Mountain Zebra National Park

Last updated

Mountain Zebra National Park
Mountain zebra NP.jpg
Mountain Zebra National Park
Location of the park
Location Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nearest city Cradock
Coordinates 32°11′S25°37′E / 32.183°S 25.617°E / -32.183; 25.617
Area284 km2 (110 sq mi)
EstablishedJuly 2, 1937;86 years ago (1937-07-02)
Visitors31 210(in 2017)
Governing body South African National Parks
www.sanparks.org/parks/mountain_zebra/
South Africa relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Mountain Zebra National Park (South Africa)
South Africa Eastern Cape relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Mountain Zebra National Park (Eastern Cape)

Mountain Zebra National Park is a national park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa; proclaimed in July 1937 for the purpose of providing a nature reserve for the endangered Cape mountain zebra. It is surrounded by 896,146.57 hectares (2,214,426.4 acres) of the Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In the early 1930s, the Cape mountain zebra was threatened with extinction. The National Parks Board of Trustees proclaimed a 17.12 km2 (6.61 sq mi) area for the zebra's preservation in 1938 after the purchase of the farm Babylons Toren, Cradock the year before. [3] :49 The mountain zebra population of the park comprised only five stallions and one mare and was insufficient to expand the population. By 1950 only two stallions remained, and a neighbouring farmer, Mr H L Lombard, improved the breeding pool by donating eleven zebra to the park, five stallions and six mares. [3] :49

By 1964, there were only 25 zebra in the park. At this time, the park's size was increased to 65.36 km2 (25.24 sq mi) and Paul Michau donated six zebra to the park. [3] :49 From then on, the number of zebras increased steadily to about 140. In 1975, the zebras were re-introduced to the Western Cape at the De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Since 1978, capture and relocation of mountain zebra to new habitat have been part of the routine management of the park. Currently (2015) the park's herd number over 700 animals, and an average of about 20 animals are relocated each year. Through the years, additional farms have been purchased to increase the size of the park to the current 284 km2 (110 sq mi).

Fauna

Other mammals found in the boundaries of the park include caracal, Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, gemsbok and grey rhebok. In 2007, the South African cheetahs were reintroduced to the area. In 2013 three lions have been released. A predator-proof fence prevents the large predators from entering neighbouring farmland. The camps in the park have been fenced as well. [4]

Mammals

Birds

Flora

Species of trees found in the park are: [5]

Tourism infrastructure

Doornhoek Guest house Doornhoek Guest house.JPG
Doornhoek Guest house

Visitor numbers

From 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, the park received 31,210 visitors up from 27,965 in the previous year. This growth rate of 11.6% placed the park in the top five SANParks for percentage growth in visitors year-on-year. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chobe National Park</span> National park in Botswana

Chobe National Park is Botswana's first national park, and also the most biologically diverse. Located in the north of the country, it is Botswana's third largest park, after Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Gemsbok National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park</span> Transfrontier conservation area in Botswana and South Africa

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa.

<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">Karoo National Park</span> Wildlife reserve in the Great Karoo area of the Western Cape, South Africa near Beaufort West

The Karoo National Park is a wildlife reserve in the Great Karoo area of the Western Cape, South Africa near Beaufort West. This semi-desert area covers an area of 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi). The Nuweveld portion of the Great Escarpment runs through the Park. It is therefore partly in the Lower Karoo, at about 850 m above sea level, and partly in the Upper Karoo at over 1300 m altitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokolodi Nature Reserve</span>

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">Central Kalahari Game Reserve</span>

Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of 52,800 square kilometres (20,400 sq mi), making it the second largest game reserve in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bontebok National Park</span> National park near Swellendam in the Western Cape, South Africa

Bontebok National Park is a species-specific national park in South Africa. It was established in 1931 to ensure the preservation of the Bontebok. It is the smallest of South Africa's 18 National Parks, covering an area of 27.86 km2 The park is part of the Cape Floristic Region, which is a World Heritage Site.

