Page 26 – Africa Geographic

Botswana: My Dream Safari

My friends are quite used to me having somewhat of a different travel pattern to theirs. Because I am an experienced traveller with 85 countries under the belt, they would usually never raise an eyebrow when asking about my travel plans – not even when I mentioned I was going to Botswana for an 18-day trip over the festive season – compiled by Africa Geographic, the safari experts. That is, until one of them asked: “Hmm, Botswana – isn’t it a bit rough out there? How are you planning to travel?”

“Well, no,” I replied. “I’m going to try something new, you know, a practical experience where I can appreciate the beauty of animals. You know I’ve been in the army for many years, and being a photographer I want to take it to another level. So, I’m gonna go camping in a game reserve that is home to the Big 5.”

My friend just looked at me. “You have done some crazy stuff, we all recognise that, but aren’t you pushing it a bit far this time? Camping? With the animals? Seriously?” he asked.

“I think it’s gonna be epic,” was my answer.

Little did I know how right I was going to be.

Gliding down the water channels of Okavango Delta in a mokoro — Gliding down the water channels of the Okavango Delta in a mokoro © Ruzdi Ekenheim

Going on an adventure

A few weeks later, I was on my way to Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I have to admit that over the weeks, I had been thinking about what my friend asked me, but I was hell-bent that this was going to be an epic trip, one way or another. My general attitude in life has been ‘let’s see what happens…’, and that has worked pretty well so far – although I’ve had to learn some lessons along the way.

At the airport in Maun, I was met by my new friend for the next three weeks, Philimon – the driver, guide, living lexicon and expedition leader of this adventure.

As we were packing up our Land Cruiser with the tents and supplies, our handy-man, BK, and the chef, Joe, joined us.

**Clockwise from left:** 1) *Wild dogs leap across a narrow channel*; 2) *Manoeuvring the Land Cruiser across the shallow water is no problem for Philimon*; 3) A yellow baboon with her baby. All photos © Ruzdi Ekenheim

The simplicity of it all

The first leg of the trip was approximately a five-hour drive heading north from Maun, so we had plenty of time to get to know each other. We discussed my particular interests and my game-viewing expectations.

“If you respect the animals, they will respect you,” said Philimon. “I’m even sure they will respect you when they chew on your leg,” he added with a smile. That broke the ice.

I asked them about the daily routine. After all, it was just four guys, packed with our tents and other essentials in a Land Cruiser, for three weeks out in the wilderness.

Philimon said that it was straightforward. They would set up camp, cook the food and do whatever else that was required. If I wanted a shower, I just had to let them know 30 minutes in advance. I’ve travelled a fair bit in my life, and it is never straightforward and not without hassles.

However, I was surprised by the army-like way the three guys handled our expedition over the three weeks. They did everything. From setting up the camp in 15 minutes, to preparing the campfire, shower and toilet in no time.

All the while there I was, a beer in hand, sitting in a chair as instructed (so I wouldn’t wander off to see the lions on my own!). Joe, the chef, was a master, cooking up rosemary chicken, beef tenderloin, and freshly-baked bread, to name just a few delicious meals.

BK kept the camp running efficiently, and served red or white wine at dinner – like a sommelier in the finest Parisian restaurants!

A leopard relaxing in a tree — I saw more leopards and elephants than I thought possible © Ruzdi Ekenheim

I have to say that the first couple of nights were quite exceptional. When I settled into my camping bed for the night, I could hear hippos, lions, and elephants through the canvas of my tent – that part alone was one of the highlights of my trip.

Philimon took safety seriously and made sure that I understood the night-time rules, handing me a flashlight while giving me unambiguous instructions: “If you need to get up and go to the toilet, don’t forget to stick out your head first, make a couple of sweeps with the flashlight in the surrounding area before you go, and don’t go more than a few steps away. You don’t want to run into a hippo or a hyena on your way to the toilet!”

He wasn’t wrong about the animals being close by. A couple of nights later, a hippo mother with her calf was watching me from 20 metres away… the following night a hyena was trying to steal the garbage bag!

The daily routine started with a game drive at 06:00, returning to camp at around 10:30 for breakfast, followed by a siesta until 15:30, and then back out until nightfall. Upon return from the night drive, a hot bucket of water was ready for my shower, followed by a delicious dinner.

I found it all very easy and stress-free when it was time to change camps. I dealt with my personal belongings while the others dealt with the rest, and once the Land Cruiser was packed, we were off to our next campsite. On arrival, the same camp setup routine as the first day commenced. Flawless.

**Clockwise from left:** 1) *Camouflaged camera mount and lens, ready to take the perfect photo*; 2) *Lions were one of the Big 5 animals that were sighted on numerous occasions*; 3) *These two elephant calves were having a great time, playing together.* All photos © Ruzdi Ekenheim

Bags packed and ready to return

I just loved every second of this adventure! There were hardly any other people in most areas, and I have to admit that of the images I took, 70% of them top the list of my best ever.

Big 5? Check… along with more leopards and elephants than I could ever count!

With a small team of very knowledgeable people in every aspect, paired with a genuine experience of camping in a game reserve with wild animals around you, definitely beats anything else I can think of. Just imagine, you can walk in a lion’s footsteps, you can sit down where a leopard has just woken up (and left!) – smell the same grass and earth just as it did. You will never experience that in a luxury resort. You will never experience a pack of wild dogs roaming through your camp or a male lion walking 50 metres away from your tent, completely ignoring you.

I was lucky to go during the rainy season – yes, lucky. This meant that I experienced everything from rain, thunderstorms, and beautiful sunshine. Basically, everything that Mother Nature has to offer!

Price? I spent more on last year’s 10-day trip to Maasai Mara then I did for three weeks with my own expedition leader, vehicle, chef and ‘butler’ with Philimon and his crew in Botswana. Will I do it again? Absolutely. My bags are packed and ready to go back at any time!

Check out our preferred camps & lodges for the best prices, browse our famous packages for experience-based safaris and search for our current special offers

**Clockwise from left:** 1) *An elephant turns to face us after crossing a water channel*; 2) *A beautiful leopard surveys its territory*; 3) *I couldn’t get over how many elephants we saw!* All photos © Ruzdi Ekenheim

Ruzdi’s trip

We tailored a sensational 18-day mobile camping safari across Botswana, designed to show Ruzdi the diversity and wildlife of the country. Ruzdi enjoyed the exclusive use of a vehicle, guide and support crew – and most of his camping sites were exclusive as well. He spent time in Maun, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Community Concession and Savute in Chobe National Park.

OKAVANGO DELTA AND MOREMI GAME RESERVE
“The Okavango Delta is a unique wetland surrounded by, and in stark contrast to, the dry bushveld surrounding it.” – Ruzdi
The Okavango Delta (click for more details) is a lush wetland that spans over 15,000 square kilometres. It’s characterised by papyrus, impenetrable reed beds, grassy floodplains, tree-covered islands and a complex network of water channels of varying depths, which are engineered and maintained by hippos and elephants. Moremi Game Reserve stretches over much of the central part of the Okavango Delta, and stretches eastwards, south of Khwai and into drier mopane bushveld bordering Chobe National Park.

Your activity list needs to include gliding down the water channels in a mokoro (video) – a traditional dugout canoe.
You can expect to see a plethora of wildlife including the Big 5 (although rhinos are not often seen), cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs. With over 400 species of birds, this is also a haven for bird-watching enthusiasts.

KHWAI COMMUNITY CONCESSION
“Khwai is a hub of wildlife activity – one of the best game-viewing areas in Bostwana.” – Ruzdi
Khwai (click for more details) is often confused with the Okavango Delta, which it borders to the east. Khwai is a game-rich 180,000-hectare gem on the fringes of the delta – sandwiched between Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park.
This is one of the best places in Botswana to see wild dogs and other predators and, with no fences separating Khwai from its larger and better-known neighbours, you are likely to see just about everything that northern Botswana has to offer.

The water channels have good populations of hippos, crocodiles, waterbuck and lechwe, and the dry woodlands away from the river host good populations of sable and roan antelopes, zebras, impalas, giraffes, buffaloes and many other species.

SAVUTE, IN CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
“Savuti, the Marsh and Leopard Rock – what an honour to visit these legendary places!” – Ruzdi
Savute (click for more details) in Chobe National Park is a vast open grassland famous for massive herds of buffalos and elephants and for the large prides of lions that have learned to hunt them. The area plays host to dramatic scenes during the dry season when elephant breeding herds have to drink from the dwindling surface water, and lions ambush the young and ill members of the herd.

The lifeblood of this western section of Chobe National Park is Savute Marsh, a relic inland lake now fed by the erratic Savute Channel. The channel is fed seasonally with water from the Kwando and Okavango rivers, but often dries up for many seasons, probably due to tectonic plate movements, and is also thought to flow both ways on occasion.

A hippo enjoys some much-needed relaxation — This peaceful scene is misleading as another bull in fact killed this hippo bull during a territorial fight © Ruzdi Ekenheim

ACCOMMODATION

Check out our preferred camps & lodges for the best prices, browse our famous packages for experience-based safaris and search for our current special offers.

A mobile camping safari is a very authentic way to explore Africa’s wild areas – forget rim-flow pools and crystal glass. This is a seamless connection between your body, senses and the habitat you are exploring. You are guaranteed a level of privacy, remoteness and uniqueness that is entirely different from lodge-based safaris – and often far away from the busy standard tourist routes. Mobile camping is ideal for the more intrepid types who are not averse to canvas, pit toilets and safari (bucket) showers.

And the remoteness means that you spend most of your time outside of mobile phone range – time to detox!

Note that these are not ‘participation safaris’ – your seasoned support team take care of all the hard work, such as setting up and taking down camp, cooking delicious mouth-watering food, serving drinks and warming your shower water. Depending on the size of your party, this enthusiastic group will either drive ahead of you in their own vehicle or with you when changing campsites.

Apart from two nights in lodges in Maun, Ruzdi made use of mobile tented campsites throughout his safari adventure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, RUZDI EKENHEIM

I was born in New York, grew up in Sweden, and am currently living in the Balkans, using it as the base for my travels around the globe.
While growing up, I became fascinated by the glamour magazines of the 70s and 80s, which ignited my passion for photography, paired with great love and respect for wildlife. After spending time in the army, I returned to my passion for photography, moving to Kenya on a work assignment.
Today, I work as a professional photographer and business consultant with a speciality in strategy and tactics in eastern Europe, which I can pair with my photography business.
The highlight in my photographic career was when I was nominated by the editors of National Geographic for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards in 2017.

Investigating South Africa’s wildlife cryptotrade

sungazer lizard, Africa's cryptotrafficking — The Oxpecker investigative team focused on the impact increased access to the Internet has on pangolins, leopards, rhinos and sungazers, a family of lizards endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Image source: Oxpeckers/MG Kuijpers/Adobe Stock

Sourced from third-party site: Oxpeckers – Center for Investigative Environmental Journalism, written by Roxanne Joseph

A casual search of some of South Africa’s biggest online marketplaces shows just how easily endangered wildlife species are reduced to their parts – and how simple it is to sell them online while retaining anonymity. It will take far more than just a quick search to track down all the crypto-traffickers.

South African wildlife is already facing enormous pressures: habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, climate change and global trade. Increased access to the Internet for wildlife trafficking is yet another concern to add to the list.

Over a period of approximately four weeks, from mid-April to mid-May 2018, we conducted a small-scale investigation of three social media networks – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and half a dozen online marketplaces – eBay, Gumtree, OLX, Public Ads, Free Classifieds and Bidorbuy.

