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ANTELOPE REPORT
August 2011
SABLE ANTELOPE Hippotragus niger niger
(WAZA project 04027)
Custodian South African National Parks
Mokala National Park Northern Cape South Africa.
Sable antelope survive extremely well in this area due to a lack of large
predators and due to low tick loads as result of low winter temperatures.
A group of four sable antelope (three females and a male) were
reintroduced from Blijdorp Zoo Rotterdam to Graspan Kimberley in February 2002.
This was followed by two animals (one male and one female) from Dvur Kralove Czech
Republic in May 2002 and another four animals (one male and three females) in June
2003 from the Marwell Zoological Park in the United Kingdom. The Czech female was
sterile.
Graspan is a SANParks special species breeding facility that was associated with the
Vaalbos National Park. The animals bred well but it appeared some young calves were
predated by jackals.
Four young males bred in the project were released with Televildt GPS collars into the
Mapungubwe National Park which is situated on the Limpopo river where Botswana
Zimbabwe and South Africa meet. A volunteer, Mr Mario Hohensee who had been at
Graspan, monitored the four animals and had been trained to do post mortems in the
case of mortality. The intention was to introduce a test group into an in situ environment
to evaluate survival. We were specifically interested in the tick born disease theileriosis.
Lion and leopard occur in the park. Three of the four were predated by leopards within
6 months. The collars were recovered and all data was collated. The fourth animal
crossed the Limpopo and was last seen in the Tuli block of Botswana!
A decision was made to wait until there were more animals in the project and then we
would consider introducing a larger group. A 75% predation level can be expected when
large predators occur so we did not perceive the effort a failure. Mario was joined by
Rotterdam Zoo (Blijdorp) employee Mr StefanTimmermans for a short period of time.
GIS Mapungubwe
Vaalbos was de proclaimed and with this Back to Africa experienced some
management problems at Graspan. Mario Hohensee had left to go back to Europe and
was replaced by a young Dutch biologist Marjolein Sterk. Things were not ideal at
Graspan so a decision was made to move the animals to a safer venue.
As result of this in October 2007 eleven sables (9 cows and 2 bulls) were moved to a
camp in the the new Mokala National Park where things improved tremendously.
One cow never joined the group and died of unknown causes and another cow died of
chrysalis phytobezzoars leaving 7 cows and 2 bulls.
Back to Africa made a policy decision not to expand the project until the new park was
established.
They
2008
2009
2010
2011
bred as follows.
7cows 2 bulls
4 calves born
5 calves born
5 calves born
5 calves born
(13 animals)
(18 animals)
(23 animals)
(Total 28 animals)
The population had doubled in three years! This represents a viable start to a breeding
herd, but the last 7 calves have been males!
In 2010 the fence of the camp was brought down incorporating the herd into the greater
Mokala National Park. These animals are no longer intensively managed and they fend for
themselves.
Tourists visiting South African National Parks probably have a greater chance of seeing
sable in Mokala than they do in the Kruger National Park. Sable antelope are successfully
ranched under managed conditions in Southern Africa but the situation in our national
parks shows a general decline. The animals are now running wild in a national park
without management so this is showing signs of being a successful in situ reintroduction.
Back to Africa director Dr Hamish Currie and Mr Mario Hohensee who is still actively
involved with Back to Africa visited sable stud book keeper Mr Kim Skalborg Simonsen
of Givskud Zoo Denmark who is the new EAZA stud book keeper in the month of July
2011. He was updated about the project.
Dr Hamish Currie at Givskud Zoo with
Mr Kim Skalborg Simonsen
Back to Africa director Dr Hamish Currie had a discussion in July 2011 with Dr Hector
Magome (Managing Executive, Conservation Services) of South African National Parks to
discuss the project. It is felt the project has gone through its teething stages and the
future looks good. He has endorsed his continuing support and the possibility of future
expansion. In this way a really viable metapopulation will have been created using zoo
born genes out bred with local animals.
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ROAN Hippotragus equinus
(WAZAproject no 04026)
Custodian Big Game Parks Swaziland
Mlilwane Reserve Kingdom of Swaziland
Nine roan were imported from Marwell Zoological Park in two
groups (2003/2004) and another group of three from Dvur Kralove
in the Czech Republic in 2008. One of the Marwell females was sterile.
Essentially eight fertile females were imported in these three relocations.
The aims and objectives of the project are to breed these animals intensively until such
time as a minimal viable population of sixty females is reached after which animals will be
released into parks in an attempt to reintroduce this species in situ in the Kingdom of
Swaziland.The last roan died in Swaziland in 1961. Mlilwane North is still considered a suitable
habitat for in situ reintroduction and fencing is underway accommodate this.
