Questionable Buffalo and Hippo culling in Kruger

[nan]

[Richprins]

According to the report, the buffalo population in Kruger declined by 52 percent from 29 359 to 14 123 between 1991 and 1995 due to the devastating droughts of those years.

With the higher rainfall and improved habitat over the next two years, the population halted its dramatic decline and, apart from 2003, the buffalo population in Kruger has steadily increased.

It has now regained levels prior to the drought declines and in 2006 the population increased by 2 246 from 31 062 in 2005 to 33 308. In 2007, it was estimated that 30 907 buffalo could be found in Kruger. Of these 2 180 would be bulls.

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark- ... 24658.html

[RobertT]

In 2006 they had 33 307 and in 2007 30 907 where did that 2400 go in a couple of month?

[Richprins]

With this year's buffalo census it was decided not to photograph the buffalo as in previous years, but to simply estimate buffalo herd sizes. 'The reasons were to try to avoid splitting the herds, as it had been suggested that elements of herds then break away and join up with other herds, and in this way facilitate the spread of bovine tuberculosis (BTB),' says Ian.

(2007)

So proper censuses ended in 2006 then!

[Flutterby]

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK DROUGHT MANAGEMENT OFF TAKES

The large herbivore biomass is currently the highest ever in Kruger’s history; plus minus 20,000 elephant, 47,000 buffalo, and 7,500 hippos, which results in significant changes in habitat caused by these high numbers. Buffalo and hippo are drought sensitive species and previous droughts in Kruger National Park have shown population declines of up to 50%. The buffalo population is at higher densities than previous droughts, therefore it is expected that the population will incur huge losses during the current drought. If the numbers that remained after the previous droughts in the 1990’s for buffalo and hippo are considered (14,000 and 2,000 respectively) significant mortalities are anticipated. Hippos and buffaloes are the largest grazers with the highest biomass and impact on habitats. The purist way of allowing natural attrition to take its course is not always ecologically the best especially if populations are unnaturally high due to man-made influences.
Removals will be focused on alleviating pressure on sensitive areas in the Park, e.g. removing hippo from small natural pools where they have concentrated in unnatural high densities, defecate in the water, making it unusable to other animals. These hippos generally originated from man-made dams that dried up and now populate small natural pools in large numbers.
Culling, cropping, harvesting, ecological removals, sustainable resource use are all terms that have been used. If the term culling in your book means controlling the size of these populations, that is not what SANParks is doing. The numbers are also not cast in concrete purely as it is not possible to determine how the situation will unfold as the drought further develops. However, the numbers are kept very low (between 0,5 and 1% of the respective populations).
Logistically it will not be possible to do higher numbers now and ecologically it will not be suitable to do unsustainably high numbers in future. In view of the huge populations of these large herbivores and the mortalities we have already observed amongst buffalo and hippo this year, as well as the anticipated mortalities later in the year, these numbers to be removed are not significant at the population level.
The current drought is being noted for its unprecedented impact on human well-being with an estimated 22 million persons in Southern Africa in need of some assistance. SANParks cannot remain oblivious to this issue. Kruger National Park is therefore planning to use the opportunity to sustainably harvest in the region of 350 animals during this drought in order to test different models for meat distribution to disadvantaged, low income communities on the border of the Park. The Kruger National Park will be targeting quintile primary schools, part of the National School Feeding scheme and will use these drought related removals as an ad hoc opportunity to share benefits with communities.
In light of Foot and Mouth Disease veterinary regulations, the Park will be testing the feasibility and suitability of cloven hoofed animals products permitted to leave the Park, which include: break-dry biltong (BRB) and well-cooked meat (WCM). A secondary objective of the removals will be assessing genetic selection for fitness during droughts and the interactions between disease and drought.
This is not a “sneaky reintroduction of culling by SANParks” as put by some in their opinion. Kruger National Park is managed according to an approved management plan that makes provision for both biodiversity management and sustainable resource use. Part of the process of drafting this plan was an intensive public consultation process. It is practically not possible to consult the public on each and every management action implemented. A new round of revisions of the Kruger National Park Management Plan has started and will come in full swing in the year 2017. The Public is encouraged to register and take part in this process.
Regards
Lesley Nyawo

[okie]

Game meat/Venison is a well-sought after product and international demand therefore is on the uptake , so if it can be managed well , orderly and in a sustainable manner , then certainly , why not harvest the crop

[Richprins]

Thanks, Flutts...but seems a rehash of earlier responses?

the interesting thing, once again, is the omission of ellies regarding culling.

The other species are cropping grazers, well adapted, and they are used to being devastated when the droughts hit. No problem, as they recover when grass grows again.

Ellies, however, pull the grass out by the roots, so end of story for the grass. Grass is a selective part of their diet, and not the end of the world. But if the drought carries on for a long time, they will and are already going for new grass, as stuff runs out. I watched it last year already. This is something that must be researched, as it adds to the grazers' problems?

[Flutterby]

There was a huge outcry on FB about this, with people saying they are going to boycott Kruger if their new plan is to start supplying locals with food in an ongoing feeding scheme.

I spoke to an HR yesterday at Rietvlei and he said that this will not be an ongoing scheme...it is a once-off thing to prevent more animals dying due to starvation and to alleviate the suffering of the locals during this dry period....let's see.

[Lisbeth]

Why do the locals suffer the drought? Crops, cattle etc.

[Flutterby]

I think their livestock also have no grazing.