We focused on the impact that increased access to the Internet has on pangolins, leopards, rhinos and sungazer lizards, a family of lizards endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Monitoring advertisements using keywords like “scales”, “skin”, “rhino horn” and “dragons”, we found 14 advertisements for animal parts – most for pangolin scales and rhino horns.

Advert for pangolin scales online, Africa's cryptotrafficking — An advert for pangolin scales carried by online marketplace OLX. Image source: Oxpeckers

Only three of the advertisers responded when asked whether they had the necessary permits, either stopped responding altogether (and subsequently blocked the email address we used), or ignored the question entirely, instead responding with images and questions about where we were located.

It is not possible to be 100% certain if any of the products identified were what they claimed to be, or if they were in breach of the law. Further examination by authorities would be required to assess the legality of the sales, any documentation provided and to obtain information on whether the animal was captive-bred.

This is almost impossible to do if the person assessing the product cannot see it in person, and – as experienced numerous times over this time period – often there is no mention or evidence of the necessary documentation, and the product can easily be disguised as something else to evade detection.

Continue to the full investigation on Oxpecker’s website here

Video: Lions make a comeback

Five lions eating in game reserve in South Africa — The released lions, with the Drakensberg Mountain Range as backdrop © Simon Espley

With wild lions under pressure from so many threats, here is a wonderful comeback story.

The 5,500ha Rietspruit Game Reserve outside the bushveld town of Hoedspruit and close to the Greater Kruger National Park, is made up of smaller reserves Leadwood Big Game Estate, Bloubank, Khaya Ndlovu Shareblock and Khaya Ndlovu Manor House properties.

Last week I attended the release from a holding boma of five strapping young lions into the reserve. This was an exciting moment for owners of the various properties making up Rietspruit, and especially so for Kevin Leo-Smith – Leadwood resident and wildlife guru. Kevin and I go years back, and it was good to catch up as we waited patiently for the five lions to leave the boma area and venture into the reserve. Kevin has played extremely instrumental roles in the establishment and commercialisation of two of southern Africa’s major conservation and tourism success stories – Phinda Private Game Reserve (South Africa) and Kwando (Botswana).

Person in safari vehicle about to open boma door — The boma door about to be opened © Simon Espley

As we waited in the shade of a tree, Kevin explained the lengths one must go to, to ensure that only healthy and genetically robust lions are placed back into wild areas. The introduced pride consists of three young male lion siblings from the nearby Karongwe Reserve and two young females sourced from Marakele National Park.

The two groups were relocated to the boma in Rietspruit, where they got to know each other. Only once they showed signs of bonding did Kevin arrange for the release from the boma.

Five lions eating an antelope in the wild — The released lions immediately settled down to their first meal as free lions in Rietspruit Game Reserve © Simon Price

The securing of lions with no signs of bovine tuberculosis proved to be a challenge. TB has reached alarming proportions in lion populations, even in the Kruger National Park. The entire release process was under the supervision of Dr. Peter Rogers of ProVet in Hoedspruit, who is one of the most experienced wildlife vets in Africa. The standard TB test protocols were followed, working with Prof. Michelle Miller from the University of Stellenbosch’s Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research.

Three lions originally selected for release at Rietspruit all tested positive for TB, and were euthanised, in line with protocol designed to protect the greater lion population. This was of course a massive disappointment for Kevin and his fellow Rietspruit owners, but everyone of course agrees that protocol has to be adhered to.

Two collared lions in game reserve in South Africa — The collared lion and lioness © Simon Price

Once the five healthy lions were together in the boma, the emphasis shifted to ensuring that they bonded as a pride. There was some expected tension between the males and females and although one female at 2.7 years old was heavier than the 22-month old males, the males dominated the feeding opportunities. This led to initial challenges of getting enough food to the females.

However, after two weeks things had settled and the lions were making voluntary contact outside of feeding times.

Other boma challenges included the provision of meat without the lions associating food with vehicles or humans – essential to avoid problems between lions and humans once the lions were released into the reserve.

Young wild lion in game reserve in South Africa — A young male lion looks back at his pride members, shortly after release © Phil Overn

I have to admit to a sense of elation as these young lions plucked up the courage and darted out of the boma, with much cautious scanning of the surrounding bushveld. They immediately settled to feed on a kudu carcass left outside of the boma for this purpose. There was a bit of hand-bag swinging initially, but after a few hours of feeding we had 5 flat cats with round bellies – with the magnificent Drakensberg mountains looming as backdrop.

The lion reintroduction was done with prior approval from LEDET (The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism).

UPDATE FROM THE FIELD: Kevin advised me that the lions are exploring the reserve and showing no signs of walking the boundary fences, suggested that they already feel at home. The collared lioness has been on heat and the males have been showing interest. It’s too early to know if there was a successful mating, and further information should be available later this year.

Watch the five reintroduced lions bond as a pride over a meal, filmed by Simon Price

Will Zambia’s Luangwa River be dammed? Have your say

Guests watching buffalos and hippos in Luangwa Valley, Zambia — Luangwa Valley saw the birth of walking safaris © Shenton Safaris

[A link to the petition to declare the Luangwa River as a Water Resource Protection Area is available at the end of the article]

Zambia’s wildlife paradise and legendary safari mecca of Luangwa Valley may in future partially function as one giant tap for some of Zambia’s growing water needs. Gone will be the seasonal, natural water cycles that sustain and nurture this incredibly fecund river valley. You see, a sizeable chunk of Luangwa Valley may be dammed in the near future, at Ndevu Gorge (see map below). Ironically, South Luangwa was in late 2017 declared as the world’s first sustainable National Park by United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

In a study on the Potential Impacts of the Proposed Ndevu Gorge Dam conducted by California State University Monterey Bay (2017), it is estimated that the resulting 1,510 km² Lake Ndevu, with its 80-metre-high dam wall, would inundate 29.5% of the length of the Luangwa River within South Luangwa National Park, at least six safari camps, and as much as 80% of adjacent hunting areas. It would also inundate portions of at least six chiefdoms adjacent to the river.

In addition, it would reduce the area of the valuable wildlife corridor between South Luangwa National Park and Lower Zambezi National Park to the south, by 50% of its length and 24% of its width. For this study ZCP and WWF provided guidance and datasets, then the CSUMB conducted the study.

Map showing site of proposed dam in Luanwa River Valley in Zambia — Potential future infrastructure, land use, and human encroachment change five years after construction of the proposed Ndevu dam. Image source: Potential Impacts of the Proposed Ndevu Gorge Dam study

The Luangwa River Valley currently provides a mosaic of diverse habitats, including riparian forest, grassed dambos, floodplain grassland and deciduous woodlands. The natural hydrology of the Luangwa River allows for flooding in the rainy season – December to April – creating seasonal wetlands, oxbow lakes, sandbars and other features that create a rich habitat for plants and wildlife.

The Luangwa Valley is home to several species on the IUCN Red List, such as wild dogs, grey crowned cranes, elephants, lions, leopards, hippos and Maasai giraffe (formerly known as Thornicroft’s giraffe).

Dams have a considerable impact on biodiversity and wildlife. They disconnect rivers from their floodplains and wetlands, slow down river flows, disrupt sediment movement, fragment freshwater habitat and disrupt natural flood cycles (WWF 2004).

Birdlife in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia — A great egret (*Ardea alba*) in search of fish, while yellow-billed storks (*Mycteria ibis*) patiently wait for any sign of prey in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia © James Suter / Black Bean Productions / WWF

Importantly, Lake Ndevu may further constrict the vital movement of migratory/dispersal species such as elephants, lions and wild dogs along the Luangwa River wildlife corridor between the Luangwa Valley and the Lower Zambezi area to the south. This is a vital movement corridor because the Luangwa Valley is otherwise cut off from other large protected areas. These species cannot sustain population viability without these dispersal and migratory routes, which provide access to other members of their species.

Added human encroachment and development could increase snaring as well as contribute to habitat loss and prey depletion.

Food market seller holding dried fish fillet in Luangwa, Zambia — A local woman holds up a dried fish fillet as people pass through the Luangwa Bridge Market, Zambia © James Suter / Black Bean Productions / WWF

The massive Ndevu Lake will also affect the local communities spread across 25 chiefdoms. The river currently provides extremely valuable and crucial ecosystem services to these people, including safe drinking water, floodplain agriculture, fishing, goods and trade, wild fruit, honey, local construction materials and local crafts. The Luangwa River also has a significant cultural and spiritual heritage for the country.

Children collecting water from dry riverbed in Mfuwe in Zambia — Local children make use of a dry riverbed to source water adjacent to the Luangwa River in Mfuwe in Zambia, collecting water to support their crops © James Suter / Black Bean Productions / WWF

WWF Zambia is firm in its belief that Zambia does indeed need to develop its power supply (currently 90% via hydropower), along with its economic development initiatives. They believe that the Luangwa main river and key tributaries should however be protected as Water Resource Protection Areas, with guidance from the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011. They are also advocating for the importance of developing a National Integrated Water Infrastructure Plan (i.e. dams) that responds to people’s needs, environmental requirements at the catchment level, as well as the production of food and energy. “We are advocating for the right dams to be built on the right rivers and diversification of our energy sources while working towards meeting the country’s energy demand.”

Bush camp in Luangwa Valley, Zambia — Luangwa Valley is legendary for its authentic bush camps © Shenton Safaris

Several large dams already provide Zambia with power from the Zambezi River and its tributaries. Additionally, a new project on the Zambezi at Batoka Gorge near Victoria Falls is set to commence soon. However, unlike other rivers in the Zambezi River basin, the Luangwa is still a free-flowing river with no dams – presenting a rare opportunity to preserve the natural state of a major waterway.

Supported by an advocacy and communications strategy, WWF Zambia has launched “Keep the Luangwa Flowing”, a campaign to secure 100,000 signatures from locals and many more from the international community to petition the President, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to declare the Luangwa a Water Resource Protection Area.

The petition is available on their website www.wwfzambia.org.zm

Do the right thing.

Watch the “Keep the Luangwa Flowing” campaign advert below

Opinion: The (high) road to a Greater Kruger National Park

OPINION POST by Don Scott

In the last few weeks, social media was once again at the centre of a flurry of activism regarding the hunting of a lion in the Greater Kruger area. I have been disappointed by these emotive and often violent exchanges. At times, I feel despondent that the unifying impact that some of us in the conservation space have been trying to cultivate this year, could be damaged by divisive arguments and views on the Greater Kruger. This is a social-ecological system that has been carefully managed and nurtured over decades, and one that happens to be working extremely well today. I, therefore, offer an alternative, constructive perspective to the Greater Kruger Protected Area, in contrast to the more acrimonious narratives that are doing the rounds as we speak.

But why should anyone listen to me on this subject?

To start with, I am a citizen of the Greater Kruger. I have lived in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve for over 10 years, where I own and run a photographic safari operation, Tanda Tula, which employs over 60 people from local communities. We lease the land from one of the landowners in Timbavati. With each of my team supporting a further 10 people on average, my business has a direct impact on over 600 people in this area. I have been on the Executive Committee of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve since 2011, and I am now also a member of the Steering Committee for Responsible Tourism Best Practice in the Greater Kruger Protected Area. In short, I have some “skin in the game” in the Greater Kruger, as my family and my business is deeply rooted in, and deeply affected by, what happens in this area.

I am not just a sideline commentator. I have an in-depth knowledge of how the Private Reserves, which form part of the Greater Kruger, function and how they contribute to the success of the larger integrated wilderness landscape. I am also deeply aware of the challenges facing this landscape.

