scholarly journals The reproductive success of black rhinoceroses in the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoliswa N. Nhleko ◽  
Dan M. Parker ◽  
Dave J. Druce
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Ecological Carrying Capacity ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Southern Central ◽  
Target Period ◽  
The Mean

Black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) are endangered and the southern-central sub-species (Diceros bicornis minor) is considered critically endangered. We assessed the reproductive lifehistories of black rhinoceroses in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to determine whether this historically important donor sub-population was meeting regional reproductive targets. Detailed life-history information for known individuals (n = 79–120) was used to investigate reproductive parameters between 1998 and 2013. Mean age at sexual maturity was 12 years, which exceeded a target period of 7 years and 5 months. The mean inter-calving interval was 3 years and 8 months – 8 months longer than the recommended 3 years. The poor population performance of the HiP black rhinoceroses could be a result of poor habitat quality, poor animal condition, females losing their first calves, predation of calves or a negative social effect of annual live-harvesting of the population. However, we believe that the estimated ecological carrying capacity of black rhinoceroses at HiP (a figure used to ascertain whether the population can be harvested at all) may be incorrect, leading to the poor reproductive performance. We recommend that the accuracy of the ecological carrying capacity estimate be assessed as a matter of urgency and that a moratorium be placed on the live-harvesting of individuals until the estimate has been refined.Conservation implications: Our results provide key data which can be used to refine black rhinoceros breeding targets in South Africa and the region more broadly

scholarly journals Habitat changes reduce the carrying capacity of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, for Critically Endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Reid ◽  
Rob Slotow ◽  
Owen Howison ◽  
Dave Balfour
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Habitat Changes ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Stocking Rates

AbstractThe Critically Endangered black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis occurs mainly in protected areas. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa, contains a key source population for black rhino conservation, and declining population productivity has been attributed to negative habitat changes and a reduction in carrying capacity. As home range increase may be an index of declining habitat quality we determined the home ranges of the black rhino in the Park and compared these ranges with previous estimates. The average size of the home ranges during 1991–2001 was 23.07 ± SE 0.81 km2, which is 54% greater than in the 1980s. Sex and the availability of water did not influence home ranges. Home ranges decreased in winter. Female:male ratios varied across the Park, indicating that one or both sexes may prefer specific areas. Changes in vegetation structure and composition may have caused rhino to maintain larger ranges in order to meet their nutritional requirements. Ongoing review of stocking rates, population performance (including indicators such as range size), and intervention strategies are necessary to manage black rhino in dynamic savannah ecosystems.

Observations on the Pathology of Lesions Associated with Stephanofilaria dinniki Round, 1964 from the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

1964 ◽  
Vol 38 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 171-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Tremlett
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis ◽  
Made In

In South Africa, a filarioid infestation has been associated with lesions in the skin of the black rhinoceros (Schulz and Kluge, 1960). Similar lesions had been reported earlier from Kenya, as consistently occurring in these animals but their aetiology was unknown (Spinage, 1960). Recently the opportunity occurred to examine lesion material from four black rhinoceros located in the Royal Tsavo National Park Kenya. From this material adult helminths were recovered and identified (Round, 1964), and further pathological studies made. In addition, one rhinoceros showed evidence of an otitis.

scholarly journals Embodying human rights in #FeesMustFall? Contributions from an indecent theology

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Grassow ◽  
Clint Le Bruyns
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The University

This article focuses on the #FeesMustFall (FMF) movement and the question of a human rights culture. It provides evidence from the specific context of FMF at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, which exposes human rights abuses and violence to the dignity of protesting students. To advance a human rights culture within the higher education sector in the context of FMF, the article highlights the role of theology – ‘indecent theology’ (as espoused by Marcella Althaus-Reid) – in revealing the problem and promise of higher education institutions in the quest for a more liberating and responsible society. It is only through interrogating the narratives that sustain the current university structures – and continue to oppress the poor and the marginalised – that South Africa will be able to begin to construct a society that is respective of the rights of all.

Telemedicine and neurosurgery: experience of a regional unit based in South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Jithoo ◽  
P V Govender ◽  
P Corr ◽  
N Nathoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Prospective Analysis ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Regional Unit ◽  
Referral Hospitals ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ct Scanners

We carried out a retrospective analysis of all emergency referrals to the neurosurgery department of the Wentworth Hospital from 1996 to 1999. The hospital provided a service to seven peripheral hospitals with computerized tomography (CT) scanners and 46 hospitals without, in the province of KwaZulu Natal. By the end of the study, six of the hospitals with CT scanners had facilities for teleradiology and the mean patient return rate had fallen to 17%. In comparison, almost half the patients seen from the hospitals with no CT scanners were returned to hospital after assessment at the Wentworth Hospital. We also carried out a prospective analysis of 100 consecutive teleradiology-assisted consultations from January to March 2000. Of the 57 patients (79%) who remained at their referral hospitals, 45 had a good outcome, while the other 12 (21%) patients had a poor outcome. The implementation of teleradiology-assisted consultation decreased the number of inappropriate inter-hospital transfers while maintaining appropriate patient care and improving outcome.

