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Olifants River Game ReserveOlifants River Game ReserveOlifants River Game ReserveOlifants River Game Reserve

23232323rdrdrdrd December 2014 Mario CesareDecember 2014 Mario CesareDecember 2014 Mario CesareDecember 2014 Mario Cesare

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Perspective Many South Africans will reflect on some of the dramatic events of last year with the sense of humour that has

developed into a finely honed coping mechanism. I suspect this conditioning has effectively helped preserve our

sanity; in fact I believe we have gone beyond this and embrace mediocrity as the best on offer, or simply for fear of

the alternative. Never mind power stations exploding to bits due to ESKOM’s “maintenance plan”, celebrity murder

trials, our very own comedy road show “Live at Parliament,” or the growing culture of corruption which threatens to

reach tsunami-like proportions fanned by a “Monarch” flapping its wings at Nkandla.

On the face of it, given the way the country is being run, if we were Swiss, we’d have slit our wrists a long time ago.

However, by and large we’re a pragmatic bunch, survivors of pioneering stock, and those of us with access to the rich

tapestry that comprises South Africa’s natural beauty, still enjoy a quality of life second to none and believe this to be

a worthwhile trade off. The cliché, we live in “a world in one country,” unlike the usual travel brochure spiel, is apt to

the point of understatement. Our country boasts an awe inspiring coastline and a dramatically diverse hinterland

inhabited by some of the most unique fauna and flora in the world.... We also have the most beautiful women in the

world and dare I say it, a rugby team with the potential to be world champions...again?

So we tackle that which pains us with fortitude and despite the often overwhelming urge to be cynical, we will

continue to find reasons to be optimistic about the coming year. And despair not, if this fails, there is a sanity saver;

there is always Olifants to escape to... Need I say more?

Conditions on the Reserve Studying the region’s rainfall history and trends, much as punters study the form of racehorses before placing their

bets, indications are that we may be heading into a drier cycle. These dry periods of lower than average rainfall

typically last a decade or so and are an entirely natural phenomenon. Although we know this is necessary to maintain

the health of our ecosystem, the effects of a drought in progress is not pretty to watch. However, even the most

assiduous gamblers get it wrong from time to time and so the optimist in me would rather believe that late rains may

be on the cards... Anyway, that’s what I’ll be betting on.

Rainfall figures this season to date: 103 mm.

Some of the beauty in response to the first rains.....Scadoxus multiflorus

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Game viewing of late Although as ephemeral as the life of a Mayfly, Neil Hulett’s weekly “game drive” was thoroughly enjoyed while it

lasted, I for one, look forward to the next batch...or should that be “hatch?” Can’t wait! ....Thanks for taking us along

on your drives Neil.

Scattered sightings of strange lions have been reported on the reserve recently. One coalition comprising a loose band

of four adult males moving in from Klaserie has caused considerable disruption to say the least. However, I suspect

this is more than simply a territorial shift, I believe these interlopers are also following the movement of their main

prey species. Since the last floods many of the bigger dams in the Klaserie have not been repaired. Needles to say,

large numbers of animals have moved into our area this winter to utilise our water holes; particularly Double Dam and

Big Dam where there have been regular sightings of lions and a number of kills reported.

When powerful, virile male lions move into an occupied area, inevitably something has to give. Resident lions may

successfully defend their territory against such aggressors...yet others may die trying or scatter as happened over the

last few weeks when conflict resulted in the death of three resident lions, two adult females and a young male. One

cub of approximately three months of age was reportedly seen all on its own, but given its condition and the fact it left

a scat behind means mom was not too far away...or so we hoped. Then amidst the apparent chaos a female and her

three cubs were seen at Double Dam. This is the ecology of lions and I hope these males establish themselves once the

dust has settled.

The trend continues. Generally speaking Leopards are being seen frequently on game drives, more importantly; the

sightings seem to be lasting for longer periods and by more than one game viewer at a time on the scene. A mother

with two nearly grown cubs has been seen regularly between Hide and Nkonkoni.

Cheetah and wild dogs, true to their nomadic nature, have been particularly scarce recently.

Ray Logie of unit 25 reported the first baby impala on the 7th November...a special moment always. It is also most

encouraging to see the number of wildebeest calves born this season. One particular herd of eighteen, boasts nine

healthy calves! This is confirmation of the success of Ian Black’s sponsored introduction of 64 animals a few years

ago.