So, who are the stakeholders with “skin in the game,” and who should be influencing the decisions made about how the Greater Kruger is managed? Whose values matter most?

The ‘Most Vocal’ award goes to…

From all of the media fuss, it appears that the most vocal and influential parties come from the main urban centres of South Africa and from Europe and North America. And some of the animal rights activist platforms that directly support journalism with funding and marketing are based in Cape Town and Johannesburg. These white urbanites work tirelessly to influence other white urbanites, promoting an ideology of Africa’s wilderness spaces created by American romantic poets in the early 20th century.

According to this view, Africa was a vast mythical landscape teeming exclusively with wild animals, devoid of any human activity.

Elephant herd, Tanda Tula, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa — © Tanda Tula

How committed are we all really? The facts speak for themselves.

SANParks held 54 stakeholder engagement sessions in the last 18 months, as part of the development of the new management plan for Kruger National Park. The most well-attended of these were in the communities who live on the border of the Kruger National Park – literally thousands of members of the public engaging with Kruger management officials to express their concerns and aspirations for the region. In addition to these public sessions, the Private and Community Reserves forming part of the Greater Kruger also had their turn – these sessions were also very well attended with every reserve represented. By contrast, the public engagement sessions in the large urban centres, where all of the current media and social media conversation on the Greater Kruger National Park emanates from, were poorly attended. Cape Town and Johannesburg each only managing an attendance of 9 individuals!

This paints an interesting picture, does it not? When it came to proper engagement – you know, where humans discuss and find solutions, the loudest voices on social media did not turn up. Instead, the people whose lives are most directly affected and who have genuine “skin in the game”, turned up and participated in big numbers. These same people are the least represented on social media. It would appear that social media represents an upside-down version of the situation on the ground in Africa.

Major concerns from those who bothered to pitch up

So what were the major concerns of the communities within and living on the borders of the Greater Kruger? The top five issues raised were: jobs and employment; education; community development; crime; and human–wildlife conflict. Other issues that repetitively and predictably continue to get so much social media attention – such as trophy hunting – did not even feature in the top 20 list of concerns of these communities.

The question I ask then is: Why are we, the citizens of the Greater Kruger, allowing the narrative of our story to be seized by people who live and work thousands of miles away, and who seem to push an agenda that is foreign to what is clearly wanted by all directly-affected communities and landowners? Why are the people whose lives are most affected by the decisions made in and around the Greater Kruger remaining silent in the media? Why is the multi-faceted story of the Greater Kruger and its success not being told from within, but instead being commented and narrated on from far away?

What is the truth, if not factual?

The picture painted by these activist journalists who report on sensational stories about particular animals or species comes across to the unsuspecting reader as the gospel truth – but this is incorrect. These “truths” are simply the worldview of that journalist, and his/her supporters. It is important that we as media consumers understand that what is sometimes positioned as fact, is only opinion. Sometimes it is simply innuendo designed to stir public opinion in support of a particular ideology.

Make no mistake, I applaud the efforts of journalists and investigators who uncover real misconduct, and I believe that oversight and regulation is extremely important for a system like the Greater Kruger to function effectively. However, constantly creating stories designed to ferment division and dissent within the conservation community is simply a destructive pastime that should not be tolerated by any of us – especially those of us who are part of the Greater Kruger and whose own knowledge of the realities on the ground can help to rectify misperceptions created in the media.

leopard walking at Tanda Tula, African wilderness — © Tanda Tula

The trophy hunting debate is futile

To me, the debate around hunting is as futile as it is divisive. Arguing with protagonists on both sides of the debate is like having a discussion with a religious zealot. There is no point in presenting facts to either of them, as they simply cast these aside as “propaganda”. All of them continuously return to the same cherished old points which they seem to think proves their argument. Since these arguments are more about values than facts, they prove nothing but only serve to continue the circular arguments and cement ideologies.

‘High’ and ‘low roads’ – which is best?

Whilst heated discussions play out in the media and on social media, South African conservation is at a crossroads. Do we take the ‘high road’, where different stakeholders have different values and expectations and exercise tolerance for each other? This ‘high road’ leads us to larger, integrated, wildlife habitats with their ability to support wildlife in greater numbers than ever before. Or do we by contrast take the ‘low road’, where the conservation landscape is driven by low-level divisive arguments and mud-slinging from within – social divisions are deepened and the whole system begins to fragment and collapse. This ‘low road’ leads us to more fences going up, and reserves fenced exclusively for hunting, and less land available for wildlife to range in – with resultant break down in ecosystem carrying capacities, more intensive control required over high impact species such as elephants, buffalo, hippos and lions, and an eventual loss of many truly wild animals.

The Greater Kruger is a fragile system, with many social, political and economic pressures and influences that could lead to its fragmentation. The success of the Greater Kruger depends heavily on the goodwill of all of its stakeholders, particularly the goodwill of those who live on, own and manage private land within the Greater Kruger, and communities living nearby.

The Greater Kruger is a shining example of how ‘high road’ thinking can lead to a thriving wilderness landscape. But, don’t be fooled, the careful work of many decades can be undone through a ‘low road’ approach from people who have no skin in the end result. South Africa, in particular, has a careful path to follow when it comes to land use issues. We face pressure to justify using these private pieces of land for conservation when many with political agendas would prefer livestock or vegetable farms. The conservation community has a new path ahead of it, with great efforts needed to integrate communities into the wildlife economy, and with challenges around justifying the presence of wild animals close to those communities. ‘Low road’ arguments and discussions are endangering the efforts of the conservation community to focus on the fundamental issue – the availability of wilderness habitats.

It’s all about habitat

Now, I am not saying that there are no other pressures on wild animal populations – we all know that there are – human-wildlife conflict, the bushmeat trade, and of course poaching across Africa are all of great concern, and are all factors that the conservation community is working hard on addressing. I am simply reiterating the fundamental truth: That without Africa’s wild habitats, there will be no more wild animals. Practising tolerance to save wilderness habitats is the ‘high road’.

To bring the topic back to Africa’s great conservation success story – the Greater Kruger, I propose that we take the ‘high road’ in order to continue to grow and consolidate this landscape. The Kruger National Park has been working hard at retaining its relevance within the new context of South African society. They have engaged meaningfully with the South African public and the stakeholders of the Greater Kruger – this has included members of local communities, the greater public and landowning stakeholders in the Private and Community Reserves that form part of Greater Kruger. They have realised that for the Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger to be sustainable, and even to grow, the variety of value systems held by different people, and particularly the value systems of the people living directly adjacent to the Greater Kruger, must be embraced.

There needs to be a willingness to accept these different value systems for the benefit of the greater good. The citizens of the Greater Kruger are practising the values of ‘high road’ thinking. I urge everyone who is interested in saving Africa’s wildlife to do the same.

The demise of the baobabs – a climate change warning?

The Platland tree, baobab — The Platland tree/ Sunland baobab – one of the many casualties © Dr. Adrian Patrut

Written by Ryan Mizzen

Research released earlier this month showed that some of the largest and oldest baobab trees in Africa died within a 12 year period. For trees that have lived for millennia to suddenly succumb over such a short space of time and in different countries, suggests that a major cause may be to blame.

The research paper in Nature Plants listed climate change as a potential suspect, but also noted that further research was necessary. Recently I interviewed Adrian Patrut from the Babeș-Bolyai University in Romania, who co-authored the research paper. He explained that “southern Africa is one of the fastest-warming areas worldwide. We suspect that an unprecedented combination of temperature increase and extreme drought stress were responsible for these demises”.

Taking one example of the Chapman’s baobab in Botswana, Patrut went on to explain that it produced leaves and flowers well before the rainy season started, depleting its water reserves so that it wasn’t able to support itself and collapsed in the space of a day. He also noted that the rainy season had started later than usual that year. These weather extremes and shifting rainfall patterns are set to become the new normal as a result of climate change, putting more of our flora and fauna at risk.

The reason why the loss of these baobabs is so concerning is that these trees are renowned for being particularly difficult to kill. When the inside of baobabs is burned by fire, they’ll continue growing. When the bark is stripped away by large mammals such as elephants, they’ll grow new bark. For climate change to have killed them sends a very worrying message.

When we lose our great trees, we also lose part of human history. Baobabs are regarded as sacred trees by certain tribes and used for ceremonies and other tribal traditions. In West Africa, important meetings would take place beneath baobab trees to resolve conflicts. When these trees go, so do the customs and folklore that have grown with them.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to life on this planet, and there is a sad irony that baobabs which are known as ‘the trees of life’, are amongst the first casualties. Unless we wish to see more species heading for a similar fate, then we need to urgently reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to meaningfully tackle climate change. We stand to lose more than we may realise if we fail.

Botswana MP proposes lifting elephant hunting ban

Trophy hunters with dead elephant, hunting, Botswana — © Botswana Government/Facebook

Sourced from third-party site: Botswana Government/Facebook

The Botswana parliament has adopted a motion tabled by Maun East MP Mr Kostantinos Markus requesting the government to consider lifting the ban on the hunting of elephants in areas that are not designated as game reserves and national parks, to reduce the elephant-human conflicts that are a serious issue for poor rural people.

Debating the motion, the Vice President and Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the human-wildlife conflict had over the years been rife, primarily due to an overlap between the human population and wildlife. The human-wildlife conflicts, he said, had been prevalent in the Boteti constituency, where large numbers of elephants roamed freely in marginal rangelands. The increase in human population had also resulted in the encroachment into more marginal lands inhabited by wildlife.

The Vice President said conflicts between people and wildlife currently ranked among the main threats to conservation countrywide, adding that with much of the wildlife living outside protected areas, one of the real challenges to conservation is how to enhance and sustain coexistence between people and wild animals in those areas.

He said the increase of the elephant population had also affected the land conservation plans as they tend to over-graze and destroy the natural landscape.

“Given the economic and social importance of both wildlife-related activities and agriculture, balancing the relationship between wildlife species and agricultural production is critical if the needs of all of the respective interest groups involved with these commodities are to be met,” he said.

He emphasised that the motion should not be regarded as a leeway to promoting poaching of elephants as the government would implement stringent measures to protect elephants and other wildlife spies.

Elephant stepping over fence, Botswana — © Botswana Government/Facebook

Mr Tsogwane said an understanding of how people and conservation agents dealt with the problem of wild animals was critical in evolving and establishing sustainable conservation systems. He said that the government would consult with all the relevant stakeholders to facilitate human-wildlife coexistence.

Tati East MP, Mr Samson Guma argued that it was undoubtedly evident that the expansion of human society had forced people to infringe into wildlife habitats and convert land to other uses incompatible with wildlife.

Mr Guma said smallholder farmers living along the Botswana/Zimbabwe border fence had struggled for years with elephants that regularly invaded their land and destroyed their crops. The majority of those farmers, he said, settled along the borderline to benefit from rivers that do not only act as demarcation boundaries between the two countries but also have water in abundance all year round.

Mr Guma said that the story of elephant farm invasions in his constituency was heartbreaking as a week hardly passed without elephants raiding farms and ploughing fields.

“Elephants inhabiting the nearby parks easily stray outside park perimeters in search of forage, water and a place to breed, thereby destroying everything on their path,” he said.

He said both elephants and human population density in the area had become high and as a result the competition for resources between the two had intensified; hence efforts of many subsistence farmers in the area to become commercial were more like a lottery than a livelihood.

Mr Guma therefore said government should swiftly act on how best to resolve the human/wildlife conflict and that the lift on the hunting ban and shooting of elephants in areas not designated as game reserves could be remedial to the crisis.

