Emdoneni News

World’s last male northern white rhino dies

The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, the Kenyan conservancy taking care of it said, leaving only two females of its subspecies alive in the world, although scientists still hope to save it from extinction by in vitro fertilization. Ol Pejeta Conservancy said it had made the decision with wildlife officials to put down the 45-year-old rhino, named Sudan on Monday, because of a rapid deterioration in his condition. Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that had affected his muscles and bones and also gave him extensive skin wounds. Sudan had previously lived at the Dver Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic before being transported to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about 250 km (155 miles) north of Nairobi, where he lived with the last two females of the same species, his 27-year-old daughter Najin and 17-year-old granddaughter Fatu. The two female rhinos were quietly grazing at the conservancy on Tuesday, where staff mourned Sudan. “It’s very sad to lose Sudan because it shows clearly the extent of human greed and what sort of impact humans beings can have on nature,” Samuel Mutisya, head of wildlife conservation at Ol Pejeta, told Reuters. “If we don’t take care of what we have, we will definitely continue to lose it, particularly lose other species that are currently endangered.” Veterinarian Dr Stephen Ngulu said doctors recommended putting the aging rhino down because he was in severe pain, with no hope of treatment to alleviate it. “Sunday morning, he completely was unable to wake up. His left hind foot gave in completely, he was unable to support himself on it and he was not able to raise,” he said. “We decided to evaluate the quality of life and advise stakeholders that this available option would be the better option: to alleviate pain, suffering.” The rhino had spent two weeks in late February and early March lying in his pen due to discomfort from a deep wound on his right hind leg, the conservancy said. “The veterinary team from the Dvur Kralove Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him.” After all attempts at getting Sudan to mate naturally failed, conservationists last year put him on dating app Tinder, hoping to raise enough money to pay for a $9 million fertility treatment. Ol Pejeta said that staff had collected Sudan’s genetic material on Monday, which could be used in future to attempt reproduction of northern white rhinos. It said scientists were also seeking ways to perform in vitro fertilization. “The only hope for the preservation of this subspecies now lies in developing in vitro fertilization techniques using eggs from the two remaining females, stored northern white rhino semen from males and surrogate southern white rhino females,” it said. While there are thousand of southern white rhinos still roaming the plains of sub-Saharan Africa, decades of rampant poaching have drastically cut numbers of northern whites. Poachers were able to sell northern white rhino horns for $50,000 per kilo, making them more valuable than gold. Kenya had 20,000 rhinos in the 1970s, falling to 400 in the 1990s. It now has 650, almost all of which are black rhinos. “It’s very sad to lose Sudan because it shows clearly the extent of human greed and what sort of impact humans beings can have on nature…” A scary insight into the detrimental effects humankind can have on the planet. Let’s do our best to protect the wildlife we have left! Come visit the Emdoneni Cat Project, where you can learn about South Africa’s endangered wild cat species.