To the best of our knowledge, nine of the 16 sable antelope released onto the reserve ten months ago are still with us.

Occasionally a few are still seen along the Palm Loop and two have been reported as far as Double Dam indicating

that some are moving further in search of feed and suitable habitat.

Unusual sightings recorded include two Southern reedbuck which are seen regularly near Rhino Pan, white tailed

mongoose, Green Sand piper and Osprey,

Our not so new “Newcomers” are doing well. Two calves have been born in our area the last three months. One is

nearly three months old already and has been seen on a number of occasions.

Up until a couple of weeks ago large herds of buffalo were seen regularly. One herd in particular was confirmed to

have 960 individuals. This was recorded by a researcher near Q’s corner using a counter.

Prior to the rains, large herds of elephant were a feature of the reserve’s landscape particularly along the Olifants

River and larger inland waterholes. A few herds coming down to drink at Hide Dam one day totalled nearly 200

individuals. While repairing the wall at Big Dam, I counted 130 elephant coming to drink, all in the space of little

more than an hour. The impact of these huge animals is hard to ignore and the removal of downed trees, mainly

Knobthorns, blocking the reserve’s roads was a twice-daily exercise for months. But since the onset of the wet

season, the majority of these pachyderms have moved off giving us and the trees some respite.

Tom Goedecke of unit 3 reported a large crocodile, estimated to be 4 metres in length lying dead in the middle of the

Olifants River. It appears to be an isolated case and the cause of death is unknown.

An elephant bull was struck and killed by a train near “Four Beers” on our Northern cutline in November. Three

weeks later, less than two hundred metres from that point, a train killed two hippos. In both of these incidents,

unfortunate circumstances rather than train speed was to blame.

“Professional hunters” on Doreen shot and wounded an elephant bull. It crossed the river onto our side where it was

quickly located and humanely despatched from a helicopter on the Dinidza/ Klipheuwel cutline.

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As alluded to earlier some of our waterholes were threatened by over utilisation, particularly Double Dam, Big Dam,

and Sable Dam. The latter have been upgraded with extra solar panels and appear to be coping well but Double Dam’s

level is solely at the mercy of inflow from rainfall.

A coppice control and selective bush thinning program has begun. So far Wildebeest Drive, all the Buffalo Plains and

the plain linking Sand Dam to Nkonkoni Dam have been done. At the moment we are busy with the plains on Parallel

Road to Warthog Pan.

Anti Poaching / Security Feedback Referring to my opening “Perspective,” it also needs to be said that South Africa has given the world some of its

greatest leaders in their respective fields. This tribute is to the late Dr Ian Player who was one such person. He too

rose from humble beginnings and without delusions of grandeur, selflessly dedicated his life to the conservation of

nature. He pioneered the techniques necessary to bring free roaming rhino back from the brink of extinction thereby

earning world -wide respect for his innovative approach to wildlife management, particularly rhino conservation. Dr

Ian Player’s legacy will remain an inspiration to all who love the wilderness and of course the rhino therein. So we

owe it to this great man’s memory to continue fighting the good fight... “Hamba kahle Ian.”

Olifants’ Anti Poaching Unit along with Protrack’s men have managed to keep the wolf from our door for nearly a

year and counting, but as I pen this, I am also painfully aware that this statistic can change overnight. Nevertheless,

the past year has been about the small battles won in the war against rhino poaching. Given these modest

achievements, we have a modicum of reason to slip behind closed doors in secret places and in hushed tones, down a

beer or two in celebration. However, others around us have not been as fortunate and relatively high numbers of rhino

have been lost. Having said this, there were some positive consequences in that a number of poachers have been

arrested and numerous weapons seized in follow up operations.

Understandably those of us at the coal face have an insular perspective on this issue and the criteria for rating the past

year has little or no reflection on what is happening in the rest of the country’s rhino strongholds and everything to do

with tackling the scourge in our own backyard, so to speak. The problem is so huge that to try and tackle it on a macro

scale would be spreading our resources too thin to be effective. Besides the smaller private reserves, Kruger continues

to prepare themselves to wage an intensifying war against rhino poachers. Even so, one of their best equipped, most

competent and highly motivated Section Rangers in the KNP has lost over 100 rhino in his region this year.

