MaxEnt modelling uses only the known locations of a species to predict the overall distribution of a species. Large trees are important for the functioning of savanna ecosystems, bringing nutrients to the surface, providing shelter to animals and providing a number of ecological functions. Large trees have been identified as declining in density in many southern African reserves, making the conservation of large trees within reserves an issue in park management, such as in Kruger National Park (KNP) and Hluhluwe iMfolzi Parks (HiP). Two species of primary concern are Acacia nigrescens and Sclerocarya birrea, which have similar distributions in Southern Africa. Effective management of large trees requires understanding their distribution within reserves and any potential distribution changes. By determining the current locations of a species, and using GIS layers of environmental variables to predict the extent of habitats that could support the species, niche models can predict species distribution. Maximum Entropy techniques evaluate the probability of finding the species in raster squares, with values for environmental factors controlling distribution. For this study, the locations of A. nigrescens and S. birrea trees higher than 5 m were recorded in KNP and HiP, and were used in conjunction with MaxEnt to produce distribution probability maps for both species in each reserve. In HiP, the distribution map was compared with an independent existing data set to determine if the predicted distributions were accurate. The factors effecting their distribution were compared between HiP and KNP to determine why the species were found together in KNP but not in HiP. MaxEnt could predict the locations of the species within HiP, but predictions were better for A. nigrescens than S. birrea. In both Reserves, rainfall was the best predictor of tree location, along with elevation. The niche overlap was higher in KNP, where both species are well within their total species range, than in HiP where A. nigrescens was at the edge of its distribution. These variables that are limiting distribution at a reserve scale will have an influence on the overall distribution of the species. Niche models can be used to inform the establishment of botanical reserves or other management strategies that can help preserve large trees within reserves. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

This is both a critical history of the nature guiding industry in South Africa from 1902- 2007 and a subjective critique of the practical components of contemporary natureguiding. It focuses particulary on guides operating on foot in “Big Five” (dangerous game) areas. The early history and the subsequent development of “wilderness” trails in the Kruger National Park and the histories of KwaZulu-Natal Parks and Madikwe Game Reserve are examined. The influences of the Field Guides’ Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and the Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA) are discussed. Transformation of the industry (in both the demographic and in the broader sense) faces language, cultural and ethical challenges because of prevailing anthropocentric and militaristic norms. Nature guides need improved communication skills and should balance traditional and progressive skills and ethics. They should become more critical and proactive in determining the style and content of their industry

In 1996, two years after the election of a fully democratic government and the return of South Africa as an acceptable member of international society, the Premier of South Africa's Limpopo Province met with his counterpart, the Governor of Gaza Province, in Mozambique, to discuss the potential of establishing business links between these two adjacent regions. As a result, an International Agreement to establish the Great Limpopo National Park (GLTP) was signed in 2000. Areas included in the GLTP are the Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa, Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. Other areas earmarked for inclusion are the Sengwe Communal land in Zimbabwe, and Zinave and Banhine National Parks in Mozambique. This thesis explores the processes of decision making throughout the administrative hierarchy of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), and evaluates these in terms of social and environmental justice principles. The three main objectives are: to identify decision making procedures and approaches currently being used in the setting up of the GLTP; to determine the extent to which decision making approaches have incorporated concerns relating to social and environmental justice; and to assess public participation in the GLTP to date - particularly at the community level. Findings indicate that the popular rhetoric surrounding the GLTP has, to date not taken place in reality. Many of the flagship projects have been met with opposition from the community. Social justice is not sufficiently prioritised within the GLTP, as shown by ongoing power differentials, prioritising of wildlife over people in terms of water rights, ongoing harsh treatment of "poachers", the disruption of traditional land use activities, and resettlement of villages into new and potentially different communities. Findings displayed in the questionnaire results, indicate that policies and action plans for the GLTP were developed by the state with little public participation. The community's powerless to influence any decisions or affect any change is encapsulated in the fact that they are, at present living with introduced wild animals. A public participation technique that took the form of a community barriers meeting did take place. This however did not contribute to the community having a say in the park plans. One cannot deny that decision makers have realised their mistake of bypassing community consultation and moving directly to implementation. It seems more effort is being made to bring communities into the process, through the formation of the Project Liaison Board, and thereby ensuring that they receive their promised benefit from the development of the GLTP. It is very difficult to try and categorise the type of approach to community conservation in the GLTP. Certain elements from all three relationships are evident, but more so from Protected Area Outreach. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

