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conservation continues... Prior to the fencing of Etosha, many of the larger grazing species, such as wildebeest, zebra and springbok, were free to migrate over huge distances as the seasons changed. These animals had distinct dry and wet season ranges which, in many cases, were beyond the parkšs boundaries. The installation of a fence forced the provision of artificial water supplies, which, without careful monitoring and management, causes more problems than it solves. It leads to unnatural game concentrations, resulting in overgrazing in the areas of water supply. This is because many of the larger mammals must drink on a daily basis, thereby limiting their range to within a day's walk of the water. While the artificial waterholes concentrate the grazing herds, they also concentrate the predators, which have an easier, and more bountiful life. To counter these problems, the artificial watering holes are rotated by switching the water supply on or off in sequence, keeping the game moving on imposed, artificial migratory routes and preventing over-utilization of any one area. The waterholes, established as an answer to the problem of the fence, play a vital role in managing the animal populations, and at the same time enhancing the opportunities for game viewing by visitors to the park.
In efforts to counteract poaching, a highly mobile system of patrols on horseback has been initiated by a special anti-poaching unit operates within the Park, but the team of 26 persons has to cover a vast area. Even so, the elephant population at times increases to a level where culling is necessary to prevent over-destruction of vegetation in the park. Culling of elephants raises another moral issue: Should the ivory of culled individuals be sold to help finance the Directorate of Nature Conservation, thus opening a loophole for the distribution of illegal ivory? Conservation management is a complex problem. Its success is dependent on those
responsible for constantly being one step ahead of the problems and being able to anticipate
the effects of management action or adverse climate conditions. Monitoring the
populations and the gathering of two satellite images each day, it is possible to map
healthy and unhealthy vegetation areas; identify high risk forest fire areas; and show how
waterholes effect the distribution of animals in the park -- an ambitious geographical
information system correlated with the mapping of roads and fire breaks. |
The elephants of Etosha are the
tallest in Africa, with adult male shoulder heights between 3.5 and 4.2 meters.
Ironically, though, their tusks are among the smallest due to nutritional deficiencies and
mineral imbalances. In addition, the very arid climate may increase the brittleness of the
tusk surface through dehydration, and intense competition for good drinking quality water
causes jostling and fighting for the best places, resulting in frequent tusk damage. 
