VOLUME 16. 2013 / 14 SAFE HAVEN Claire Hodgkinson recounts the story of saving orphaned baboons and keeping Durban’s Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife alive. BIRD’S EYE VIEW David Allan reveals the frightening decline in waterbirds in Durban Bay over the last 14 years. A museum about the earth, its history and life on earth, both past and present. (Photo: Charles Krebs – www.krebsmicro.com) thola VOLUME 16. 2013 / 14 3 Comments Page Letter from 4 Director’s Report the Editor 8 Pigeon Valley 10 SANBI Collaboration welcome 13 Library Department Thola first emerged as the Museum’s popular magazine in 2011. At that time, 14 Mammalogy Department I’d just finished serving a stint as ‘acting-director’ of the Museum. Well this year I drew a similar, but much less onerous, sentence as your ‘acting-editor’. As you 20 SAASTEC Conference 2013 will read elsewhere in this edition, our regular editor, Kirstin Williams, was on 22 Special Report: CROW a sabbatical completing her PhD and Allison Ruiters, our Director, asked me to steer Thola through to publication. I’ve edited the Museum’s scientific journal 26 Palaeontology Department Durban Natural Science Museum Novitates since I joined the Museum as long ago as 1996, so I’ve some experience with the pleasure and pain of the task. As 30 Exhibitions Department a popular product, Thola has been more fun to work with than the Novitates but 35 Wind Repowering Project its multi-faceted nature has rendered it equally challenging. In the pages that follow, there are the usual departmental report-backs, packed 38 Herpetology Department with evidence of exciting progress on many fronts, and we welcome no less than five new staff appointments, all involving young and dynamic individuals. Perhaps 44 Entomology Department most thrilling is the landmark announcement of the Museum’s new mobile facility: 48 Education Department GO-WILD! As in the past, some of our like-minded collaborators weigh in with stories of shared interest. Crispin Hemson exposes us to one of our City’s gems of 54 Conservancies a nature reserve. Martin Clement describes the City’s new partnership with the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Ginny Stone extolls our hosting of a 58 Ornithology Department major science-centre symposium. Claire Hodgkinson reveals the heroic work of 64 Events her centre for the rehabilitation of wildlife. Craig Richards shares his insights into the interaction between wind-energy and the environment. Finally, Paulo Candotti 65 Museum Diary spells out some ground-breaking advances in sustainable, community-based conservation initiatives that are happening right in our own backyard. Hope you enjoy these varied offerings. I know I did! David Allan Thola Magazine is published by: [email protected] The Durban Natural Science Museum P. O. Box 4085, Durban, South Africa 4001 165 Anton Lembede Street, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 311 2256. Fax: +27 31 311 2242 VOLUME 16. 2013 / 14 Director: Allison Ruiters Editor: David Allan SAFE HAVEN Design and Layout: Science™ Claire Hodgkinson recounts the story of saving orphaned baboons and keeping Durban’s Centre for the The editors wish to extend a special thanks to Emil von Maltitz Rehabilitation of Wildlife alive. for donating his photographic expertise All material is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of Durban Natural Science Museum Trust the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in the magazine Thola is a non-profit educational magazine and any financial do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor, who contributions to the Durban Natural Science Trust are welcomed. reserve the right to amend articles. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of information, the publisher and editor Mr. David R. Bennett (Chairman) BIRD’S cannot be held responsible for any errors or views expressed. Mr. David G. Allan (Secretary/Treasurer), Mrs. Nicky F. Armstrong, EYE VIEW Readers are invited to express their views to the editor. Mrs. Marilyn N. Bodasing, Mr. B. Themba T. Mathe David Allan reveals the frightening © Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. decline in waterbirds in Durban Bay over the last 14 years. SELECT YOUR WEAPON. YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU. Form a conservancy with like-minded people in your area to control invasive alien plant life and maintain your local environment. A conservancy is a voluntary, co-operative initiative to help owners and residents provide environmental management and promote stewardship of our natural resources at a community level. All conservancies are registered with our provincial conservation authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. The first urban conservancy was established in 1991 with the Everton Conservancy in Gillitts. Twenty one years later, we now have a proud record of voluntary environmental work with over 40 other urban conservancies in and around eThekwini. We hold regular bi-annual