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Emdoneni News

Amazing facts about the Cheetah

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 113km/h. They can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds. Amazing Facts About the Cheetah Built for speed, cheetahs are slender, with long thin legs and a long tail. They have coarse, short fur that is yellowish tan in colour and covered in solid black spots. Black tear-shaped streaks on the face help to reflect the sun when hunting. Adults weigh around 46–158 lb (21–72 kg). How many spots do cheetahs have? Cheetahs have between 2,000 and 3,000 spots, which help them to camouflage themselves. Where do cheetahs live? Previously, cheetahs were wide-spread across African and Asian continents, but now they are confined mostly to dry open grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority inhabiting natural reserves or parks. What do cheetahs eat? Cheetahs are carnivores, so rely on meat for survival. Their diet is made up primarily of smaller antelopes including springbok, steenbok, Thomson’s gazelle, impalas, and duiker. Cheetahs will also feed on wildebeest calves and, occasionally, smaller animals including rabbits, hares and birds. How often do cheetahs drink? Cheetahs have evolved to live in an environment where water is scarce, and can survive on one drink every three to four days. Are cheetahs solitary? Female cheetahs are solitary, living alone or with their young. Males however, live in small family groups of 2–3 brothers, known as coalitions. How fast can cheetahs run? The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. They can accelerate from 0 to 68 miles per hour in just three seconds. Cheetahs are the only big cat that can turn in mid-air while sprinting. How does the cheetahs tail help when running? Cheetahs long muscular tails have a flat shape that is used for balance and steering. The tail essentially acts like a rudder on a boat. Where do cheetahs give birth? Cheetahs start reproducing at a young age; males at the age of one and females at two. There is no specific breeding season and cheetahs will mate with many individuals throughout their lifetimes. Male cheetahs do not remain with the females after mating, and do not play any role in rearing young. Female cheetahs on the other hand are caring, affectionate and dedicated mothers. Following a pregnancy of three months, female cheetahs will give birth to a litter of 2–8 cubs in a secluded spot such as a rocky outcrop or marshy area with tall grass. Cubs are vulnerable to predators, and many do not survive the first year. Initially, mothers leave the cubs hidden whilst hunting, but cubs will start accompanying her at around six weeks. How long do cubs stay with their mothers? Female cheetahs spend a long time caring for their cubs and teaching them essential survival skills like hunting. Cubs typically stay with their mothers for one and a half to two years. What is the biggest threat to cheetahs? Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With around 10,000–12,000 individuals left in the wild, cheetahs are Africa’s most endangered big cat. Historically, cheetahs have been hunted for their fur, but today some of the biggest threats to their survival are loss of habitat, and competition for resources. Cheetahs require large areas of land for survival, so increased human settlements and road construction in their habitat puts them at risk. Source: onekindplanet.org

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Emdoneni News

Birdlife in Natal

South Africa is known the world around for its abundance of wildlife, not least of all its many birds. In fact, there is an established avi-tourism industry that invites birding enthusiasts from all over the world to indulge in top-class bird-watching. The subtropical climate of KwaZulu-Natal makes for the ideal habitat for a number of exciting bird species. The lush greenery and tropical abundance of the north-east of the province is especially abundant in really gorgeous bird species. The landscape is made up of freshwater lagoons, grasslands that have been flooded, dense forests, marshes, acacia woodlands and tidal estuaries. These provide the natural habitat of choice for a number of birds; most notably the Knysna Turaco, Palmnut Vulture, Neergaard’s Sunbird, Rudd’s Apalis, African Broadbill, Woodward’s Barbet, Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Livingstone’s Turacos and Southern Banded Snake Eagle. Due to its being such a popular birding destination, KwaZulu-Natal has implemented a number of initiatives in order to improve the birding experience for locals and visitors. There is the Zululand Birding Route, which is focussed on Eshowe, the home of the Dlinza Forest. This forest has a boardwalk on which visitors can meander to the canopy and enjoy sighting Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Grey Cuckooshrike, Crowned Eagle and Spotted Ground Thrush. African Fish Eagle Appearance The African Fish Eagle is a fairly large eagle. It has a distinctive black, brown, and white plumage. Diet Although, as its name suggests, it feeds extensively on fish, in some areas it preys on flamingoes and other water birds. It is also known to eat carrion and is classified as a kleptoparasite (it steals prey from other birds). Goliath Herons are known to lose a percentage of their catch to Fish Eagles. Their main diet is fish, sometimes dead, but mostly caught live. Catfish and lungfish are caught most frequently. Larger prey are eaten on the ground next to the water. Behaviour The African Fish Eagle has two distinct calls. In flight or perched, the sound is something like the American Bald Eagle. When near the nest its call is more of a ‘quock’ sound – the female is a little shriller and less mellow than the male. So well known and clear is the call of this bird that it is often known as ‘the voice of Africa’. The African Fish Eagle is usually seen in pairs inside and outside the breeding season, even sharing kills made by either of them. They spend more time perched than flying, and usually settle for the day by 10am, having made their kill, although they will kill at any time of the day. Habitat It is most frequently seen sitting high in a tall tree from where it has a good view of the stretch of river, lakeshore or coastline, which is its territory. Near a lake with an abundant food supply, a pair may require less than a square mile of water to find enough food, whereas next to a small river, they may require a stretch of 15 miles or more. Some tend to move around to avoid the wettest weather, whereas others stay where they are all year round. Where they are found Widespread in Southern Africa. It is particularly common in and around some of the Rift Valley lakes. Source: SA Venues & Kruger National Park

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Area Attractions, Emdoneni News

