Makuleke Large Mammal Reintroduction Project
Update February 2007
Gayle Pedersen, Researcher
Ranging area:
The last rains fell on January 20th and the steady increase of the temperatures after that meant the temporary waterholes were drying up by the start of February. The grasses also appeared to be struggling with the lack of rain and high temperatures and the rhinos movements during the first two weeks of this month seemed to reflect these changes. C3 and B6 went wandering again across Pafuri Main and looked as if they visited Ndakaezane Spring and the spring near Manqeba, judging by the amount of time they spent in that block and where they exited. However, both of these springs are fairly low on water at present and they were back at Mashisiti within a few days.
C2, C1 and c7 also ranged much further than in the previous months, possibly also due to recent grazing constraints in the area they have occupied primarily since the rains started. They crossed Pafuri Main just west of Caracal Link after spending some time west of Palm Spring, but they appeared to cross back again within minutes. The last sighting of this group was east of Luvuvhu West at the junction of Lanner Drive, after following their tracks from the pan at Caracal through some highly unlikely rhino terrain of narrow rocky steep paths. Bull 5 appears to have met up with the group from the other direction after leaving C3 and B6.
Bull 5 still appears to be focussed on the C3/B6 pair but has returned to marking along Pafuri Main whenever he crosses it and still checks in on the other group occasionally. He has covered a vast area this month, particularly considering we are only two weeks in, so it will be interesting to see what he does as the rains hopefully increase.
Use of wallows, mineral licks, rubbing posts and shelter
The lack of rain during January left most wallows and temporary waterholes dry as February commenced. C3, B6 and B5 utilised the southern run off from Mashisiti Spring for wallowing but there was no evidence of the other group of rhino using Palm Spring so we assume they are visiting the Luvuvhu. Unfortunately their tracks never led us to their water supply when we were following them, only to resting and feeding sites, so we were not able to confirm this.
Update January 2007
Wallowing
The temporary wallows started drying up and C3 and B6 moved back into the Sentinel Hill/Mashisiti block with a lot of time being spent at Mangala. Not quite the vast ranging area that they were covering back in May/June 2006, but a larger range than the last month or two. The other group remained in the area south of Caracal Link and Lanner Drive, but still covered a fair amount of distance just travelling east and west on the south side of Lanner Drive and possibly as far south as visiting the river to drink.
Wallowing was more evident this month as we located them not long after doing so on a few occasions, judging by wet mud on trees and wet rubbing posts. Shelter is abundant now due to canopy cover, and deep, sandy drainage lines are still the preferred resting spots in the Mashisiti/Sentinel block.
Feeding
7 transects were carried out towards the end of the month as obvious rhino feeding sites were located on a few occasions and the inflorescences made it possible to identify the primary species. However, there was very little variation between sites and the grasses being eaten were as we would have predicted from what is already known of white rhino feeding preferences. The primary species eaten were Digitaria erienthra, Schmidtia pappophoroides, Urochloa mosambicensis and Panicum maximum. Most feeding sites were predominantly 2 grass species and both were grazed almost completely, very little being left uneaten.
Ranges
This was quite a significant month regarding Bull 5 and his movements. The month started with the group splitting and Bull 5 spending his time moving between the two groups. However, it appeared after a few sightings of each group that he was spending most of his time with C3 and B6. His new lack of interest in the other two cows possibly suggests they have fulfilled their role in his life for the moment, so we may be fortunate enough to have two new calves running around the concession in 14 or 15 months.
Update - December 2006
Gayle Pedersen, Researcher
Since the employment of an experienced tracker in May 2006 the rhino have been tracked on foot daily, with the aid of radio telemetry, for two weeks of every month since the start of June. The remaining two weeks were utilised for vehicle track checks and radio telemetry signal checks. Unfortunately all but one of the transponders had failed by April 2006 so we are predominantly relying on spoor in order to locate the animals on a daily basis and this has proven to be very time consuming. It is also important to ensure that the data are not biased in favour of the bull with the last functional transponder, but even the effectiveness of radio tracking can be complicated due to the location and activity of the rhino within the very undulating landscapes of the study area.
Despite the setbacks a substantial database of rhino locations is being compiled, dating back to March 2006. This information will provide useful insight into the landscape types that the rhino have chosen as home ranges and territories, as well as enabling us to compare their choices to the white rhino in southern and central Kruger National Park. We will also be able to visualise on maps the changes in their movements and habitat preferences over the changes in season once the dataset is completed.
Background on the study animals:
COW #1 (C1) - Adult female with ear missing. Had calf in January 2006 so most of the sightings were of her and the calf on their own until April 2006.
COW #2 (C2) - Possibly not yet fully mature but difficult to assess with limited sightings and unclear visuals due to the vegetation. Has been with bull #5 since I first located them in March.
COW #3 (C3) - Sub-adult, moves around the study area a lot. Has been with bull #6 since my arrival in February 2006.
BULL #4 (B4) - Largest, oldest male. Went south of the Luvuvhu River not long after reintroduction and hasn't returned since. Signal last picked up in April and there is a possibility that reported sightings of 'a rhino' south of the river by visitors to the park could be him.
BULL #5 (B5) - Mature male establishing obvious territory since May 2006, but signs of older markings from possibly January. Definitely of reproductive age but it is possible that there may not be a cow old enough yet. Has held C2 in his territory since he started establishing it.
BULL #6 (B6) - Sub-adult, covering a substantial area with C3, as well as leaving the study area twice after reintroduction. No signs of territory establishment yet and crosses through B5's territory often.
CALF #7 (c7) - Calf born in January 2006 to C1. Discovered in June that it is a male and progressing well.