scholarly journals Antiretroviral initiation of pregnant women and antenatal care booking practices in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomonde Nozulu ◽  
Bernard M. Gaede
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Mother To Child

Background: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa began as part of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme. For significant reduction of vertical transmission, early antenatal care booking and ART initiation are necessary.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate ART initiation and booking practices of women attending antenatal care in eThekwini district during financial years (FY) 2010/2011 and 2013/2014.Methods: An observational study used a retrospective chart review at four eThekwini district community health centres (CHC). From these CHCs, records of women that initiated ART in FY10/11 and FY13/14 were reviewed and compared for ART initiation delays and booking practices.Results: A total of 2749 pregnant women who attended antenatal care (ANC) at the study sites were found eligible for ART; of these, 49% (n = 1334) attended ANC in FY10/11 while 51% (n = 1414) attended in FY13/14. In FY10/11, 46% (n = 610) and 60 % (n = 855) of the womenwere initiated on ART during pregnancy. The mean gestational age at booking for FY10/11 was 20.88 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 5.6) and 18.40 (s.d. = 6.2) in FY13/14. The mean gestational age at ART initiation for women who initiated ART in FY10/11 was 26.30 (s.d. = 6.02) and in FY13/14 it was 19.06 (s.d. = 6.86).Conclusion: In FY13/14 ART initiations occurred within 4 days after booking. ANC booking before 20 weeks was found to have improved between the two years from 39% to 58%;however, on average, in both years women booked during the second trimester.

scholarly journals The Covid-19 Pandemic and Religious Activities: A Case Study of Esikhaleni Settlement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Korsi Vorvornator ◽  
Joyce Mdiniso
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Infection ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Masses

The COVID-19 virus allegedly originated from Wuhan, China and spread globally including South Africa and forced the country into restricted lockdown. This study analyses COVID-19 and religious activities during lockdown among dwellers in the rural community of Esikhaleni in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. A qualitative approach was employed including thirty participants who were selected through random sampling. Telephonic interviews were conducted with the respondents from 1st to 30th May, 2020. Durkhein’s ideas of functional religion in Sociology relating to the human race being together, sharing solace and love with the destitute were defied by COVID-19 protocols. These protocols of the state implemented social and physical distancing to be observed to curb a high infection rate (WHO, 2020). As a result social gatherings were halted, which posed severe challenges to religious bodies to meet, praise and worship as the normally do. Some religious bodies then, resorted to online approaches and used media platforms such as, Zoom, Skype, and even WhatsApp to deliver their services. Major events by some religious organisations including baptisms, crusading, evangelism, and Hajj pilgrimages by Muslim adherents were also postponed. The COVID-19 catastrophe befalling the destitute and needy in society forced religious bodies to extend their arms to those in dire need of help. Challenges during the use of online services included both leaders and congregants not having the requisite technical know-how to connect the programmes. There were also issues related to network connectivity, intermittent power interruption, and the inordinately high cost of data procurement in South Africa for especially the poor. Overall, despite COVID-19 protocols preventing social gatherings, religious bodies, developed other means to keep their spiritual tempo and ought to overcome a sense of hopelessness bestowed on congregants by the pandemic – but sadly this omitted the poor. It is recommended that, religious leaders must learn to use ICT effectively, because COVID-19 might be here for some length of time to come. Moreover, religious leaders must also strive to educate their congregants to observe COVID-19 protocols and seek to avoid a third imminent wave of the virus, instead of laying blame at the door steps of government. Religious orders need to urgently embrace technological solutions which is sadly not always possible due to limited resources. Getting the masses out of poverty through job creation would also go a long way to help when future pandemics arise, and they surely will.

scholarly journals Pulmonary Infection due to Mycobacterium bovis in a Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis minor) in South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1187-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W. Espie ◽  
Tiny M. Hlokwe ◽  
Nicolaas C. Gey van Pittius ◽  
Emily Lane ◽  
Adrian S. W. Tordiffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mycobacterium Bovis ◽  
Pulmonary Infection ◽  
Black Rhinoceros ◽  
Diceros Bicornis

scholarly journals Application of the contingent valuation method to estimate the willingness-to-pay for restoring indigenous vegetation in Underberg, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Du Preez ◽  
S Tessendorf ◽  
Stephen Hosking
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Contingent Valuation ◽  
Contingent Valuation Method ◽  
Valuation Function ◽  
Valuation Method ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Alien Vegetation

This study estimates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a project (i.e. the Working for Water Programme) aimed at removing alien vegetation and restoring indigenous vegetation in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The WTP estimate reflects the benefit of preference for indigenous vegetation over alien vegetation. In a survey, a questionnaire was administered to 260 households in the Underberg region during September 2005. It was deduced that the mean WTP for the project was R21.12 in 2005 (R26.40 in 2008), the total WTP was R25 344.00 (R31 680.00 in 2008) and the WTP per hectare was R21.87 (R27.34 in 2008).  A valuation function to predict WTP responses was also estimated. The function showed that knowledge of the local Working for Water Programme and income were important determinants of WTP. 

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