In the News...
May 2005
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This month's stories:

Kenyan Hippos May Lose Lake

According to the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), Lake Ol-bolossat, the only lake in Central Province, will dry up if action is not taken to save it. The lake is an important tourist destination. It is home to hippos, several bird species and a beautiful scenic view. The lake also serves as the source for Thompson Falls in Nyahururu.  

According to KWS reports, the primary threats to the lake are degradation of Aberdare Forest, siltation, overgrazing, conflicting government interests, fires, allocation of riparian land reserves, pollution from agrochemical and abstraction. According to the report, wanton destruction of the Aberdare Forest through illegal logging, charcoal burning and frequent fires has adversely affected the water catchment area, reducing the water volume in the lake. Another problem facing the lake is siltation of the wetland due to soil erosion. Farmers use poor cultivation methods leading to siltation in the lake. 

The report says the farmers do not care about environmental conservation. They graze their animals on the same pasture instead of practicing rotational farming. The pastures are in use for 24 hours. While cows, goats, sheep and donkeys graze during the day, the hippos come out at night, the report adds. Studies at the lake show that the livestock take more grass biomass than the hippos.

The Land Department has already allocated land around the lake to at least 3,000 families. The beneficiaries tap water from streams for irrigation. Discharges from the farms pollute the lake due to the presence of fertilizers and other chemicals. This leads to a reduction of oxygen levels in the lake. 

However, KWS has now formed a plan to protect the lake area. The plan signed by former KWS director J M Kioko, proposes that the lake be run privately. The premise of this plan is that those living around the lake will become stakeholders in the lakes care. It will also encourage sustainable land use. The locals will also give their recommendations. The plan proposes a water management committee to supervise the use of the lake's water for domestic purposes and for irrigation. The plan also recommends that farmers be trained on soil conservation.    

Some of the methods aimed at checking soil erosion are use of terraces, growing napier grass strips, afforestation, cut-off drains and infiltration ditches. The plan was compiled by among others Nyandarua District Departmental heads, KWS officials, University of Nairobi lecturers and representatives of the Netherlands Wetland Programme.

Sources: Njogo, S. of The East African Standard (online) - 17 May 2005
13-06-05 

Zambian Fisherman Killed by Hippo

A fisherman was killed in the Itezhi-tezhi dam of Zambia after being attacked by a hippo on 17 May. 

News of the tragedy was confirmed by Itezhi-tezhi district commissioner Godfrey Beene in Choma. Beene said police are still searching for the body of the deceased.


Sources: Mangwato, C of The Post via AllAfrica.com - 20 May 2005
13-06-05

Thailand Rejects Hippo Imports

The environment committee in Thailand's Senate will petition the Thai government to drop a plan to import hundreds of animals from Kenya for a park in northern Thailand. The senate committee will file a petition to Thai Prime Minister to revise the agreement on capturing animals for a night safari park in Thailand.

Vocal opposition from animal welfare advocates has stalled the transfer of 300 wild animals, including elephants, hippos, lions, and endangered rhinos from Kenya. Kenya officials argue the deal would harm the wildlife by moving them from the wild to a non-native habitat in south Asia.

Sources: Rono, J. of Kenya Broadcast Company (online) - 24 May 2005
13-06-05

Hippos Sales Benefit Ezemvelo KZN

Wetlands Wire
News Flash
18 May 2005

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority
(Wetlands Authority)
Private Bag X05, St Lucia 3936. e-mail: wetlandmedia@mweb.co.za. 

Introduction

This is one of a series of Wetlands Wire News Flashes, which will be issued by the Wetlands Park Authority and EKZN Wildlife (Park Management) to complement the Wetlands Wire newsletter, which is published every two to three months. These are both part of our ongoing efforts to update, inform and involve the public, holidaymakers and interested parties about activities and happenings in the Park, and to address any concerns brought to our attention.
Andrew Zaloumis,
Authority Chief Executive Officer

In this issue: Hippo for Sale 

Surplus game from the Wetlands Park including some 23 hippo added value to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's 16th annual game auction in Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park recently. All funds from the sale of live animals, and those sold on catalogue for later capture, are ploughed back into EKZNW. This year over R8m was raised. 

Hippos for Sale

The captured hippo waiting to be sold.

Since the Wetlands Park was consolidated from 16 different parcels of land and been game fenced, an animal introduction programme, beginning in 2002, has been under way. This reintroduction programme has included elephants, white and black rhino, baboon, tsessebe and other antelope, and most recently, a pack of wild dog into the uMkhuze section of the Wetlands Park. 

The aim of the Wetlands Park reintroduction programme is to reach 75 percent of the Parks game carrying capacity, as determined by scientists and managers, within the next 3 years. This decision is informed by the new detailed vegetation map for the consolidated park, game counts, constant monitoring, and specialist species studies. 

There are some 800 hippos on Lake St Lucia alone (1263 throughout the 260 000 ha Wetlands Park) and using passive capture which can take up to two months 7 hippos captured and placed in the bomas at the Centenary Centre (where the auction was held) while the remainder, all from the same pan on the Eastern Shores, were sold on catalogue. They were sold for a total of R648000 (~$108,000 USD).

Hippo Trap

No black rhinos were sold this year from the Wetlands Park as the Park is contributing surplus black rhino to the WWF/ EKZNW initiative to extend the range of the endangered animals into the Munyawana Conservancy of four private properties adjoining uMkhuze. The aim is to create a barrier-free 20 000 ha for black rhino. Thirty nyala, 135 impala and 90 blue wildebeest from the uMkhuze section of the Wetlands Park were also sold on catalogue at the auction.

Issued by the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority
Siyabonga Centre, St Lucia. Queries: Joseph Fataar - Telephone (035) 590 1507.
If you would like to receive a copy of the wetland wire newspaper (full edition), please contact me on:wetlandmedia@mweb.co.za or the number above.

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