| Summary: | Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research focuses on the black rhinoceros and ecotourism in three conservation areas
in the Kunene region of Namibia. The reciprocal impact between black rhino and
community-based ecotourism is analysed. The research is located in two communal
conservancies, #Khoadi-//Hôas and Torra, and in a photographic tourism concession, the
Palmwag Concession Area.
The research aims to explore and describe the reciprocal impact of community-based
ecotourism efforts and black rhino spatial movement patterns in three conservation areas
in north-west Namibia. An in-depth literature review was undertaken on the reciprocal
impact between rhino-tracking tourism and conservation. A comparison was also made
between the effects of human-induced disturbance on spatial movement patterns of black
rhinos and the perception of tourists about tracking black rhinos. The value of black
rhinos to community-based ecotourism was also determined.
Quantitative research methodology was used for this study. Explorations of objectives
were conducted through direct field observation with the aid of radio-telemetry tracking
and aerial surveying for data gathering. The researcher employed SRT (Save the Rhino
Trust) trackers in the study areas to assist with the tracking. The sample consisted of 24
transmitter-fitted black rhino in the three conservation areas. Rhino not fitted with
transmitters have been included in the sample for more accurate results. Four hundred
questionnaires were distributed at four tourist lodges in the study area.
The hypothesis that sustainable ecotourism does not influence black rhino spatial
behaviour was rejected. Rhinos in the study were easily disturbed and did not readily
return to undisturbed behaviour. Their major response to disturbance was to run away.
The disturbance was influenced by their initial activity when found. The highest
disturbance occurred early in observations. Rhinos illustrated similar causes of
disturbance throughout the study sites. The Springbok River emerged as the area with the
most severe reactions to disturbance. This was supported by home range data and ecological constraints. Analysis of tourist responses regarding rhino tracking indicated a
high demand for and level of satisfaction. This was the single determining factor for
tourists to return to the Kunene region to do rhino tracking again. Tourists were willing to
pay close to market price to track black rhino.
It is recommended that tracking of black rhino should be avoided in the Springbok River
and Aub/Barab areas. Tracking protocols should stipulate that tracking should only be
conducted early in the morning; that rhinos may only be approached from downwind;
that observation time may not exceed 15 minutes; that groups must be kept small; and
that the approach distance may not be less than 100 metres. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus van die navorsing is op swart renosters en ekotoerisme in drie
bewaringsgebiede in die Kunene streek van Namibia. Die wedersydse wisselwerking
tussen swart renosters en gemeenskaps-gebaseerde ekotoerisme is nagevors. Die
navorsing het plaasgevind in twee kommunale bewaringsgebiede, #Khoadi-//Hôas en
Torra asook ‘n konsessie vir fotografie in die Palmwag Konsessie Gebied.
Die doel van die navorsing was om die wedersydse wisselwerking van gemeenskapsgebaseerde
ekotoerisme en swart renosters se geografiese bewegingspatrone in drie
bewaringsareas in noordwes Namibië te ondersoek en te omskryf. ‘n Deeglike
literatuurstudie is gedoen ten opsigte van die wedersydse wisselwerking tussen toerisme
met die doel om renosters waar te neem deur spoorsny en bewaring van die spesies. Die
uitwerking van versteuring deur mense op die geografiese bewegingspatrone van swart
renosters is vergelyk met die persepsie van toeriste ten opsigte van spoorsny van swart
renosters. Die waarde van swart renosters ten opsigte van ekotoerisme is ook bepaal.
Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik in die studie. Die doelstelling van die
navorsing is uitgevoer deur direkte veld waarnemings met behulp van radio-telemetriese
opsporing en data insameling met behulp van lugsensusse. Die navorser het spoorsnyers
van SRT (Save the Rhino Trust), wat in die studiegebied werk, in diens geneem om van
hulp te wees met die spoorsny van renosters. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 24 swart
renosters toegerus met seintoestelle in drie bewaringsgebiede. Renosters wat nie
seintoestelle gehad het nie, is ook in die steekproef ingesluit ten einde beter dekking te
verkry. Vierhonderd vraelyste is by vier toeristeoorde in die studiegebied versprei.
Die hipotese dat volhoubare ekotoerisme nie ‘n invloed uitoefen op die geografiese
gedrag van swart renosters nie, is verwerp. Renosters in die studie-gebied is maklik
versteur en het nie geredelik teruggekeer tot onversteurde gedrag nie. Hulle reaksie op
versteuring was gekenmerk deur weg te hardloop. Die mate van versteuring is bepaal deur die renosters se aanvanklike aktiwiteit by opsporing. Die meeste versteuring het
gedurende vroeë waarneming plaasgevind. Dieselfde oorsake van versteuring is in al drie
gebiede gevind.
Die Springbokrivier was die gebied waar die sterkste reaksies ten opsigte van versteuring
bespeur is. Dit word ondersteun deur die grootte van die loopgebiede van die renosters
en ekologiese beperkings van die gebied. Data-analise van toeriste-vraelyste het
aangetoon dat daar ‘n groot aanvraag en belangstelling is in die spoorsny van renosters.
Die grootste bepalende faktor vir toeriste om na die Kunene streek terug te keer, is om
renosters te sien deur middel van spoorsny. Toeriste is gewillig om die heersende
markprys vir spoorsny van renosters te betaal.
Navorsingsaanbevelings sluit in dat spoorsny van swart renosters in die Springbokrivier
en Aub/Barab gebiede vermy word. Spoorsny-protokol moet stipuleer dat dit net in die
vroeë oggend gedoen word, dat renosters slegs van onderkant die wind genader word,
waarnemingstyd mag nie 15 minute oorskry nie, groepe moet klein wees en die afstand
vanaf die diere mag nie nader as 100 meter wees nie.
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