Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality

Three different scenarios are analysed; the first is based on the assumption that the whole
of Marloth Park, excluding the current development footprint and actual road surfaces, is
suitable for utilisation (Table 12); second that the current building footprints, actual road
surfaces and landscaped gardens are subtracted from the available area (Table 13); and
third that only the parkland and current road reserves are available for utilisation (Table
14).
If it is considered that stocking densities for Burchell’s zebra Equus burchelli should not
exceed four animals per 100 ha of suitable habitat, blue wildebeest Connochaetes
taurinus seven animals per 100 ha, common impala Aepyceros melampus melampus 12
animals per 100 ha, and kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros three animals per 100 ha, the
following stocking options can be applied.
In the first scenario (Table 12), the optimum stocking density of Burchell’s zebra has
been reached and no active intervention is required in manipulating the animal numbers.
This will place Marloth Park on a 13.54 percent non-selective graze utilisation that leaves
a deficit of 36.46. As the introduction of other animal species to fill this niche is not
currently recommended, their impact on the vegetation need be simulated applying
accepted ecological management principles. In the high selectivity category the current
stocking density of blue wildebeest can be increased to 108 individuals. In the mixed
feeder category, however, the impala stocking density must be reduced to 185 animals.
The kudu from the same category can be increased to 46 animals. The giraffe from the
browse feeder category also need to be reduced to seven animals, because of range
requirements. If these numbers are exceeded the giraffe population must be monitored for
any deviant behaviour, and the vegetation monitored for undesirable change such as
hourglass formations. Applying these recommendations will ensure a 42.03 percent
utilisation of the potential ecological graze capacity and a 78.28 percent utilisation of the
potential ecological browse capacity, excluding the giraffe utilisation.
In the second scenario (Table 13), the optimum stocking density for Burchell’s zebra is 50
individuals, in which case 12 animals need to be removed from Marloth Park. In the high
selectivity category the current stocking density of blue wildebeest can be increased to 88
individuals. In the mixed feeder category, however, the impala stocking density must be
reduced to 150 animals. The kudu from the same category can be increased to 38 animals.
The giraffe from the browse feeder category also need to be reduced to six animals,
because of range requirements.
© Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 75