The Zambezi Heartland is situated in the Middle Zambezi Valley and is dissected by the mighty Zambezi River which flows through a wide game-rich floodplain between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The study area for this project is the stretch of river between between Lakes Kariba and Cahora Bassa. There has been considerable utilisation of the Nile crocodile in the Middle Zambezi Valley by all three heartland states (Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mocambique) including harvesting adult wild crocodiles for crocodile farm breeding stock, egg collecting and sport hunting.

In an area which harbours such rich biodiversity and ecological processes the Nile crocodile, being a keystone species, maintains the balance within the ecosystem, being a top predator they influence several lower trophic levels.
I shall be collecting demographic data, utilising the Capture-Mark-Recapture technique and spotlight surveys as well as yearly nesting surveys to construct population models to predict the trends of the Nile crocodile population under various harvesting regimes.

We aim to provide biological information, highlight conservation concerns and provide management recommendations and for both the wildlife authorities and crocodile farms to ensure sustainable utilisation of the wild Nile crocodile population.

I am funded by NERC and the research group, Zambezi Crocodile Research is sponsored by Earthwatch Institute co-ordinated by Dr. Alison Leslie at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. We are backed by the Species Survival Commission of IUCN - Crocodile Specialist Group. We will be working with the Zambia Wildlife Authority, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and Conservation Lower Zambezi.

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