Another 14 white rhino were micro chipped, ear notched and their horns fitted with tracking devices in our region.

We have outsourced another two man team to boost our Anti Poaching Unit, particularly with the duty of guarding the

bridge and river floodplain.

Transmitter placement in a rhino horn

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Two Belgians, Saba and Shaya in the African bush.

Saba also appears in the December issue of “Canine Zone” Magazine, available at CNA, Pick and Pay, Woolworths,

Spar, Makro and leading Pet Shops.

........As promised, here is the story about the misty picture in my last update.

What value - rhino horn? I pulled the ringing cell phone from my shirt pocket, on the screen the words “Private Number” glared arrogantly back

at me as I reflexively scrolled for the “reject call” option. In my experience “blocked” or “private” numbers

invariably belong to insurance sales people or loan sharks looking for defaulters...But this time, something made me

tentatively tap the screen and answer the call.

“Hello”

“Good Morning, is this Mr. Mario Cesare?”

“Yes it is”

“Sir, you are speaking to Captain Maseki of SAPS Polokwane.”

“Good morning Captain, how can I help you?” I enquired; somewhat curiously as we’d no direct dealings with

Polokwane SAPS, none that I was aware of anyway.

“Those two poachers apprehended in October 2012, the same day they killed a rhino on your reserve have been

sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment respectively. So, as the case is now closed, the confiscated rhino horn

belonging to you, is awaiting your collection at our office.”

“Thank you, I will make the necessary arrangements and contact you as soon as possible. Please give me a cell

number I can reach you at.”

Practically it all sounded simple enough, just drive through pick up the horn and drive home. I envisaged the trip

which I’d done a couple of time before and as I recall it was always a rather pleasant drive, enduring a few hours at

most. Initially the road takes you through some ruggedly beautiful bushveld studded with awe-inspiring granite

outcrops which rise like mini volcanoes out of a sea of Mopane woodland. Then quite abruptly, as if crossing the

border into another country, the landscape changes and the scenery is dominated by huge citrus farms and opulent

tropical fruit orchards which stay with you all the way to Tzaneen. Leaving the warmer Lowveld behind, the scenic

route gradually wends its way up through the mist belt to Magoebaskloof where its twists and turns compels you to

slow down, a good thing if you want to enjoy the montane forest and not miss the tiny, mystical hamlet of

Haenertsberg with its unique, quirky- quaintness.

Only an hour away from big game country now you will find yourself cruising through rolling hill sides with hedge-

like tea plantations, essentially this is the start of the Drakensberg Mountain range. Once through and over its peaks,

having crossed a few icy cold, gin- clear streams, which still hold rainbow trout, you carefully wind your way down

until reaching the contrasting flatlands where warmer country greets you once again. Here, overgrazed thorn scrub

and scrawny cattle will accompany you to the outskirts of the sprawling city of Polokwane.

But this trip was not going to be a sightseeing tour. We’d stop only when absolutely necessary, only when hunger

threatened our concentration, remedied with a quick lunch at the Coach House near Tzaneen...maybe. But the nagging

security threat that transporting such a cargo posed, kept hammering away at my conscience, whichever way we

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looked at it the risks were high, there was simply too much at stake to be complacent. So somewhat reluctantly the

scenic road trip and the prospect of lunch at a nice restaurant was abandoned and replaced instead with what proved to

be an experience unlikely to ever be repeated.

I’d allowed for a couple of weeks to apply for and collect the necessary permits to possess and convey the horn before

making firm collection arrangements. A month went slowly by and no permits materialized, so I re-applied. When

three months lapsed and still nothing had happened, I informed our board of the situation. We were afraid that the

longer the horn was in the custody of SAPS, the greater the chance of it getting “lost”. Legal eagles Louise Cleary had

Alan Hartman of Hammond Pole Attorneys draw up a letter demanding permits or else! This was hand delivered to

our local Department of Nature “Consternation” and Environmental Affairs. Needless to say all the necessary

documentation was in my hand in less than three days! Apparently the official drove to Polokwane himself, collected

the permits and micro-chipped the horn at the same time.

