Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and Batoka Gorge (7185)
Zambia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and Batoka Gorge
Central coordinates: Latitude: -17.9333, Longitude: 26.0667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 900
Area of KBA (km2): 84.19943
Protected area coverage (%): 60.63
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the adjacent Batoka Gorge which extends downstream as far as the confluence of the Zambezi with the Kalomo river. At 6,600 ha, the park is Zambia’s smallest, but it is the most popular as it flanks a stretch of the Zambezi river just south of Livingstone that includes the Victoria Falls. As well as riparian habitats such as sandbars and fringing forest, there is woodland (mainly mopane) and the immense basalt gorge below the falls (much of which is over 100 m deep).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. The site is most important for the species occurring in and around the gorge. Falco fasciinucha has been recorded with some regularity and is known to nest here—Hartley (1993) estimated that 8–10 pairs occurred in the gorge along 60 km of its length—but it is perhaps not as common as some local tour operators might suggest, possibly due to confusion with other species such as Falco peregrinus. Other breeding species of interest include Ciconia nigra, Aquila verreauxii and Apus barbatus and, along the river above the falls, Gorsachius leuconotus, Podica senegalensis and Glareola nuchalis. Non-bird biodiversity: A wide variety of mammals occur, including Loxodonta africana (EN).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 43 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 49 | |
| Forest | 6 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Being such a high-profile site, it seems likely that there will always be a reasonable level of protection. However, the disturbance created by the increased tourist activity requires investigation. The continual presence of light aircraft above the falls has been linked with a decrease in sightings of Falco fasciinucha in that area, although this has not been proven. Below the National Park, the Batoka Gorge offers a large stretch of suitable habitat and this remains somewhat inaccessible and relatively undisturbed. However, there are proposals to construct a hydroelectric dam in the gorge which could have a serious impact on the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Clarke and Loe (1974), Dowsett (1975), Hartley (1993).