News from the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust
From the Park Manager's Desk
P Leitner
Of all the factors that influence the parks ecological functioning, rainfall ranks amongst the most important. With the good rains over the past two months, we have watched the steady rise of Mankwe dam with great anticipation and relief. There was a time when the scenario of this large dam drying up, seemed not so far fetched.
I would imagine that the adjusted entrance fees have been a topic of discussion amongst the park regulars. Contrary to what one would imagine, the rise in fees was generally well received.
Many of the park patrons have, for some time now, questioned the low fees especially in view of the park infrastructure maintenance challenges. Considering that the last increase was seven years ago, good value has been enjoyed for many years, and an alignment was, by all accounts, well overdue.
Good news is that a full introduction of plains game is planned for this winter. No less than 3700 head of game, including Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, and Zebra will be released in the park, to sustain the predation levels into the future. The overall game viewing will improve dramatically and the intensity of fires should drop with the extra grazing pressure.
Of all the factors that influence the parks ecological functioning, rainfall ranks amongst the most important. With the good rains over the past two months, we have watched the steady rise of Mankwe dam with great anticipation and relief. There was a time when the scenario of this large dam drying up, seemed not so far fetched.
I would imagine that the adjusted entrance fees have been a topic of discussion amongst the park regulars. Contrary to what one would imagine, the rise in fees was generally well received.
Many of the park patrons have, for some time now, questioned the low fees especially in view of the park infrastructure maintenance challenges. Considering that the last increase was seven years ago, good value has been enjoyed for many years, and an alignment was, by all accounts, well overdue.
Good news is that a full introduction of plains game is planned for this winter. No less than 3700 head of game, including Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, and Zebra will be released in the park, to sustain the predation levels into the future. The overall game viewing will improve dramatically and the intensity of fires should drop with the extra grazing pressure.
Posted on 10 Apr 2008 by News Desk
From the Park Manager’s Desk
Peter Leitner
It has been another eventful year with little space for reflection. Things need to be done right the first time round or they will just slip away under the weight of new daily priorities.
How can I open this edition without some mention of the good rains and the pigeon-egg hailstorm we endured on Friday 23 November? My office can bear testimony to that: - eight buckets, next to my chair, catching up rain as I am writing this piece and trying to dodge stray drops filtering through the thatch.
It has been another eventful year with little space for reflection. Things need to be done right the first time round or they will just slip away under the weight of new daily priorities.
How can I open this edition without some mention of the good rains and the pigeon-egg hailstorm we endured on Friday 23 November? My office can bear testimony to that: - eight buckets, next to my chair, catching up rain as I am writing this piece and trying to dodge stray drops filtering through the thatch.
Posted on 01 Feb 2008 by News Desk
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