Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality Marloth Park Management Plan. - Nkomazi Local Municipality
Applying these recommendations will ensure a 42.33 percent utilisation of the potential ecological graze capacity and 80.99 percent utilisation of the potential ecological browse capacity, excluding the giraffe utilisation. In the third scenario (Table 14), the optimum stocking density for Burchell’s zebra is 26 individuals, in which case 36 animals need to be removed from Marloth Park. In the high selectivity category the current stocking density of blue wildebeest can be increased to 46 individuals. In the mixed feeder category, however, the impala stocking density must be reduced to 79 animals. The kudu from the same category must be reduced to 20 animals. The giraffe from the browse feeder category also need to be reduced to four animals, because of range requirements. Applying these recommendations will ensure a 22.96 percent utilisation of the potential ecological graze capacity and 46.25 percent utilisation of the potential ecological browse capacity, excluding the giraffe utilisation. Better utilisation of the natural resources can only be achieved by increasing animal species diversity. The first scenario is not a true reflection of the available habitat, especially during drought and winter periods, while the third scenario is considered extreme in application. It is thus recommended that the second scenario be used as a template for stocking animals on Marloth Park. The landscape garden areas, subtracted from this option, can then act as a resource reservoir during periods of extreme feeding stress. Applying this option has little impact on most animal species, with exception of the impala and giraffe populations that should be reduced to 150 and 6 animals, respectively. However, although the reduction in impala numbers is considered compulsory, the giraffe numbers can be stocked at a higher level (Table 15). Even while conceding to a stocking density of 12 giraffe on Marloth Park, this action must be closely monitored for any adverse effects. Exceeding the stocking density of 12 giraffe is not recommended. In an attempt to improve utilisation, tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus lunatus and waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus can be introduced as minimum viable populations and allowed to increase naturally. Although eland can also be introduced, it is recommended that this option not be applied before some sickle bush Dichrostachys cinerea control and reclamation measures has not been successfully implemented on Marloth Park. An alternative option that can be used to increase stocking densities is by supplementary feeding of animals; however, this practice is not an ecologically viable proposition. © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 79
Table 15: The recommended stocking densities of animals on Marloth Park Type of animal Number of Mean mass Large-animal Browse-animal Equivalent Equivalent Percentage of Percentage of Animals of animal units units large-animal browse-animal ecological ecological in kg per animal per animal units per group units per group graze capacity browse capacity Low selectivity grazers Buffalo 0 650 1.25 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Burchell's zebra 50 300 0.66 0.00 33.20 0.00 13.44 0.00 White rhinoceros 0 1800 2.83 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sub total 50 13.44 0.00 High selectivity grazers Blue wildebeest 88 210 0.54 0.00 47.70 0.00 19.31 0.00 Roan antelope 0 250 0.61 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sable antelope 0 220 0.50 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Tsessebe 8 130 0.35 0.05 2.84 0.38 1.15 0.41 Waterbuck 6 200 0.50 0.07 3.00 0.39 1.22 0.43 Sub total 102 21.68 0.84 Mixed feeders Common impala 150 55 0.10 0.25 15.50 37.22 6.28 40.45 Eland 12 500 0.43 1.56 5.19 18.71 2.10 20.33 Kudu 38 200 0.10 0.80 3.72 30.29 1.51 32.92 Nyala 0 70 0.12 0.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Warthog 43 70 0.10 0.12 4.26 5.11 1.72 5.56 Sub total 243 11.61 99.27 Browse feeders Black rhinoceros 0 900 0.00 3.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Bushbuck 3 40 0.02 0.20 0.05 0.59 0.02 0.64 Common duiker 6 20 0.00 0.22 0.01 1.31 0.00 1.42 Giraffe 12 1000 0.02 4.28 0.22 51.38 0.09 55.85 Steenbok 0 11 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sub total 21 0.11 57.91 TOTAL 416 46.84 158.02 © Ecological Associates/ Marloth Park 80
- Page 35 and 36: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Analysis and
- Page 37 and 38: The dominant grass species are broa