Two bulls were bought at a stock sale in Vaalwater in 2010 to bring new blood into the
project. These were wild animals from the Percy Fyfe reserve which is one of the last
indigenous populations still existing in South Africa. The other indigenous population in
South Africa is in the Kruger National Park which has decreased to less than sixty
individuals. It is believed these indigenous animals have an inherent genetic resistance to
the protozool disease theileriosis which is a major cause of mortality in roan antelope
in Southern Africa. Bongo antelope reintroduced on the slopes of mount Kenya from
American zoo’s suffered major mortality from this disease.
SIX YEAR REPORT 1 SEPTEMBER 2010
All animals have names that are known to the keepers and records have been kept of sires
and dams. However with so many animals in the project we are encouraging the managers
to microchip all progeny so control is not lost. Dave Morgan from PAZAAB visited the
project in mid 2011 and discussions have been held regarding setting up a Southern Africa
roan studbook which includes animals in the care of the South African national Zoological
Gardens. This might not be practical as animals are released.
At present there are 28 animals in project in 4 groups.
1) CAMP 1 (as one drives in) 12 animals running with Percy Fyfe Bull “Pumalanga
2) CAMP 2 (Simelanes camp) 9 animals running with Percy Fyfe Bull “Figizolo”
3) OUTSIDE (running in main Mlilwane reserve ) 4 males
4) MKHAYA RESERVE 3 males
The habitat in Swaziland compared to Kimberley is harsher for the animals due to a
number of factors. Roan did occur here naturally with the last animal dying in a snare in 1961.
The commitment of Mr Ted Reilly and is dedicated staff to this project is outstanding. All
animals are inspected more than once a day.Veterinary direction is provided by Dr Johan
Steyl of the University of Pretoria’s faculty of Veterinary Science
Problems have been experienced with calves in cold weather. Theileriosis has been a
problem but the involvement of Dr Steyl in collaboration with the University of Pretoria
has made a difference. The ticks at Mlilwane south are challenging but the intended
release area in Mlilwane North is much higher with much fewer ticks so we are
confident of success. Resistance of animals to tick born diseases is one thing and an
animal’s inherent resistance to ticks another. It is hoped the infusion of genes from the
Percy Fyfe bulls will assist this population with both these issues.
Toxic plants (Lippia,Senecio etc) have also
been a problem but improved veldt
management involving mowing of grass has
made a difference.
Haemonchosis is a major challenge in but
management of this disease is being exercised.
Finance is limited to complete the fencing
but this is occurring in a progressive manner
that should enable us to reach our objectives
when a minimal viable population is achieved.
Roan antelope Black Mbuluzi River
Swaziland 1920
Dr Hamish Currie intended to visit EAZA roan stud book keeper Mr Klaus Brunsing
(who has visited the project) at Hannover Zoo when he attended the WAZA conference
in Cologne in October 2010 but this was not possible due to Mr Brunsing work
obligations. He visited again in July 2011 but sadly Mr Brunsing was on leave.
CONCLUSION
Back to Africa (www.backtoafrica.co.za)
is an African based not profit organization
involved in the restoration of mammalian
biodiversity in the African continent.
We recognize that zoo populations
should be recognized as metapopulations
that can be used for species conservation.
We encourage zoo’s to breed animals for
reintroduction.
Projects of this nature are uncertain so it
was a correct decision to learn with a
“threatened” species rather than an
endangered one. To have had this
experience was invaluable when doing a
similar project with the rarest mammal
on earth (northern white rhinoceros).
Was this left too late?
European roan are of Ugandan origin but
roan are now no longer running wild in
this country. However these genes are
alive and well in Swaziland!
Most of our projects involve Intensive Protected Areas (IPA’s). These essentially, are zoo’s
in the wild where rare and endangered species are managed to enhance their survival.
IPA’s can involve zoo animals as a first step in their relocation back to the wild. They offer
protection from predators and poachers and enable one to manage disease and
manipulate nutrition when necessary. IPA’s make it easy to research and manage breeding
programmes if so desired.
Reintroduced animals are kept in IPA’s and bred until minimal viable populations are
reached. Once this is achieved, populations can be released in situ.
We are comfortable with the genetic integrity of both populations. Simple husbandry
practices are being exercised to avoid inbreeding, with old bulls being removed to avoid
in breeding, and new blood is being introduced in the form of unrelated bulls.
The commitment of the Swazi recipients is outstanding and unquestioned. Funding for
fencing is taking time but it is happening acceptably. For this reason we would rather wait
before expanding the project.
SANParks has had nine years to assimilate the sable project and Dr Magome’s recent
commitment to this has been done with much thought as result of the experience.
For this reason Back to Africa believes it is a good idea to introduce more females that
would result in a really viable population. This would achieve the long term objectives of
repopulating a National Park. With so many bull calves been born augmentation of the
population with more females is what is needed. Liaison with European zoological
institutions is being done in the hopes of expediting this. Participant institutions and
institutions holding these species could have poster presentations detailing the
conservation effort. This would be of educational value and would again portray zoo’s
in the positive light they deserve.