Rhino breeder John Hume says he is on verge of bankruptcy, appeals for cash

Controversial South African rhino breeder, John Hume, has said that he is on the verge of bankruptcy and may have to sell off his 1,626 southern white rhinos, or risk them being poached due to lack of funds required to provide heavy security at his property.

Hume has the largest number of privately owned rhinos in the world, almost all of them being southern white rhinos, currently listed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN Red List. These are monitored and protected at the 8,000 hectare Buffalo Dream Ranch (BDR), near the North West province town of Klerksdorp in South Africa.

Hume is probably best known for challenging the South African government’s moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn (an extended legal case that he eventually won in 2017), and holding the world’s first legal rhino horn auction.

Over the past 26 years, Hume has invested US$100 million of his own savings into his rhinos. Currently, at least R5 million (US$ 400,000) is spent per month on field protection, feeding, and veterinary expenses. Financial difficulties have now arisen, and as Hume has not been able to generate sufficient funding from the sale of rhino horn, his life savings will be completely exhausted in August of this year.

A press release and email circulated by Hume on 19 June 2018, said that he wanted “to find a wealthy partner to purchase up to 50% of the project”, who would then help him to secure cooperation from the South African government to sell rhino and rhino horns. However, according to Hume rhino horn is essentially impossible to sell in South Africa and there is a risk to selling live rhinos due to the dangers of poaching.

“If I am unable to sell a share in this project in its current form, I believe that I will be forced to sell it off in pieces of between 500 and 1,000 hectares, all having between 100 and 200 rhinos per rhino farm… The problem with this is that most of the buyers would not be able to breed or protect as effectively as I have done with the project as a whole over the past decade,” Hume said.

BDR has recently had to give notice to the private army of soldiers who currently protect their rhinos, as they can no longer afford their services. To maintain the heavy security required to protect the rhinos, an alternate electronic security solution needs to be installed to replace this army, otherwise the rhinos will be at risk to poaching.

In order to prevent this inevitability, Hume and the BDR have appealed to the public for monetary support through their Indiegogo campaign, where their goal is to raise the sum of US$3,300,000 (R38 million), which will all go towards the installation of the early-warning security system.

Hume’s appeal for monetary assistance has been backed by an article by Dr John Hanks – a staunch Hume supporter, and former director of the Africa Program for WWF International (based in Switzerland).

In his article, Hanks said that Hume “is in urgent need of substantial financial support, as are other private land-owners, who together are responsible for approximately 7,000 rhinos (according to Pelham Jones, the Chairman of the Private Rhino Owners Association) more than the rest of Africa combined”.

The moratorium on the legal trade in rhino horn has deprived Hume of an income since the ban was introduced, but Hanks believes that lifting such a ban will benefit Hume and those who require financial support.

“John Hume believes that captive breeding projects are vital to help save rhinos from extinction and that rhinos could pay their own survival with a legal trade in rhino horn. However, until we change the law that currently benefits criminals we need your help to keep John Hume’s project alive and help his mission to save rhinos for future generations,” said Hanks.

Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic, says that he “doubts that the public will come to Hume’s assistance, because of the attritional nature of his campaign to date – his PR machine has not tread lightly on people with counter opinions”, and he “hopes that Hume is able to save his rhinos when and if he runs out of money, by perhaps donating them to restocking programs in safer areas. This would be a very lengthy and difficult exercise, but so worth the effort!” He continued that “Hume appears to be a successful businessman (with historical access to US$100m in personal savings), with excellent networks in the moneyed world. Hopefully, some of his support networks will come forward to bankroll his operation until the rhinos can be relocated. I am sure that a man who loves rhinos as much as Hume would want to see them saved if all else fails.”

Giraffes – The Silent Extinction

It’s hard to comprehend that giraffe numbers have plummeted by almost 40% in just three decades. This rapid slide now places them amongst the most threatened species on the planet, with only approximately 98,445 (subsequently increased to 115,322) individuals remaining across this massive African continent!

A population collapse of this nature could conceivably be driven by that evil Far East cabal of wildlife traffickers that perpetuate myths about how wild animal parts can improve health, wealth and happiness. In this case, though, it would appear that the now-familiar threats of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation coupled with human population growth and illegal hunting (poaching) are to blame.

I would imagine that its large size makes it difficult for giraffes to pass through dangerous human-occupied territory unnoticed, and surely the return for the effort of killing a giraffe is high, what with all of that meat on the hoof.

“We do not have any evidence of giraffe in traditional Chinese medicine, but in all honesty, a detailed trade assessment is required to understand local and potential international trade better. At this stage, we are aware of the bushmeat trade in different countries and the interest in tails as fly swatters (dowry for brides) in northern Kenya and DRC.” – Dr Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF)

Angolan giraffe herd — Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis) © Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Here then, is a summary of what you need to know about the giraffes of Africa, with the information provided by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). This is the long and the short of it.

Conservation status

Giraffes, as a species, are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ according to IUCN, which means that they are vulnerable to extinction in the near future. Updates for most of the currently recognised subspecies are under review by IUCN, with updated status assessments expected soon, in mid-2018.

There has been limited conservation effort and research on giraffes across Africa, and so, to aid conservation efforts going forward, GCF has compiled historical and current data on giraffe numbers, distribution and threats from across their range in Africa. This work has been undertaken collaboratively with African governments, NGOs, universities, IUCN and independent researchers.

Young South African giraffe suckling mother giraffe — Young South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa) suckling in Botswana’s Okavango Delta © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Giraffe species

There are four distinct giraffe species in Africa, and two of these species have two and three subspecies respectively. All live in geographically distinct areas across Africa and do not cross-breed in the wild (they have been known to do so in zoos).

• Download Africa’s Giraffe – species (PDF) and Africa’s Giraffe – spot pattern (PDF)

Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi)

The Masai giraffe is often noticeably darker than other species. Its blotches are large, dark brown and distinctively vine leaf-shaped with jagged edges, separated by irregular, creamy brown lines.

It ranges through central and southern Kenya and throughout Tanzania, with a geographically isolated population (potentially subspecies) in the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia. This Zambian population was previously mistakenly assumed to be Thornicroft’s giraffe, but they are genetically identical to the Masai giraffe. A small number have been translocated into Akagera National Park in Rwanda – outside of their natural range. Historically the most populous of the species, recent reports of poaching suggest that their population is decreasing. The population estimate is 32,500 individuals (subsequently increased to 45,402).

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)

The reticulated (or Somali) giraffe has brown-orange patches which are clearly defined by a network of thick and striking white lines. This species is found predominantly in central, north and northeastern Kenya, with small populations and range persisting in southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia. It has been estimated that about 8,700 individuals remain in the wild (subsequently increased to 15,985) – down from an approximate 31,000 as recently as 1998.

Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)

The southern giraffe has two subspecies with a combined population of 52,050 (subsequently reduced to 48,016):

1. Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis)
The Angolan giraffe’s pattern extends down the legs and is made up of large, uneven and notched spots against a white (or cream) to the tan-coloured background. This subspecies is found in most parts of Namibia, central Botswana and Zimbabwe. They went locally extinct in Angola until recent private translocations. Some have been translocated into DRC, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and other parts of Botswana – outside of their natural range. The population is estimated at 13,050 individuals.

*Angolan giraffes* (G. g. angolensis) in Damaraland, northwest Namibia; Both photos © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

2. South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa)

The South African (or Cape) giraffe’s pattern extends down the legs and is made up of large, uneven and notched spots on a background that is more tan-coloured than white or cream. This subspecies is found across South Africa, Botswana, northeastern Namibia, southwestern Zambia and some areas in Zimbabwe, with conservation re-introduction efforts into Mozambique. Previous extralimital introductions of this subspecies and of Angolan giraffe into their known range are likely to have resulted in hybrid populations in those areas.

There have also been introductions of South African giraffe beyond their natural range, in South Africa, Angola, Senegal, Swaziland and Zambia. The population is estimated at more than 39,000, making this the most populous species.

Nubian giraffe herd in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda — Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) herd in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

The northern giraffe has three subspecies with a total population of 5,195 (subsequently increased to 5,919):

1. Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum)
The Kordofan giraffe’s spots are pale, large and rectangular. It has no markings below the hocks. This species is found in some of Africa’s more unstable areas: southern Chad, Central African Republic, northern Cameroon, northern Democratic Republic of Congo and western South Sudan. Most of these populations were previously incorrectly assumed to be G. c. peralta. The population is estimated at 2,000 individuals.

2. Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis)
Nubian giraffes have large, rectangular blotches set irregularly against a cream background. The lower legs are noticeably white and not patterned. The Nubian giraffe has the same Latin name as that of the entire species because it was the first specimen recorded. Recent research has shown that the two subspecies, previously known as Nubian and Rothschild’s giraffe, are actually genetically identical, and so Rothschild’s giraffe has been subsumed into the Nubian giraffe. This subspecies ranges across eastern South Sudan (information about large herds unconfirmed), western Ethiopia, northern Uganda and west-central Kenya. The majority of Nubian giraffe in Kenya are outside their natural range.
In 2015 and 2016, Nubian giraffes were (re-)introduced into Uganda’s Lake Mburo National Park and the southern bank of the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park respectively after an absence of 100 years or more. The population is estimated at 2,645 individuals.

3. West African giraffe (G. c. peralta)
The West African (or Nigerian) giraffe is noticeably light in appearance, which rectangular tan blotches separated by thick, cream-coloured lines, often with no patterning on their lower legs. After being widely distributed at the beginning of the 20th century from Nigeria to Senegal, this subspecies now inhabits an isolated pocket east of the Niger capital of Niamey, sharing their living space with local villagers. No other large wild mammals remain in this region. By the 1990s, only 49 individuals remained, and after direct intervention by the Niger government, their number has risen to approximately 550 individuals (and counting).

West African giraffe mum and calf in Niger — West African giraffe (G. c. peralta) mother and calf, Niger © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

ALL SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES IN NUMBERS

Southern giraffe	Giraffa giraffa	52,050
Angolan giraffe	G. g. angolensis	13,050
South African giraffe	G. g. giraffa	39,000
Northern giraffe	Giraffa camelopardalis	5,195
Nubian giraffe	G. c. camelopardalis	2,645
Kordofan giraffe	G. c. antiquorum	2,000
West African giraffe	G. c. peralta	550
Reticulated giraffe	Giraffa reticulata	8,700
Masai giraffe	Giraffa tippelskirchi	32,500

Giraffe Action Fund

The Giraffe Action Fund (GAF) is an exciting GCF initiative that aims to secure and increase current numbers and distribution of giraffes throughout their range in Africa. Their action plan includes securing additional habitat, anti-poaching efforts as well as conservation education and awareness. In the last year alone, more than US$500,000 has directly gone to support partners efforts in giraffe conservation and management efforts.

Specific GAF projects:

Saving Uganda’s threatened Nubian giraffe
GCF and the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) signed a memorandum of understanding in 2014 to conserve this threatened giraffe subspecies. Once free-ranging across western Kenya, western Ethiopia, southern South Sudan and Uganda, the Nubian giraffe has been largely eliminated from much of its former range. GCF’s giraffe conservation efforts in Uganda focus on all three national parks that host giraffe: Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo national parks.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park hosts by far the largest population of Nubian giraffe in the wild (1,250 estimated), and GCF are undertaking a long-term study on giraffe numbers, their distribution and ecology – in close collaboration with UWA and Dartmouth College. The recent discovery of oil in the park and the threat of poaching incursions (mainly via wire snares) from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which lies just across the River Nile, are significant challenges.

