The incredible eel

If you sit quietly next to a deep, rocky pool in Mountainlands you may be lucky enough to spot a freshwater eel. Although they look like snakes, they are actually fish and belong to the scientific order Anguillas. Freshwater eels have an astonishing life cycle. They are born as saltwater fish and from there they enter the mouths of rivers and they miraculously transform into freshwater creatures, thus the name freshwater eels. There are 16 species which migrate between the ocean and fresh water of which 4 occur in east and southernAfrica. It is presumed they begin their life off the coast ofMadagascar as flat, leaf-shaped larvae, or leoptocephali. They gradually end up on the southern African coast and they gradually transform into glass eels, so named for their transparency.  As they grow they acquire more colour and become known as elvers.

It is not clear why eels leave the sea. Females venture far inland whilst the males remain in the salt water near the coast or in rivers closer to the sea. Females also grow larger than males. Whilst still small, waterfalls and other vertical structures prove no obstacle to their endeavours to reach their preferred locations. Louis Loock, regional manager at MpumalangaParksand Tourism Agency says he has seen how the little elvers wriggle up the vertical wall of a weir.  They migrate upstream at night when darkness affords them cover and can climb over moist barriers. Once they have reached their destination the eels settle down in rivers until they reach sexual maturity.  This can be up to 25 years for females.  They then prepare to swim back to sea where they change dramatically again – their eyes become big and their colour changes. There the females spawn and the males fertilise the eggs. It is believed they die soon afterwards. The four species found in southern Africa are the Longfin eel (Anquilla mossambica),Shortfin eel (Anguilla bicolor bicolor), African Mottled eel (Anguilla bengalensis labiata) and Madagascar Mottled eel (Anquilla marmorata).   Anquilla mossambica has been spotted on Mountainlands.

More eland introduced

While off loaded during the night, the next day the heard of 33 were spotted making themselves at home not far from the loading ramp.

New Reserve Manager

Mountainlands recently welcomed Francois Du Toit as the new reserve manager. Francois brings extensive conservation and reserve management experience to the team. He arrived at an exciting stage with several infrastructure development projects currently underway, and got straight to work on these.

Seen here inspecting road construction projects on the Lomshiyo section of the reserve, (from left) Francois Du Toit - Reserve Manager, Mark Ngwenyama - BATOBIC Relationship Manager, Louis Loock - MTPA Regional Manager and Godfrey Mogoane - BATOBIC Programme Manager.

Spotting a python

Its not often that one comes across a python on Mountainlands. This young one was approximately 1,5m long and was basking on one of the roads. The Southern African Rock Python (Python sebae) is listed as vulnerable and may not be killed or captured. They are keen sunbathers especially after a large meal.

More kudus

Recently, 32 kudus consisting of bulls, cows and subadults made Mountainlands their new home.

Posing kudus

Kudus are the most graceful, large antelopes that roam Mountainlands. Recently we see more of them probably as they become more used to people. These magnificent bulls were photographed near the admin complex over the weekend.

A nightjar’s view

These pictures of a Fiery-necked nightjar (Latin name: Caprimulgus pectoralis) were recently taken on Mountainlands and give a good impression of the bird’s upward angled eyes. Nightjars are nocturnal and their flight is silent as they hawk insects at night. In daytime they will sit on the ground or under shrubs protected by their camouflage.

Fiery-necked nightjars are widely distributed throughout southern Africa and because they strongly resemble other nightjars the best way to distinguish them is by their characteristic call resembling ‘Good Lord, deliver us’.

Due to their tendency to sit on road surfaces in Mountainlands, they are often blinded by oncoming vehicles and will only take off at the very last second. Animals have right of way in the nature reserve, and special care should be taken on evening drives to avoid injuring these little birds. So where did they sit before the roads were made? Tony Ferrar, an ecologist from Barberton says they sat in flat open country, on game paths, in natural bare patches in well-grazed savannas and in open woodlands where bare patches are common under tree canopies

Leopards and spots

How does a leopard change his spots? When it gets tired of one spot it just moves to another. And that is exactly what a male leopard did – with a bit of help from human friends – when he was recently relocated from the Kruger National Park to Mountainlands.

The adult male of about four years, arrived late in the afternoon last Friday. He was under sedation and placed under a tree to sleep off his hangover.  But, since it was late afternoon and winter, there were fears that he may be bit cold when the sun set. So he was covered with a blanket which he shook off when he woke up and stumbled away. This promptly earned him the name “Ngubo”, which is the Swazi word for blanket.

Leopards are known to occur in Mountainlands and sightings have previously been recorded. As it is such a vast wilderness area, Ngubo will be able to roam the mountains and stake his own territory. Let’s hope he finds a good mate soon.

Leopard (Panthera pardus) males can weigh up to 80 kilograms and live for 20 years. Ngubo is healthy and in his prime and is a welcome addition.

Ngubo getting his final medical check-up before release from Dr Ferreira du Plessis (Head Veterinarian) and Ertjies Ruum (Game Capture Unit) of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.

New Management Plan underway

Nature reserve management plans are dynamic and are typically reviewed every five years. The current management plan of Mountainlands Nature Reserve is being reviewed and the new Integrated Management Plan (IMP) is being compiled by leading specialists in protected area management.  V&L Landscape Architects are widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on protected area management in southern Africa and were also responsible for some of the management plans for Transfrontier Parks in southern Africa. The IMP will comply with the new legislation governing nature reserves and their management and is being undertaken in close cooperation with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.  The new IMP will include recommendations for the future management of the reserve and Mountainlands will end up with a top notch plan which is at the cutting edge of protected area management.

Time travel on the Bulembu Road

Have you ever imagined what it might be like to travel back into time and view what the Earth looked like in the past? With the packaging of the 39km geotrail along the Bulembu road you may do just that. This geological trail will take you back 3.6 billion years and showcase some of the most important geological exposures and scenic sites through construction of several lay-bys and information points on the R40 just south of Mountainlands. Amongst others, this includes formations containing evidence of the first microfossils of life on Earth and 3,4 billion year old shorelines. The designs for the lookout and interpretative points have been completed and currently await provincial roads department approval. Construction is set to commence around July for completion before the December holidays. This project is also being funded by the National Department of Tourism through the BATOBIC Programme.