, hence reducing chances of overutilization of browse and graze.

The study will establish baseline data of populations for each of the five large predators within the ZNP such that species specific studies can be developed to determine many aspects of predator social organisations, local habitat use and ecology. The end goal of this study is to assist in the creation of sound conservation management plans for all large predator species within the ZNP, which could include reintroductions of certain species into the area.

Invasive alien plant species removal in Victoria Falls National Park:

The eco-system of Victoria Falls National Park is a relic of a rainforest that closely resembles that of a true equatorial rainforest; the vegetation being supported by a seasonal spray of water from the Falls. These conditions have supported the growth of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) over at least the last 30 years, such as lantana camara, ageratum houstonianum, nephrolepsis cordifolia, ipomea carica and solanum seaforthianum. These plants have been known to invade and replace indigenous vegetation that might result in the local extinction of some species. Our hope is to eradicate IAPS in the Victoria Falls National Park.

Biological monitoring in Victoria Falls National Park:

To complement the IAPS eradication effort a biological monitoring programme has been embarked upon, aimed at mapping eradicated areas, evaluating its success and measuring vegetation change directly resulting from eradication activities. Various parameters are measured seasonally and trends are monitored to depict change in vegetation in this unique habitat in order to prepare improved management plans for the Park.

Elephant monitoring in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park:

By understanding the ecology of elephants within MOT NP, we hope to be able to propose improved management plans for the species in an area prone to significant conflict between humans and elephants and vegetation damage within the Park. Looking at how the species uses the Park during different seasons will then be compared to data collated on local farms that have been raided.

Waterhole restoration in ZNP:

The Zambezi National Park is divided into two distinct areas; north and south of the Kazungula Road. The area to the north has sufficient water supply in the form of the Zambezi River and a spring line, however the southern section is dry with no natural water points.

The consequent concentration of animal species in the north during the dry season exerts ecological pressure as well as focussing tourist vehicles, putting strain on the Park’s limited road system and accelerating soil erosion.

The justification for providing an artificial water source for conservation related reasons are:

• the provision of water to small mammals with limited home ranges which have to move during the dry season as they cannot feed in the southern area with no local water

• if water is supplied in the southern section more tourists will conduct games drives in this area, reliving the pressure on the northern section

• the water point will attract bigger animals, spreading habitat use evenly across the Park; a World Heritage Convention requirement so that mega herbivore populations spread their impact of use

• the northern area of the Park is close to human settlements and as such poaching pressure is severe, particularly during the dry season when game is concentrated in north due to lack of water in the south.

Wildlife-human conflict mitigation:

The solution suggested by African communities to the challenge of protecting crops and livestock is simple; kill all the wildlife.

Elephants are seen as the overriding problem with leopard, hyena and lion coming in a close second. Baboon and buffalo also come under fire – and not even the lowly spring hare is spared the communities’ wrath.

When people talk about habitat protection it is of legal protection; laws forbidding communities access to areas where wildlife lives and from utilising the resources of the land on which their ancestors have subsisted for centuries.

Wildlife is perceived by local communities as having negative economic value, either through loss of life, livestock and crops or through the loss of income-generating opportunities restricted by protection of habitat. Legal protection has questionable value when it concerns a species that comes into conflict with people, often in remote areas with poor infrastructure. Under such circumstances, according to the IUCN, legal protection may only alienate people from conservation activities.

Other cultural barriers also exist. Individuals who take up the challenge and have seen the proposed systems working; reaping for them economic benefits and reduced wildlife conflict have kept hidden their success lest their neighbours discover the secret. And communities that have become reliant on hand-outs from NGOs for no work on their own part are suggesting workable solutions to their problems but choosing not to implement them as it means they will have to do the work themselves.

We are under no illusions that to succeed in creating real grass roots developed protection of wildlife is an enormous challenge.

Anti-Poaching:

Anti-poaching teams operate at all our project sites. In addition we provide both funding for anti-poaching teams and for training.