Reticulated giraffe in Samburu National Park, Kenya — Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) in Samburu National Park, Kenya © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Operation Twiga I & II
Two critical translocations of giraffes have taken place to increase their range within Uganda – known as Operation Twiga (twiga is Swahili for giraffe). The translocations took place in Murchison Falls National Park in 2016 and ‘17 – from the northern side of the Nile River (where oil was discovered) to the southern side. In total, 37 giraffes were successfully moved and continue to be monitored. In April 2018, the first two calves were observed in this new population – a great conservation success!
Kidepo Valley National Park
GCF has undertaken the first-ever and subsequent, annual giraffe census in Kidepo Valley National Park. The current estimate of only 36 Nubian giraffes (from three in 1902), means that further conservation efforts are needed to ensure a viable population. Operation Twiga III is planned for mid-2018, and the aim is to augment the existing population by 10 Nubian giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park. Poaching has stopped, but the giraffes are still under threat by habitat loss, fragmentation, and disease.
Lake Mburo National Park
Giraffes disappeared from Lake Mburo National Park about 100 years ago, probably due to poaching and disease. Re-introducing giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park into Lake Mburo National Park for ecological and ecotourism reasons was done in July 2015, and in April 2018 the first calf was born in this new population. While poaching is minimal around the park, the giraffes’ new home is under pressure from expanding human populations around the park and increasing demand for land. The giraffe population is still small and needs all our support to help it grow to play a valuable role in this landscape once again.

**Left**: Giraffe collaring; **Right**: Data collection. Both photos © Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Giraffe translocation: Operation Twiga

Below is a series of photos showing Operation Twiga in full swing.

Starting top left: The giraffes are darted and captured (1) to have a blindfold and ropes attached (2 & 3) and data recorded (4), before being woken up and led into a high-sided truck (5) for transportation (6) to a boma (7). They are then loaded into a larger truck for ferrying across the Nile River (8) before being re-released. All photos © Giraffe Conservation Foundation
Note: In image 3, GCF director Julian Fennessy sits on the giraffe’s neck to ensure that the awake giraffe cannot get to its feet. This does not harm the giraffe in any way.

Who is Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF)?

GCF is an international science-based conservation organisation that provides innovative approaches to save giraffes in the wild.
GCF is the go-to organisation for giraffe conservation that is proactive and reactive, with a strong collaborative and dynamic team working within a network of partners at all scales.
GCF is the leader in supporting a sustainable future for giraffes in/and their natural habitats.
GCF will continue to organically grow and increase awareness to save giraffes in the wild.
To find out more, visit their website.

Also, have a look at the documentary that by BBC and PBS, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, about the work of GCF across Africa to save giraffe: Giraffes: Africa’s Gentle Giants.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The best way to help giraffes is to make a donation, no matter how small. Cash makes a huge difference because it fuels everything you have just read. To make a real difference for giraffes, make a donation here.

Researchers doing giraffe DNA sampling in Zambia — Giraffe DNA sampling in Zambia © Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Lion killings: Namibian NGOs respond to questions from abroad about lion management

lion pride in Namibia, human-lion conflict

Sourced from third-party site: Conservation Namibia

In light of the recent backlash against Namibia for the shooting by authorities of a desert-adapted lion that had killed livestock, Dr Chris Brown, CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Environment, has responded to questions posed by a foreign national.

The below questions were addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) by a foreign national, questioning Namibia’s wildlife conservation strategies:

Could you please explain to the public (and to me) what the heck is going on in Namibia’s so-called ‘conservancies’ with regard to wildlife, especially lions and elephants?

– Are you aware that the Hoanib counts only one (1 !!) male reproductive lion and that this individual ‘Last of the Mohicans’ is in great danger to be killed?
– Are you aware that shooting and poisoning?
– Are you aware as well that a complete pride of lions there has been poisoned? Seems to be the main hobby of Namibian farmers? This even without justification because of loss of livestock.
– Are you aware at all that worldwide lions face extinction?
– What then is the use of beautiful films like Vanishing Kings if the vanishing is MET-endorsed?

After these questions I do have some requests as well:

– Could you please clarify if MET really is in a hurry to address the Puros community in this matter? They are notorious lion killers.
– Could you please clarify what your action is with regards to the extremely urgent collaring of the few remaining lions?
– Could you please clarify your course of action in the prosecution of the culprits of the shooting and poisoning? This is dragging on for years by now. It creates the impression as if they have got a secret ‘go ahead’ from your ministry. This does not contribute to your country’s reputation I’m afraid.
– Could you please shed your light on the practice of earmarking reproductive male lions (which are by now a rarity. Inbreeding is the result.) as a ‘problem animal’ with the sole purpose to find a fake justification for selling it as a trophy animal? The strong will die; their heads on a wall in New York or Moscow; the weak – genetically spoken uninteresting ones – remain.
– Could you please clarify what exactly justifies the name ‘Conservancy’?

With due respect, I await your reply.

To which the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) responded as follows:

Dear Frank,

This is the Namibian environmental NGO community replying to your e-mail of 20 April 2018 to Dr Lindeque of the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, to add our perspective to that of our government colleagues. By way of background, the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) is a membership-based umbrella organisation that supports, and represents the interests of, the environmental NGOs in Namibia. We currently have a membership of 58 NGOs, which is well over 90% of all environmental NGOs in Namibia.

We wish to thank you for your interest in conservation issues in Namibia. At the outset, I would ask you to tell us the source of your information? Unfortunately, the information you have has led you to levy accusations and aggressive questions which are simply not based on the reality on the ground.

Let me turn the tables on you for a moment and ask you, as an interested conservationist from The Netherlands, where are the indigenous predators which used to occur in your country until very recent times? Where are your free-ranging wolves, lynxes and bears? Where are your national programmes to reintroduce these species back into your countryside? What commitment is there from your government to reinstate the recent-historic wildlife of the Netherlands which was killed by modern man? What sort of support do you think that you would get from your farmers for such reintroduction efforts?

Now, think about predators which are far larger, more aggressive, much more dangerous, than those predators that used to live until recent times in your country. This is what farmers in Namibia are living with. Why, in your view, should African farmers have to live with these animals, while farmers in your country would not be prepared to tolerate living with the relatively benign predators that should occur in your country?

Communal conservancies are not national parks. Incidentally, some 17% of Namibia comprises national parks, compared to just 3% of your country. Conservancies are areas where rural communities – mostly farmers – wish to sustainably manage wildlife for their own financial and cultural benefit. And in so doing, they make a huge contribution to national and international conservation agendas. And they are prepared to tolerate certain levels of carnivores on their land (which farmers in your part of the world are not prepared to tolerate), provided the level of threat to them, their families, their livestock and their livelihoods are not excessive.

Lion populations have been increasing over the years in the Kunene region. This is one of the very few areas on earth where viable lion populations occur outside of Parks and one of even fewer areas where lions have significantly increased in numbers in recent years. And yes, we are aware of, and concerned about, global lion trends. We are also well aware of local lion population numbers and trends – that is our job. But we address the issue of lions and other predators in the context of their setting and the prevailing situation.

Over the past few years, there has been a severe drought in the Kunene region. Wildlife numbers have declined (in arid zones, boom and bust cycles are the norm) and lions are hungry. There has thus been a spike in predation on domestic stock. Many families have lost their entire flocks. This human-wildlife conflict needs to be managed in a number of ways (there is no one simple solution) and reducing lion numbers in some areas is certainly part of the strategy. And I should emphasise, it is a strategy that is fully supported by the reputable and scientifically driven environmental and conservation NGOs in Namibia.

The reason is simple. If farmers in conservancies decide that they do not want predators on their land, it is their right to eliminate them. They, like your farmers, don’t have to live with predators. Unlike your farmers, rural farmers in communal conservancies in Namibia are very poor. They have few options. Thus, stock losses have a large impact on their livelihoods. For our farmers to be prepared to live with predators, they need to get some direct benefit from the predators (through tourism and trophy hunting), and to manage the cost of living with predators.

Thus, in addition to managing predator numbers, we look at improving the protection of livestock through strengthening stock kraals, using guard dogs during the day, appropriate livestock management, zonation plans, predator research and monitoring, early warning systems, tourism development, trophy hunting, etc.

Female lion in Namibia, human-lion conflict

Unfortunately, we have a few individuals in Namibia who are simply unable to get their heads around the big picture of conservation on communal land and the vital role that incentives, predator management and social acceptance play in the process. They cannot look into the future to see where Namibia needs to be in decades to come. They rather look at each lion individually. This is not a conservation biology approach, but more a western urban short-term animal rights approach which is highly counter-productive to long-term conservation.

Through social media, these individuals, self-proclaimed conservationists, prey on well-meaning but uninformed people in society. And because conservation biology is complex and difficult to explain in sound bites, they prefer to project simplistic approaches and solutions, which have failed worldwide. Kenya is a good example, with its protectionist, Eurocentric conservation approach. They have less wildlife now than at any time in their history (declining from 1.5 million head in the 1970s to about 0.5 million today). By contrast, Namibia has more wildlife today than at any time in the past 100 years, increasing from about 0.5 million in the 1960s to about 3 million today. So please do not allow yourself to be misinformed and upset by these sorts of people.

In a nutshell, Namibia aims to go through its development process to become a wealthier country without losing its indigenous biodiversity along the way (something that most industrialised countries have not managed to do). We aim to keep wildlife on farmlands by creating incentives and being reasonable and sensible in our management approaches. This means that farmers need to realise value from the wildlife on their land and we need to help them manage their losses, or else they will not be prepared to tolerate difficult species. And lions are the most difficult of all the animals for people to live with. If we can get it to work for lions, and not have them just contained in national parks, then all other species will automatically follow.

So please do not try and undermine our efforts by attempting to remove the tools at our disposal – and specifically the economic incentive tool and the predator management tool. Without these interventions, lions will vanish from all farmland in Namibia, as the predators have vanished from farmland in your country.

We have taken time to share with you some of the bigger picture conservation biology issues on land where people are also farming. We will not answer your e-mail question by question because you did not have this strategic background when you asked the questions, and because most of your questions are based on wrong information. However, I can tell you, that with the good recent rains in the Kunene region, we expect wildlife numbers to again increase, human-predator conflict to decline, and pressure on lion and other predator populations to also decline.

So, in conclusion, thank you for your interest in these issues in Namibia. But in light of your own country’s situation, you might like to direct your energy to (a) getting your government to set aside more of your land for conservation (10% is considered internationally to be a reasonable amount), and (b) getting your government and farmers to work together to re-establish the indigenous fauna that should be present in your country, including free-roaming populations of wolves, bears and lynx, in both your national parks and in the countryside. Good luck with this.

Kind regards,

Dr Chris Brown CEO

On behalf of the environmental NGO community in Namibia, and specifically with the following NGOs working in the Kunene region in support of conservation and rural development in conservancies: Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF)

My fight to save Liberia’s pangolins

white-bellied pangolin, Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary, Liberia — The very first pangolin (white-bellied) to ever be confiscated and rehabilitated back to the wild in Liberia at Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary © Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary

Written by Jason Miller, Sanctuary Manager at Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary

Two steps forward, one step back in pangolin conservation. Liberia is a country in West Africa that has overcome civil war, battled through the Ebola crisis and is currently recovering from the impacts. But there is one more issue to confront – the illegal wildlife and bushmeat trade.

As a citizen from the UK, it is only obvious that I stand out like a sore thumb. But it’s not because of my skin tone, but rather my reputation to chase down “sweetmeat”. Ask any Liberian about the pangolin locally known as the ansbach, and their first association of the animal will be a reference to its flavour.