The Wildlife of Hluhluwe | Imfolozi The Game Reserve that Saved the White Rhino

Famed as the wildlife park that saved the White Rhino from extinction, today Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal is home to a large population of Rhino and is a must-see destination while visiting South Africa. The game reserve that saved the White Rhino – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Located on 96 00 hectares of land, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is approximately 3 hours from Durban and is considered one of the highlights of any visit to South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. Home to over 96 species of mammals and more than 330 species of birds, visitors to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi can look forward to spotting at least one or all of the Big Five while exploring the reserve. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Viewing Experience The nature park is home to the second largest population of White Rhinos in the world, after the Kruger National Park and also has a large population of Black Rhino and growing populations of Elephant and other African wildlife. Visitors should aim to spend a few hours in one of the hides overlooking a water point as it is here that one will see game sauntering down to the water for a refreshing drink or to wallow in the mud on the banks. Nile Crocodiles, Water and Rock Monitor Lizards can all be found in the rivers. There are 31 species of snake in the game reserve including the venomous Black-necked Spitting Cobra and Puff adders, both of which frequent the camps and visitors should be weary of where they are walking. Up at the Hilltop Camp one can look forward to seeing Red Duiker and Blue Duiker in the scarp forest surrounding the camp and Buffalo and other game can regularly be found grazing right outside the camp’s main entrance. Although the large carnivores such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Spotted Hyaena are found in the reserve they are more likely to be heard, calling at night, than seen. A great destination for the avid birder Today the reserve is flourishing and visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing opportunities in a beautiful setting. A top bird watching destination, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is home to a wide array of bird species from residents to migrants and regularly visitors. Some of the special species include the African Finfoot that can be seennear Memorial Gate from the Gontshi stream crossing. The Southern Bald Ibis, Striped Pipit and the Mocking Chat are all regularly spotted on a cliff viewed from the Siwasamakhosikazi picnic spot to the south of the Hluhluwe River. Heading out along the Mbhombe self-guided walking trail at the Hilltop Camp will provide sightings of some of the scarp forest birds including the Crested Guinea fowl, Olive Bush Shrike, Lemon Dove and Green Twinspot. Along the river, especially in fruit season, one will find a wide variety of fruit-eating birds including Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills and Purple-crested Turacos. Visitors should also not forget to spend time at one or more of the many bird hides as any time spent there is always fruitful. The History of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve Split into two sections, the hilly Hluhluwe Section in the north and the iMfolozi section with its rugged hills and wide jagged valleys towards the south, the first evidence of human occupation is iron smelting and metal-working sites from about 1 500 years ago during the Iron Age. More recently the land was occupied by Dingiswayo and his Mthethwa tribe and later still by Shaka and his mighty Zulu warriors. Shaka and his tribesmen used to hunt in the area and later, from the mid- 1800s white hunters and ivory traders discovered the wildlife populations and severely hunted the game. A remains of the White Rhino population in the area in 1895 led to the establishment of the Hluhluwe and iMfolozi game reserves in 1895 however the arrival of the tsetse fly borne nagana disease in the local cattle saw farmers calling for a de-proclamation of the reserves and the start of an extreme hunting spree over a 10 year period that saw over 100 000 heads of game slaughtered. During this hunting spree only the Rhinos were sparred and in 1952 the sparse remaining wildlife was again protected. In 1989 the Corridor separating the two reserves was opened, incorporating them into one. Habitats The reserve has 3 distinct vegetation types; the most widespread is the Zululand lowveld, while the higher areas are dominated by the Zululand sourveld and the rest of the reserve has patched of scarp forest. The extreme north and south of the reserve are particularly hilly with the landscape being carved out and cut through by three major rivers which then split into a number of small streams. Source: nature-reserves.co.za

