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Game
reclaims the South - 01.07.08
For the first time in decades a herd of blue wildebeest
is once again galloping across the plains of Gondwana
Cañon Park east of the Fish River Canyon. 36
wildebeest were released there in early June as part
of an extensive programme of the Gondwana Collection
to reintroduce game species which used to be indigenous
to Namibia’s south, to the nature reserves. A
week later 16 eland were released in Gondwana Kalahari
Park northeast of Mariental. The annual game counts
produced very positive results for both parks as well
as for Gondwana Namib Park north of Sesriem. |
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Blue wildebeest in
their new habitat at the Fish River Canyon. |
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Releasing the herd of blue wildebeest
in Gondwana Cañon Park went like clockwork and
without any losses. The animals are from a farm near
Okahandja and thus had to put up with a journey of more
than 700 km. From the truck they were first put into
a boma. But when the adult bulls reacted irritably to
the younger animals, park managers Danie and Rachel
Brand simply opened the gates for the wildebeest to
rush out to freedom. The herd consists of 12 younger
animals and 24 adult ones, six of which are strong bulls.
According to Rachel Brand this is an ideal ratio for
breeding. The wildebeest are likely to roam the plain
east of the road to the Fish River Canyon, and in future
they can probably be observed at the watering place
close to that road. The turnoff is marked clearly. |
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The wildebeest will certainly help to
make the nature reserve still more attractive to tourists;
but they also strengthen the ecological fabric. Two
years ago Burchell’s zebra and hartebeest were
released in Gondwana Cañon Park and they had
offspring several times already. Park management includes
monitoring flora and fauna at regular intervals. Despite
the meagre rainy season in 2007 the number of springbok
has increased considerably; according to the game count
in April the park boasts 4.600 of them (compared to
3.800 last year). The numbers of other species decreased,
however: Oryx (650 compared to 690), mountain zebra
(310 / 330), kudu (420 / 690) and ostrich (160 / 330).
The decrease is explained by the fact, especially in
the case of kudu, that the animals migrated to the area
of the neighbouring national park. Migrating is very
much part of the natural survival strategy in arid regions. |
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Eland
in the Kalahari
Gondwana Kalahari Park received 16 eland antelope in
mid-June: 14 females and two males about nine months
old. Before they were released they were kept in a boma
near Kalahari Anib Lodge for just under two weeks –
also in the hope that they will remain in this area.
The Burchell’s zebra which were released in the
park two years ago are doing visibly well: their number
has increased from 23 to 30. According to the game count
in early June there are, among others, also 2.140 springbok
(2007: 2.190), 310 Oryx (280), 420 steenbok (240), 41
wildebeest (40) and 170 ostrich (140). |
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Young eland antelope in the boma in Gondwana Kalahari Park. |
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There is good news from Gondwana Namib
Park as well. The game count in late June showed that
about 450 springbok roam the park, as in the previous
year. The number of Oryx decreased from around 160 to
100, and that of ostrich from 40 to about 25. The explanation
in this case is migration to areas in neighbouring Namib
Naukluft Park. The game counting team was particularly
happy about a group of four kudu which migrated into
the park last year and stays in the vicinity of the
dry riverbed. |
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