Two new hides at Loskop Nature Reserve
The Loskop Dam Nature Reserve is situated 55km north of Middelburg and is managed by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. Thanks to a partnership with Anglo American's Zibulo colliery two hides have been constructed at the reserve. The reserve is home to more than 70 mammal species, including three of the big five - buffalo, white rhino and leopard.
Source: www.nightjartravel.com
"We wanted to assist in attracting more visitors to the park and thought that the construction of hides would make it more appealing," says environmental coordinator Mel Melchior. "One hide overlooks a watering hole, while the other gives visitors a view of an area where mammals eat earth or clay to obtain essential nutrients - a phenomenon known as geophagy."
Prevention of poaching
Zibulo erected signage and graded the roads to both hides and, in cooperation with the Environmental Services Department at Anglo American's thermal coal business, has provided cyber tracker technology that will help prevent illegal activities such as rhino poaching.
The park is home to a large portion of Mpumalanga's already endangered white rhino population and is renowned for spectacular sightings of these magnificent animals. Unfortunately it has not been immune to poaching. The 22,800ha reserve is no stranger to Anglo American, which has already been involved in the reserve's black-footed cat and ground hornbill breeding programmes.
"Anglo American's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation is realised through collaboration with environmental NGOs, research organisations and government," says Wally Tollemache, general manager of Zibulo. "As part of our undertaking to support initiatives that promote greater environmental responsibility, we are proud to partner with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency in its efforts to upgrade the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve."
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