Page 33 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

Camera Trap analysis
Hawaan Forest Nature Reserve (2023-2024)
Allister Starke, Bernard Chitikobo, and Melanie Reddy
Email: Allister@naturebasedsolutions.io
Since 2022, as part of the ongoing monitoring and forest management actions, the Hawaan Forest Nature Reserve has operated five camera traps. These cameras are positioned at water points and along forest paths, recording terrestrial biodiversity activity. They provide a baseline for biodiversity in the reserve while also functioning as security observation points, alerting management to potential poaching activities.
Over the 2023-2024 period, the five deployed cameras captured 15,511 images, of which roughly half (6,732) showed wildlife activity. In total, the cameras recorded 10
mammal species and 16 bird species. The most commonly captured species were Southern Bushbuck, followed by Red Duiker and Blue Duiker. Other mammals observed during the period included Banded Mongoose, Water Mongoose, Marsh Mongoose, Vervet Monkey, and what we believe was a Black-backed Jackal. Most images were captured during the day, although night-time activity increased during the dry winter months (June-August), particularly at water points.
Throughout the year, most of the activity was recorded at water points, which comprised more than three-quarters of the observations. Predators accounted for 10% of the observations, while mammals made up 80%, with nearly 40% of these being Bushbuck. Missing from our
dataset, though expected to occur within the reserve, were Bushpig and Porcupine.
Systematically annotating and recording camera trap data is a time-consuming task, but the benefits include providing a quantitative record of both common and rare species over time. This information will form part of a longer-term forest monitoring project that will feed back into the reserve management at Hawaan Forest.
Thanks to Vodacom for supporting the purchases of cameras for the reserve.
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