Abstract:
Ecological data on the vegetation and the enviromental factors of Letaba Ranch were collected.
Climate, edafic and vegetation data were collected and analysed. Three plant communities, four
sub-communities and five variants were identified. Five management units were identified on
which proposals for the management of the study area were made.
The veld condition varied from very poor (10.42 %) to very good (74.13 %).The carrying capacity
was determined to ensure that the game stocking rate was not too high. It was found that Letaba
Ranch could easily maintain 1 392 large stock units (LSU) and 5 921.6 browse units (BU).
The influence that re-introduced juvenile elephants has had on the herb layer and woody plants
was also investigated to determine whether juvenile elephants can be used as a natural means to prevent bush encroachment. The recent study showed that juvenile elephants can not be used
as a meganism to prevent bush encroachment on Letaba Ranch.