The moment the permits were in my possession I contacted Benjamin Osmers of Big Game Heli to arrange a date and

time to fly us to Polokwane and collect the horn. Being the height of game capture season Benny was fully

committed but managed to squeeze us in for the following Monday morning the 28th.

Two days and six phone calls later I finally managed to make contact with Captain Maseki to confirm the venue and

collection date. After listening patiently he tells me that a certain Captain Pitjeng is the person I now need to contact

for the horn, which I duly do. Getting down to the detail, Captain Pitjeng then informs me that the horn is not

lodged with the SAPS but at some non descript office building on Thabo Mbeki street opposite “Mc Donald’s.” He

also wanted to know what time I’d be arriving on the 28th

and how I was going to convey the horn. Not wanting to be

too specific and erring on the side of caution, I told him sometime between 8:30 am and 10: 30 am, but managed to

avoid disclosing how we were planning to get there, transport the horn or the route we’d be taking to and from the

pickup point.

Besides chartering the flight, support and back up plans on the ground needed to be put in place. Two well armed and

trusted security officials from Phalaborwa, Eugene Engelbrecht and Jonathan Nel (Nella) were contracted to drive

ahead of us very early on that Monday morning. Once there, they’d scope the offices out before we arrived, if all legit

and cleared, they would then pick us up at the airport and escort us through to collect the horn. Although this may

sound like cloak and dagger stuff, planning on this level called for belts and braces, so I had yet another contingency

plan in place. We’d also reserved a hire car from the airport, that if for some reason our security detail was held up, or

couldn’t make it on time; we’d at least have transport.

.....What could possibly go wrong?

Sunday night the 27th

found me glued to the weather channel. The forecast predicted heavy mist and light rain for the

route through the mountains and onto Polokwane... it wasn’t looking good for the following day’s flight. However,

when I spoke to Benjamin for confirmation he said he knew the route through that area and that these conditions often

cleared quite quickly, nevertheless he’d assess the situation again in the morning. So for all intents and purposes the

flight was still on.

Monday morning dawned grey and ominous. Glenn and I were already waiting on the cement slab cum heli pad

behind unit 14. And although Glenn’s usual banter helped make light of the situation, it was somewhat veiled as he

too had watched the weather forecast. Benny is never late and sure enough, at 6:45 am, as arranged, his yellow 44

swooped in and without much ado the three of us were in the air a couple of minutes later...Destination, Polokwane.

Conditions appeared promising as we flew northwest over some familiar bushveld. However, approaching the high

country around Magoebaskloof we could see the mountain plantations shrouded in thick mist. Here and there the

valley bottoms were only just visible and I was thankful we were in a helicopter, but more than that, I was confident

we were being piloted by one of the best in the business. However, sensing a smidgen of trepidation, Benjamin said

he knew of a valley or two that was sometimes negotiable, even in these conditions, but if the mist closed in on us

we’d simply land and have a cup of coffee with a local forester until it lifted. Apparently he’d done this before when

flying the CEO of Lego through to Tzaneen one day and although this revelation provided some measure of comfort,

we took more from Benjamin’s confidence, his ability and attitude at the time.

As predicted, the valleys he negotiated the chopper through were clear enough and soon we’d wound our way through

the forest covered mountains and were descending onto the low country. But as we did so it was apparent that we were

not out of the woods yet, so to speak, the flat lands were covered in a cotton wool blanket of mist that spread in front

of us all the way to Polokwane. Then to add a squirt of adrenaline to that which was already coursing through our

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veins, we had no radio communications. Despite trying every frequency Benjamin knew, there was no response from

the air traffic control, neither civil nor private. (It was probably a self declared day off for ATC due to fog.) ...We were

completely on our own, in sea of grey in a little yellow helicopter.

Undeterred Benjamin continued flying. He was obviously familiar with area around the Polokwane airstrip and

confidently brought the chopper down lower. We came in slowly, cautiously flying only a couple of metres off the

ground on the one edge of the runway. The sound of the rotors, whuppa- whuppa- whuppa, cutting through the grey

shroud surrounding us and the short grass below the bubble was all I could focus on for a while. Then the rotor- pitch

changed as the heli slowed down ... we were going to land. The terminal building was only just visible through the

mist as we touched down and except for the two ghostlike figures of security officers Nella and Eugene, it was

deserted. I was really pleased to see them, greetings were exchanged and we quickly climbed into their vehicle.

