Compiled by:
Conservation Across
Boundaries Newsletter
November 2013
INDEX
EDITORIAL
WORLD HERITAGE
SITE NEWS
RESEARCH
Black Eagle Survey
Matobo Raptor Survey
Matobo Waterfowl
Census
Small Carnivore
Survey
Cheetah Conservation
National Leopard
Survey
Schools’ Biodiversity
Monitoring
Research in the
National Park
Volume 2, Issue 2
Editorial
This is the third newsletter circulated under the “Conservation Across Boundaries”
(CAB) banner since 2011. It is designed to keep stakeholders informed of
activities and progress in the Matobo Hills, and although the CAB is spearheaded
by Dambari Wildlife Trust, I must stress that there is a plethora of activity in the
Hills carried out by numerous organizations and individuals, all of whom are
committed to maintaining the beauty of the area, conserving resources, uplifting
the communities living within this stunning landscape and providing services and
experiences to visitors. Contributions from some of these organizations are
included below but we haven’t heard much from the tourism or social sciences
sectors; please feel free to contribute material to future editions!
It is a landmark year: the Matobo Hills World Heritage Site is now officially ten
years old as of August this year; Matobo Conservation Society turned 20; the Black
Eagle Survey – the longest-running raptor survey in the world – celebrated its 50th
year and white rhinos were reintroduced into the Matobo National Park 51 years
ago!
This edition contains a mix of research findings, news from around the Hills and
inspiration for the energetic to get out and explore! I hope you enjoy it. In case
you wish to cherry-pick what you read, you can navigate to the articles you’d like
to read from the hyperlinks in the Index on the left, and return to the index using
the link below each article.
The festive season is upon us, so I’ll take the opportunity to wish you a fantastic
Christmas and all the best for 2014.
Nicky Pegg
CONSERVATION
AND AWARENESS
Matobo Rhino Initiative
Project
Rhino population
management
World Rhino Day
OUTDOORS AND
RECREATION
Aloes in the Matobo
Hills
World Heritage Site News
Matobo Classic MTB
The Matobo Hills World Heritage Site turned ten in August. Dr FitzPatrick reports
that the Management Plan for the next five years is under construction and should
be completed by April 2014.
Available activities
CONTRIBUTORS
Adele Edwards
Cecilia Hubbard
Paul Hubbard
Farai Mavhiya
Nicky Pegg
Gavin Stephens
Colum Zhuwau
PHOTOGRAPH
CREDITS
Matobo scene: © N.
Pegg
Black eagle: © K.
Learmonth
Honey badger: © DWT
Cheetah: © J.
Brookstein
Biodiversity monitors:
© DWT
Fence building: © P.
Hubbard
Ear-notched rhino: ©
V. Bowman
“Twalumba”: © V.
Bowman
Aloe: © V. Bowman
Matobo Conservation Society (MCS) has sponsored the production of new
signage for both National Parks and National Museums, which includes a new large
map for visitors at the Sandy Spruit entrance. These signs incorporate the
requirements of UNESCO in the promotion of World Heritage Sites, and have been
located at Sandy Spruit and World’s View, with smaller signs at Efifi, Lower
Outspan and Maleme picnic sites. It is planned to install new maps at the
Whitewaters Gate and the Game Park Gate. The Ministry of Transport has agreed
to the re-erection of the World Heritage boundary notice on the Maleme Bridge
opposite Rhodes Estate Preparatory School. It is hoped that other boundary signs
will also be erected in due course. Smaller brochures produced by the MCS with a
comprehensive colour map will shortly be made available for tourists, along with
the information brochures already produced.
[material adapted from MCS newsletter 85] [back to index]
Research
50th Anniversary of the Black Eagle Breeding Survey
March 2013, saw the start of the Black Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) breeding survey of
the Matobo Hills.
This year is the 50 th anniversary of volunteer members of
BirdLife Zimbabwe, Matabeleland Branch carrying out this population and breeding
study of these magnificent birds.
This survey is carried out with the annual issue of
a Research Permit by the Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority.
