Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Encyclopedia
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is a governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity
in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
. Their headquarters is in Queen Elizabeth Park situated on the northern slopes of Pietermaritzburg
, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial capital. Prior to 1994, it was known as the Natal Parks Board.
King Shaka
, who prevented excessive hunting of game animals in the Umfolozi River
valley in the early 19th century. However King Shaka used this area for his own hunting purposes and cannot be classed as a 'preservationist'.
Voortrekkers, who entered the region now known as KwaZulu-Natal in the early 19th century, also had conservation policies. The Voortrekker leader Piet Retief
had rules excluding the unnecessary shooting of game, and veld burning was strictly controlled.
Zulu King Mpande is known to have afforded protection to the Ongoye Forest
. He is also said to have issued an edict preventing the killing of large game animals.
The Durban Botanic Garden
was founded in 1859, and although originally founded for studies into economically important exotic plants, soon became a centre for the study of local plants, and ultimately led to realising the importance of protecting areas of natural vegetation.
In 1866, the Natal
Government drew up the first game laws at a time when Zululand was still independent. Zululand was annexed in 1887 and this allowed the exploitation of game animals by immigrants.
The decimation of the wildlife was noted by both hunters and early naturalists, and in 1895 the first game reserves were proclaimed. These included; Umfolozi junction, St Lucia, Hluhluwe valley and Pongolo-Umkuzi. Many years followed where conflict arose over disease spreading from the protected game and a difference in priorities was evident between conservationists and farmers. Some game reserves were deproclaimed and the Nagana Campaign was implemented, which caused severe degradation of ecosystems.
In 1947, the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board was established to enforce laws relating to wildlife in Natal and Zululand, which by that time were a single province of South Africa known as Natal. The name of the organisation was later simplified to the Natal Parks Board.
In 1982, Dr. Mangosuthu Buthelezi
established the KwaZulu Bureau of Natural Resources, later renamed the KwaZulu Department of Nature Conservation, which managed conservation areas in the former KwaZulu homeland under the Apartheid Government.
After the end of Apartheid the Natal Parks Board and KwaZulu Department of Nature Conservation became a single organisation, which was eventually called the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. More recently the name was changed to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
The areas managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife include marine turtle nesting sites (Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles), Coelocanth habitat and three centres of endemism
. Two of the areas managed are World Heritage Sites (iSimangaliso and uKhahlamba).
The organisation manages over 57 parks in total.
Among other things, Ezemvelo plays a key role in conserving the white and black rhinoceros
.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Their headquarters is in Queen Elizabeth Park situated on the northern slopes of Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial capital. Prior to 1994, it was known as the Natal Parks Board.
History
The first known person to provide protection to wildlife in the region was ZuluZulu Kingdom
The Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
King Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
, who prevented excessive hunting of game animals in the Umfolozi River
Umfolozi River
The Umfolozi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. It is formed by the confluence of the Black and White Umfolozi Rivers near the southeastern boundary of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve...
valley in the early 19th century. However King Shaka used this area for his own hunting purposes and cannot be classed as a 'preservationist'.
Voortrekkers, who entered the region now known as KwaZulu-Natal in the early 19th century, also had conservation policies. The Voortrekker leader Piet Retief
Piet Retief
Pieter Mauritz Retief was a South African Boer leader. Settling in 1814 in the frontier region of the Cape Colony, he assumed command of punitive expeditions in response to raiding parties from the adjacent Xhosa territory...
had rules excluding the unnecessary shooting of game, and veld burning was strictly controlled.
Zulu King Mpande is known to have afforded protection to the Ongoye Forest
Ongoye Forest
Ongoye Forest is also known as Ngoye Forest or Ngoya Forest. It is situated on a granite ridge; inland from the town of Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
. He is also said to have issued an edict preventing the killing of large game animals.
The Durban Botanic Garden
Durban Botanic Garden
The Durban Botanic Gardens is situated in the City of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is Durban’s oldest public institution and Africa's oldest surviving botanic gardens...
was founded in 1859, and although originally founded for studies into economically important exotic plants, soon became a centre for the study of local plants, and ultimately led to realising the importance of protecting areas of natural vegetation.
In 1866, the Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
Government drew up the first game laws at a time when Zululand was still independent. Zululand was annexed in 1887 and this allowed the exploitation of game animals by immigrants.
The decimation of the wildlife was noted by both hunters and early naturalists, and in 1895 the first game reserves were proclaimed. These included; Umfolozi junction, St Lucia, Hluhluwe valley and Pongolo-Umkuzi. Many years followed where conflict arose over disease spreading from the protected game and a difference in priorities was evident between conservationists and farmers. Some game reserves were deproclaimed and the Nagana Campaign was implemented, which caused severe degradation of ecosystems.
In 1947, the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board was established to enforce laws relating to wildlife in Natal and Zululand, which by that time were a single province of South Africa known as Natal. The name of the organisation was later simplified to the Natal Parks Board.
In 1982, Dr. Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
established the KwaZulu Bureau of Natural Resources, later renamed the KwaZulu Department of Nature Conservation, which managed conservation areas in the former KwaZulu homeland under the Apartheid Government.
