Addo Elephant National Park

Last updated

Addo Elephant National Park
Elephant Addo.jpg
Bull elephant at Addo
Addo Elephant National Park
Location of the park
Location Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nearest city Gqeberha
Coordinates 33°26′46″S25°44′45″E / 33.44611°S 25.74583°E / -33.44611; 25.74583
Area1,640 km2 (630 sq mi) [1]
Established1931 [1]
Governing body South African National Parks
www.sanparks.org/parks/addo-elephant
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa)

Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) is a diverse wildlife conservation park situated close to Gqeberha in South Africa and is one of the country's 20 national parks. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Contents

History

The original section of the park was founded in 1931, [1] in part due to the efforts of Sydney Skaife, [2] in order to provide a sanctuary for the eleven remaining elephants in the area. The park has proved to be very successful and currently houses more than 600 elephants and a large number of other mammals.

Expansion

The original park has subsequently been expanded to include the Woody Cape Nature Reserve that extends from the Sundays River mouth towards Alexandria and a marine reserve, which includes St. Croix Island and Bird Island, both breeding habitat for gannets and penguins, as well as a large variety of other marine life. Bird Island is home to the world's largest breeding colony of gannets - about 120,000 birds - and also hosts the second largest breeding colony of African penguins, the largest breeding colony being St. Croix island. These marine assets form part of the plan to expand the 1,640 km2 Addo National Elephant Park into the 3,600 km2 Greater Addo Elephant National Park . The expanded park contains five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones (biomes), and is also the only park to house Africa's "Big 7" (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and great white shark) in their natural habitat. [1]

Flora and fauna

Flightless dung beetle Flightless dung beetle.JPG
Flightless dung beetle

The flora within the AENP is quite varied, and like all plant life, is a central factor to the ecological system in place. Several species of rare and endemic plants, particularly succulent shrubs and geophytes are native to the South African region within the AENP. Many species are under environmental pressure, however, and are facing possible extinction. [3]

The park is home to more than 600 elephants, 400 Cape buffaloes, over 48 endangered south-western black rhinoceros' (Diceros bicornis occidentalis) as well as a variety of antelope species. Lion and spotted hyena have also recently been re-introduced to the area. The largest remaining population of the flightless dung beetle (Circellium bacchus) is located within the park.

Extinction and overpopulation

Two major environmental issues facing the AENP: extinction and overpopulation, which are interrelated. Since the AENP's original mission was to reintroduce certain megaherbivores, like the African bush elephant and eastern black rhinoceros, [4] primary ecological efforts were made to preserve mammalian species. However, by overlooking the other contributors to this environmental chain, certain plant species have been subjected to overgrazing and trampling, [5] mostly by the elephants of the park. This overgrazing and trampling not only destroys much of the plant life, but also forces it to adapt its physiology to stimuli [6] that are not inherent to its evolutionary progress. Some biologists argue that it is not herbivorization [7] alone that is threatening the flora, but a number of other ecological factors including zoochory and nutrient cycling. Up to 77 species of South African endemic plant species have been listed as "vulnerable to elephant browsing."

Marine protected areas

The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area [8] [9] and Bird Island Marine Protected Area are associated with the park.

Tourism

In 2018 the highest visitor count in the park's 87-year history was recorded. The park received 305,510 [10] visitors between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 (up from 265,585 in the previous year). [11] International visitors make up 55% of this number, with German, Dutch and British nationals in the majority. [12]

There is a main camp, featuring a swimming pool, restaurant, flood lit water hole and various accommodation, four other rest camps and four camps run by concessionaires. The main entrance as well as two looped tourist roads in the park are tarred while the others are graveled. There is also an additional access road through the southern block of the park feeding off the N2 highway near Colchester; it joins up with the existing tourist roads in the park.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overgrazing</span> When plants are grazed for extended periods without sufficient recovery time

Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature reserves. It can also be caused by immobile, travel restricted populations of native or non-native wild animals.

This is an index of conservation topics. It is an alphabetical index of articles relating to conservation biology and conservation of the natural environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Zebra National Park</span> National park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

Mountain Zebra National Park is a national park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa; established in July 1937 for the purpose of providing a nature reserve for the endangered Cape mountain zebra. It is surrounded by 896,146 hectares of the Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fauna of India</span> Native animals of India

India is the world's 8th most biodiverse region with a 0.46 BioD score on diversity index, 102,718 species of fauna and 23.39% of the nation's geographical area under forest and tree cover in 2020. India encompasses a wide range of biomes: desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, areas surrounding rivers, as well as island archipelago. Officially, four out of the 36 Biodiversity Hotspots in the world are present in India: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma and the Nicobar Islands. To these may be added the Sundarbans and the Terrai-Duar Savannah grasslands for their unique foliage and animal species. These hotspots have numerous endemic species. Nearly 5% of India's total area is formally classified under protected areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Table Mountain National Park</span> A nature conservation area on the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, South Africa

Table Mountain National Park, previously known as the Cape Peninsula National Park, is a national park in Cape Town, South Africa, proclaimed on 29 May 1998, for the purpose of protecting the natural environment of the Table Mountain chain, and in particular the rare fynbos vegetation. The park is managed by South African National Parks. The property is included as part of the UNESCO Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algoa Bay</span> Maritime bay in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

Algoa Bay is a maritime bay in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is located on the east coast, 683 kilometres (424 mi) east of the Cape of Good Hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokolodi Nature Reserve</span> Private not-for-profit game reserve in southern Botswana

Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a private not-for-profit game reserve in southern Botswana. Founded in 1994 by The Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation, it is situated on 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of donated land, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the capital Gaborone. The nature reserve is inhabited by a wide variety of indigenous African game, bird and reptile species, some of which are rare and vulnerable to the threat of extinction. The southern white rhinoceros herd at Mokolodi Nature Reserve is part of a national breeding programme, which contributes to the rebuilding of the national herd in Botswana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Botswana</span>

The wildlife of Botswana refers to the flora and fauna of this country. Botswana is around 90% covered in savanna, varying from shrub savanna in the southwest in the dry areas to tree savanna consisting of trees and grass in the wetter areas. Even under the hot conditions of the Kalahari Desert, many species survive; in fact the country has more than 2500 species of plants and 650 species of trees. Vegetation and its wild fruits are also extremely important to rural populations living in the desert and are the principal source of food, fuel and medicine for many inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Zimbabwe</span>

The wildlife of Zimbabwe occurs foremost in remote or rugged terrain, in national parks and private wildlife ranches, in miombo woodlands and thorny acacia or kopje. The prominent wild fauna includes African buffalo, African bush elephant, black rhinoceros, southern giraffe, African leopard, lion, plains zebra, and several antelope species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

The wildlife of the Democratic Republic of the Congo includes its flora and fauna, comprising a large biodiversity in rainforests, seasonally flooded forests and grasslands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Senegal</span>

The wildlife of Senegal consists of the flora and fauna of this nation in West Africa. Senegal has a long Atlantic coastline and a range of habitat types, with a corresponding diversity of plants and animals. Senegal has 188 species of mammals and 674 species of bird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of South Africa</span>

The wildlife of South Africa consists of the flora and fauna of this country in Southern Africa. The country has a range of different habitat types and an ecologically rich and diverse wildlife, vascular plants being particularly abundant, many of them endemic to the country. There are few forested areas, much savanna grassland, semi-arid Karoo vegetation and the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region. Famed for its national parks and big game, 297 species of mammal have been recorded in South Africa, as well as 849 species of bird and over 20,000 species of vascular plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Togo</span>

The wildlife of Togo is composed of the flora and fauna of Togo, a country in West Africa. Despite its small size the country has a diversity of habitats; there are only remnants of the once more extensive rain forests in the south, there is Sudanian savanna in the north-western part of the country and larger areas of Guinean forest–savanna mosaic in the centre and north-east. The climate is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons. There are estimated to be over 3000 species of vascular plants in the country, and 196 species of mammals and 676 species of birds have been recorded there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marakele National Park</span> National Park that is part of the Waterberg Biosphere in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Marakele National Park is a National Park, part of the Waterberg Biosphere in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast National Park</span> Nature reserve north of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa

The West Coast National Park lies 88 km (55 mi) north of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The park is found inside of the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve, part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the R27 coastal road, and runs from the town of Yzerfontein in the south, up to the Langebaan Lagoon. The park is particularly well known for its bird life and for the spring flowers which occur in the months from August to September, especially in the Postberg flower reserve section of the park. The park, with the islands in Saldanha Bay, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. The park was proclaimed in 1985, and is 36,259.8 hectares (140.000 sq mi) in size.

The Greater Addo Elephant National Park is a megapark in the making, and consists of the following parks:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albany thickets</span> Afrotropic terrestrial ecoregion of dense woodland in South Africa

The Albany thickets is an ecoregion of dense woodland in southern South Africa, which is concentrated around the Albany region of the Eastern Cape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fauna of South Africa</span> Native animals of South Africa

The fauna of South Africa is diverse and largely typical of the ecosystems in Africa. South Africa is ranked sixth out of the world's 17 megadiverse countries. Many endemic species are unique to South Africa. The country is among the world leaders in conservation, but at the time wildlife is threatened by poaching and canned hunting.

The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area is a marine conservation area in Algoa Bay, adjacent to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, near Gqeberha, previously Port Elizabeth.

The Biodiversity of South Africa is the variety of living organisms within the boundaries of South Africa and its exclusive economic zone. South Africa is a region of high biodiversity in the terrestrial and marine realms. The country is ranked sixth out of the world's seventeen megadiverse countries, and is rated among the top 10 for plant species diversity and third for marine endemism.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Addo Elephant National Park". South African National Parks . Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. "Skaife, Sydney Harold ('Stacey') (1889-1976)". Iziko Museums of Cape Town. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  3. Johnson, C.F.; Cowling, R.M.; Phillipson, P.B. (1999). "The Flora of Addo Elephant National Park: are threatened species vulnerable to elephant damage?". Biodiversity and Conservation. 8 (11): 1447–1456. doi:10.1023/A:1008980120379. S2CID   1480328.
  4. Landman, M. "Relevance of elephant herbivory as a threat to Important Plants in the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa," Journal of Zoology 2008, p.51-58
  5. Kerley, Graham. "The impacts of elephants on biodiversity in the Eastern Cape Subtropical Thickets," South African Journal of Science 2006, p.395-402
  6. Marris, Emma. "Africa conservation: making room," Nature 2008, p.860-863
  7. Knight, M.H. "Evaluating herbivore extinction probabilities in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa," African Zoology 2006, p.13
  8. Sink, K.; Harris, J.; Lombard, A. (October 2004). Appendix 1. South African marine bioregions (PDF). South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical Report Vol. 4 Marine Component DRAFT (Report). pp. 97–109.
  9. "Marine Protected Areas". World Wildlife Fund . Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  10. "Record 300 000 tourists visit Addo in past year".
  11. "SAN Parks Annual Report 2016/2017" (PDF).
  12. "Visitor numbers to Addo Elephant National Park surpass 300 000".
  13. Bauer, H.; Packer, C.; Funston, P. F.; Henschel, P.; Nowell, K. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Panthera leo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T15951A115130419. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15951A107265605.en . Retrieved 13 January 2018.