Wildlife Management Plan

The dynamics of a game population and the management of herd health and size can become quite complicated, especially in a unique setup such as Kingswood Golf Estate.

It is therefore important to bear in mind that a set of basic principles, rather than a strict programme, should be followed to manage and maintain the wildlife population on the property.

Species – Springbok

Habitat

Prefer open grassland. Will mainly graze on grass, but also forage on leaves. They are adapted to arid regions and therefore not water dependent, getting most of their required water from their food.

Sex ratio

• ideally a ratio of 15 ewes to one ram.
• A too high ram percentage will affect serving frequency, due to competition among males that will lead to energy and time wasting.
• A too low ram percentage will lead to decreased motivation to serve, as well as a possible shortage of suitable male replacements.

Age ratio:

• 30–40% young animals is ideal.
• Too many old animals will lead to a decreased reproduction rate.

Reproduction:

• Breeding season: All year
• Gestation period: 165–180 days

Population growth:

Initially population growth will be slow, but will then go into an exponential growing phase, before reaching a plateau/equilibrium.

The level at which the herd reaches a plateau is carrying capacity. This level is called ‘K’ on a normal S-shaped growth curve that can be expected under most conditions.

K is determined by age and sex ratio, social structures, food availability and quality, shelter, prevalence of disease, predation and hunting.

The growth rate of a herd can be determined:

Births per 100 members – mortalities per 100 members = growth percentage, for example 31/100 – 8/100 = 2.5% When harvesting from a herd, removing less than or up to half of the ‘K’ value (therefore never more than half of the animals in a herd) is ideal.

Habitat:

• Plant species composition and structure are important.
• Springbok prefer certain species (grass or succulents) above others, but are generally very adaptable.
• The structured density of vegetation affects herd size. The less dense the vegetation, the larger the herd size, while in a more dense setting they will split into numerous smaller herds.
• As they are a plains species, they normally thrive on golf courses.

Social structure:

• Will affect the distribution of springbok in the area.
• Herds consist of juveniles and ewes with one or several larger dominant rams.
• The dominant ram will chase young rams away and will defend a territory.
• Younger males will then become solitary or form bachelor herds.

Body condition:

• Should be assessed regularly to gauge herd health.
• Roughly classifed into three groups:
  • Good: ‘Round’ appearance
  • Reasonable: ‘Angular’ appearance, but ribs and hip bones aren’t prominent.
  • Poor: ‘Angular’ appearance with prominent ribs and hip bones. Should be addressed.

Poor condition may be due to several factors:

• Poor veld/grazing condition
• Unsuitable plant species composition
• Social stress
• Overpopulation
• Systemic disease or injury

Species – Bushbuck

• Rams are larger, often darker in colour and have horns.
• Normally a secretive species, but may become tame and lose their fear of humans.
• Rams should not be approached by humans or dogs as they are nicknamed the ‘little buffalo’ due to their aggressive nature and tendency to attack invaders with their sharp horns.
• Ewes and juveniles may be found in small family groups, but rams are solitary.
• Bushbuck are mainly browsers, but will eat some grass.
• They prefer dense bush and are dependent on permanent, clean water.
• Calves are born throughout the year and are hidden in dense vegetation for the first few days after birth. Inhabitants and visitors should be warned not to disturb calves that may appear to be abandoned.
• Bushbuck are territorial but normally move around and are not easily contained. They will crawl under or jump over fences or walls, and are often injured when attempting to cross barriers.

Species – Caracal

• Very secretive and mostly nocturnal. Unlikely to be seen often.
• Prey on small to medium-sized animals, reptiles and birds. These may include small antelope, hares and poultry. It is advisable to keep cats, rabbits and even toy-breed dogs indoors at night if caracal are known to be active in the area.
• Mostly solitary but may be found in pairs.
• Only dangerous or aggressive towards humans if cornered; will rather flee if allowed to.

Species – Porcupine

Female porcupines are, on average, about one kilogram heavier than males.

Life expectancy is 12–15 years in the wild.

The white-and-black crest of spines and quills can be erected at will to make the animal look enormous and threatening. Some spines on the tail are hollow and make a rattling sound when shaken. The very sharp spines and quills come off when touched by a predator or are shaken off, but they grow back rapidly.

Porcupines cannot ‘shoot’ their spines/quills out at an attacker. They also do not have an aggressive nature and normally only act in defence, when cornered or attacked by dogs and other predators.

African porcupines are mostly vegetarian, using their strong digging claws to get roots, tubers, and bulbs. They are also fond of fallen fruits and will sometimes gnaw on bark. Gardeners beware: arum lily bulbs are known to be a favourite.

They normally sleep during the day and feed at night.

The African porcupine is primarily nocturnal, although it may be seen during the day.

They often take shelter in caves or antbear holes. They also build dens, which can be up to 20m long with a 2m deep living chamber.

Species – Cape Clawless Otter

The African clawless otter is primarily aquatic, and is found near water bodies that are permanent to the region. Their habitat comprises savanna and lowland forests, while the water they prefer is shallow (about 150cm deep) with thick reed beds. These areas are home to the prey favoured by the otter, namely crustaceans and fish.

When they do go onto dry land, they usually conceal themselves under rocks or vegetation, or in burrows. The African clawless otter hunts day and night and, while it does favour an aquatic environment, it eats prey from both the land and water. Common menu items include crabs, fish, rodents, amphibians and even birds.

Apart from human threats, the only predators with which this otter needs to battle within its aquatic environment are Nile crocodiles and fish eagles. On land, of course, they are more vulnerable to predators.

Otters are not naturally aggressive, but have been known to scratch, bite or, in rare cases, drown dogs. This type of behaviour is normally only seen as a last resort of defence.

Dr Christiaan Johannes Blignaut, BVSc, George Animal Hospital, 044 874 4259