The permit enables
members to visit nest sites in all areas. Results
are published in the BirdLife Zimbabwe journal –
The Honeyguide, and a copy also handed to the
Parks authorities.
Teams have monitored the eagle territories allocated to them, with occupied
territories being consistent with the previous few years. The breeding results, and
replacement rate per pair, for this 50th year appear to be within what could be
considered the norm – but at the lower end of breeding success statistics.
The persistent checking of as many known eagle territories as possible at the start
of the breeding season has proved to be of value. This season’s data shows that
two territories were re-occupied by pairs of eagles, and have both bred
successfully. One of these territories has not produced a fledgling since 1987, and
the second has not produced since 1981.
Reaching this world record milestone for a survey of this kind, does not mean
BirdLife Zimbabwe, Matabeleland Branch wishes to discontinue it. In fact the
opposite may be said. The Branch will continue to monitor the Black Eagle, and
should time, money and ability permit, this survey may lead to the introduction of
a second survey – what happens to the fledglings?
[Cecilia Hubbard, Chairperson of BirdLife Matabeleland Branch and Black Eagle
Survey Coordinator] [back to index]
BirdLife Zimbabwe Matabeleland Branch’s Matobo Raptor
Survey
BLZ continues to collect information about raptor sightings within the Matobo Hills.
Over 100 records have been received – but more records would be most welcome.
Amongst the raptors recorded are: African fish-eagle, long-crested eagle,
Verreaux’s eagle (=black eagle), African crowned eagle, African hawk-eagle, augur
buzzard, gabar goshawk, black-shouldered and yellow-billed kites and McKindley’s
eagle-owl.
If you have the pleasure of seeing a raptor while in the Matopos and would like to
contribute towards this survey please take note of the following details: date, time,
location (preferably GPS coordinate) and species. Any additional information such
as whether male or female, adult or juvenile, hunting, or on a nest, would be most
WEBSITES OF
welcome. Information should be sent to the survey coordinator John Brebner at
ORGANISATIONS email brebnerj@acolchem.co.zw.
KNOWN TO BE
[Adele Edwards, BirdLife Zimbabwe] [back to index]
ACTIVE IN THE
BirdLife Zimbabwe’s Waterfowl Census
MATOBO HILLS
Any omissions in the
list below are
accidental; please let
us know if you’re
doing social or
ecological work in the
Matobo Hills.
BirdLife Zimbabwe
birdlifezimbabwe.org
Caritas Zimbabwe
caritaszimbabwe.org
Chipangali Wildlife
Trust chipangali.com
Dambari Wildlife Trust
dambari.com
ICRISAT
cgiar.org
Matobo Conservation
Society
matobo.org
Matobo Rhino Initiative
Trust
rhodesmatopos.com
National Museums and
Monuments of
Zimbabwe nmmz.org
National University of
Science and
Technology nust.ac.zw
ORAP-Zenzele
orapzenzele.co.zw
Rowallan Adventure
Park
khamienterprises.com/
rowallan
Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority
zimparks.org
The Mother Africa
Trust
mother-africa.org
Each year, in January and July, the branch carries out waterfowl counts at a
number of water bodies within Matabeleland province including dams within
Matobo National Park. In Matopos in January 24 birds representing nine species
were recorded, while counts were considerably higher in July with 207 birds
representing 20 species being recorded. Species recorded included red-billed teal,
blacksmith lapwing, little grebe, hamerkop, Egyptian goose and pied kingfisher.
[Adele Edwards, BirdLife Zimbabwe] [back to index]
Dambari Wildlife Trust’s Small Carnivore Survey
A Matobo-wide survey was launched in February 2013, with the aim to determine
which mammalian carnivore species are (still) found in the Hills compared with
historical records, and to identify important areas and habitats for conservation.
Data collected were from two sources: questionnaire interviews with residents of
the Hills and camera trap photos. The combination of information has confirmed
the presence of all 24 species known to have occurred in
the Hills since the late 1800s. Questionnaires generated
a species list of 22 species, with two shy, nocturnal
species not being reported by respondents. Seventeen
species have been photographed across all land uses,
with the greatest number of species per land use type
occurring in protected areas and commercial cattle farms.
