Conservation in South Africa
THE PLIGHT OF ORIBI HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY RHINO POACHING
The Oribi Ourebia ourebi is probably South Africa’s most endangered antelope. As a specialist grazer, it is extremely susceptible to habitat loss and the transformation of habitat by development. Another major threat to this species is illegal dog hunting, poaching and human persecution. Illegal dog hunting has lead to quite a number of local extinctions and doomed populations, which are basically populations that are deemed reproductively unsustainable.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Threatened Grassland Species Programme (TGSP), through its Oribi Conservation Project and the Oribi Working Group, is addressing the issue of illegal hunting and poaching at the grassroots level. Intervention measures include: education and awareness of the impacts; law enforcement support and resource development for landowners; and affected parties including the hunters themselves and magistrates. These activities are all being undertaken in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
Through the stakeholder meetings came the creation of the Dog Hunting Forum. This forum was established as a collaborative network to strategize and prioritize activities in order to minimize and ultimately prevent illegal hunting in our rural areas. The forum comprises stakeholders from various disciplines and incorporates representatives from all the relevant interested and affected parties. In order to identify priority areas for improving security we need to identify key Oribi populations and assess hunting activity nationally, which requires the assistance of landowners and community members.
The TGSP facilitates a national Oribi survey (through a census) which plays a pivotal role in determining trends in Oribi populations and emerging threats. The survey is an important conservation tool which enables conservationists to plan for the long term survival of the species. The survey is most effective when counts in the same areas or properties are consistently received and the numbers and threats can then be compared and assessed over time. The 2011 Oribi survey results paint a promising picture in terms of the number of Oribi groups throughout South Africa, specifically the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga regions.
The Oribi survey wouldn’t be a success without active public participation as the majority of Oribi populations occur outside of protected areas. Landowner’s active participation in the survey and Oribi friendly management practices are therefore crucial. August is the recommended month for the count as this is when the grass is flushing after recent burns and Oribi are thus easier to see and count. The EWT Threatened Grassland Species Programme urges the public and landowners in particular to participate in the annual Oribi survey by downloading the survey form from mid August on www.ewt.org.za/tgsp.
Illegal dog hunting and poaching cases can be reported to your local police station (10111), or to your local District Conservation Officer (list available on request); for more information on the Oribi Conservation Project (Oribi survey, Oribi management etc) contact the EWT-Threatened Grassland Species Programme on 033 330 6982 or samsonp@ewt.org.za
The EWT’s Oribi Conservation Project is supported by Rand Merchant Bank; Mondi Shanduka Newsprint and NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited
Contact:
Samson Phakathi
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Field Officer-KwaZulu Natal, Threatened Grassland Species Programme
Tel: +27 (0)33 330 6982
Cell: +27 (0)82 805 4806
Email: samsonp@ewt.org.za
Ian Little
Manager
Threatened Grassland Species Programme
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Tel: +27 33 330 6982 (Howick office)
ianl@ewt.org.za
or
Nomonde Mxhalisa
Communications Manager
Endangered Wildlife Trust
Tel: +27 11 372 3600
nomondem@ewt.org.za
