BURCH FELLOW 2013 ENDANGERED SPECIES TRACKING AND MONITORING IN SOUTH AFRICA

I got to work with an organization worked. My work on these reserves called Wildlife ACT in the Kwazulu- was focused on the tracking of Natal region of South Africa, on several leopards through camera-traps. different projects, Hluhluwe, Mkhuze, We were tasked with going out and and Somkhanda/Kwazulu Private removing the remaining cameras, and MATT STEYL projects, tracking and monitoring retrieving and categorizing the pictures Class of 2014 endangered species in each park. they had taken. The work was a lot

Charlotte, NC Matt Steyl Work in Hluhluwe began before more physical, especially at Kwazulu sunrise every day when we would Private, where we set up new camera orking with South head out to track the African Wild traps in various locations throughout where buyers believe they have special African wildlife has Dogs. Also called Painted Dogs, they the park where leopards would medicinal properties. They do not; been a longtime are one of the most endangered hopefully pass. We also got to meet the rhinoceros horns are made of keratin, W species in the world, with fewer than principle researcher for the project, the same material that makes up dream of mine, I used to go 400 individuals surviving in South and better understand her need for fingernails. This failure in education, on safari when I visited my Africa. These animals live and hunt leopard surveys and the data we were as well as rampant poverty in South family in South Africa when I in packs, much like wolves, and we collecting. As with Hluhluwe, we also Africa, drives up the rate of poaching; was little, and for a long time I tracked the only pack remaining in monitored elephants and rhinoceros, more rhinoceros were poached in wanted to be a ranger when I Hluhluwe. We would drive out to the and used this information to assist the South Africa last year than in any year grew up. I’ve since focused on den site – the reason we left so early reserves with conservation efforts. previously. The conservation efforts studying other, very different in the morning is that the dogs tend The final reserve on which I there are a daily struggle to relate to things: international politics and to hunt early – and wait for the dogs worked was Mkhuze. Mkhuze was also poor communities, many of whom see to come out. Because they tend to home to a wild dog pack, which we poaching as their only means of escape Chinese. But I always wondered roam long distances in search of prey, monitored most days. The rest of the from poverty. about my old dream, and never the dogs are particularly susceptible time we tracked a local elephant herd, I found to my surprise, then, could stop thinking about South to poachers’ traps. We followed which had a number of young calves that this issue is related to what Africa. My Burch Fellowship barely at walking age. On several I’ve been studying. Conservation experience gave me the chance to occasions we were close enough to is about international politics and live out that dream. touch the elephants, and though they development. To save endangered were a little nervous of us, they never species we must first work towards CONTINUED charged outright. At Mkhuze I was improving the education, income, and able to be involved with more of the standard of living of people around day-to-day work of conservation, the world. Though the situation is aside from monitoring endangered disheartening, I have a greater sense species. I helped in keeping track of of purpose thanks to this experience. them until they made a kill and then our sightings, including updating I’m more committed than ever to returned to the den. We would often computer records to reflect the improving the world and working see and make note of other animals number of endangered animals, what toward solutions to the interlinked as well, especially elephants and they are doing, and where they are problems of poverty, ignorance, and rhinoceros, which are also at risk located. I also helped keep a record of poaching. I may be more aware of of poachers in the area. One of the camera traps in Mkhuze, which were the steep challenges that we as a most memorable experiences I had also used to track leopards. Highlights global community face, but I am more KwaZulu-Natal at Hluhluwe was getting the chance of my time in Mkhuze included optimistic about solving them, and to interact with (read: play with and following and taking the first ever about my own ability to contribute to a pet) a group of baby rhinoceros whose pictures of that park’s new wild dog more informed, developed, and equal mothers were victims of poaching. puppies, and also setting out carcasses world. These baby rhinoceros were being to attract vultures for a vulture census raised by the park veterinarian until (we counted over 190 vultures in the they are old enough to live and graze small area where we dumped the on their own. carcasses, after returning the next South Africa The second project on which day). I worked spanned two reserves: During this adventure I learned Somkhanda, and later, Kwazulu- how conservation is connected to Private. These reserves were very many other issues. I learned that different, both from each other and rhinoceros horns can sell for up to from the other projects on which I $125,000 in East and Southeast Asia,