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Annual Aerial Census
January 2012
The Welgevonden Game Reserve Annual Aerial Census was conducted over three days during September 2011. The count is done using a helicopter with a pilot and data capturer in the front two seats and an observer on each side in the rear two seats. The pilot and data capturer also act as observers, especially to observe below the helicopter. On Welgevonden we fly with the doors off for better visibility and endure the cold with flight suits, beanies, gloves and goggles. The googles used have a yellow tint which helps improve visibility.

The Reserve is divided into three sections, and counted over a period of three days by flying east/west transects of 400m. Therefore, 200 m on each side of the helicopter are counted with each flight line. In this manner, the census is conducted over the entire Reserve.. The cut-line at the end of each day is either a road, in a valley or on top of a ridge in areas where it is unlikely that large numbers of animals will cross during the night. The size of the Reserve forces us to make this compromise even though it may introduce negligible error. .

During the flight the counters call the species and numbers to the data capturer via a headset and microphone, who feeds it into a laptop computer. The GPS reading is also automatically taken with each entry and plotted onto a map. With this method results and distribution maps are immediately available and the helicopter flight line is also mapped.

When animals that are difficult to see (eg. kudu ) or large herds of animals (eg. impala) are observed, the animals are circled to make sure all are counted and that there are not some animals hiding in the bush where they were not immediately visible.

Each day consists of about three sessions of 1˝ to 2 hours each. Between each session, a break of more or less 45 minutes is taken to refuel the helicopter and to give the counters a time to rest and get something to eat and drink. The first sessions start at about 7am, and normally the last session finishes between 2-3 pm.

The principle of any aerial game count is not necessarily to count every individual animal on the property, which is nearly impossible except on a relatively small area, but to have a consistent count over a number of years in order to determine the trends in a population. The simplified principle being that the error in counting needs to remain constant during each count which will then give a person an idea of a trend within the population of each species.

For the counters the rare and charismatic species are often a highlight to be seen from the air. Animals such as serval, caracal, leopard, python, brown hyeana, aardvark, lion, ratel or honey badger, etc. have been observed.

Honey Badger observed from the helicopter – Gerhardt Lorist Caracal observed from the
helicopter – Gerhardt Lorist		 Brown Hyeana observed from the helicopter – André Burger

Other observations of alien plants, erosion sites, potentially problematic sewerage systems, old farm rubble and wire, exposed water pipes and power cables are also GPS recorded for attention later.

The figures of the animals counted over the last four years are given in the table below corrections have been made for known numbers and introductions close to the census. Please note that the lion numbers are managed, the elephant population is contracepted, a leopard study has been undertaken and we have known individuals using the Reserve, additional buffalo have been introduced as well as impala, wildebeest and zebra.

Welgevonden Game Reserve Annual Aerial Census Results:

 


Lion Management
January 2012

As with any small Reserve that accommodated lion there is a balance that needs to be maintained with the ungulate or prey populations and Welgevonden is no exception. The presence of lion on Welgevonden necessitates the introduction of additional prey animals onto the Reserve each year to boost the prey population. The aim being that a balance between the prey population growth and the numbers that the lions eat will become self- sustaining and the prey population will ultimately grow. Welgevonden therefore manages the lion population to comprise two small prides. However, lion populations can grow at a rapid rate and there are periodically animals that have to be removed. Finding suitable free range homes for these animals has proved difficult as there are a number of reserves in a similar position. This year six animals were up for removal and we managed to find good homes for them.

Two sub-adult males and two sub-adult females (± 2 years old) were donated to the Dinokeng Game Reserve north of Pretoria to act as part of the founding population for this exciting venture. Another coalition of 2 sub-adult males was relocated to the Khamab Kalahari Reserve also to form part of their founder lion population.

Welgevonden realises that lion management is a challenge and is therefore actively involved in the Lion Management Forum. The Forum consists of managers and scientists who are faced with similar lion management challenges. The Forum shares ideas, results, proposals, etc. relating to lion management and improving the methods and ideas around lion on a wider scale. The participants in the Forum share the aim of attempting to manage lions on small and medium reserves in a more sustainable manner by mimicking natural processes e.g. emigration and immigration of animals into and out of isolated populations via introductions and relocations. Hopefully this will allow most of the lions on small and medium reserves to be part of one or more metapopulations and thereby have a higher conservation value.

Do the lion have to end up in a donga?
The darted lion always seem to take
refuge in the most inaccessible places
and pose a tough challenge to staff
who have to carry them to the
nearest accessible point for a vehicle		 Loading a HEAVY lion Load of Lions


Elephant Contraception
January 2012
The elephant contraception program continued this year with all females of breeding age being contracepted. During the past two years some elephant cows have been skipped in order to allow a few calves to be born. The aim being that there will be a calf in each herd if all goes according to plan. The fact that an elephant cow has a twenty-two month gestation period delays the results somewhat! There have however been 3 calves born this year bringing the Welgevonden elephant population to 124. For more detail on the Welgevonden elephant contraception and thinking please click here.

The contraception of the cows entails them being darted from a helicopter with a fall out dart. Besides the PZP vaccine the darts carry a pink dye which marks the elephant on impact so that the helicopter pilot and veterinarian know which animals have been treated. This is especially helpful when a herd is found the following day to be able to determine if they have been treated or not. The dye wears off after a few days.


   
Elephants below the helicopter while darting.  Elephant herd after darting. Note the pink dye on the
darted cow at the rear. This shows the helicopter pilot and the veterinarian which animals have been treated. 

 

Tel: +27 14 755 4392  |   Fax: (086) 501 8400    |   Email: andre@welgevonden.org

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