|
|
|
|
African Wild Dog Reintroduction and Conservation Project Wild Dog Monitoring Report Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) January 2005
HiP Location recordsHluhluwe pack: 11 iMfolozi pack: 18 Crocodile pack: 8 Thobothi pack: 5 Juma pack: 3
General status & ranging of packs inside and outside HiPThe Hluhluwe pack was found ranging mainly in the west of Manzibomvu and Nqumeni sections. This includes Mgovuzo, Mashiya, Nzimane, Muntulu, Munywaneni, Nombali and Hlokohloko areas. No mortalities of known animals occured in this pack during January.
iMfolozi pack was recorded ranging mainly in the larger section of Mbhuzane, Wilderness and Makhamisa sections. This includes Mhlanganweni, Nqabaneni, Madlozi, Nqolothi, Sokhwezela, Okhukho, Nqutshini and Thoboti areas. No mortalities of known animals occured during January.
On January 25, the iMfolozi pack met with the Thobothi pack at Sokhwezela place. There was a fight that ended with the Thobothi pack animals running away. On the 28 of January the Thobothi pack was found at Bhekaphansi place with all the members of the pack in good condition.
The Crocodile pack spent the most of the time in the wilderness area. This includes the most part of Dengezini, Matshemhlophe areas. They were located on the 20th of January by Matshemhlophe area and were located an additional 4 times by radio telemetry. No mortalities of known animals occurred in this pack during January.
Juma pack was recorded seen mostly in the Wilderness. This includes Mndindini, Ncoki and Siwasamanqe areas. This pack consists of 2 males (the dispersal group, the Fellowship boys, born 2002) from the iMfolozi pack and the Beta female from the Crocodile pack. This was confirmed on January 20 after it had been reported in the November 2004 report that the Beta female from the Crocodile pack was fixed by telemetry together with Fellowship boys.
On January 18 there was a sighting of 4 animals (believed at that time to be the Makhamisa pack) seen by the Mhlanganweni fence liners on the White IMfolozi River. The group consisted of all adults feeding on an impala, two adults escaped outside the fence, and one managed to come back. One of the animals ran along the fence. We followed the spoor and ended up at a hole in the fence where we saw the spoor coming inside. The identity of these individuals cannot be confirmed as the Makhamisa pack because until now, the Makhamisa pack consisted of only 3 animals. Furthermore, the iMfolozi pack animals were around that area for a couple of days. Although it could be determined that collared members of the iMfolozi pack were not in that area, it cannot be ruled out that the animals seen were a subgroup of the iMfolozi pack.
The two Pleiades sisters that broke into Thanda Private Game Reserve on the 17th July 2004 have remained on that property for the duration of this month. The last confirmed sighting was on the 5th January 2005 when both animals successfully hunted Impala.
On the 28th of January two animals were seen at Obizane Tree Lodge. One animal was described as floppy-eared and the other one was limping on its front leg.
No reports have been received of the 2 remaining Nebula sisters in the Mthonjaneni area (south of Ulundi) during January. The last reported sighting was on the 25th October on the farm Coolridge.
The last confirmed location of the collared male from the Potter’s bachelors was on the 27th May 2004 on Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Population structure (inside HiP)Hluhluwe pack: 11 total (including pups) Alpha male & female + 2 adults (male & female born 2002) + 2 yearlings (both females, born 2003) + 5 pups (3 females, 2 males, born 2004)
IMfolozi pack: 18 total (including pups) Alpha male and female + 1 adult male (born 2002) + 7 yearlings (2 males, 5 females, born 2003) + 8 pups (unsexed, born 2004)
Crocodile pack: 8 total (including pups) Alpha male & female + 2 adult males (born 2002) + 4 pups (unsexed, born 2004)
Makhamisa pack: 3 total Two adult males + 1 adult female (all split from iMfolozi pack in September 2002).
Thobothi pack: 5 total Three adult males (split from Hluhluwe pack in October 2004) + 2 adult females (split from the iMfolozi pack in October & November 2004).
Juma pack: 3 total Two adult males (Fellowship boys split from iMfolozi pack in September 2004) + 1 adult female (beta female from Crocodile pack split away in September 2004).
Total HiP population (excluding 17 pups) is 31 adult wild dogs.
Population structure (outside HiP)Pleiades sisters: 2+1 total Three adult females (split from Hluhluwe pack in September 2003). Two are at Thanda GR.
Nebula sisters: 2 total Originally 4 adult females split from Pleiades sisters during January 2004 (originally split from Hluhluwe pack in September 2003).
Potter’s bachelors: 1? total Originally three adult males (split from Hluhluwe pack in September 2003)
Hunting recordsThe Hluhluwe pack was observed hunting adult female nyala unsuccessfully.
The iMfolozi pack was also observed hunting 4 herds of impala unsuccessfully. The pack also hunted a juvenile impala successfully and was also observed chasing nyala and impala unsuccessfully.
No hunting attempts were observed for any other packs during January.
Predator interactionsThe Huhluwe pack was once observed fighting with hyena. The pack was also heard 4 times fighting with hyena and fixed 2 times close to lions.
The iMfolozi pack was observed 4 times fighting hyena.
The Thobothi pack was once reported fighting hyena at Thobothi area.
No predator interactions were recorded for any other packs during January.
HyenasThe collared female hyena (with two cubs of approximately 12 months) of Isivivaneni clan in Manzibomvu was located ranging mostly from Isivivaneni toward the South. This includes Nzimane, Muntulu, Mashiya, Fuzula and Munywaneni. The cubs were once seen walking down the road from Isivivaneni to Dubeni and their mother was fixed at Nzimane area.
Planned activities for next monthTracking and data collection of all the HiP wild dogs, as well as dispersing wild dogs will continue. There will also be attempts to affix collars to dispersed animals (Thobothi pack) and to iMfolozi pack yearlings.
The community visit to Mthonjaneni area is scheduled towards the end of the month.
Reported by project assistant Sboniso Blessing (Zama) Zwane Hluhluwe Research Centre Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park P.O. Box 515 3960 Hluhluwe
Project coordinatorMicaela Szykman, Ph.D. Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park mszykman@webmail.co.za |
|
|
.htm_cmp_compass010_bnr.gif)