Looking back as we drove away we could just make out the tall lanky figure of Benjamin standing alone next to his

helicopter. Glenn captured the poignant moment on his cellphone moments before.

Driving out towards the city I turned to Nella and asked if we should phone Pitjeng and tell him we were on our way.

“No, wait until we are only 5 minutes away, then we call him.” He said.

This I duly did about 15 minutes later on Nella’s cue.

“Good Morning Captain Pitjeng, this is Mario from Olifants River Game Reserve, we will be at your office in 5

minutes to pick up our rhino horn.”

The response was an unexpected moment’s deathly silence, followed by an all too familiar utterance on the other end

of the line.

“Eish!”

As it turned out Captain Pitjeng had decided to go to Johannesburg that week end. Not just that, he would only be

back on Tuesday and was the only person with the key to the safe that contained the rhino horn! He did this without

letting me or his superiors know of this mind-numbingly, irresponsible change of plan. Fortunately Nella knew the

head honcho at the depot and we were soon in his office where I explained that this predicament was due entirely to

Captain Pitjeng’s negligence. And given the effort we had made and costs incurred, I explained that repeating this

was not an option. Against all legal protocol I demanded the horn be released to Nella and Eugene the following day,

irrespective of whose name the permits were in. This was duly agreed to in writing and the horn was unceremoniously

brought home along the scenic route.

This horn, along with others, now resides in a vault aptly named “Fort Knox” in Johannesburg. Formerly part of the

American Embassy, this depot has probably got the highest security rating in the country.

Being a “lion king” is hard won Lions are the undisputed kings of wildlife. From a human standpoint there is no other animal on earth quite as regal or

that commands as much respect. However, although a huge pride male’s attitude may be interpreted as arrogant by

some, I believe it belies an omnipresent fear, a foreboding of the inevitable. A pride male cannot appear complacent or

drop his guard for a minute. His rise to power is rarely through passive succession and in the pit of his stomach he

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knows that the same brutal force employed to oust his predecessors, will sooner or later be brought to bear against

him...This is his destiny.

Generally speaking all lions have it really tough, particularly male lions. Statistics may vary from region to region and

although I have seen two litters where there was 100% cub survival rate, a male cub in this area has less than 30%

chance of making it beyond his third year and less than 20% of male cubs will ever become pride males. Even then,

once a pride has been established, there is a territory to defend.

It’s easier for us to accept when a pride male is driven out in the autumn of his life, having lived and loved a little,

rather than watching a healthy young male, not much more than two years old, being sentenced to a slow, painful

death before his prime. As if the neighbourhood wasn’t tough enough in its pristine form, Olifants River Game

Reserve’s wildlife is also subjected to a number of unnatural factors which influence our decisions as management.

Trains which use the line running through our reserve have accounted for dozens of lion fatalities and injuries over the

last 20 years. Notorious neighbours who actively hunt lions and who have on more than one occasion gutlessly left

wounded ones to die. And then of course there is the indiscriminate poisoning and wire snare poaching for bush meat

and the muti trade which plagues every reserve in the country.

So when Arnold Chatz radioed in to report that he had a lion with what appeared to be a broken leg, I went to

investigate as a matter of course. Upon arrival at the scene, Arnold pointed out a young male lion lying in the river bed

on a sandy wash. As it tried to move I could clearly see one of its back legs was broken. Besides the obvious injury,

the animal was otherwise in excellent condition. Using binoculars we tried to ascertain the cause and extent of this

lion’s injuries, but this was a little like trying to describe your symptoms to a Doctor over the telephone and expecting

an instant diagnosis based on conjecture. However, it didn’t need seven years of study at Onderstepoort either to see

the leg was broken and as such that the lion was doomed. Despite this, there was still not enough evidence to make an

informed decision on what action to take, if indeed any at all...In other words, I could not simply shoot the animal as I

would have, had it been lying on the railway line... Being part of the “open system” there is a protocol to follow when

injuries are sustained naturally.

As this incident occurred on Olifants, the directors of ORGR were briefed. Later in consultation with our chairman

and considering the various alternatives, a decision was made as to what course of action to take. We agreed, given

the situation, that veterinarian Dr Pete Rodgers would be called in to immobilise the injured lion. A detailed

examination could then be made allowing Pete to give us his professional opinion.

As we’d a scheduled board meeting on the reserve that morning, Glenn was given the location of the lion and placed

on stand-by to take Pete in. However, as it turned out a dog bitten by a Boomslang had delayed Pete and our board

meeting ended earlier than expected, so I was able to join the team in time for the immobilizing. Hardly able to

move, the hapless lion had dragged itself approximately 80 metres from where it was last seen the evening before.

Upon closer examination and contrary to what we initially thought, it was clear the young male had been bitten

through the knee joint by another lion. Despite this injury it had been able to move some distance and to keep up with

the rest of the pride to where the elephant attacked it.

It was at that point the previous day that a number of people on a game drive along Pel’s Loop watched the scene

unfold in front of them. Seeking some respite from its pain the injured lion had gone to lie down in the cool wet sand

and shallow water of the riverbed. There it lay until a large herd of elephant came out of the riparian bush on the South

and down to the same spot to quench their thirst. Usually if a lion is able to walk the prognosis is good and although

this lion had been able to move, albeit with a bad limp, the injury now slowed him so that he could not get out of the

elephant’s way as quickly as the rest of the pride did. Seizing the opportunity, one of the elephant cows went straight

in and attacked the young lion, aggressively tossing him into the air. We suspect the brutality of this force snapped the

leg above the knee joint rendering the lion a virtual cripple.

To confirm his prognosis, Pete had us put on a glove and probe the wound to feel the fractured bone. We all agreed

there was no point in bringing this animal out of its immobilised state, to be woken to agony and left to die...Who

could possibly do that? It was clear there was absolutely no hope of survival and given the body condition of this lion

it would have died a lingering death from starvation, all the while suffering heaps of unnecessary agony from its

broken leg. So the decision was taken not to bring it out of anaesthesia and instead of administering the conventional

euthanasia compound, Potassium chloride was used to painlessly and swiftly end the young lion’s life. This particular

chemical was used so that the carcass could be safely consumed by scavengers. The lifeless lion was then simply

pulled into a donga close by and laid bare to the elements. Essentially all we’d done was to fast forward the natural

course of events... minus the pain of course.

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Pete’s expression says it all

Traversing North and South We wish to take this opportunity to thank members, both North and South, for their co-operation and compliance with

the procedure pertaining to monitoring the reciprocal traversing agreement between the respective reserves over the

festive season. Once the technicalities are analysed and understood, it is our sincere aim to have a more pragmatic

system prevail that ultimately dispenses with intrusive formalities and relies more on cooperation and good faith.

Vehicle check

Your vehicle’s care and maintenance is essentially your responsibility. Having said this, we do offer the following

very basic, non compulsory service, free of charge. And as such is done when and as we are able, usually a few days

prior to your arrival, otherwise a day or two before.

• Vehicles are dusted off and a cursory clean is done whenever possible.

• We check to see the vehicles tyres are inflated. (Not the spare) Punctured tyres which Ronald is able to do ‘in-

house’ are repaired and members notified.

• The vehicle is started and run for a couple of minutes which allows us to check the battery condition. If flat, it

is removed, charged and the owner notified.

• Nothing else is done without an authorised job card.

Unfortunately some members assume this pre arrival check covers it all and so upon arrival at the car park simply

climb into their game viewer turn the key and drive off. Very few people actually open the hood to check their

vehicle’s all important fluid levels namely; battery water, brake and clutch fluid, engine oil, power steering and

coolant levels. Apparently many also fail to check if their spare tyre is inflated and whether they have the correct

wheel spanner, a functional jack or indeed, enough fuel. For your convenience, we ask that you please ensure these

checks are carried out upon your arrival...and routinely again from time to time.

Hello and Fond Farewell Unit 47 has recently changed ownership and we bid a fond farewell to Colin and Dolores Mason and their family,

members of Olifants since inception, they will be greatly missed. At the same time we welcome Maurice and Elsabie

Egan and their daughters.

Thanks Gina Rueff of unit 82 donated a wildlife tapestry for auction to raise funds for the anti-poaching initiative. Thank you

for the kind donation and a big thank you to Rob Garmany of Olifants North for placing a bid and generously

contributing to the cause.

On behalf of management and staff of Olifants River Game Reserve may we wish you all a happy festive season and

prosperous New Year.