After the end of Apartheid the Natal Parks Board and KwaZulu Department of Nature Conservation became a single organisation, which was eventually called the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. More recently the name was changed to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
Conservation
The Natal Parks Board was instrumental in saving the Southern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) from extinction. All Southern White rhinos today (over 17 000 individuals) are descended from the remnant population of Umfolozi. Today Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is involved with saving a subspecies of the Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis minor), of which virtually all of the animals now living in South Africa are descended from the remnant population of Umfolozi.The areas managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife include marine turtle nesting sites (Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles), Coelocanth habitat and three centres of endemism
Centres of endemism
A Centre of Endemism is an area in which the ranges of restricted-range species overlap , or a localised area which has a high occurrence of endemics. Centres of endemism may overlap with biodiversity hotspots which are biogeographic regions characterized both by high levels of plant endemism and...
. Two of the areas managed are World Heritage Sites (iSimangaliso and uKhahlamba).
Some Major Parks Managed by Ezemvelo
- Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
- Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game ReserveHluhluwe-Umfolozi Game ReserveHluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, located 280 km north of Durban, is the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. It consists of 960 km² of hilly topography in central Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only...
- Natal Drakensberg Park, part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation AreaMaloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation AreaMaloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area was established on 11 June 2001 by linking the Sehlabathebe National Park in the Kingdom of Lesotho and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The total park will be: 16.226 Km² large. This 300 km long Peace park covers...
- Tembe Elephant ParkTembe Elephant ParkTembe Elephant Park is a 300km² game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve.The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife....
, part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation AreaLubombo Transfrontier Conservation AreaThe Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area was born out of the Peace Park Foundation’s vision to establish a network of transfrontier conservation areas in southern Africa... - Mkuze Game ReserveMkuze Game ReserveMkhuze Game Reserve is a game reserve in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was proclaimed a protected area on 15 February 1912....
- Oribi GorgeOribi GorgeOribi Gorge is situated along the spectacular forest-cloaked ravine of the Mzimkulwana river just west of Port Shepstone which itself is 120 km south of Durban. Oribi Gorge is the eastern gorge of two gorges that cuts through the Oribi Flats , southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa...
- Itala Game ReserveItala Game ReserveIthala Game Reserve, 290 km2 of rugged, mountainous thornveld in northern KwaZulu-Natal, about 400 km north of Durban. It is one of the youngest game parks in South Africa...
- Royal Natal National ParkRoyal Natal National ParkThe Royal Natal National Park is located in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa and forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site...
The organisation manages over 57 parks in total.
Among other things, Ezemvelo plays a key role in conserving the white and black rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
.
Al the Parks
- Amatikulu Nature Reserve
- Isimangaliso Wetland Park
- Cape Vidal
- Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
- Mpenjati
Mountain Areas
- Didima north of Monk's Cowl in the Cathedral PeakCathedral PeakCathedral Peak may be any of several mountains, typically those with steep sides and towers reminiscent of a cathedral. In the United States alone, the USGS identifies 17 summits named "Cathedral Peak":In other countries:...
area, 35000 ha. - Cobham and Vergeglen near Himeville Village, 52000 ha.
- Garden Castle includes the Bushman's Nek Valley.
- Giant's CastleGiant's CastleGiant's Castle is a mountain peak in the southern African Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal. Giants Castle offers visitors to the regions hiking opportunities with panoramic views. The Nature Reserve offers secluded accommodation, bushman rock art with easy access for everyone and about the best base to...
- Highmoor also known as Mkhomazi Wilderness Area, 15000 ha.
- Himeville near Himeville Village, 104 ha.
- injisuthi in the northern section of Giant's CastleGiant's CastleGiant's Castle is a mountain peak in the southern African Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal. Giants Castle offers visitors to the regions hiking opportunities with panoramic views. The Nature Reserve offers secluded accommodation, bushman rock art with easy access for everyone and about the best base to...
area.
Nature Reserves
- Blinkwater Nature Reserve north of PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
- Bluff Nature Reserve near DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, 45 ha. - Harold Johnson Nature Reserve near Thugela River mouth, 100 ha.
- Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve in Yellowwood Park, DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, 253 ha. - Krantzkloof Nature Reserve in Kloof, between HillcrestHillcrest-Australia:*Hillcrest, Queensland, a suburb of Logan City*Hillcrest, South Australia, suburb of Adelaide-Canada:*Hillcrest, Alberta, also known as Hillcrest Mines*Hillcrest, Norfolk County, Ontario, an unincorporated community...
and PinetownPinetownPinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet . It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and...
, near DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, 600 ha. - Northpark Nature Reserve adjacent to the Umhlahazana River, 52 ha.
- Oribi Gorge Nature ReserveOribi Gorge Nature ReserveOribi Gorge Nature Reserve is a park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 21 km inland from Port Shepstone. The Oribi Gorge is more a canyon than a gorge. It is almost 5 km wide at some points, and over 400 m deep. The reserve is located at the confluence of the Mzimkulu River and Mximkulwana...
close to Port Shepstone, - Skyline Nature Reserve
- Umtamvuna Nature ReserveUmtamvuna Nature ReserveThe Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is situated in South Africa on the KwaZulu-Natal side of the Umtamvuna River, and is managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife...
bordering the Umtamvuna River, 3 247 ha.
Forests
- Dlinza Forest
- Entumeni Forest
- Ncandu Forest
- Ongoye ForestOngoye ForestOngoye Forest is also known as Ngoye Forest or Ngoya Forest. It is situated on a granite ridge; inland from the town of Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:...
- Nkandla Forest