Liberia has three of the four species of pangolins found in Africa and last year the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC released a report that named the country as one of the main origin countries for pangolin trafficking.

Myself and an FDA (Forestry Development Authority) ranger usually go out and confiscate animals from the illegal wildlife and bushmeat trade. We then take them back to Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary – Liberia’s only rehabilitation centre which aims to release all of the animals confiscated back to the wild in protected areas. However, rangers are unarmed and on most occasions the village will surround us, confront us, shout abuse and show physical acts of aggression, threatening our safety in their efforts to scare us away. It’s a very dangerous situation to be in, but it’s all in the name of pangolin conservation.

Two tree pangolins at Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary, Liberia — **Left:** A juvenile white-bellied pangolin (confiscated from illegal sellers) finds his reward – a small termite nest; **Right:** All pangolins are walked in the forest for up to 3 hours a day to forage on termites and ants. This pangolin was confiscated from sellers who were trying to sell it as live meat alongside a busy road © Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary

Pangolins, like many other wild and domesticated animals, can be seen hung upside down alive by the roadside and waved around at passing vehicles to be purchased for around US$20-30. My truck and my face are recognised by many now, causing the sellers to flee as I approach or drive by.

They are aware of the law; they are afraid of my presence. Therefore we are seeing less pangolin sellers in areas that we frequently visit.

Most police officers are unaware of the law so are unwilling to help, although there are those who just play ignorant. When confiscating a monkey the police took sides with the owner, saying he had the right to keep the monkey as a pet and our presence was humiliating. Sadly, money can buy your way out of sticky situations, corruption is just another problem Liberia needs to triumph over and phase out.

However, awareness workshops and a confiscation unit are in progress. So hopefully the pangolin population can recover, before it’s too late.

Guarding Limpopo National Park’s carnivores

two lions lying in the shade — © Peace Parks Foundation

Media release from Peace Parks Foundation

A new carnivore protection ranger force, the Limpopo Lion Protection Team, has had significant successes in the first few weeks of their deployment in the Limpopo National Park, a core component of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. Recently graduated from a ranger training course offered by the Southern African Wildlife College, these well-trained men – specifically assigned to support the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Programme – were rapidly deployed into known lion ranges and tasked with securing these areas from targeted lion poaching. Within the first four days of operations, they covered 57 km and removed 33 snares. In the following weeks, they also found three meat camps and with the assistance of park rangers ambushed and captured three meat poachers.

Snaring is a common and inexpensive method used to catch wildlife, and it is as cruel as it is effective.

In 2016, rangers removed a staggering 664 snares from Limpopo National Park. These snares were strategically placed by poachers, often around water points, aiming to capture animals. Some of the animals are caught for meat, but some are killed for a second and much more sinister and devastating use. The practise involves the application of an easily accessible, over the counter pesticide to a carcass, the size of which directly relates to the number of animals that will be affected. Sometimes it is a small antelope and sometimes an elephant. The main target is usually predators, be it lion, hyena, jackal or leopard. The spoils? Bones and body parts sold for export to the East or used for traditional practices.

Notwithstanding the devastating effect on carnivore populations, non-targeted species also suffer. In a single, well-document incident in the Kruger National Park in 2017, 49 vultures died as a result of feeding on poisoned antelope carcasses. One shudders at the impact this had on vulture populations, with several species more endangered than rhino. According to a Times Live article, in 2016 nearly 150 vultures were killed in two poison incidents in northern Botswana and 105 were poisoned in South Luangwa National Park. Fifty-six more were killed in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania – and these are only the known and documented cases.

The mind bends at the consideration that many of these birds may have been breeding pairs with younglings in nests. Generations of these critically endangered species have potentially been wiped out. The Endangered Wildlife Trust has named poisoning as the most significant threat to vultures in Africa and Eurasia, which has contributed to decline of more than 80% in some African species.

Limpopo National Park lion targeted

Lion poisoning has been steadily increasing in Limpopo National Park. Peter Leitner, a Peace Parks Foundation Project Manager for the park says, “It is of grave concern to us. Over the last year, there have been seven lions poisoned and eight incidences were recorded where poisoned bait was found in the park. In the communal land south of the park, two lions were poisoned when they fed on a cow that was laced with poison. In May, two lion cubs, a male and female, were found poisoned close to a river in the park.

Realising the potential impact of this threat, combined with other poaching methods, Peace Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Mozambican National Administration of Conservation Areas  (ANAC) established an intensive protection zone (IPZ) within the park with the purpose of creating a stronghold in an area that has the largest concentration of game. Peter says that because of the high game numbers here, the area is an important component of tourism development which will, if the game has recovered, attract tourism investors. It is also a critical focus point for illegal activities of wildlife crime syndicates. Patrolling the enormous expanse of the park’s more than one million hectares is an almost impossible task with the resources available. Through the IPZ strategy, 80% of anti-poaching resources can now be allocated to securing the most vital poaching hotspots along the park’s western border, which is shared with the Kruger National Park.

Valuable research also impacted

For many years, the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Programme has been doing continuous research in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) covering an area of approximately 38,000 km². Through scientifically-guided conservation activities, the programme aims to recover and restore the long-term viability of the lion population spread across the large cross-border conservation landscape which forms part of the Great Limpopo TFCA.

Led by Dr Kris Everatte, the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Programme investigates how predators move from the source, usually the Kruger National Park, into the vacant area of the Limpopo National Park.

According to Peter, Peace Parks Foundation welcomes this important research as the lion is a key species that needs to be continuously monitored. He says, “They are always in conflict with villagers in the area because of the threat they pose to their livestock and livelihoods. To mitigate this, villagers are encouraged to corral their cattle at night, and park rangers and the research team provide early detection and warning to villagers when lion enter their areas. What is, however, making the situation worse is that some poachers are specifically targeting lion for their bones, which are harvested for both traditional use and for export to the East.”

The Limpopo Lion Protection Team rangers have been assigned to the research groups so that they can move in the home ranges of the lion.

“They are tasked to pick up any snares in the area, as well as poisoned carcasses,” says Peter.

The team is accompanied by a park ranger who maintains constant contact with other rangers in the park in order to communicate poacher tracks and coordinate joint operations when needed.

“We have long since realised that it is not only the poachers who target high-value animals, such as rhino and elephant, that are a threat to game populations, it is also those who use snares that can be easily set in their hundreds, that severely impact on the wildlife numbers. If we want to be successful in seeing the recovery of general species, we need to focus on removing these snares as well.”

Rangers with wire snares — © Peace Parks Foundation

Gaining a deeper understanding

Because poisoning is a regional issue that needs to be understood, a baseline study has been commissioned by Peace Parks Foundation in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The researchers have gone out to the villages to try and gain a deeper understanding of the issues that are promoting poisoning. They had several interviews with district leaders, community leaders and park officials in which they asked very direct questions, such as what the advantages of poisoning are. By fully understanding the subject, appropriate interventions can be developed which will address the underlying issues by offering alternative solutions.

Safeguarding more than just predators

Significantly reducing snaring, poisoning and poaching in the park will benefit more than the species they target.

Peter says, “As we are protecting predators and other wildlife, the hope is that animal numbers will steadily increase. As this happens, tourism interests will perk up, which will, in turn, attract capital investment and generate revenues the park needs to sustain itself as well as provide meaningful employment to members of the communities. We need to make it attractive for tourism investors to come in and the way to do this is to make sure there is a product. This product has to be more than the aesthetics of the environment, such as nice river valleys, mountains and forests. We need to ensure that our wildlife numbers are at levels which become attractive to tourists”.

Lions tested for tuberculosis in Greater Kruger

Lion darted, TB testing — Dr Rogers and the ProVet team take blood from the darted lions © Ian Nowak

Sourced from third-party site: Letaba Herald

A veterinarian, Dr Rogers, and the ProVet Wildlife team recently darted a pride of five lions in the northern part of Greater Kruger. This happened after one member of the pride was reported to be in a very bad condition and extremely emaciated.

The managers of the property became increasingly concerned for the animal’s health as they witnessed that he was struggling to move. They noticed that the pride were looking after him, making kills and allowing him to feed.

Dr Rogers made the decision to dart all five members of the pride in order to assess their condition, because of the suspicion of tuberculosis (TB).

Upon darting the emaciated male, Dr Rogers and the team made the decision that his condition was too bad, and euthanised him. Blood was then taken from the remaining four pride members and later taken to Skukuza for processing.

Lions tested for TB in Greater Kruger — All five of the lions were darted to test for the presence of TB © Ian Nowak

From there, the samples will go to the University of Stellenbosch for analysis of the presence of the TB organism. Should the samples come back as positive for the disease, further intervention from a veterinary perspective may not be necessary.

Dr Rogers advises that the animals will be monitored and nothing will be done until they start showing clinical signs, which may take many years or perhaps never show.

A postmortem of the euthanised male, conducted by Dr Rogers on Monday, showed that he was heavily infested with TB.

TB is not a naturally occurring disease in wildlife in the Greater Kruger area. It is thought that TB first came to South Africa through cattle from Europe many years ago.

Through contact via the fence, the disease was transferred to buffalo in the Park and then the cycle moved on to lions and many other species in the Greater Kruger area.

A study conducted in 2016 by Stellenbosch University’s animal TB research group suggests that as many as half of the lions in the southern region of the Kruger National Park (KNP) may be infected with a form of animal tuberculosis.

Darted lion — Dr Rogers with one of the lions © Ian Nowak

Celebrating Africa’s Giraffes

The 21st June marks the summer and winter solstice – depending on where you are in the world – and in the northern hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year. It is then entirely appropriate that the day also marks World Giraffe Day, considering it is the planet’s longest-necked animal.
As one of the most iconic animals around, a giraffe’s sheer size and gracefulness will undoubtedly leave you speechless as it strides over the African plains. With their long legs, beautiful eyes and regal bearing, the giraffe is a remarkable creature that deserves recognition and praise.
On World Giraffe Day, we are celebrating Africa’s giraffes in all their splendour through this gallery of stunning photos, along with some interesting facts. And they’re not just any photos; they’re some of the special photos submitted during our Photographer of the Year 2017 and 2018.

? Giraffe fan in Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa © Andrea Galli

The name “giraffe” comes from the Arabic word zarāfah (meaning “fast-walker”). In the 1590s the Italian form giraffa arose, and around 1600 the modern English form developed from the French version, girafe.

? A young giraffe is protected from an opportunistic hyena in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Dev Raj

Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world, with their legs alone being taller than most humans (6ft). Even newborn baby giraffes are taller than most humans.

? “Wrong place” – an oxpecker feeds on ticks off a giraffe in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Hymakar Valluri

Oxpeckers have an excellent symbiotic relationship with giraffes, keeping them healthy and free from parasites and ticks.

? A tower of giraffes in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Andy Howe

A group of giraffes standing still is called a tower, but once they are moving, they are called a journey.

? Maternal background in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Andrei Daniel Mihalca

Their young are ‘dropped’ at birth onto the ground and can stand within the first hour of life. By 10-hours-old they can run with the rest of the herd.

? “Looking through a giraffe’s eye” in Nairobi National Park, Kenya © Swati Prasad Siddharth

Giraffes have excellent vision, which is important as they need to keep an eye out for predators that may be lurking by, and effectively maintain herd cohesion.

? Giraffe walk across the drying lake of Lake Manyara in the Manyara Region, Tanzania © Paul Slyer

Giraffes only drink water every few days, as they get most of their water from the plants they eat.

? A giraffe drinks at a waterhole in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana © Mike Pepe

Although long, their necks are too short to reach the ground. They have to awkwardly splay their front legs apart to be able to drink or investigate anything on the ground. Their jugular veins have a series of one-way valves which prevent them from getting a rush of blood to their brains when they bend down.

