Zululand Nile Crocodile Research Project

Nile Crocodiles are important indicators of ecosystem health and predators within a variety of aquatic habitats. Nile Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) are classified as threatened. Considered as keystone species in aquatic environments, the Nile Crocodile population in Southern Africa had seen a marked rise in numbers since their near demise in the 1960’s due to over-exploitation and uncontrolled hunting. However, the population of Nile Crocodiles in South Africa faces new threats that could once again lead to a drastic decrease in their numbers, such as disease, pollution and habitat degradation. The recent die-off of Nile Crocodiles in the Kruger National Park has highlighted the vulnerability of the species and garnered international media attention. The northern KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand) population is second in size only to the Kruger population. The Nile Crocodile population in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (St Lucia Wetland Park) is globally important. This is because comparable estuarine populations of the species do not exist. Despite the conservation significance of Nile Crocodile populations in Zululand the spatial and nutritional ecology, population dynamics and effect of environmental contaminants on the species are not well known. The species is a valuable ecosystem component but also a source of management concern, as individuals become problematic when they leave protected areas. The multi-faceted Zululand Nile Crocodile research project commenced in 2009. This area falls in the Maputaland centre of endemism. This area has two of the three major breeding areas of the Nile Crocodile within South Africa. The study aims to assess the spatial ecology, reproductive biology, habitat use, population dynamics, ecotoxicology, and nutritional ecology of the wild Nile Crocodile populations in Zululand through GPS/GSM telemetry, mark-recapture, aerial surveys and analyses of blood, serum and urine from Nile Crocodiles in the area. The latter will be used specifically for crocodile nutritional, ...