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 This
is our first newsletter from Nambiti in KwaZulu Natal.
THE MOVE
Keri Research moved from Karongwe Private Game Reserve in the Limpopo
Province to Nambiti Conservancy near Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal in
January 2006. After six years on Karongwe, it was quite a move I know,
but with an opportunity like this, there was no question in our minds.
This move has given us the opportunity to:
Take part in the initial reintroductions of large game, monitor
individuals from their release, and compare this data with that
collected on Karongwe.
Study the large mammals in a similar sized reserve (8500ha) and compare
the ecology of two small, enclosed reserves.
This is the first time that individual predators studied in one habitat
type have been moved and studied on a different habitat. One cheetah, a
pack of wild dogs, two lions, and hyaena studied on Karongwe were moved
to Nambiti and Keri Research will have the opportunity of studying them
there.
This move will provide us
with some amazing research opportunities and interesting scientific
information. The reserve comprises of two reserves linked by a narrow
corridor which will make for some interesting movement data.
THE TEAM
Director
of research: 
 
We are
currently interviewing interested researchers to complete the team of
four.
Student program
Only one
student has been with us at Nambiti and she thoroughly enjoyed her stay.
The students get to be hands on in all aspects of the research. Vicky
was lucky enough to be here to help with the darting, capturing and
moving of the two male and two female lions.
We have a
four-bedroom house and are able to accommodate up to 6 volunteers. At
the moment we are not taking more than four, to ensure volunteers get
the most out of their stay with us.
THE ANIMALS WE ARE FOLLOWING
Cheetahs
Mnandi
(female) from Karongwe
Sailor
and Scar (male coalition)
Bitch Cat
(female)
Although
the cheetahs were nervous at first it has taken just three months to
habituate all of them to both vehicle and on foot to ensure as much data
as possible can be collected even when offroading is impossible.
Wild dogs
The dogs
are still in the boma and are due for release next month. Four males
were received from Karongwe where we studied them intensively for 3
years.
Elephants
There are
thought to be twelve elephants on Nambiti, including two big males. We
are still busy counting, aging and sexing the herd. The herd is very
relaxed. The main focus of research will be their utilization of cabbage
trees and the effect a narrow corridor has on their movement and feeding
in the corridor and at either end.
Lions
The two
male lions were darted at Phinda Resource Reserve, where measurements
and genetic samples were taken.
The two
females came from Karongwe and were also measured and samples were
taken. All the lions are still in the boma and are due for release in
the next two months.
Far left
Brigitte, left Cailey, right Vicky (volunteer from Britain) taking
measurements and genetic samples of the male lions. This was also
undertaken on the females.
Hyaena
The three
hyaenas are from Karongwe. They have been very difficult to see because
of the very thick bush. Excessive rain has prevented off road traveling,
especially in the valley where they spend most of their time.
Leopards
There
have been signs of leopard activity and we are busy camera trapping.
We will start with audio play back in the next few months.
Camera
traps
Finding suitable locations for the cameras has been very difficult.
Because of good rains the grass is very long and the smallest movement
even from the other side of the road sets them off. Although we haven’t
had any leopard photos yet we have had a guinea fowl running at full
speed at night but because of the time delay on the camera we will never
know what was chasing it. Guinea fowl are supposed to be in trees and
asleep at night. We have had some interesting nocturnal life.
Thank you
to Guy Balm for letting us test the cameras he uses. It has been very
useful.
FOCUS OF THE RESEARCH
The
initial focus of the research is to habituate all the large predators
and to understand territorial movements and feeding data. We will also
collect identity pictures of all the predators as well as the rhino and
elephants and complete the road map so that territorial movements can be
plotted in Arc View.
WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SINCE
JANUARY
Mapping
We have
nearly completed the road map. This was a logistical nightmare as a lot
of the roads are in poor condition after the rains, several roads lead
to nowhere if soils became too boggy or treacherous while they were
being made, and a lot of roads lead to the fence which has no boundary
road. We have had to climb cliff faces and cross rivers in order to map
the boundary fence and yet we are already about three quarters finished.
Habituation
We have
focused on the cheetahs while the other predators are still in the boma.
Sailor
and Scar were quite skittish and it was difficult to get close enough to
get visual without them slinking away. With grass as high as the bonnet
of the vehicle it made habituation very difficult. After an initially
slow start, it took two months and now the males are relaxed with
vehicles and can be approached within 10m on foot.
Mnandi
was already relaxed and it has been great spending time with her again.
She spends a large portion of her time in no-mans-land, a huge area of
land with no roads as yet, so data on her has not been as good as we had
hoped.
Bitch
Cat (BC) was also quite relaxed and now we are getting excellent
visuals. She spends a great deal of time in the eastern-most valley
which is often impossible to reach when it is so wet.
Data
collection
Data
collection has focused on movement and feeding as well as reproductive
encounters. One of the things I am very keen to understand is why, on
Karongwe, Mnandi lost all of her litters before they were a week old. It
was heart-breaking watching her with day-old cubs that were dead when
she returned from her first hunt. We were unsure what was killing them,
however a high jackal population was most likely responsible. It will be
interesting to see if Mnandi raises a litter in this new environment.
Elephant
IDs of
the elephants are underway but it has been difficult to find some of
them, partly as the collar on the one bull has never worked. There are
plans to re-collar the herd and the two bulls.
The
bigger bull injured his leg and was seen for several days unable to bear
weight on it. There was concern when he lay down and refused to stand
again. He slowly started to heal and is now in perfect health. We
believed there to be twelve elephants including a very small baby. The
matriarch only has half a tail and is easy to identify.
Cailey’s data
assimilation
Cailey
has finished her masters on Leopard ecology and is now looking to tackle
a new project. She wants to assimilate data from Karongwe on
inter-predatory movement and competition. This will be the first study
that has simultaneously followed lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs,
and hyaenas on a daily basis. This is an excellent opportunity to look
at how the different predators interact on a small, enclosed reserve and
may be a guide for other reserves wanting to introduce predators, who
want to know the effect hyaenas or lions will have on the other
predators.
Brigitte
Brigitte is close to finishing her masters on elephants and the impact
tourism has on the herd. Her zest for knowledge will probably lead her
to starting her PhD.
Media
Africa
Geographic is in the process of putting together an article about our
work. It is due to be published in May 2006, next month. Look out for
it.
DONATIONS AND SPONSORS
Project Sponsors:
Sponsors (R250 000 plus):
Karongwe Conservancy
Sponsors (R100 000 – R250 000):
Sponsors (R50 000 - R100 000):
Sponsors (R10 000 - R50 000)
Mercer
Volunteers (R8 000 – R30 000)
Thank you to the volunteers who have come on our student program and
contributed both financially as well as practically. This program would
not be possible without you.
Molly Montes
Emily McGrath
Vicky Gladwin
Collar sponsors
Dr. Rob
Slotow of the University of Natal and Amarula.
Diesel and maintenance sponsors
Nambiti
Conservancy
Vehicle
sponsors
Nambiti Conservancy (Fairly new vehicle)
Dr. Rob
Slotow of the University of Natal and Amarula.
Although they are donating an
old vehicle, it will really help. Our original vehicle “Betsy” is taking
strain on the roads, which lend a new meaning to 4x4.
Thank you to everyone who has
supported us with the new move.
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