- Page 39 and 40: The characteristic tree species are
- Page 41 and 42: VELD CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND THE C
- Page 43 and 44: Degradation gradients are models th
- Page 45 and 46: The nearest grass species to each s
- Page 47 and 48: Calculation of grazing capacity The
- Page 49 and 50: Table 2: Contribution of ecological
- Page 51 and 52: Table 3: Grazing capacities for the
- Page 53 and 54: THE ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABLE BROWSE
- Page 55 and 56: X Y D1 Y Dimensional measurements:
- Page 57 and 58: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The browsing
- Page 59 and 60: Table 6: Browsing capacities for th
- Page 61 and 62: INTRODUCTION ESTIMATION OF HERBACEO
- Page 63 and 64: The resulting Large Stock Units are
- Page 65 and 66: INTRODUCTION GAME MANAGEMENT ON MAR
- Page 67 and 68: STOCKING RATES Current stocking The
- Page 69 and 70: Table 10: The current stocking dens
- Page 71 and 72: Recommendations on stocking rates C
- Page 73 and 74: High selectivity grazers Blue wilde
- Page 75 and 76: Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Ogil
- Page 77 and 78: Space requirements: Kudu have range
- Page 79 and 80: Recommendation: The range requireme
- Page 81 and 82: Food preference: Steenbok utilise A
- Page 83 and 84: Table 12: The potential stocking de
- Page 85: Table 14: The potential stocking de
- Page 89 and 90: The proteins may be less available
- Page 91 and 92: When urea is incorporated into a ph
- Page 93 and 94: Recommended intake for game is 150
- Page 95 and 96: Ticks The main parasite of concern
- Page 97 and 98: Figure 12: Sketch of Cyphostemma /C
- Page 99 and 100: NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE WEEDS An invas
- Page 101 and 102: Management plans need to be reviewe
- Page 103 and 104: Ricinus communis, Solanum sisymbrii
- Page 105 and 106: Although soil treatment with chemic
- Page 107 and 108: Planning errors must be expected, a
- Page 109 and 110: To further reduce grazing pressure
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- Page 113 and 114: TIME OF BURNING Least damage is cau
- Page 115 and 116: A low intensity fire will be achiev
- Page 117 and 118: Recommendations for Marloth Park Ma
- Page 119 and 120: Surface erosion will reduce water i
- Page 121 and 122: Several different types of waterhol
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- Page 125 and 126: For safety reasons these requiremen
- Page 127 and 128: Adaptive management Applying adapti
- Page 129 and 130: Figure 15: Location of the monitori
- Page 131 and 132: Appendix 1 (Continue) A list of tre
- Page 133 and 134: Appendix 2 (Continue) A list of gra
- Page 135 and 136: Appendix 3 (Continue) A list of for
Table 15: The recommended stocking densities of animals on <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong><br />
Type of animal Number of Mean mass Large-animal Browse-animal Equivalent Equivalent Percentage of Percentage of<br />
Animals of animal units units large-animal browse-animal ecological ecological<br />
in kg per animal per animal units per group units per group graze capacity browse capacity<br />
Low selectivity grazers<br />
Buffalo 0 650 1.25 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Burchell's zebra 50 300 0.66 0.00 33.20 0.00 13.44 0.00<br />
White rhinoceros 0 1800 2.83 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Sub total 50 13.44 0.00<br />
High selectivity grazers<br />
Blue wildebeest 88 210 0.54 0.00 47.70 0.00 19.31 0.00<br />
Roan antelope 0 250 0.61 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Sable antelope 0 220 0.50 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Tsessebe 8 130 0.35 0.05 2.84 0.38 1.15 0.41<br />
Waterbuck 6 200 0.50 0.07 3.00 0.39 1.22 0.43<br />
Sub total 102 21.68 0.84<br />
Mixed feeders<br />
Common impala 150 55 0.10 0.25 15.50 37.22 6.28 40.45<br />
Eland 12 500 0.43 1.56 5.19 18.71 2.10 20.33<br />
Kudu 38 200 0.10 0.80 3.72 30.29 1.51 32.92<br />
Nyala 0 70 0.12 0.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Warthog 43 70 0.10 0.12 4.26 5.11 1.72 5.56<br />
Sub total 243 11.61 99.27<br />
Browse feeders<br />
Black rhinoceros 0 900 0.00 3.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Bushbuck 3 40 0.02 0.20 0.05 0.59 0.02 0.64<br />
Common duiker 6 20 0.00 0.22 0.01 1.31 0.00 1.42<br />
Giraffe 12 1000 0.02 4.28 0.22 51.38 0.09 55.85<br />
Steenbok 0 11 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00<br />
Sub total 21 0.11 57.91<br />
TOTAL 416 46.84 158.02<br />
© Ecological Associates/ <strong>Marloth</strong> <strong>Park</strong> 80
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