Wabai Hill (Debshan Ranch) (7222)
Zimbabwe, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Wabai Hill (Debshan Ranch)

Central coordinates: Latitude: -20.0667, Longitude: 29.5667

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1200 to 1461

Area of KBA (km²): 978.57039

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Debshan Ranch (c.10,000 ha) is situated south of Shangani. It is primarily a cattle ranch, with up to 30,000 head, and therefore has vast areas of grassland. In recent years the ranch has also promoted wildlife utilization, namely sport-hunting of antelopes and leopard Panthera pardus. On one of its sections is a large granite inselberg called Wabai Hill (c.100 ha), which grades into a long ‘whaleback’ to the west. The Wabai is a beautiful and rather symmetrical dome, visible from far and wide on the surrounding plain, and has near-vertical slopes on three sides. The soils in the area are sandy, and there are many granite outcrops. Miombo woodland occurs in patches.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. Wabai Hill is a daily roost-site for Gyps coprotheres. Up to 225 birds (in March 1983) have been counted on the south-east faces, but the usual number is 100–150. Most are immatures. Wabai is the only known site for this species in Zimbabwe, and is the most northerly site (just) for the species in southern Africa. Sometimes in the rainy season, Grus carunculatus (rarely), Falco naumanni and Circus macrourus use the grasslands. At least 50 species of raptor (including owls) have been sighted on the ranch, which is also a haven for Ardeotis kori. In siNdebele, Wabai means crow, i.e. Corvus albus, but Corvus albicollis actually lives on the hill. Non-bird biodiversity: The ranch has the largest herd of Damaliscus lunatus (LR/cd) in the country.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | hunting | nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	17
Shrubland	76
Artificial - Terrestrial	6

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The ranch is owned by De Beers of South Africa, and for many years the management has been fully supportive of wildlife conservation measures. For Gyps coprotheres, Wabai Hill is protected, and a vulture ‘restaurant’ has been established. The ranch is patrolled by scouts, in addition to the cattle-hands. In November 1997, the government announced a list of farms and ranches to be compulsorily acquired for resettlement purposes, and 82% of Debshan Ranch is on the list, thus its future at the moment is uncertain. Then, in 2000, along with many other commercial properties, it suffered land invasions.

Additional information