Research Archives - Africa Geographic

Daisies that close at night have camouflaged petals to protect them from herbivores

A recent study has revealed a novel way in which flowers can avoid being eaten by herbivores.

Leopards in Namibia – latest population census results

The results of a recent leopard census in Namibia, providing a more accurate estimate of the distribution and number of leopards in the country.

OPINION: Rhino horn trade – designing a sales mechanism should international trade become legal

Rhino horn trade: If the international sale of rhino horn was legalised could it be more successful than the previous legal sales of elephant tusks?

Elephants and ivory – CITES CoP18 and what the opposing countries want

Battle lines are drawn at the CITES CoP18 conference which starts this weekend, and elephants and ivory are the controversial issues at play. Here is an opinion post from three organisations about each of the proposals on the table.

A closer look at women in the Field Guiding industry

South Africa commemorates National Women’s Month in August and here we take a look at women in the field guiding industry.

Incredible escape and evade strategies in the insect world

Escape and evade strategies in the insect world – where being killed and eaten is an ongoing reality.

Elephant ivory trafficking possibly controlled by only 3 major cartels, says research

Major implications for ivory trafficking as research reveals that only three cartels control most illegal trade, according to research.

Opinion: The untold story behind hunting in Botswana

Hunting in Botswana: Human-wildlife conflict scientist takes a deeper look at whether the historic hunting ban was good or bad for elephants and people.

Bull elephants mate more as they get older – research

Older male elephants are more determined to track down and mate with females than young elephants, says research.

Scorpion facts you need to know

They may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but scorpions are fascinating creatures and they deserve our respect. Learn all there is to know about scorpions here!

How to skyrocket tourism investment & earnings in Africa – working paper

New report illustrates how African countries can attract tourism investment and significantly increase revenue and socio-economic benefits.

Do elephants affect vulture nesting success? Ongoing research

Researchers highlight the complex relationship between elephant impact and vulture nest survival in the Greater Kruger National Park.

Study: Elephant poaching rates in decline, but iconic species remains under threat

Latest study reveals elephant poaching rates in Africa have started to decline, but levels of poverty, corruption and ivory demand still threaten the iconic species.

Large-tusked elephants are in decline, need to be protected from trophy hunting and poaching, says researcher

The need to protect large-tusked and potentially large-tusked elephants from poaching and excessive selective hunting pressure is more apparent than ever as the progressive decrease in average tusk size over the past three decades is potentially leading to over exploitation of older bulls.

Penguins can inform fisheries management, say researchers

Cape Town’s endangered African penguins respond directly to changes in local fish numbers, and monitoring them could inform fisheries management and marine conservation, say researchers.

Lion populations show significant loss of genetic diversity, say researchers

Lion populations in southern Africa are weakening genetically, and less able to recover from current and future pressures, say researchers.

Taita Hills: The cloud forest in a fragmented landscape

Kenya’s Taita Hills is a dense cloud forest teeming with wildlife. While that may sound like paradise, the forest is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation – which is raising concerns amongst researchers.

Elephants are sentient and conservation strategy should adapt, says researcher

We struggle as humans to understand our own actions. How can we begin to understand and provide possible interpretations for the actions of other species such as elephants?

Bull elephants – their importance as individuals in elephant societies

It has long been recognised that older female elephants are pivotal to elephant ecology and herd survival, but what of older males?

What CITES will debate at CoP18 in May for these African species

CITES debates: White rhino, elephant, giraffe and other African species come under the spotlight at the May CoP18 sessions.

Opinion: Loss of wilderness is Africa’s primary cause of wildlife population reductions

Lodge owner says that the loss of wilderness areas is the main reason behind reductions in populations of lions, elephants and other species.

Cheetahs: populations, threats and conservation

Learn more about cheetahs and their current population status and the threats they face.

Why identifying individual elephants is important, and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play

Understanding the importance of identifying elephants and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play.

