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The Diversity of De Hoop Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area Hot

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Cape Mountain Zebra by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick.jpg

Considered one of the flagship nature reserves of CapeNature, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area is probably best known for its vast numbers of Southern Right Whales that come to calve and mate within its protected waters.

Apart from the whales, the reserve is one of the Cape Floral Kingdoms’ hotspots and is host to numerous rare and endangered species. The fact that one can also walk almost anywhere in the reserve and that the wildlife is relaxed and easily approachable makes De Hoop a firm favourite of mine, drawing me back for repeated visits.

juvenile kelp gull by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick
1 of 12: A bedraggled juvenile Kelp Gull stands on the seas edge after being washed off a rocky platform by a pounding wave.

ploughshare snails and jellyfish by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

2 of 12: The long sandy beach to the west of Koppie Alleen always provides interesting photographic subjects. Here, ploughshare snails crawl towards a stranded jellyfish upon which they will feast.

intertidal flats at de hoop by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

3 of 12: The exposed intertidal rock platforms near Koppie Alleen are extremely healthy and close inspection will showcase an incredible diversity of marine invertebrates and seaweed types.

eland bull and cow by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

4 of 12: Herds of up to 300 eland often congregate to rest and feed on the open grasslands that lie adjacent to the Opstal accommodation.

spotted eagle owl chick by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

5 of 12: A juvenile spotted eagle-owl peers out from the shrub where its parents built their nest on the ground.

running male ostrich by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

6 of 12: A male ostrich strides out at speed across the open plains near the Opstal accommodation.

mating bontebok by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

7 of 12: Bontebok mate in January and after an eight month pregnancy, the calves are born in August/September and for the lucky, the birth of the calves may be viewed on the open plains.

chacma baboon by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

8 of 12: A dominant chacma baboon sits and searches amongst a patch of figs for mushrooms and fig fruit that are quickly devoured.

mating Cape Mountain Zebra by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

9 of 12: De Hoop is host to a healthy population of Cape Mountain Zebra whose global numbers top around 1500 individuals.

de hoop vlei by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

10 of 12: The De Hoop Vlei is an internationally recognized RAMSAR wetland that is home to a wide diversity of waterbird species that have on occasion numbered up to 30 000 birds.

helmeted guineafowl at dawn by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick
11 of 12: A helmeted guineafowl scours the ground closely for food as the sun tips over the horizon and casts a golden halo around the bird.

family on de hoop vlei at sunset by wildlife and conservation photographer Peter Chadwick

12 of 12: There are few more peaceful locations to spend the sunset than picnicking on the edge of the De Hoop Vlei and observing the birds flying to roost. Occasionally Cape Clawless Otters may also be viewed feeding along the vlei’s edge.

Please be sure to follow me on my Facebook page for future conservation and photography updates.

Location

Closest Town

Bredasdorp

Address

Bredasdorp

Contributor

Peter Chadwick

http://www.peterchadwick.co.za

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Author: Peter ChadwickWebsite: http://www.peterchadwick.co.zaEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About

As a dedicated conservationist, Peter Chadwick has 30 years strategic and operational conservation experience in terrestrial and marine protected area management. He has worked within all of the major biomes in southern Africa as well as having provided expert conservation advice at a global level. His conservation and wildlife photography is a natural extension to his conservation work where he has numerous opportunities to capture photographs that showcase the beauty and complexity of the outdoors. Peter’s photography is internationally recognized, with this work appearing globally in a wide range of print and electronic media.