 |
Addo Elephant National Park
|
|
Addo Elephant National Park
Addo Elephant National Park & Game Reserve ... Whale Watching Too!
Addo has become the ultimate tourism destination! More about the Addo Elephant National Park, including wildlife lists... A must see region of the world. Unique features of this Greater Addo region will include:
The Big Seven (7) are ...
I have been traveling to the Addo Elephant National Park for quite a while now and I have seen some amazing things during this time. If you would like to view some of my stories about these trips please follow the link. The following has been summarized from an article by Guy Castley, Scientific Services, South African National, Parks, PO Box 20419, Humewood 6013, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. http://www.addoelephantpark.com/article.htm The expansion of the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape into a 'Greater Addo', a biodiversity and tourism flagship is gaining momentum. Although the park has been inching its way forward in the land acquisition stakes from the early 1990's it is only recently that there has been a concerted effort to focus on the expansion and consolidation of the diverse landscapes around the Addo Elephant National Park and the park has more than doubled in size in the last six years!
The park had its humble beginnings in 1931 when a small parcel of land, only some 2237 ha in size, was set aside to protect the persecuted African elephant population in the region. This remnant elephant population has since grown from only 11 to 346 (at last count) and has gained worldwide recognition! Plans to expand the park received a significant boost when academics from the Terrestrial Ecology Research Unit (TERU) at the University of Port Elizabeth drafted an award winning proposal outlining the opportunities that could possibly be created through an expansion initiative. The expansion focuses on the unsurpassed ecological diversity of the region as one of the overriding conservation worthy attributes that would incorporate five of South Africa's seven terrestrial biomes, or major vegetation units, thanks mainly due to the climatic and altitudinal variability characteristic of this region as well as its proximity to the coast. Ultimately the greater park would encompass habitats ranging from semi-arid Karoo areas, across fynbos covered slopes which merge with impenetrable thickets and montane forests extending into rolling coastal grasslands and majestic coastal forests in addition to a marine protected area. The expansion includes opportunities not only for core conservation areas managed by the SANParks but also makes provision for private contractual areas within the planning boundary. Driving the expansion are efforts to conserve representative examples of the varied landscapes and their associated biodiversity patterns and processes, while simultaneously promoting sustainable development and eco-tourism in the region. An initial grant was received from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via the World Bank that has facilitated the completion of a number of scientific and socio-economic studies. The focus of these studies, which are nearing completion, has been the compilation of a detailed conservation plan that integrates the biological patterns and processes in both the terrestrial and marine environments as well as a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). It is the vision of the SANParks that a critical core conservation area will be established that would be in excess of 250 000 ha and would be able to support viable free ranging populations of the 'Big 5' tourist draw cards. With the proposed inclusion of a marine protected area species such as the southern right whale and great white shark are guaranteed ultimately making the park a 'Big 7' destination! Furthermore, with the emphasis on the conservation of biodiversity, a complete wildlife experience is possible across a series of landscapes unrivalled in beauty, all within a single conservation area. Unfortunately with the elephant population increasing at an average rate of over 6% each year there isn't enough space and SAN Parks is constantly on the lookout for new areas to increase the area for these mega herbivores. But the elephants aren't the only species doing well at Addo with 39 black rhino, over 300 disease free buffalo, almost 200 eland as well as red hartebeest and 600 kudu, not to mention the myriad of birds, invertebrates (Like the Addo Flightless Dung Beetle) and smaller animals. The recent release of two Kruger National Park elephant bulls into the Addo elephant population hopes to address the genetic irregularities created by the small founder population and compounded by the genetic phenomenon known as genetic drift. Furthermore with close to 3 elephant/km approach by firstly relocating a number of family groups to the new Nyathi concession area in the southern slopes of the Zuurberg Mountains and secondly by linking the current area with the new sections to the south. Unlike pastoralism and other short term non-sustainable developments and land uses such as irrigation and industrial development, an expanded park will offer development opportunities based solely on eco-tourism with benefits from these initiatives accruing not only to SANParks but also to communities and the private sector. Unfortunately, many of these private ventures do not adopt the same conservation philosophy as SANParks and in many cases undesirable wildlife species (such as white rhino, impala, sable, giraffe, blue wildebeest and in some cases black wildebeest and Nyala) have been introduced to these areas which precludes such contractual partnerships. It's also important to stress that the incorporation on a contractual arrangement would incur financial implications for the contracting party given the fact that SANParks has been developing the Addo product over many years. Not the least of these includes a new entrance gate and camp being planned near the Sundays River and the N2 national road. Media Release: Addo - elephant bulls move to new pastures! Date: 2005-06-29 Twelve elephant bulls from the Addo Elephant National Park will be translocated to private game reserves this week in a bid to relieve the elephant bull pressure in the park. This is the first time in the history of the park that Addo elephants will be translocated to other game reserves in the Eastern Cape. The translocations began yesterday with the translocation of two elephant bulls to Amakhala Game Reserve off the N2 towards Grahamstown. Today, two bulls were moved to Pumba Game Reserve near Grahamstown, with another two to follow on Thursday. The translocations will improve elephant management in the park by reducing the number of dominant bulls in the 13 500 hectare main game area of the park. Kruger bulls that were introduced in 2002 and 2003 gain a better chance of injecting their genes into the Addo elephant population, thereby improving genetic diversity and creating a healthier elephant population. During the course of the week, the elephant bulls will be darted and loaded onto specially designed trucks and then transported to four private game reserves, as well as the Kuzuko Contractual Area of the Addo Elephant National Park. Apart from Amakhala and Pumba Game Reserves, Kariega Game Reserve near Port Alfred and Hopewell Game Reserve near Alexandria will offer new pastures to the seasoned Addo bulls. The bulls will join existing elephant herds – all originally from the Kruger National Park – in these game reserves. The two bulls that will be transported to Kuzuko Contractual Area of Addo Elephant National Park join the family group of twelve Kruger National Park elephants released there earlier this month. This mix of elephant genes will again ensure a healthy elephant population in the Karoo section of the park. |
|
|
site map copyright Gareth Roocroft (The Wildlife Webber) © 2002 - 2008. | contact me | Please Always Do Your Best To Help Conservation In The Natural World... The Wilderness Is Running Out; Fast... |