? “The train” – giraffes make their way past Mount Kenya, Laikipia, Kenya © Charlotte Rhodes

Giraffe’s stand for most of their lives and you won’t often find them lying down. They don’t need a lot of sleep either and seldom sleep for longer than five minutes at a stretch while lying down. Other than that they take short power naps while standing up.

? A giraffe walks across the plains under a stormy sky in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa © Linda Oteri

Giraffes have enormous hearts to pump the blood around their extensive circulation system. On average, their hearts are 60cm long and weigh up to 11.5 kg.

? Zebras and giraffes in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Andrea Galli

A giraffe’s spots are much like human fingerprints. No two individual giraffes have the same pattern.

? “Tall, dark strangers” in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Andy Howe

Giraffes can move surprisingly quickly and cover vast distances. They have a comfortable ‘cruising speed’ of 16 kph, but can accelerate to 55 kph when the need arises.

? A giraffe enjoys the new leaves of a knob-thorn tree in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

Giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia and mimosa trees. They have a long prehensile tongue, and both the tongue and lips are virtually unaffected by the thorny acacia branches.

Gretzky, a desert-adapted lion, shot by Namibian authorities after killing livestock

Desert lion, Gretzky (XPL 99) in Namibia — Gretzky, XPL 99 © Inki Mandt

WARNING: CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGE

NAMIBIA: Gretzky (XPL 99) the iconic Huab River male desert-adapted lion, who sired and established the Ugab Pride has been shot and killed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at De Rust farm in Ugabriver. According to sources, on Monday evening (11th June) he entered a kraal and killed about 25 goats and sheep at de Rust. This was the first known conflict incident he was involved in.

The lion was collared and it is said that his death could have been prevented if the early warning system had been installed in areas where problems with lions have occurred repeatedly. Apparently his skin, and most likely his bones, will be sold on MET’s behalf.

Lion being skinned at de Rust farm in Namibia, graphic content — Gretsky, XPL 99, being skinned at De Rust Farm © Izak Smit

The following is a statement by Izak Smit (Chairman and founder-member of Desert Lions Human Relations Aid Namibia) regarding Gretsky’s death:

“Unbeknown to us, the MET went to De Rust Farm on Friday. Since Gretzky, XPL 99, seemed to have moved off to the East after we successfully drove him off from the kraals at De Rust Thursday night, we did not envisage that he would return so soon.

On Saturday the news reached us that Gretzky had been shot by the MET and that the skin would be sold. We returned to De Rust to find a skinned carcass of the lion. It became clear that he was in a poor condition and emaciated. This explained his relentless returns to the kraals and his breaching of the poorly maintained and dilapidated kraal where he killed about 25 sheep and goats of Mama Rosa on Monday evening. There were two donkeys on the loose (not kraaled despite the imminent threat) this time at the De Rust farm which attracted the lion. He made a few attempts at the kraal and eventually killed a donkey and as a result, was shot not far from the farmhouses. Since he qualifies as a problem-causing animal, the MET and farmers acted within the law by killing it.

The question however remains whether a translocation could not have spared his life and defused the conflict situation. Given the lion’s poor condition he would most probably not have attempted the long way back from the Huab River to the Ugab if he would’ve been relocated back to the Huab. Given the grossly skewed gender ratio of male to female lions, favouring female numbers, and the facts published by the researcher highlighting the fact that 6 of 9 prides are without a resident male (counting Gretzky now upped to 7 prides), clearly a more conservation-friendly approach would have been desirable. Too often the problem is dealt with through the barrel of a gun and one wonders if a recommendation was at all sought from the research or whether any form of impact study to determine the sustainability of such culling was done. Given the fact that no recent statistics or census in this regard is known it seems irresponsible to just kill these animals randomly.

Namibia boasts internationally to have the largest number of free-roaming lions in the world and derives revenue and earns admiration for it but seem to not take the conservation of these animals seriously enough. The so-called early warning and response system remains an empty promise.

This is clear as the Ugab lions have already been collared in January, but clearly, no such warning or support has been given to the De Rust farmers despite the fact that Gretzky’s collar regularly transmits his position. Another international outcry can be expected by concerned international communities and tourists which could and should have been avoided in our opinion.”

Lion collar — The collar that could have saved Gretzky’s life and should have been utilised for early warning purposes © Izak Smit

Gorillas, chimps and lemurs among species in danger of imminent mass extinction

Chimpanzee in forest — Chimpanzees are among the primate species threatened globally by human activities such as habitat destruction and hunting

The majority of primate species, including chimpanzees, gorillas and lemurs, are on the brink of extinction, according to a new study.

Two-thirds of all primate species are found in just four countries – Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Brazil and Indonesia. Of that, 60% of these primates are Threatened, Endangered, or Critically Endangered according to the IUCN. Researchers have now found that without a concerted global effort, these primate populations will be pushed to breaking point by the end of the century.

An international group of primate researchers analysed and evaluated the situation of many endangered primate species. Using information from World Bank and United Nations databases, the group, led by scientists at Oxford Brookes University, explored likely future scenarios in the four primate-rich nations.

As part of their research, they investigated how human activities would influence the wild primate populations in the future, in terms of habitat destruction, land expansion for agriculture, hunting and the bushmeat trade.

A simulation of agricultural land expansion by the end of the century showed a decline of up to 78% in the distribution areas of many primate species. Assuming a worst-case scenario, by the year 2100, 78% of the primate habitats in Brazil, 72% in Indonesia, 62% in Madagascar and 32% in DR Congo could have disappeared.

“Many iconic species will be lost unless these countries, international organisations, consumer nations and global citizens take immediate action to protect primate populations and their habitats,” said Professor Anna Nekaris, a primate conservation expert at Oxford Brookes University.

“People do not realise that in their daily lives, by consuming less and making more ecologically friendly consumer choices, such as reducing use of single-use plastic and eating food grown locally, they can have direct impacts on tropical forests and the long-term sustainability of biodiversity.”

black-and-white ruffed lemur, Madagascar — Widespread hunting of black-and-white ruffed lemurs in eastern Madagascar has put these primates at increased risk

The study – published in the journal PeerJ – claimed that the biggest threat to primate populations is the expansion of farming, as forests are felled to make way for palm oil and sugarcane productions. In addition, illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade are also major threats, and in DR Congo, hunting has significantly reduced the numbers of gorillas and bonobos.

Unfortunately, many of the areas where primates thrive are also characterised by high levels of poverty, lack of education, political instability and food insecurity – factors that often drive overexploitation of primate-rich habitats.

The research team found that only relatively small fractions of primate habitats in the four target nations are located inside national parks and reserves, meaning many populations are left unprotected.

“More protected areas are needed together with corridors along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients to reduce isolation, along with forest restoration projects that can be beneficial to people’s livelihoods,” said Dr Susan Cheyne, one of the report’s co-authors.

The researchers warned that everyone from national lawmakers to the general public has a role to play in preventing a mass extinction. They asked for immediate measures to protect the endangered primate species and supply recommendations for the long-term conservation of primates and to avert primate extinction.

Full report: PeerJ, Estrada A, Garber PA, Mittermeier RA, Wich S, Gouveia S, Dobrovolski R, Nekaris KAI, Nijman V, Rylands AB, Maisels F, Williamson EA, Bicca-Marques J, Fuentes A, Jerusalinsky L, Johnson S, Rodrigues de Melo F, Oliveira L, Schwitzer C, Roos C, Cheyne SM, Martins Kierulff MC, Raharivololona B, Talebi M, Ratsimbazafy J, Supriatna J, Boonratana R, Wedana M, Setiawan A. (2018): Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation

Gorilla in the wild — The threat to primates of exposure to emerging infectious diseases, such as Ebola, resulting from increased contact with human and domesticated animals can result in local primate population declines

Lavish Livingstone

It is not hard to see why Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular natural sites on the planet and continues to delight and capture the imagination of travellers. Even as early as 1855, David Livingstone described the Falls in a way that reflects this sentiment: “Creeping with awe to the verge, I peered down into a large rent which had been made from bank to bank of the broad Zambezi, and saw that a stream of a thousand yards broad leapt down a hundred feet and then became suddenly compressed into a space of fifteen to twenty yards…the most wonderful sight I had witnessed in Africa.”

Fortunately, my family and I were able to experience this stunning sight firsthand, while at the same time exploring the Zambian side of Victoria Falls and the adventure capital of Zambia – Livingstone.

Aerial view of the iconic Victoria Falls – a sight to behold © Sarah Kingdom

Victoria Falls is the result of thousands of years of erosion. In ancient times, the Zambezi River started to wear away the soft sandstone that was present in huge cracks in the hard basalt plateau that it flowed over, eventually creating a series of magnificent and dramatic gorges. In fact, the Victoria Falls has been gradually receding for over 100,000 years, and the zigzagging gorges downstream of the current Falls represent the formation and abandonment of seven past waterfalls.

Today, the Zambezi crashes over a wide cliff, plunging 108 metres into a powerful whirlpool, forming the greatest curtain of falling water on the planet, and transforming the placid river into a ferocious torrent. At the height of the rainy season more than 500 million cubic metres of water per minute surge over the edge of the almost two kilometre-wide Falls and plummet into the gorge below. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away, hence its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya – “the smoke that thunders”.

Facing the Falls is another sheer wall of rock, crowned with a mist-soaked rainforest. Walking the various paths on the Zambian side through the rainforest, over the Knife-edge Bridge (with its spectacular views of the eastern cataract, main Falls and down the gorge), ducking out to brave the spray and admire the view, you finally make your way around to the point where you can see the Victoria Falls Bridge – the next stop on the itinerary for our family adventure in Zambia.

The ultimate adrenaline activity

Aside from the Victoria Falls lure, there are numerous activities to keep even the most ardent adventure seeker busy.

Jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge is one of the ultimate adrenaline activities. It is the highest commercial bridge jump in the world and the most spectacular setting. I, of course, was neither brave, nor foolish, enough to throw myself off the bridge, but my 16- and 17-year-old sons had no such qualms. Shearwater offers bungee, bridge swing and ziplining off the iconic bridge, and without any trouble, at all, I convinced my sons to throw themselves into the abyss.

Bungee jumping off Victoria Falls Bridge — Sarah’s son bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge © Shearwater Victoria Falls

It was only once the boys were fully kitted out in their safety harnesses that my husband voiced what was in both of our minds: “We’ve only got two children; do you think it is wise for them to both be throwing themselves off this bridge simultaneously?”

My heart stopped beating, and I held my breath as I watched them leap into space, free falling for what seemed like forever, before being propelled upwards again, at speed, by the rebound of the giant elastic rope. The looks of excitement on their faces when we were reunited said it all – they were on an adrenaline high for the rest of the day!

I, on the other hand, thought I would ease myself more gracefully into the ‘adrenaline business’ and signed up with Livingstone’s Adventure for an afternoon’s privately guided canoe safari on the Zambezi, upstream from the Falls. We paddled between the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambian side and the Zambezi National Park on the Zimbabwean side, gliding past elephants, pods of hippos and a great selection of birdlife. I was a little surprised as to how much we saw given how much noise my husband and younger son were making in the other canoe!

Having been told clearly as we set off that the person in the back seat was in charge of steering and the person in the front was the ‘powerhouse’, there seemed to be a great deal of unnecessary gesticulating and exasperation as the two of them ‘discussed’ who was supposed to be doing what and got progressively further off course! Silence reigned supreme in my canoe, and I was feeling rather smug until I turned around to discover that my eldest son was doing what teenagers do best – having a power nap in the back seat, while I both paddled and steered! The adrenaline rush of the morning bungee jump had taken its toll.