workshops to empower our residents with valuable knowledge and information and use many of our local experts for advice. Contact Jean Lindsay on 082 550 4427 or email her at [email protected] Private Bag X 3, Congella 4013 KWAZULU-NATAL CONSERVANCIES ASSOCIATION 3 Visitor’s comments inbox Tell us what’s on your mind, we’d love to hear from you. Send your news, views and suggestions to David Allan at [email protected] Ekuphakameni Primary School Limpopo Junior Chess Team Jessica Broom B. D. Yerakiah 05-09-2013 18-12-2013 03-07-2013 18-12-2013 ‘Noma Khoza’s presentation ‘The guides did a great job with ‘Really enjoyed it! Schools should ‘The museum contains great to my learners was brilliant! the large groups of children. come here. Very educational, I artifacts of prehistoric Thanx lots.’ Love it!’ loved the whole experience. Will information. The tour guide was be back soon!’ quite informative. This building Belinda Upfold Salomi Kirsten and it’s contents is an amazing 28-06-2013 29-06-2013 Karyn Muruyan heritage site.’ ‘Very enjoyable and educational. ‘Awesome experience for my 06-09-2013 An asset to Durban.’ 11-year-old son. Good attraction ‘It was very educational and M. Potgieter for Durban. Friendly staff helped everything so beautiful and life- 04-09-2013 Ruth Rhodes to make the experience good as like. Will come back very soon, ‘I was really impressed. Displays 12-01-2013 well. Thanks.’ would love to learn more.’ were top-class.’ ‘We were very impressed – fantastic displays, nice new ones Skyset Tours Ebrahim Ahmod Gabriella Broom and the old ones much improved. 18-07-2013 23-01-2014 03-07-2013 Loved the rhino poaching focus. ‘The Museum is well-organised, ‘Most memorable and ‘Really lovely museum. Will Just a note that some of the bird self-explanatory and educational. educational place in Durban. definitely come back soon!’ noises were not working.’ Staff are friendly and Learnt a lot.’ accommodating.’ thola: VOLUME 16. 2013/14 4 Director’s Report Director’s Report: Allison Ruiters “Museums today need to operate from a position of shared authority, a concept that pushes beyond the idea of collaboration and partnership.” - Allison Ruiters useums are presented as Krantzkloof Nature Reserve fitted well into the In May 2013, vast progress was made places that produce, hold and 2013 IMD theme - Memory + Creativity = in the new Natural Science Museum disseminate knowledge. At Social Change - which aimed to contribute to development project, with a seminar the same time our institutions community development, in promoting social facilitated by Imagine Durban and MILE Mare all grappling with the challenge of how cohesion and in creating community interest (Municipal Institute of Learning), in which we can become agents of change; how we and involvement with our museums and the Architectural Services, Skills Development can become more relevant. Despite the many natural environment. This initiative, borne out and our museum participated. Invited efforts that are being made, there still of an existing relationship with our Mammalogy external stakeholders included Prof. Michelle remain many questions around most Department and Kloof Conservancy, then Hamer, Director of Zoological Systematics, museums’ civic role in addressing the critical prompted the KwaXimba Natural Heritage Day South African National Biodiversity Institute social needs of our communities. event with KwaXimba Conservancy, which (SANBI), Mr David Kramer, CEO of Sci- Furthermore, there is a general perception formed part of the Parks, Recreation & Culture Bono Discovery Centre, Johannesburg, and that science is isolated and accessible to only (PRC) Month programme. This particular Dr Beverley Damonse, Group Executive, a few members of society. This view is activity was an excellent example of cross Science Advancement at the National reinforced by the mind-sets and practices of pollination between departments, as well as Research Foundation (NRF). Discussions most scientists and science-linked institutions with two different communities, ultimately were held in the context of perhaps one that focus on insular research needs. “bringing the museum to the people”. of the most exciting projects for our City; Museums today need to operate from a Whilst great strides have been made to the development of the Arts and Cultural position of shared authority, a concept that expose the insulated world of science to precinct within the CBD on the Centrum pushes beyond the idea of collaboration our public, a strong statement needs to be site, of which a new Durban Central Library and partnership, but rather promotes the made that science is part and parcel of the will serve as a central resource centre stance that all stakeholders involved must be cultural life of a city. Although there are a for residents, and will also help drive the understood to be authorities who are able to few existing models, there needs to be more economic revitalisation of the CBD area, offer something of value to the relationship.