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Emdoneni News

Snake species found in South Africa

It would be impossible to feature all South Africa’s snakes in this guide as there are said to be 171 snake species found here; and luckily only a small percentage of these are venomous. If you do spot a snake, it will usually be one of the following: African Rock Python (Python sebae) African rock pythons are generally brown with lighter brown and olive green markings. Belly is creamy white in colour. The African rock python is one of the world’s largest snakes; reaching lengths 6 metres or more. Upper and lower jaw bones are not attached so they are able to open these incredibly wide. They have no breastbone so can expand their ribs allowing them to swallow food sources much larger than themselves. Pythons are ‘constrictors’ which mean they hold their prey with their teeth and then constrict them until they are unable to breathe and their heart then stops. They then proceed to swallow the prey head-first, whole. Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) Black mambas have two enlarged venom fangs fixed to the front of the mouth. Solid teeth in both jaws. Adult Black mambas reach an average of 2.5 meters and a maximum of 4.5 meters in length. These snakes are grey to olive in colour with lighter scales round their head. They take their name from the black colouring inside their mouths. Black mambas are thin and extremely agile. Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) Solid teeth in both jaws with venom fangs in rear part of upper jaw. Average length is 1.2 metres but can exceed 1.8 meters. Has a short, blunt nose & large prominent eyes with a pear shaped pupil. Boomslang have keeled scales. Females usually retain a brown colour. Males colouring is highly variable ranging from black to bright green. Belly is light green. Often confused with the Green mamba (Dendroaspis augusticeps) Egg Eating Snake (Dasypelits scabra) The few teeth the egg-eating snake has are solid and harmless. No fangs. Wide variation in pattern and colour; ranging from browns and greens to solid dark grey. V-shaped dark mark on neck; the top of which points to the snout. Fairly slender snake with small head that is rounded at the snout. The belly of the egg-eating snake is usually cream in brown coloured snakes and white in grey ones. Size ranges from 0.5metres to 1.5metres in length. Often confused with the Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus). Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) two enlarged venom fangs fixed in the front of the mouth. Solid teeth in both jaws. Egyption cobras are dark grey-brown in colour, developing to almost black as they get older. Across the neck is a broad black band. Young snakes are a sandy-yellow colour with a black band on the neck. The main physical characteristic of the black mamba is the head and the hood. Their head is large and depressed with a broad snout. Necks can be as much as 18cms wide. Eyes are large with a round pupil. Males larger than females; average size 1.5 to 2 metres in length. Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) The Gaboon Viper is the largest viper in Africa, reaching lengths of up to 1.8 metres and weighing more than 20kgs in some instances. Large triangular head tapers into a narrow neck. A pair of ‘horns’ are located between their raised nostrils. The gaboon viper has a distinctive brown stripe on its pale head. Body colour is pale with brown, beige and yellow markings allowing for easy camouflage. Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) Two enlarged venom fangs fixed to the front of the mouth. Solid teeth in both jaws. Green mambas are the smallest of the species reaching an average of 1.5 metres in length. They are glossy green in colour with a lighter, bright greenish-yellow belly. Green mambas are thin, elegant snakes with a very distinctive head and long thin tail. They have small eyes, smooth scales and a long rectangular head. Often confused with the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus). Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) Two enlarged hinged venom fangs in the front of the upper jaw. Solid teeth in both jaws. The average size of a puff adder is approximately 1m in length, and fairly thick in width. Head is blunt & rounded and much wider than neck and body; almost triangular in shape. Colours of puff adders vary according to geography, but their head usually has two dark bands; one on the crown and one between the eyes. Colours range from dull yellow to light brown and even orange or reddish brown. Male puff adders can have striking yellow and gold colour patterns. Chevron markings are present all the way down their back and getting lighter towards the tail. Iris’ range from gold to silver grey. The stomach of puff adders are yellow or white with some darker spots. Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) Two enlarged venom fangs fixed in the front of the mouth. Solid teeth in both jaws. Typically yellowish to olive brown but can be brown or dark brown. The belly of the snouted cobra usually yellowish. Normally has a darker band of colour round the neck. Average length of adults between 1.5 and 2 metres but can reach lengths of 3 metres! Body is cylindrical and stout with a long tail. Male snouted cobras are larger than females. Often confused with the Eqyptian Cobra (Naja haje). Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus) Head has a dark brown or black V-shaped mark, the top of which points forward and finishes between the eyes. The colouring of the night adder varies from light browny-pink to light grey. Diamond shaped darker markings are found on the back and tail – these are sometimes bordered with white. Adults average about 0.5metres in length and seldom exceed 1 metre. Body is cylindrical and reasonably slender. Venom glands are extremely long – up to 10cms – and found on either side of the spine connecting up to the fangs. The night adder has poor eye sight and a keen sense of smell. Night

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