Unsurprisingly, the larger species – or those most likely
to be in conflict with humans – were reported more
frequently than the small, shy or nocturnal species. Of
interest is that only one in eight people reported genets
being present in the area, yet these are the most habitat- and human-tolerant
animals detected by the camera survey.
[Nicky Pegg, Senior Researcher, Dambari Wildlife Trust] [back to index]
Zimbabwe Cheetah Conservation Project
Like many other animals, cheetahs have vanished from over 77% of their historic
range in Africa. These days there are fewer than 10 000 adult cheetahs left in the
wild and they are one step away from being endangered. Zimbabwe is one of the
five southern African countries where cheetahs still occur. In order to assist with
the conservation of Zimbabwe's cheetahs, we founded the Cheetah Conservation
Project Zimbabwe.
With the last country wide population survey
conducted 14 years ago, our first goal is to reevaluate where cheetahs occur, how many there
are and what conservation challenges the
cheetahs face. Cheetah Conservation Project
Zimbabwe collects cheetah sightings and pictures
throughout the country. This has resulted in
interesting findings; thanks to the cheetah
sightings we received from the Dambari Wildlife Trust we now know there are
cheetahs in Matopos National Park!
Apart from the collection of sightings and pictures we also carry out a
questionnaire based field survey in which we interview wildlife professionals. Safari
guides, National Parks staff, hunters and forestry commission staff can often
provide us with a wealth of cheetah information. This year we have been
conducting our survey in the northwest of Zimbabwe, next year we hope to cover
the southwest of the country.
Wildlife and
Environment
Zimbabwe
wezmat.org
Ultimately, the collected information will help us, together with the Zimbabwe
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, to improve the conservation strategy of
the cheetahs and set up research and education programmes in the areas where it
is most needed. You can support our work by sending us your cheetah sightings
(with or without pictures) via cheetah@cheetahzimbabwe.org. You can follow our
survey via facebook.com/CheetahZimbabwe.
[Dr Esther van der Meer, Cheetah Conservation Project, Zimbabwe] [back to index]
National Leopard Survey
DID YOU KNOW?
The World Heritage
Site covers an area of
approximately 3,100
km2
The Matobo National
Park is the oldest in
the country and was
designated in 1926
112 species of
mammal have been
recorded in the Matobo
Hills, 25 of which are
bats and 23 of which
are rodents
Since the start of the
camera trapping
project in the National
Park in 2011, 55
species of mammal
have been
photographed
The Matobo Hills boast
the densest known
breeding population of
black eagles in the
World
White rhinos were
reintroduced to
Matobo National Park
in 1962
It is frequently claimed that the Matobo Hills support the densest population of
leopards in Africa, based on a paper by Richard Smith published in 1977. Parks
and Wildlife Management Authority and Zambezi Society launched a national
survey of leopard in the country in order to get a handle on numbers, and to
evaluate sustainability of current trophy quotas. Matobo National Park is the latest
area to be surveyed, with Matobo National Park’s Scientific Services staff carrying
out the standard spoor transects required. We eagerly await the results!
[DWT writer] [back to index]
Biodiversity Monitoring Project
The second year of Dambari Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Monitoring Project, which
engages secondary school pupils at five schools close the National Park, has been a
great success. More than 150 pupils are conservation club members, and they
collect information on the flora and fauna in their
environs on a daily basis. Each term, focus is on
a different group of organisms – plants in the first
term, birds in the second, and insects in the third.
Information collected now will form a baseline for
future conservation initiatives in community
areas.
Along with greatly improved knowledge about the
natural world and the need to conserve resources, club members have illustrated
tireless enthusiasm for the project. This ongoing project aims to entrench resource
monitoring in communities in the medium term, allowing for community-driven
natural resource management to become a reality in the Matobo Hills.
[DWT writer] [back to index]
Research in the National Park
Now that Matobo National Park’s Ecologist has returned from completing a Master’s
Degree in the United States, research and monitoring projects in the National Park
are gaining momentum. Projects include mapping the distributions of wildlife,
mapping fire distributions, assessing dam surface areas (compared with historical
data) and monitoring leopard tortoises. In addition, data from the joint DWTPWMA camera trap survey contribute to knowledge of wildlife species present and
their distributions.
