Karkloof Forest

The Karkloof Forest is situated in the Karkloof Nature Reserve, 22 km north of Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

View of part of Karkloof Forest and plateau
1898

This is a large (936ha) mistbelt forest containing yellowwoods (Afrocarpus falcatus, Podocarpus latifolius and Podocarpus henkelii) and stinkwood (Ocotea bullata).[1]

Wildlife includes Samango monkey, blue duiker and bushbuck. Crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus) breed here,[2] and the endangered Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus robustus) occurs here.

Endemics to the area include a subspecies of crested guineafowl (Guttera edouardi symonsi),[3] and a dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion sp.) which is related to the Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon and the black-headed dwarf chameleon.

Other birds found here include Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix), forest canary (Crithagra scotops), white-starred robin (Pogonocichla stellata), orange ground-thrush (Zoothera gurneyi), red-throated wryneck (Jynx ruficollis), golden-tailed woodpecker (Campethera abingoni) and martial eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus).[4]

See also

Forests of KwaZulu-Natal

References
  1. Wirminghaus, J. O. (1990-10-17). "A checklist of the plants of the Karkloof Forest, Natal midlands". Bothalia. 20 (2): 159–165. doi:10.4102/abc.v20i2.910. ISSN 2311-9284.
  2. http://birp.adu.org.za/site_summary.php?site=29243016
  3. M. J. Lawes, S. Fly & S. E. Piper, (2005). Gamebird vulnerability to forest fragmentation: patch occupancy of the crested guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) in Afromontane forests.
  4. http://birp.adu.org.za/site_summary.php?site=29243016

Bibliography
  • Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
  • Tolley, K. and Burger, M. 2007. Chameleons of Southern Africa. ISBN 978-1-77007-375-3.

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