History & Organisation

1993

Tim Clutton-Brock and assistants from the University of Pretoria start habituating meerkats and collecting data in the Kalahari at Nossob in the Gemsbok National Park (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) and at Rus und Vrede close to Van Zylsrus.

1995

Systematic data collection on meerkat started. Marta Manser joins the meerkat project as a PhD student in Janaury, working both in the Gemsbok National Park and at Rus en Vrede. At the Gemsbok National Park, David Gaynor and Ruth Kansky become the field managers of the meerkat project.
Kuruman River flowed in March Gradual increase in habituated meerkat groups at Rus en Vrede. First volunteer joined the project.


1996

At Rus en Vrede, Whiskers group started with animals from Lazuli and Young Ones.

1999

Meerkat research in the Gemsbok National Park terminated. 

2000

Kalahari Research Trust established to own the KRR with Tim Clutton-Brock as Secretary and three trustees.

2001

Gannavlakte Farm and parts of Rus en Vrede (total area 3,250 Ha) purchased with funding raised by Tim Clutton-Brock. Renamed as the Kuruman River Reserve. Additional buildings at GV and RV. Kalahari Research Centre established. GV sponsored by Earth Watch. New accommodation built, boundary fence heightened and water holes and supply improved.

Alien vegetation removal begun with the aim of ensuring the protection and conservation of the native Kalahari ecosystem. 

Internal fences removed and domestic stock species replaced by red hartebeest, gemsbok, springbok, wildebeest, and eland.  

Members of the local community employed to assist with work at the Kalahari Research Centre.   

Earthwatch groups begin visits to work on meerkats.   

2013

New funding for meerkat and mole-rat research from ERC grant begins.

Damaraland Mole-rat Project began by Tim Clutton-Brock involving Dave Gaynor, Markus Zöttl, Philippe Vullioud and Jack Thorley.  

Mole-rat House built to house 50 colonies with laboratory facilities   

Regular catching and marking of wild mole-rat colonies begun by Zöttl, Thorley and Vullioud.  

Studies of the Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill began by Tanja van de Ven, Susie Cunningham and Andrew McKechnie.