[Norman Monks and Colum Zhuwau, pers. comm.] [back to index]
Conservation and awareness
Matobo Rhino Protection Initiative’s
Fence Project
Launched in September 2012, this project aims to
erect Bonnox® fencing around the Whovi
Wilderness Area (frequently called the “Game Park”
section) of Matobo National Park to provide
additional protection to the Park’s rhinos.
Construction began in early 2013, and to date,
more than 16 km of fence along the northern and
western boundaries have been erected, with
Black rhinos were
reintroduced into the
National Park in 1987,
at the peak of the
Zambezi “Rhino Wars”
The Gulati Communal
Land has a human
density of about 51
people per square
kilometre, which is
more than twice the
National average (23
people per square
kilometre)
Despite being believed
to be locally extinct by
the late 1960s, the
Matobo Hills support a
healthy population of
brown hyaenas
Spotted hyaenas
appear to be
extending their range
in the Matobo Hills,
being heard frequently
near Amalinda Camp
and Anglesea Farm.
For the first time since
camera trapping began
in 2011, spotted
hyaenas were
photographed in the
National Park in June
2013
funding coming primarily through donations and fundraising events.
Early
indicators are that the fence is extremely effective at keeping rhinos in the Park,
where they can be better monitored and protected by Rangers. Donations towards
this cause are always welcome: visit www.rhodesmatopos.com for more
information.
[Information from Paul Hubbard and MCS newsletter 85] [back to index]
“Rhino operations” and monitoring in 2013
Under the National Management Plan for rhinos in Zimbabwe, rhino management
operations in 2013 comprised ear-notching young
animals to make them individually recognisable for
monitoring purposes, and dehorning as many
individuals as possible to make them less attractive
to poachers. Thanks to the dedication of the Park’s
management and rangers and the “ops team”, the
operations were some of the most successful to
date, with the majority of the population dehorned,
and more than 80% of unmarked animals receiving
ear notches. Sponsors of the operations are listed
in the “sponsors” section of the newsletter.
The monitoring of rhino through the use of camera traps continued until the end of
July, at which time the project was evaluated. With a new deployment plan to
optimise information gathering, cameras were set up again in November.
[DWT writer] [back to index]
World Rhino Day Celebrations in Bulawayo and Matobo
For the first time, the National World Rhino Day celebrations were held in
Bulawayo. On 22nd September, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, in
consultation with a number of rhino stakeholders,
hosted a successful march in Bulawayo city led by
“Twalumba” – the life-size rhino model made of
drinks cans.
The procession was followed by
speeches by dignitaries, including the newlyappointed Minister of Environment, Water and
Climate, Cde. Saviour Kusukuwere. Finally, local
stakeholders,
school
children
and
artists
celebrated the rhino through speeches, poems
and performances. [DWT writer]
On the same day, Dambari Wildlife Trust hosted its annual “World Rhino Day
Golf Competition” fundraiser at Bulawayo Golf Club (BGC). A floating trophy (an
ironwood carving of a black rhino) was presented to the competition winners.
Through entry fees, donations and an auction of golf memorabilia, more than
US$6000 was raised, all of which goes towards Dambari’s conservation work in the
Matobo Hills. Especial thanks are due to Save the African Rhino Foundation,
Australia for donating the golf memorabilia and sponsoring the trophy, to BGC for
hosting the competition, and to all the participants! [DWT writer]
The Matobo Rhino Protection Initiative held a fun day at Sandy Spruit Dam in
Matobo National Park on Sunday 23rd September to raise funds for the fence
project (see above). Despite being a cool and damp day, more than 350 people
attended the event, which comprised a fun walk/run and cycle in the Park,
speeches by Mr Nyathi and Chief Nathisa’s representative, Mr Sikosana, a braai
lunch and an auction of art and photographs donated by local artists. Fence Africa
and National Fencing also erected Bonnox® fencing as a display, and “Twalumba”
made a guest appearance. Proceeds for the day raised sufficient funds to fence at
least another 2 km of fence around the Whovi Wilderness Area.
