Search

Vulture populations are declining globally largely due to deliberate and unintentional persecution and poisoning of animal carcasses which the birds consume. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess local people's knowledge and perceptions of vultures and their ecological importance and (ii) determine the socio-cultural uses of vulture body parts in communities adjacent to the northern Gonarezhou National Park, south-eastern Zimbabwe. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered through interviews with randomly selected household representatives (n = 81) in August 2016. Our results showed that the majority of study respondents, 72.9% (n = 59) reported the need to conserve vultures for their socio-ecological importance to the local communities. Respondents acknowledged the importance of vultures as agents of cleaning the environment, hence maintaining ecosystem health. However, a concern for vulture population decline due to poisoning was reported by most respondents of 71.6% (n = 58). Vulture's organs were reported to be used mostly to enhance dreaming or having visions about the future followed by healing and lastly magic use. We recommend enhanced conservation awareness and education on vultures' conservation and restrictions on access to and use of hazardous chemicals which may likely be used in poisoning wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed flight behavioural responses of impala (Aepyceros melampus) and kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) to human disturbance and compared densities of common large herbivores across Gonarezhou National Park (non- consumptive land use) and the adjacent Malipati Safari Area (consumptive land use) in southeast Zimbabwe. Animal vigilance was measured by flight behaviour and compared in terms of area and group size. Distance sampling method was used to collect data on densities of large herbivores including namely; impala, kudu, zebra (Equus quagga), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprytnnus), elephant (Loxodonta africana), warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), steenbok (Raphicerus campestris), common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), and in both study sites. The vigilance of impala and kudu were higher in Malipati than Gonarezhou {p < 0.001). Vigilance in impala was not significantly different with increasing animal group sizes in both Gonarezhou and Malipati (p > 0.05). Densities of common large herbivores were marginally different with Gonarezhou having higher animal densities than Malipati (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that hunting is important in triggering increased vigilance behaviour of herbivores as well as influencing animal densities. Thus, it is important to monitor and reduce negative human activities on animal populations in the study area for enhancing tourism activities and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of edaphic factors in influencing woody vegetation diversity and structure in savannas, there is still limited research on the topic across most savanna ecosystems. Here we investigate the differences and/or similarities of woody vegetation diversity and structure across areas with different edaphic factors (i.e. soil group) in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. We stratified our study area into two strata based on soil group, namely siallitic soil in northern Gonarezhou and regosol soil in central Gonarezhou. Data were collected from 96 sample plots between March and April in 2011. Our results showed significantly higher woody species diversity in siallitic soil stratum compared to regosol soil stratum. In contrast, there were no significant differences in woody vegetation structure between the two study strata. Our results suggest that soil variations play an important role in influencing woody vegetation diversity more than woody vegetation structure in Gonarezhou. Future studies should investigate the role of soils on a specific woodland type's composition and structure, and also determine the interactive effects between soils and other environmental determinants in Gonarezhou and similar protected areas in savanna ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]