Captive rearing of the Cape francolin and prospects for stocking

Cape francolins, Francolinus capensis, were reared in captivity from eggs of penned birds. Egg laying extended over eight months, but was erratic with a mean of 18,5 eggs per pen per season. Optimal production of fertile eggs was obtained with one pair per pen, and older birds tended to be more productive. Egg fertility was low (57,7%). Various chick-mortality factors resulted in a survival rate of only 22,3% to the age of nine months. Stress from crowded captive conditions was a possible primary cause of the high chick mortalities. Nine one-year-old males and 26 females were marked individually and released in an agricultural area directly after the breeding season of wild Cape francolins. Some dispersal for up to 3,8 km was observed, and a maximum of 40% survived the first three months in the 54 ha study area. Almost all of the birds died within six months, possibly from competition with wild francolins or an inability to adjust to natural conditions. No reproduction was observed in the captive-reared birds. It was concluded that supplementing wild populations with captive-reared birds could only have short-term benefits such as temporarily increased hunting opportunities.