The objective of this project is to link the statistical theory used in the ecological sciences with an actual project that was developed for the South African National Parks Scientific Services. It investigates the changes that have occurred in the herbaceous and woody structure due to the closure of artificial waterpoints; including the impacts that elephants and other herbivores have on the vegetation of the Kruger National Park. This project was designed in conjunction with South African National Parks (SANP) Scientific Services and it is a registered project with this department. The results of this project will be submitted to Scientific Services in accordance with the terms and conditions of a SANP research project. A major concern within the KNP is the declining numbers of rare antelope and numerous projects have been developed to investigate possible ways of halting this decline and thus protecting the heterogeneity of the Kruger National Park. Three different datasets were investigated, covering three aspects of vegetation structure and composition within the KNP. The first investigated the changes that have occurred since the N'washitsumbe enclosure in the Far Northern KNP was fenced off from the rest of the park. The results show that over the 40 years since the enclosure was built, changes have occurred which have resulted in a significant difference in the abundance of Increaser 2 and Decreaser grass species between the inside and the outside of the enclosure. Increaser 2 and Decreaser categories are the result of a grass species classification depending on whether the species thrives or is depressed by heavy grazing. The difference in grass species composition and structure between the inside and the outside of the enclosure indicates that the grazing animals within the KNP have influenced the grass composition in a way that favours the dominant animals. This has resulted in a declining roan antelope population - one of the species that is considered as a 'rare antelope'. Many artificial waterpoints (boreholes and dams) have also been closed throughout the KNP in the hope of resulting in a change in vegetation structure and composition in favour of the roan. Veld condition assessment data for 87 boreholes throughout the Park was analyzed to determine whether the veld in the vicinity is beginning to change towards a more Decreaser dominated sward which would favour the roan. The results were analyzed for the different regions of the Park; and they indicate that changes are becoming evident; however, the results are not particularly conclusive, yet. The majority of the boreholes were closed between 1994 and 1998 which means that not a lot of data were available to be analyzed. A similar study conducted in another 10 years time might reveal more meaningful results. However the results are moving in the direction hoped for by the management of the KNP. The results show that the grass composition has a higher proportion of Decreaser grasses since the closure of the waterpoints, and the grass biomass around these areas has also improved. The results were analyzed on an individual basis; and then on a regional basis as the minimal data meant that the individual analyses did not provide any significant results. A third study was then done on the impact that the rapidly increasing elephant population on the vegetation within the Riparian zone along three rivers in the Far Northern region of the KNP. The riparian zone is an important part of the landscape, in terms of providing food for many animals as well as shade. The elephant population has increased substantially since the termination of the culling program and this means that the feeding requirements of the population has increased which could result in severe damage upon the vegetation, as elephants can be very destructive feeders. The results show surprising differences between the three years of data that were analyzed; however the results indicate that the elephants are targeting specific height ranges of trees when feeding; however they do not seem to consistently target specific tree species. This is positive for the diversity of the Riparian zone as this region is very important both ecologically and aesthetically for the tourists who visit the Park.

M.Ed. / Wildlife areas are considered by many to be "wilderness" islands, which do not have anything to do with the local communities surrounding them. These areas are seen as elitist. The Kruger National Park is no exception to these thoughts. Due to its immense size, many neighbours of the park have over the years been ignored. A questionnaire was given to 127 of the neighbours along the southern boundary of the park to determine the environmental literacy of these neighbours. The neighbours sampled were from informal and formal settlements and tourist destinations such as lodges and hotels. From the results it was found that there was very little difference between these neighbours in terms of their environmental literacy. An environmental education model was proposed in order to address the lack of knowledge or misconceptions that the neighbours held about the environment.

Please read the abstract in the 08summary part of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

M.Sc. / Hydrocynus vittatus, commonly known as the tigerfish, plays an important role in riverine ecology. It is a top predator which roams the open waters of most larger river systems in southern Africa. Their presence in a freshwater ecosystem has a dramatic impact on the fish community structure. It is known that dams and weirs have a negative effect on the migration of the tigerfish. It is also evident that tigerfish do not occur in certain areas in some of the rivers where they have been present historically. The Olifants and Letaba Rivers in the Kruger National Park (KNP) are two of a few rivers within South Africa where tigerfish do occur. The KNP represents the edge of the most southern distribution of tigerfish in southern Africa. It was therefore expected that the tigerfish do not function optimal in the Olifants and Letaba Rivers as they are subjected to waters with high concentrations of silt and low flow which influences migration and successful breeding. Breeding migrations does however take place during the summer months after which the tigerfish returns to the Massingire Dam in Mozambique to avoid the colder winter temperatures in the rivers. Gonad development coincide with the yearly summer rainfall patterns. A deviation of the expected 1:1 male:female sex ratio to favour the males was experienced in both rivers, which may be the result of over population. Females were found to grow to a larger size than the males and were extremely fecund. Although H. vittatus is believed to be mainly piscivorous, other food items such as invertebrates, played an important role in the diet of small and large tigerfish in both the Olifants and Letaba Rivers. Invertebrates were mostly preyed upon which implies that optimal feeding conditions for the tigerfish does not prevail in these systems and that they have to adapt to satisfy their feeding requirements. Tigerfish is more abundant in the Olifants than in the Letaba River. The overall growth performance or phi prime (4)) values for H. vittatus in the Olifants River was determined and compares well to the overall growth performance of tigerfish in the Okavango River and Lake Kariba. However the maximum length calculated for tigerfish in the Olifants River (Lco = 52.40 cm ) is smaller than the Lco values (56.06 cm) for the Okavango River. The mortality rate of tigerfish in the Olifants River exceeds those in the Letaba River which means that the life expectancy is longer in the Letaba as opposed to the Olifants River. Successful artificial spawning revealed some of the secrets of the reproduction strategy of this species. Tigerfish has semi pelagic eggs, are very small (0.65 mm), negatively buoyant and slightly adhesive for bentic and epibiotic incubation, and it is expected that tigerfish would spawn in open water, on a sandy substrate in the vicinity of aquatic vegetation. First hatching took place at 22h 30 min after fertilization. Vertical movement of the larvae lasts for two days, which allows for downstream movement and dispersement of the larvae. It was found that tigerfish replace their teeth on a regular basis as they grow larger. Transition from conical to functional dentition takes place 45 days after hatching. Replacement of sets of teeth occurs during all phases of its lifespan. It is a quick proses of three to six days during which all teeth are replaced in both the upper and lower jaws.

