Klippies on the Rocks

July 2011

Visitors to Welgevonden were treated to what probably is a regular occurrence but is seldom seen, when a Southern African Python (Python natalensis), formerly known as the Rock Python, caught and ingested a mature female Klipspringer (Oreotragus oretragus).

The epic incident happened over a period of about 6 hours. Enthralled onlookers were able to witness how the Python, estimated at about 3.5 metres in length, systematically swallowed the Klipspringer, pausing for long periods before further constricting its coils while aligning and streamlining its prey in order to swallow it.

Onlookers were dismayed at the relatively small size of the snake compared to the prey it was ingesting. A mature Klipspringer ewe has a total mass of about 13 kg (compared to the ram which weighs about 10kg). Python often ambush their prey, latching on with their powerful recurved teeth and then constrict it. Johan Marais in his book, ‘The Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa’ states that contrary to popular belief, the Python does not crush its prey to death and never breaks any bones in the process. Death is thought to result from cardiac failure.

Photos of the incident (kindly provided by Traci and Joffe van Reenen from Site show how the Python used its tail to align the Klipspringer. The mouth, neck and upper abdomen are so distorted that it renders them unrecognisable as a Python.

After the Klipspringer was fully ingested the Python slowly moved off in the direction of the Sterkstroomriver, to no doubt bask in the sun and digest its well-deserved meal.

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Buffalo update

February 2011

Regrouped herd in buffalo camp

AA number of exciting events have happened with the buffalo on Welgevonden. Going back a few years, in 2004 the buffalo on Welgevonden were diagnosed to possibly be infected with Corridor disease. The animals were captured and moved into quarantine. After establishing that it was this disease and determining the status, these animals were donated to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and moved to Mkuze Game Reserve.

After the two year quarantine period ended at the end of 2006 Welgevonden made a decision to reintroduce buffalo to the reserve. Ten buffalo bulls were purchased and became sentinel animals on the reserve. Welgevonden together with the State Veterinary Department and Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty tested these buffalo periodically to determine if these animals became infected or not. If re-infection did occur it would indicate that an animal species other than buffalo could be a carrier for Corridor disease. After numerous tests over a number of years, no indication of re infection has been found.

South African National Parks committed to replace the buffalo that were initially removed and, in 2010, the re-introduction of these animals was undertaken. The animals originate from the old Vaalbos National Park and Graspan, another breeding property of SANP. The animals were captured and held in the SANPs Kimberley bomas while awaiting the results for tests for corridor, foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, contagious abortion and Bovine Tuberculosis. At the end of October the animals were moved to a temporary holding boma on Welgevonden while the buffalo camp was established.

It was decided to establish a buffalo camp, which excludes lion, as the animals were not yet fully grown and it was feared that they would be easier prey than an adult buffalo. After the buffalo camp was been established, it was decided to allow the buffalo to start breeding and allow the herd to increase a bit before will be released onto the remainder of the reserve. It is envisaged that this will be a 3-5 year project depending on the breeding success. One or two of the free ranging bulls will be relocated into the camp at a later date to bring in additional genes. At present the buffalo herd consists of 8 male and 8 female animals, 16 in total.

Once the buffalo camp fence was nearly complete all elephant, rhino, giraffe and as many other animals as could be moved out of the camp were moved. This included the 2 large male lions that were spotted while we were herding  wildebeest out of the camp. As luck would have it the poor wildebeest herd ran right into the lions which promptly caught one of the calves. After that there was no ways those wildebeest would be driven by a helicopter and they remain in the buffalo camp. Both male lions were then darted and removed from the camp. A number of people who assisted the Welgevonden Management had the opportunity to see and feel how big these animals are especially when they were seconded to carry the males up the mountain to the waiting vehicle. Some other game was left in the buffalo camp because the distance the animals would need to be chased out was too great. The presence of general game in the buffalo camp is good in that when the buffalo calve any predators present, leopard, brown hyena and jackal will have sufficient easier food so as not to focus on the buffalo calves. Management will also make use of the opportunity to look at calf survival and population growth of the larger game species, namely wildebeest and zebra, in the absence of lions. At a later stage excess animals in the buffalo camp will be moved onto the reserve.

The buffalo move went well until the offloading when one of the transport trucks got stuck up to the axles in the mud. Fortunately with the help of the grader this vehicle was extricated from the mud and the buffalo unloaded. Due to the truck getting stuck the buffalo were off loaded in two groups, these groups have now joined up and all the buffalo have been together for the last few weeks and are doing very well. /p>

Buffalo in SANP Kimberley Bomas	Being woken up in transport truck	Being unloaded in buffalo camp
Buffalo in Welgevonden Boma	The lion that caused all the trouble	Removing male lion from buffalo camp

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Elephant contraption and collaring

September 2010

The contraception of the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve elephant population was again conducted in conjunction with the Annual Aerial Census. This year 39 adult cows received their annual booster contraceptive while 6 additional cows were contracepted for the first time as they are starting to reach an age where breeding could be expected. Recently this age has proved to be younger than previously expected with a young elephant cow, of approximately 12 years old, producing a calf. Teenage pregnancy in jumbos! The newly contracepted animals will receive a booster dose within 4-6 weeks of their initial contraception which comprised a double dose of the contraceptive. Because the contraception relies on an immune reaction the levels of the contraceptive need to be high enough to initiate the immune response which is then maintained by a single dose annually for as long as desired. The contraception of eight identifiable elephant cows was again skipped this year. This is to allow each Welgevonden elephant herd to have one calf within the herd. It is hoped that this will maintain the sense of family and caring for young that forms an integral part of an elephant herd.

The contraceptives are administered via a fallout dart shot into the rear end of the elephant from a helicopter. Besides the contraceptive inoculate the dart also contains a dye that marks the animals when the dart hits the animals. This prevents the cows being darted more than once which is possible if you had to find the herd the next day in a different area.

In order for the elephant herds to be easily found on the 36,000ha reserve each an animal, usually the matriarch, in each herd is fitted with a VHF collar so that they can be tracked and located. Two of these collars also have a GPS data logger that allows reserve management to determine the movement of these two herds across the reserve remotely. As with any technology of this sort the battery life is limited and the collars required replacement this year. The re-collaring of the collar carriers was therefore also done while the vets and helicopters were in the area. The collar of one of the vasectomy bulls was also removed and the other 3 will be removed in due course.

Ground crew approaching the immobilized elephant	Moving a sleeping jumbo!	Pushing the elephant over so that it lies properly while immobilized
Getting the collar around the neck	Securing the collar	Up close – the sole of the foot