NEWS FROM THE ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK, South Africa
March 2006
About this newsletter
This is a general newsletter – sent out on a monthly basis - about the latest happenings and developments in the AddoElephantNational Park. Please see contact details at the end for further enquiries.
ADDO ELEPHANT TRAIL RUN RESULTS
A forecast of rain for the day quickly evaporated with the morning mist to yield a scorching heat with temperatures rising to 44 degrees Celsius in some of the valleys on the course. This weather led to only six of the thirteen contestants finishing the grueling 100Miler marathon as the rest struggled to make the checkpoints within the designated times.
Last year’s winner, Bruce Arnett of Johannesburg claimed victory again in a time of 23 hours and 31 minutes. Second place was taken by Anton Millar in 27 hours and 41 minutes and AO Okreglicki finished third in a time of 28 hours and 59 minutes.
Only three of the 50Miler contestants did not finish, with Andre van der Walt taking first place in a time of 9 hours and 23 minutes. Two local runners from the Kirkwood community took second and third place: Chris Antonie finished in a time of 10 hours with Aaron Benzi following 15 minutes later.
The volunteers and Park rangers manning the checkpoints did a sterling job of recording times, handing out refreshments and spreading encouragement. Park rangers escorted the runners through the areas of the park containing potentially dangerous wildlife, such as elephants and black rhino, and no incidents took place.
Apart from the heat and blistered feet, contestants praised the scenic beauty of the AddoElephantNational Park and vowed to return again in 2007.
KRUGER ELEPHANT BULLS MAKE THEIR MARK
Preliminary observations by researchers and staff have confirmed that the Kruger elephant bulls introduced into the AddoElephantNational Park in 2002 and 2003 have started breeding with the Addo elephant cows.
The Kruger bulls were introduced in order to inject new genes into the Addo elephant population, which went through a genetic bottleneck due to the small original population size of only eleven elephants and their geographic isolation from other elephant populations.
When they were first introduced, the Kruger bulls faced competition from established dominant Addo bulls and did not associate frequently with the Addo female groups. With the translocation of some of the older, more dominant Addo bulls to private game reserves last year, the bull pressure in the park has lessened somewhat. Kruger bulls now have more opportunity to breed.
The fact that all four of the Kruger bulls in the Main Game area of the park have been in musth (a breeding condition when elephant bulls seek out cows in oestrus) recently and at the same time is a sign that they are integrating with the Addo elephants.
Introducing new genes into a population is advantageous in that it increases the general health of a population and increases their resistance to environmental pressures and to diseases.
These initial observations will need to be confirmed by detailed research which may follow in a few years time.
FOCUS ON: SMME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
An innovative strategy to develop small- medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in local communities around the AddoElephantNational Park is greatly benefiting both the economy of locals and the conservation of biodiversity.
With funding provided by the six-year World Bank Project, a SMME liaison officer was appointed to oversee implementation of these development goals and the development programme was launched in October 2004. Work began with the verification of an existing database of SMMEs created during the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism-sponsored poverty relief programme. New SMMEs capable of being developed were also identified and added to the database.
Currently, 48 SMMEs are registered on the database, with 40 of these being formal SMMEs – registered and fully-operating businesses.
Thereafter, a skills audit of these emerging entrepreneurs was undertaken with the assistance of the Eastern Cape Manufacturing Advisory Centre (ECMAC) in order to motivate training needs.
Based on these training needs, a training programme was implemented, concentrating on costing, pricing and tendering – vital skills needed in the competitive business world.
The next step was to identify work opportunities within the park for these SMMEs and then to link the SMMEs up with these opportunities. This is where the benefit for biodiversity came in, with large areas of newly acquired land in the Park being rehabilitated for introduction of wildlife.
The success of this development programme can be gauged by the value of the contracts that have been awarded to these SMMEs so far – a whopping R4 565 967-20. In addition, 661 previously unemployed people from local communities are employed by these SMMEs.
SMMEs are also linked up with outside opportunities where possible. One success story is that of an SMME in the small town of Paterson who identified a need for protective overalls within the farming communities around the Park. Through the Park’s SMME Development Programme, they were linked up with a mentor and new opportunities, thereby creating a successful small business.
SAVE A DROP, SAVE A LOT
“If every one saves a drop, then we will all save a lot” was the theme for the Water Week activities with the local schools this year. Learners were encouraged to save water - a precious resource – not only during Water Week but on a daily basis at school and at home.
To bring the message home, learners participated in a game with two teams competing against each other to see which could carry the most water from a one bucket to another using a spoon. Amidst much cheering and healthy competition, learners tried to balance speed with care and found out how challenging it is to carry water in a spoon!
Learners were also shown how to make a filter for muddy water using plastic bottles, cotton wool, sand and stones. Water filtered through this system runs out clean but should be treated by being boiled or purified before drinking.
An activity sheet asking learners to identify water-saving versus water-wasting activities followed to round off the Water Week programme.
News from South African National Parks….
KrugerNational Park Tusker Programme Gets Bigger
Visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) now stand to win prizes of elephantine proportions, including a field trip with researchers, if they enter the Emerging Tusker Project Photographic Competition.
History tells us that the original large tuskers of the KNP consisted of seven elephants, which roamed the Park for years, each of which with incredibly large tusks. They were all elevated to almost mythical status by KNP rangers and visitors of yesteryear. The impressive ivory of six of these legendary elephants can now be viewed at the recently revamped Elephant Hall at Letaba Main Camp in the KNP.
It stands to reason that the genes, which created these Magnificent Seven elephants, are still in the present KNP elephant population and a research project was registered in 2005 to find the present crop of large tuskers.
At least 42 elephants with large tusks have been identified and these are being constantly monitored. It is this process of monitoring and the possibility of identifying even more elephants that has lead to the KNP’s Emerging Tuskers Competition.
Visitors to the KNP are therefore urged to keep their cameras, video cameras and digital cameras ready when they enter the Park and, if they are lucky enough to see an elephant with really large tusks, they should take as many images as possible and enter them into the competition. It is vital that the images - which should be high quality - record details like ear notches and the exact shape and size of the tusks.
Together with an entrance form, which is either available at the camp or gate reception or on the SANParks Website ( these photographic or video entries should then be sent to the Emerging Tuskers Competition, Letaba Elephant Hall, Kruger National Park, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350 or to a special email address that has been created especially for the competition - - for judging.
First prize includes an experience of a lifetime where the winner will accompany the KNP’s elephant researcher in a helicopter to dart and collar one of the KNP’s 12 500 elephants (including accommodation). The second prize is a weekend for four people at Letaba and the third prize is a night’s accommodation for five people at either Sable Dam or Shipandani sleepover hides. All prizes exclude meals and daily conservation fees.
The competition will run annually until further notice and all entries should be received by December 31 of each year. That year’s winner will be announced by March 1 of the following year.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can help purchase a webcam for AddoElephantNational Park by making a donation online at
You can have your say or simply read what others have to say on our website forums. Visit
You can check availability of accommodation in any of the 20 South African National Parks by clicking on the link below, then choosing the park and rest camp you wish to investigate:
The information is updated once a day at 08h00. This will save you time when making your booking. To book, email or Tel: +27 (0)12 4289111.
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Enquiries:
Megan Bradfield
Tel: +27 (0)42 233 0556
Email:
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