MESHWR / Department of Hydrology and Water Resources / See the attached abstract below

The need for the study was prompted by discussions with my fellow photographers and friends that fewer people visited the Kruger National Park the last few years. Various reasons were given for it. I discussed it with Professors G. Puth and A. N. Schreuder, and members of the National Parks Board. Initially it was decided that a study should be done of why there was a decrease in the demand for accommodation in the Park, and how it could possibly be improved. Mr. P. Fearnhead and Professor A. N. Schreuder suggested that it would be better if a price sensitivity study should be done with a new computer program, namely conjoint analysis. This type of study has not been done in South Africa before. One of the major purposes of a conjoint analysis is to measure consumer preferences among competitive products and services. Basically it measures preferences of tourists by making trade-offs between five attributes and seventeen levels, and that consumers make complex decisions not on one factor alone but on several factors "jointly". Thus it was named conjoint analysis. Ranking a number of different combinations of attribute levels on a nine-point rating scale indicated their preferences. The results were then processed by a computer program, Conjoint Value Analysis (CVA), Version 2.0 system. They indicated their preferences by ranking a number of different combinations of attribute levels to give utility values for the attributes. Six representative camps (three large and three small ones) were used for a stratified sample of 428 respondents. The findings will give recommendations that can be used. AFRIKAANS : Die behoefte vir die studie is aangespoor deur gesprekke met my medefotograwe en vriende dat minder mense die Nasionale Kruger Wildtuin die laaste aantal jare besoek het. Veskeie redes is daarvoor gegee. Ek het dit met Professore G. Puth en A. N. Schreuder, en lede van die Nasionale Parkeraad bespreek. Oorspronklik is besluit dat 'n studie gedoen behoort te word oar hoekom daar 'n afname in die vraag vir akkommodasie in die Wildtuin was, en hoe dit moontlik verbeter kon word. Mnr. P. Fearnhead en Professor A. N. Schreuder het voorgestel dat dit beter sou wees indien 'n prysssensitiwiteit-studie met 'n nuwe rekenaarprogram, nl. gesamentlike analise ("conjoint analysis"), gedoen sou word. Hierdie tipe studie was nag nie voorheen in Suid-Afrika gedoen nie. Een van die hoof oogmerke van 'n gesamentlike analise is om verbruiksvoorkeure tussen mededingende produkte en dienste te meet. Basies meet dit voorkeure van toeriste deur kompromiee ("trade-offs") tussen vyf eienskappe en sewentien vlakke te maak, en dat verbruikers komplekse besluite maak nie oar een eienskap aileen nie, maar verskeie eienskappe gesamentlik ("jointly"). Daarom is dit gesamentlike analise ("conjoint analysis") genoem. Hulle voorkeure word gewys deur die toekenning van 'n rangorde aan 'n aantal veskillende kombinasies van eienskap-vlakke op 'n nege-punt skattingskaal. Die resultate is daarna deur 'n rekenaarprogram, Conjoint Value Analysis (CVA), Version 2.0 sisteem, verwerk. Hulle wys hulle voorkeure deur die toekenning van 'n rangorde van 'n aantal van verskillende kombinasies van eienskap-vlakke om nuttigheidswaardes vir die eienskappe te gee. Ses verteenwoordigende kampe (drie grates en drie kleintjies) is gebruik vir 'n gestratifiseerde steekproef van 428 respondente. Die bevindings sal aanbevelings gee wat gebruik kan word. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Marketing Management / MCom / Unrestricted