Wildlife Conservation Zimbabwe Project #46071

Help ALERT recover after COVID-19

by African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

Project Report | Aug 5, 2021
ALERT overcoming COVID-19 challenges

By Dr Norman Monks. | Director Research and Conservation

We would like to thank all of our supporters for their support of this fund-raising exercise. Not surprisingly the funds raised was slow and only 15% of the projected amount was raised in over a year.

We are mindful of the fact that there are many people faced with challenging issues caused by the virus and are just grateful to those who were able to so unselfishly contribute help. We have decided to close this appeal but would like to share with you what we have achieved despite the restrictions caused by Covid-19.

The ALERT team has continued with its work in Chizarira National Park and surrounding Communities in the face of a third wave of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe. On the 22nd June our small team was able to successfully dart and collar a large bull elephant and have been keeping track of it throughout the period covered by this report. This project is aimed at obtaining population dynamics of elephants in the park and also to come up with elephant-human conflict mitigation.

We have taken on two attachment students from the Zimbabwean National University of Science and Technology that are carrying out research for their BSc (hons) degree in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management. The one project is aimed at obtaining density estimates of carnivores using two methods: road transect spoor surveys; and camera trap surveys. The camera traps are set out along the spoor transect route. Carnivores are mostly nocturnal and are often difficult to see. These methods are an acceptable way of determining what carnivores are around and give a measure of density. The other student is carrying out an insect survey in six different vegetation types. All of this information is available to the Park Manager and staff so that they can be supplied with ecological information that they would not normally have of this 1,910km2 park.

Our school conservation programs have been put on hold but as soon as restrictions have been lifted we have some exciting projects for the high school students living on one boundary of the park.

Thank you all once again for your support. We wish you safety and a positive attitude as we face the uncertain future.

Permalink

Apr 8, 2021
ALERT work continues despite Covid-19

By Dr Norman Monks | Director Research and Conservation (ALERT)

Covid -19 has affected us all. We are grateful to those who have donated towards helping ALERT continue and recover from the pandemic, despite their own difficult circumstances. Whilst the response to our appeal was not great, the donation received nevertheless went a long way to helping us continue our work in two National Parks in Zimbabwe (Chizarira and Victoria Falls National Parks) and in the surrounding communities. We have been able to make regular trips to the Chizarira National Park which is very isolated and which does not carry any danger of COVID-19 contamination.

At Chizarira National Park (which is 1,910km²) in extent, our researchers and research assistants have been busy mapping out vulnerable tree plots and carrying out measurements so that we have base-line data before a plan is put in place by the Park Authorities to bring in more elephants. The existing elephant population in the park which is at an ecological balance with the vegetation, has not decimated a preferred tree species Brachystegia boehmii (common name “Prince of Wales Feathers), and there is a healthy regrowth of this species. This may change once the population is increased. Getting base-line data is important so that ALERT and the Park Authorities can measure the effects of the planned introduction. We have continued to monitor the movements of the elephants we collared in the Victoria Falls and Chizarira National Parks.

The researchers have also been carrying out wildlife spoor (footprint identification) counts to get some measure of the wildlife species and numbers occurring in the park. This is done by have an observer sitting securely on the front bumper of the research land cruiser who located the prints and a recorder who writes down the details. Photographs are taken of any print that is not immediately recognized for future positive identification. Interestingly prints of wild dog (painted dog), were identified. This identification places wild dogs in the park which is a rare occurrence.

Bird records are also being kept and the rare Ross’s Turaco was seen and recorded during this exercise. An article has been sent to the Honeyguide magazine for inclusion in their National Reports.

Our school conservation classes in the surrounding local communities has been put on hold due to Covid-19 but we have a new syllabus and a team eager to start again once schools are fully operational.

Keep safe and thanks again for your support!

Permalink

Dec 12, 2020
Covid-19 implications on research and community

By Dr Norman Monks | Director Research and Conservation (ALERT)

‹ 1 2

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.