Complex communication: Heaviside’s dolphins produce unusual sounds to communicate

Heaviside’s dolphins are shown to produce unusual sounds to communicate and appear to ‘take turns’ calling in larger groups.

New research study looks to empower Namibian communities to champion environmental conservation

A new environmental research and education organisation will work with rural communities in Namibia to promote nature and wildlife conservation.

Should Africa’s protected areas be reconfigured? – IUCN report

IUCN report asks if Africa’s protected areas need to be reconfigured in light of current conservation realities.

Trophy hunting in Africa is in decline, and no longer pays its way

Trophy hunting in Africa is in decline, and no longer pays its way, leading to poaching and habitat loss in hunting areas – according to IUCN report

‘Silver spoon effect’ provides lifelong benefits for banded mongooses – study

The benefits of the ‘silver spoon effect’ in banded mongoose pups extend across their lifetime, a new study has shown.

Botswana 2018 aerial survey – of elephants, baobabs and cattle

Botswana elephant survey now made public. You’ve seen all the political posturing from all sides, now read the actual report and make up your own mind.

What’s the difference between turtles, tortoises and terrapins?

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are reptiles characterised by a cartilaginous shell – though often the terms used to describe these species can get a bit confusing, depending on the type of English used.

Namibia culls hyenas to save its wild / feral horses

Shooting hyenas to save wild horses raises heated debate about whether conservation authorities should intervene between endemic wildlife and ‘feral’ animals.

Research reveals why the zebra got its stripes

Why do zebras have stripes? A study takes a step closer to answering this puzzling question and to understanding how stripes actually work.

Fate of meerkats tied to seasonal climate effects

Does a drier and hotter climate present a threat to the meerkats in the Kalahari Desert? Researchers reveal that climate change is likely to impact meerkats, and seasonal rainfall and temperature will be the key factors.

Researchers discover tiny new frog species in Ethiopia

A new species of puddle frog has just been discovered by researchers on the unexplored and isolated Bibita Mountain in southwestern Ethiopia.

Detecting wildlife cybercrime

Being able to identify transactions involving restricted species, and conversations happening about them, will assist law enforcement in the fight against wildlife trafficking.

Servals thrive at huge petrochemical plant in South Africa

Researchers have found that a petrochemical plant supports a serval population density far greater than any other site on record across the entire range of the species.

NEWS WRAP: Record seizure of pangolin scales + cameras find lone female elephant roaming Knysna forest

In this week’s news wrap Hong Kong customs have seized a record haul of pangolin scales bound for Vietnam; camera-trap technology has captured what is suspected to be the last elephant in Knysna forest; the South Africa parliament has attacked the Kruger agreement with neighbouring private reserves; Uganda seized ivory and pangolin scales worth an estimated $8 million; 20 endangered vultures die of poisoning near the Maasai Mara; thousands of baby flamingos have been rescued in South Africa as drought has put their breeding ground in peril; and a new widow spider species has been discovered – the first in 29 years.

First new widow spider species discovered in 29 years

Potentially the largest widow spider in the world has been discovered in the critically endangered sand forest of South Africa.

Beach lions again hunting seals and coastal birds in Namibia, after 35 years

Research has revealed that the desert-adapted lions eking out a living on the harsh northwest coast of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast National Park (SCNP) are again specialising in hunting seals and coastal birds such as flamingos and cormorants, after an absence of 35 years.

Warthog facts you need to know

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2019 marks the year of the pig. So what better way to celebrate it than by taking a look at one of Africa’s own wild pig: the warthog!

NEWS WRAP: Hong Kong failing to tackle illegal wildlife trade + elephant poaching numbers down in Tanzania

In this week’s news wrap a new study has revealed that Hong Kong’s illegal wildlife trade is contributing to a global extinction crisis; the Tanzanian government announced that elephant poaching has declined in Tanzania’s national parks; China customs dismantled a major ivory trafficking syndicate after arrests were made; and a new Tanzanian reserve has been declared in order to protect invaluable forest.