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

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> Native fauna and flora of Zimbabwe

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">Mokala National Park</span> Reserve in the Plooysburg area south-west of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa

Mokala National Park is a reserve established in the Plooysburg area south-west of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa on 19 June 2007. The size of the park is 26,485 hectares. Mokala is the Setswana name for the magnificent camel thorn, a tree species typical of the arid western interior and common in the area. There is currently 70 km of accessible roads in the national park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rietvlei Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve in Pretoria, South Africa

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, located in southern Pretoria, is about 4,000 hectares (40 km2) in size, and includes the entirety of the Rietvlei Dam which impounds the Rietvlei River, in Gauteng, South Africa. The reserve is wedged between the R21 highway on the western side and the R50 (Delmas-Bapsfontein) road on the north-east. The mean elevation above sea level is approximately 1,525 meters, with the highest point at 1,542 m and the lowest at 1,473 m, the dam’s outflow in Sesmylspruit. The reserve covers a surface area of approximately 4,003 ha or 40 km2, of which the dam constitutes some 20ha. A network of roads criss-cross the entire area, which facilitates access to visitors and management.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gondwana Game Reserve</span>

Gondwana Game Reserve is a game reserve situated near the town of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa.

The Borakalalo Game Reserve is a protected area in North West Province, South Africa. It is located about 80 kilometres NNW of Pretoria and 60 km north of Brits. This majestic Nature reserve has unfortunately been hampered by numerous safety problems, especially affecting overnight visitors to the reserve. Also known as a fantastic birding destination with specials including African Finfoot, Meyer's Parrot and Grey-Headed Kingfisher.

Kalkfontein Nature Reserve is situated in the southernmost part of the Free State, of South Africa, on the road (R701) between Bethulie and Smithfield about 15 km from Bethulie, where the Orange River and the Caledon River come together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mabula Game Reserve</span>

Mabula Game Reserve is a private game reserve situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is about 12,000 hectares in area and is about 47 km from Bela Bela (Warmbaths).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Namibia</span>

The protected areas of Namibia include its national parks and reserves. With the 2010 declaration of Dorob National Park, Namibia became the first and only country to have its entire coastline protected through a national parks network. Protected areas are subdivided into game reserves and/or nature reserves, such as special protected area, wilderness areas, natural areas, and development areas. There are also recreation reserves. Facilities in the national parks are operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Over 19% of Namibia is protected, an area of some 130,000 square kilometres. However, the Ministry of Environment & Tourism auctions limited hunting rights within its protected areas. The Namibia Nature Foundation, an NGO, was established in 1987 to raise and administer funds for the conservation of wildlife and protected area management. Communal Wildlife Conservancies in Namibia help promote sustainable natural resource management by giving local communities rights to wildlife management and tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary</span>

The SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary is a 5,000 ha (50 km2) wildlife rehabilitation center and reserve in South Africa's Limpopo Province, located a few kilometers south of Leydsdorp, and near the western boundary of the Kruger National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgaswane Mountain Reserve</span> Ramsar site reserve within the Magaliesberg Biosphere, North West, South Africa

Kgaswane Mountain Reserve is a nature reserve of 5,300 hectares consisting of veld and mountains run by the North West Parks and Tourism Board. It is located 5 km (3.1 mi) south-west of Rustenburg on the northern slopes of the Magaliesberg, inside of the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve and alongside the western portion of the Magaliesberg Protected Natural Environment. Kgaswane is home to many species of flora and bird life and large and small mammals, and has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2019. The reserve has a number of camp sites, hikes and trails.

References

  1. "Government Gazette: Declaration of Mountain Zebra National Park" (PDF).
  2. "Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment Management Plan" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 3 South African Panorama 1977-08: Vol 22 Iss 8. Internet Archive. Information Service of South Africa. August 1977.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. SANParks: Lion released in Mountain Zebra National Park. Media Release from South Africas National Parks. 25 April 2013
    • National Parks and Nature Reserves. Chris & Mathilde Stuart. Struik Travel and Heritage. 2012. ISBN   978-1-77007-742-3
  5. "Mountain zebra national park - Park management plan" (PDF). SANParks. March 2008.
  6. "South African National Parks - Annual Report 2017/2018" (PDF).