Rainfall and Temperatures

Temperatures

The average maximum temperature for this month was 32°C / 90°F and the average minimum temperature 20°C / 68°F.  The average maximum temperature for December 2009 is 2°C higher than December 2008, but falls within the range of temperatures that have been experienced during the previous years which gives the indication that temperatures are not increasing.  The highest temperature recorded for December was 37°C / 99°F and the lowest was 13°C / 55°F.

Rainfall

December’s rains have done wonders for the vegetation with everything appearing lush and green.  A total of 145 mm was received during the month, bringing the total rainfall received during 2009 to 814.5 mm.  The total for this rainy season (September 2009 to August 2010) increases to 414.5 mm.

Field

Maintenance

Much of the maintenance work undertaken at Lion Sands during February revolved around the repair and rehabilitation of two-track cause by vehicles during off-road driving for animal sightings.  Only a few two-track are in need of repair and rehabilitation - these are usually created when the Rangers have located a predator on a kill, as these give excellent sightings for a couple of days.

Two-track repair and rehabilitation involves chipping the soil crust and adding rhino dung before brush packing the sight with vegetation.  The soil is chipped to allow water to infiltrate the soil, while the rhino dung acts as an important seed source of various grass species and the brush packing reduces the impact of raindrops on the soil surface while also reducing herbivory on the sprouting grasses.

After the heavy rainfall event towards the end of the month we spent a great deal of our time removing fallen trees from across the many roads in the Reserve.  These were mostly windfalls, with the occasional tree being pushed over by elephants.  These trees and cut into manageable portions, removed from the road and placed in the surrounding vegetation to serve as micro habitats to the Reserves small inhabitants.

 Roads

As a result of the heavy rains received during the month, several roads were in need of repair. The entrance road into Lion Sands, Bonsela, required the addition of a couple of mitre drains to facilitate the removal of water from the roads surface.  The mitre drains on this section of road were also opened and their associated humps were repaired.  These mitre drains and humps are extremely important as they prolong the life of a road and ensure that the surface water is quickly removed from the roads surface, preventing damage to the roads surface.

In addition Tamboti, Chawkley’s, Euphorbia, Piva, Puza Manzi, Rhino Dam, Ivory Access and Misi Loop under went routine maintenance, whereby the mitre drains were opened, humps repaired and certain sections were gravel patched to ensure an even road surface.

Vegetation and Water

With all the rainfall received during the month, the vegetation is still lush and green. Several tree species have begun flowering and some are in the advanced stage of producing their fruits, a welcome sight for all the browsers of the Reserve. The herbaceous vegetation too has a good biomass and is providing ample grazing for all the grazers of Lion Sands.

The rainfall received during the month has helped maintain high level of water in the major waterholes on Lion Sands.  In addition to these, several smaller, natural pans have been formed throughout the Reserve providing ample water to all the animals on Lion Sands.  Water is essential as all of the animals on the Reserve depend on water for their survival, either by being directly dependent on water for drinking and pest removal purposes or by being dependent on the animals attracted to the water for their survival.

Animals

Birds

Interesting bird sightings this month included that of a Malachite Kingfisher, Openbilled Storks and a pair of Corn Crakes.  The Corn Crakes (Crex crex) have been seen on Lion Sands before but it is still a rare sighting.  It was a first for Lion Sands to have a sighting of Openbilled Storks (Anastomus lamelligerus).  New arrivals on Lion Sands also include European Rollers and Eurasian Bee-eaters.

A Giant Kingfisher was also observed catching small fish in a water pool near Warthog Wallow Bridge.

Reptiles

With the approaching summer conditions and several warm spells experienced at Lion Sands over the past month, reptile sightings have been on the increase.  Many species of reptile are now emerging from refuge sites where they spent the winter period.  There were several reptile sightings during the month which included:

African rock python (Python sebae)
Leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)
Flap-neck chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)
Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)
Giant plated lizards (Gerrhosaurus validus)

Special Sighting

Inquisitive Leopard cubs

A particular female leopard in the east of the reserve has become a regular sighting over the last couple of months.  On most occasions when she has been sighted, we have seen her moving in and around the dry riverbeds and associated thicket vegetation.  She has been in the same area for a couple of weeks now and this lead us to believe that she might have cubs in the area.

Last week our hopes were realized, when one of our Field Rangers located her and her cubs moving through the vegetation in the area that she had been frequenting.  This litter includes two cubs, which are approximately six months old.  The cubs were very inquisitive, playing in close proximity to the vehicle and continuously stalking it, trying to see what the strange object was.

Mammals

Lion

Lion sightings have been good over the past month, with these majestic creatures being located almost every day.  The Southern pride is still strong and healthy and it had become difficult to differentiate between the adult females and the growing cubs as they are all similar in size.  The pride has been located throughout the Reserve, moving large distances during the night in search of a meal or two.  The lone pride male is also seen regularly, patrolling his territory, protecting it from rival males.

The Charleston pride were also a common sighting during this month, they could be seen moving along the Eastern boundary of Lion Sands, as far as the Sabie River.  They are a healthy pride numbering eight, with four adult females, 3 adult males and a very young cub.

Leopard

We have once again been treated to some incredible leopard sightings during the month of December.  On several occasions we have located our dominant male, the Sandriver male, patrolling his territory, in search of females and protecting it from rival males. We have also seen two females with two cubs each and they are being seen throughout the Reserve.

Edwin Pierce
Ecologist – Lion Sands Private Game Reserve