Tswalu Kalahari acts as a major contributor to conservation of species and ecosystems in the Northern Cape, conserving numerous rare and endangered species, but also maintaining natural systems. Due to the fact that this reserve has such an important conservation ethic, numerous research projects have been sanctioned by the Oppenheimer family. These projects range from insects through to rhino and contribute to the reserve managements understanding of the uniqueness, complexity and diversity of this wonderful, arid land. Understanding the relationships and connectivity of ecosystems is one of the major challenges in modern ecology. Researching components of the whole system through monitoring trends in populations is important, especially when populations are influenced by changes in vegetation structure, seasonal climate fluctuations and different management practices.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has focused on researching the various components of the biodiversity investigations on the interactions between species and their environment.
This study examines aspects of the feeding behaviour of the white rhinoceros, and the extent to which any possible competition for food may lead to intra-specific competition, and how it can be avoided by management interventions.
This project is being undertaken by Carmen Booyse through the University of Pretoria’s Centre of Wildlife Management.
This project investigates the predator-prey relationships, range use and social dynamics of the Kalahari lion on Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. The project investigates an optimum lion population size without having a detrimental effect on the prey base.
This project is being undertaken by Bob Roxburgh through the University of Pretoria’s Centre of Wildlife Management.
Key questions being asked with this research include the ecological capacity of the reserve for African buffalo and population management measures to be taken. This involved questions about habitat use characteristics and habitat preferences of buffalo in terms of the quality and quantity of the habitat available to and used by the buffalo.
This project is being undertaken by Marzanne Cromhout through the University of Pretoria’s Centre of Wildlife Management.
The primary objective of this research is to determine the density of black rhino which can be sustained by the vegetation on Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. It is important to assess the current nutritional and reproductive status of the population to ensure that overstocking and subsequent effects on vegetation are not affecting the population at present and that maximum productivity levels can be achieved.
This project is being undertaken by Jo Shaw through the University of Witwatersrand’s School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences.
This project aims to determine the abundance, species diversity and species richness of commensal fauna that utilise burrows created by larger mammals. In addition, this project looks to determine whether the abundance, species diversity and richness differ along an aridity gradient in South Africa. This project also aims to determine whether the microclimate of burrows differs from the external environment and whether they vary significantly on a seasonal basis along an aridity gradient.
This project is being undertaken by Gareth Whittington-Jones through Rhodes University’s Department of Zoology & Entomology.
The Tswalu Foundation has been established to fund numerous research projects at Tswalu.
Find out more about the Tswalu Foundation and how you can become involved.
