The impact of predation losses on wildlife ranches in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Date
2016-09
Authors
Schepers, Anche, author
van Niekerk, Walter, author
Matthews, Nicolette, author
de Waal, HO, author
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Predation losses on sheep and goats in five South African provinces were estimated at more than ZAR 1.39 thousand million annually and for beef cattle in seven provinces it was more than ZAR 383million per year. Predation losses have been ascribed to black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas, caracal Caracal caracal, leopard Panthera pardus, brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea, cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and vagrant dogs Canis familiaris. This study quantified predation losses on wildlife ranches, specifically the Limpopo Province. Management on wildlife ranches requires specific methods to assess changes in wildlife numbers, namely: physically counting of animals by means of aerial counting, drive census and known groups, Rand value (ZAR) based on live animal sales, trophy hunting, biltong hunting, comparing animal numbers with the previous year and the number of wildlife available to hunt. Baseline information was calculated for three different categories of wild antelope species. Wildlife ranchers can use the baseline information and calculate their own financial losses; for example: if nyalas Tragelaphus angasii are kept on 5 000 ha, the estimated total cost of predation losses is ZAR 593 765/year. Similarly, a wildlife rancher who keeps blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi on 12 000 ha can expect to incur a total cost of ZAR 668 103/year and for a wildlife rancher who keeps black impala Aepyceros melampus and Livingston eland Tragelaphus oryx on 6 000 ha, the total cost is ZAR 11 957 637/year. The information from these studies are now used to inform the development of meaningful coordinated predation management strategies.
Description
Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia.