| Strategies |
Requirements |
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Re-establish viable breeding nuclei of waterbuck and
puku by introducing significant numbers of these species
to the Caprivi after a good rainy season.
Develop co-management institutions between the State
and conservancies in areas where conservancies border
on to national parks to achieve larger ranges of reedbuck,
waterbuck, lechwe and puku.
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Establishment of co-management institution to manage
floodplain habitats
Public and political support;
Coordination and collaboration with communities neighboring
parks in the Caprivi;
Full devolution
of authority for the species to the landholders;
Dialogue with land use planning authorities;
Transboundary
cooperation;
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Re- introductions of waterbuck and puku
Re- introductions of waterbuck and puku should ideally coincide
with the inception of a period in which the cumulative rainfall
deviations are in a surplus mode. This is simple to calculate
from existing rainfall data (see Appendix 4). However, it
may be possible to do it following any good rainy season.
The introduced population may not increase rapidly until the
long term rainfall is in a surplus mode, but the nucleus may
persist until that time.
Experience gained from introductions in different parts of
the region is that, if the animals are free-released, predators
may take almost the entire number. Equally, holding them in
bomas for a long period arouses predators' interest and, when
they are finally released, the attrition may be equally severe.
There is no simple solution but the practices being adopted
by Malilangwe Conservation Trust (Derek de la Harpe, pers.comm.)
may offer the highest chance of success.
- Introduce large gropus of animals rather than 'fiddle'
with small groups, which may or may not survive and which,
in any case, will take a long time to increase to carrying
capacity.
- Breed a substantial number of animals in large paddocks.
Release groups, which are large enough to give most individuals
a fair chance of survival. Retain a nucleus of breeding
animals until no longer needed.
- One of the reasons the animals fall easy prey to predators
is their lack of familiarity with the terrain into which
they are finally released. To counter this, construct
a large 'pre-release boma' at the actual site where it
is desired to re-introduce the animals. Move gropups that
are to be released from the main paddock to the pre-release
boma. Animals are still protected from predators and are
given enough time to familiarise themselves with the terrain
in which (it is hoped) they will finally settle.
- Remove the pre-release boma over a period of time. Initially,
create openings in the boma so that animals may disperse
if they wish to. The animals have the option of returning
to familiar terrain if threatened by predators. The boma
is fully removed over several weeks or months.
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