Rhino Numbers and Census

[Richprins]

MP Questions

QUESTION NO. 2780
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.32NW3429E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12October 2012

Ms S Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

Whether, with reference to her reply to question 614 on 11 April 2012, the rhino census in the Kruger National Park scheduled for the dry season of 2012 has commenced; if not, why not; if so,
(a) when did it commence,
(b) who is the team leader of this project,


2780. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

Yes,

(a)10 August 2012

(b) Dr Sam Ferreira, Large Mammal Ecologist, SANParks

According to the excuse of "abnormal rains leading to excessive vegetation growth hampering the census" this would indicate higher than normal rainfall in the South of Kruger (Rhino Central) during late July 2012.

One can find Official Rainfall figures in detail here: http://www.sanparks.org/docs/parks_krug ... /jun12.pdf

But they stop at June, for some reason...

Malelane, Pretoriuskop, Croc Bridge and Skukuza all had below-average rainfall up until then...only Stolznek and Lower Sabie above average...

But others may glean a different interpretation?

[iNdlovu]

So is the minister telling lies? Is this the census that was stopped because of a broken aircraft and heavy rains?

[Richprins]

The Minister is clueless.

Dr Ferreira is telling lies, IMO!

(Not necessarily the view of AW Forums)

[Penga Ndlovu]

I will say it as it is.

Yep. She is lying.

But then again. What is new with politicians all around the world.

[Bushcraft]

The Minister is clueless.

Dr Ferreira is telling lies, IMO!

(Not necessarily the view of AW Forums)

Agreed RP

[Richprins]

Of course there were massive floods all over the place early 2012, but vegetation was back to normal by winter...I was there!

White Rhino generally shun dense vegetation, and should still be easy to pick up from the air, IMO!

[iNdlovu]

What's Ferreira got to hide by lying. Is he trying to pull a cover up that the census was not done. Clueless or not RP, a minster cannot blatantly mislead Parliament when answering questions.

[Richprins]

I will say it as it is.

Yep. She is lying.

But then again. What is new with politicians all around the world.

No..not the minister!

[Dewi]

Please read the paper before forming opinions and and making inflammatory statements.

The paper is based on previous population surveys dating back from 2010 and has nothing to do with the 2012 survey.

[Toko]

Dewi, I have read the paper.
Ferreira SM, Botha JM, Emmett MC (2012) Anthropogenic Influences on Conservation Values of White Rhinoceros. PLoS ONE 7(9): e45989. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045989
And it has indeed nothing to do with the cancelled rhino census and the comments here