[adapted from a report to MCS by Paul Hubbard] [back to index]
SPONSORS AND
PARTNERS OF
WORK IN THE
MATOBO HILLS
These are
organisations that are
known to support
(fund) work in the
Hills; it is not an
exhaustive list.
Please send us your
sponsors’ information
for the next CAB
newsletter!
Outdoors and Recreation
Hunting aloes in the Matobo Hills
The Matopos boasts 6 aloe species, though Aloe tauri was “recorded” in the 1900’s
but has not been located since (this would be the 7 th Aloe species and if it does
occur, is likely to be found in the far south-eastern Matopos near Lumane Falls).
Our aloes mostly come into flower in the winter months; when the veld has lost
much of its colour they burst into flower from May through to July. During these
months, I would get on my bicycle every Sunday and ride for a couple of hours,
covering about 60kms, admiring the scenery and looking at the aloes. Anything of
particular interest would result in a vehicular visit the following week-end, and
often one discovery would lead to another. So cycling, aloe hunting and keeping fit
all came together during the not so chilly winter months!
The first aloe to flower is the Aloe chabaudii, a smallish, grey leaved aloe found on
dwalas. It has a delicate pink flower, quite noticeable against the grey dwala. At
times, the pink can be quite glossy. This winter two remarkable colour forms were
found: one individual with bicoloured perianths (deep pink at the base and white at
the tip) and three individuals with lemon coloured perianths that turned soft
orange and then pink as they matured. This yellow form has been recorded
before, but not in the Matopos as far as is known.
Next, Aloe aculeata, or the red hot poker comes into flower, in June. This is a
large ground species. Its impressive flowers are always bi-coloured, red turning to
orange or yellow as they open. These are followed by A. greatheadii, a small aloe
with spotted leaves, buried in the grass, and with an impossibly tall flower stem
(up to 2m) with soft pink, widely spaced perianths. In July Aloe excelsa, which is
well known to us all as it is the tall aloe living up
to its name, bursts into flower! With its often
multi-headed candelabra, normally in deep glossy
red, sometimes in bright orange, and rarely in a
red flower that opens white, the flowers are
always quite distinctive in the late winter months.
Bi-coloured A. excelsa’s are very rare, and only
two locations in the Matopos are presently known.
Aloe cryptopoda flowers in July, but this is a rare
aloe, tucked amongst the rocks, and so rarely seen. It too has a glossy red flower,
but the raceme is not as dense as excelsa, giving this an elegant appearance.
Finally Aloe zebrina flowers in February, not too dissimilar to A. greatheadii, but
with a deeper pink flower, shorter stem, and thicker raceme.
[Gavin Stephens, adapted from MCS newsletter 84] [back to index]
Matobo Conservation Society’s “Matopos Classic MTB” event
The annual three day Matopos Classic MTB event took place between 20th and 22nd
September. The route took riders to the southern end of Sotcha along the Tuli
Gorge on Day 1, then a hot, hilly climb out of the Mazhowe Valley on Day 2, and
on the third day a trip to Sandy Spruit to join in the World Rhino Day celebrations.
Each night, riders returned to Camp Dwala. The MCS newsletter editor writes
“despite the dry conditions, there were a surprising number of seeps, steams and
wet areas, whilst the trees were bursting into fresh foliage”.
[Information from MCS newsletter 85] [back to index]
Activities in the Hills
There are numerous options available to the outdoors-inclined, both in the National
Park and elsewhere in the Hills. Guided game drives and / or walks with specialist
operators (e.g. African Wanderer Safaris; Black Rhino Safaris) or through one of
the lodges on the periphery of the Park are popular. Horse-riding and climbing /
abseiling are offered by The Farmhouse to residents and day visitors. Matobo
National Park plans to introduce multi-day guided horse trails and moonlight game
viewing. These will be advertised when they become available. Plus, a number of
lodges and other facilities in at Maleme Rest Camp have been refurbished, so
quality accommodation at an affordable price is available in the heart of the Park.
[DWT writer, with info from lodges and Matobo National Park management] [back
to index]