Canoeing down the Zambezi River © Livingstone’s Adventure

Our first few nights were spent at Livingstone’s most recently opened Thorntree River Lodge, right on the banks of the Zambezi, with an unbeatable view of the river. There was even a gym with a view for the times when you were feeling guilty about all the excellent food you were eating. I would visit the treadmill every morning while my family were ensconced in bed, coming back with reports of all the birds, monkeys, baboons, giraffes and even elephants I had watched while running to nowhere.

A sensational view of the Zambezi River from deck — A sensational view of the Zambezi River from the deck © Thorntree River Lodge

Thorntree is located in the 66 sq km Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, home not only to Cape buffalo, Burchell’s zebra, Angolan giraffe, elephants, various antelope species, warthog and more, but also to 12 white rhinos. We were able to combine a game drive through this tiny park with the unique opportunity to get up close on foot to a few of the rhinos.

After some searching, we found a rhino mother and her calf and were able to get quite close. The calf, Baby Virginia, in a remarkably playful mood, scampered from side to side and looked longingly in our direction. I’d be willing to bet that if her mum hadn’t been there cramping her style, she would have come even closer and really checked us out!

River rafting adventure

We decided on a family rafting trip the following day with Bundu Adventures, down what is quite probably the wildest commercial white-water in the world. A rafting adventure on the Zambezi River is an adrenaline rush not to be missed. Downstream from the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River stretches out into deep, zigzagging, torturous channels, gouged out of the surrounding basalt.

The incredible volume of water guarantees an exhilarating day of white-water rafting.

When, at the pre-departure briefing, you hear that there are rapids called ‘The Terminator’, ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Gnashing Jaws of Death’, you have an inkling of what lies ahead!

The day starts with a hike down to the ‘Boiling Pot’, a massive whirlpool at the base of Victoria Falls, where we clambered aboard our raft and set off. The sun was shining, and the water was surprisingly warm. Our guide, nicknamed Black Lizard, knew exactly which line to take through the rapids, usually giving us the option to choose the route based on whether we wanted to ‘flip’ or not… and a few flips were definitely had! Although stretches of the route are classed as high-octane Grade 5, there are several areas of scenic, calm water where we had the chance to swim alongside the raft. The whole day was an unbelievable experience and definitely worth the steep hike out of the Batoka Gorge at the end of the day.

White river rafting on Zambezi River — Sarah and her family rafting the Zambezi rapids © Bundu Adventures

From the tranquillity and luxury of Thorntree River Lodge, we moved closer to town, basing ourselves nearer the action. Maramba River Lodge is a peaceful oasis amongst all the adrenaline that is Livingstone. While close enough to all the action, we still felt part of nature as we enjoyed breakfast on the terrace overlooking a resident pod of hippos, who, complete with numerous babies, kept us thoroughly entertained for hours.

When we weren’t watching the hippos we were amazed by the vervet monkeys which, to avoid the crocodiles, clearly preferred drinking from the lodge’s swimming pool than the river; they didn’t seem remotely bothered by our presence, even bringing their tiny babies with them.

Taking to the skies

If flying over the Falls in a contraption that resembles a couple of garden chairs attached to a beach umbrella, with a lawnmower engine for propulsion, is your cup of tea, then micro lighting is definitely for you!

Sarah’s son about to take off in a microlight © Sarah Kingdom

Seriously though, while a microlight may look as fragile as a dragonfly, it is far stronger than it appears, and in the hands of an experienced pilot, it is one of the unique ways to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world in all its magnificence. My sons took to the skies and loved every minute of the ride!

Not to be outdone by our children in the microlights, my husband and I opted for a spectacular helicopter flight over the Falls, again with Livingstone’s Adventure. Known as the ‘Flight of Angels’, this thrilling flight over the waterfall is a definite bucket-list activity. Not only did we have the luxury of a private flight just for the two of us, but the views were breathtaking, offering an entirely new perspective on the Falls and the landscape below.

Luxurious Livingstone

Having dispatched our children back to boarding school at the end of the school holidays, my husband and I returned to Livingstone a month later to sample a little more of the serious luxury that is on offer, and I can confidently say I have never been so pampered in all my life! It is amazing how sophisticated the northern banks of the Zambezi have become. Livingstone, once the ‘poor relative’ in the Victoria Falls experience, has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, and now has some truly special places to stay and activities to do.

This time our first port of call was the Stanley Safari Lodge. The lodge has a very different viewpoint and perspective from many of the other lodges in the area, most of which are built right on the riverbanks. Here you are perched on a hill overlooking the unspoilt bush, with snaking stretches of the Zambezi River and the spray of the Victoria Falls visible in the distance.

We arrived in a deluge of rain and had to make a mad dash from the car to the welcoming shelter of the dining room – this rain was to continue for the rest of the night, and indeed the rest of our visit! A thunderstorm during dinner provided a spectacular display of lightning across the border in Zimbabwe, and the reflection of the lightning in the swimming pool, which we could see from our table, was incredible.

A cruise down the Zambezi

A visit to Livingstone would not be complete without a river cruise on the Zambezi River, preferably at sunset. We chose the African Queen, and even though the sun was hiding behind the clouds as we set off (and it didn’t look like we were destined to get a very photogenic sunset) we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless; no doubt aided by the gin & tonics and tasty snacks brought to us regularly by our ever-attentive waitress. We travelled at a stately speed up the Zambezi above the Falls, catching glimpses of hippos and crocs, and just in the nick of time, the clouds cleared temporarily, and we got our sunset after all.

**From left:** 1) *A sunset cruise is a tremendous photogenic activity;* 2) *Sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in the lounge area.* Both photos © Livingstone’s Adventure

It was time to move lodges, this time to Royal Chundu Island Lodge, located 60km from Livingstone, upstream of the Falls. From the minute we arrived at Royal Chundu, we knew we were in paradise! Having relied on Google maps to get us there, we had taken a very circuitous route and were feeling somewhat flustered by the time we arrived.

Aerial view of the accommodation on the banks of the Zambezi River — Aerial view of Royal Chundu’s accommodation on the banks of the Zambezi River © Royal Chundu Island Lodge

Though all that fell away as we took the first sip of our welcome cocktail in the main lodge, and then stepped aboard the boat that would take us across to our room on the island. After unpacking and enjoying a delicious lunch, we had to temporarily press pause on our island retreat and head back into town for dinner aboard the Royal Livingstone Express.

Dinner on a steam train

The Royal Livingstone Express is a unique and different experience; a trip back in time to the luxury and grandeur of the bygone era of steam trains. An actual red carpet welcomed us, and we boarded the train with a glass of wine in hand. Wandering through the fabulously restored and renovated carriages, we chose a seat in the elegant lounge car.

The train set off, and we nibbled on smoked salmon canapés as local fundi, Peter Jones, gave a passionate, fascinating, humorous and informative talk about the history of the train, the bridge, Livingstone and Zambia in general. Meanwhile, the train was making its way to the Victoria Falls Bridge, where we alighted to view the Falls, and those who were interested joined the driver in his compartment to learn more about the inner workings of the engine itself. The driver showed us how to stoke the engine, even allowing us to pull the cord that sounded the whistle – which had my husband grinning like a schoolboy! Once back on board, we were treated to a delicious five-course dinner in the dining car as we headed off into the night.

Arriving back at Royal Chundu long after the rest of the lodge was asleep, we boarded the boat again for a short, moonlit boat ride upstream to the island. We reached our room to find a freshly drawn bath in the tub on the verandah, with bubbles that must have been at least a metre high! Never one to turn down a bath, I hopped in and was serenaded by a chorus of frogs. I sat there watching a sky full of brilliant stars and then as if on cue, I saw a shooting star as the lions started roaring in the park across the next channel of water. An absolutely perfect moment.

The next morning a female finfoot accompanied our early morning coffee. As we sat on our verandah watching her across the water, she was joined by a male, and not long after that, we witnessed what was either a courting ritual or perhaps just a marital spat!

Departing Royal Chundu, we headed to Islands of Siankaba, a lodge built on two private islands in the middle of the Zambezi. The wooden chalets are built on stilts and perched on the river’s edge, with verandahs jutting out over the water, and are all interlinked by a series of raised wooden walkways – something that would not have looked out of place in the Swiss Family Robinson or Pirates of the Caribbean. The walkways and suspension bridges that linked the two islands together gave an air of adventure from the moment we arrived.

The rain continued and the sound of the river rushing and swirling beneath our room and the drops of rain falling on the canvas roof at night had us feeling cosy and warm, tucked up in bed. The next morning we sat on our verandah, enjoying our coffee while watching forty or fifty blue-cheeked bee-eaters, and just as many wire-tailed swallows, swooping over the water. A Cape clawless otter appeared, swimming around the partially submerged small islands in front of our room. Walking to breakfast, we found discarded crab carcasses on the bridges, left behind by giant kingfishers who had eaten their breakfast long before we were heading to ours.

Later that day we headed upstream in a boat to a tiny island, where we got off to take a closer look at the southern red bishop birds. We had the island all to ourselves and were surrounded by red bishops courting, mating and building nests. So unaccustomed were they to human presence, that the birds allowed us to get right up close and we had some unparalleled viewing.

For a brief change of scenery, I headed back into Livingstone town and through to the famous Victoria Falls Bridge to have a good behind-the-scenes look. Even though he never visited the Falls and died before the construction of the bridge began, Cecil Rhodes was presented with the plans of the proposed Zambezi River crossing, and he apparently drew a line across the Boiling Pot (the point directly below the Falls where the water exits from the chasm of the Victoria Falls) and declared that this was where he wanted the bridge.

He envisaged the spray of the Falls landing on the trains as they crossed the bridge, and indeed for many years after the completion of the bridge, trains used to stop for a few minutes at its centre so that his dream could be realised… exactly what we had done a few nights earlier on the Royal Livingstone Express. Attached to the bridge by a series of cables and carabiners, I walked beneath it, with my guide, on the original catwalk, while learning a little more about its construction and admiring the fabulous views both up and down the gorges.

After our stay at Islands of Siankaba, our last stop was the Royal Livingstone Hotel. We only had one night here, but we certainly made the most of our visit. Just after arrival, we were ushered off to an extravagant high tea, where we were each presented with a three-tiered cake stand loaded with goodies, accompanied by tea and, of course, some sparkling wine. Having missed lunch, we savoured our high tea, while watching zebras grazing by the pool. Just as I swigged the last of my bubbly, nibbled my last morsel of cucumber sandwich, and decided there was no way I was going to fit in any dinner, I was whisked off to a luxurious massage in a gazebo on the banks of the Zambezi.

On our last morning in Livingstone, we forced ourselves to endure a delicious champagne breakfast with all the trimming on the banks of the Zambezi while watching the spray of the Falls. We followed this with a last-minute visit to the Falls themselves. The rain-swollen Zambezi was chocolate in colour, and the Falls were pumping, it was hard to drag ourselves away from the mesmerising sight of the sheer volume of water that was pouring over the edge. But sadly, all good things must come to an end.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR, SARAH KINGDOM

Travel writer, mountain guide and mother, Sarah Kingdom was born and brought up in Sydney, Australia. Coming to Africa at 21, she fell in love with the continent and stayed. Sarah guides on Kilimanjaro several times a year and has lost count of how many times she has stood on the roof of Africa. She has climbed and guided throughout the Himalayas and now spends most of her time visiting remote places in Africa. When she is not travelling, she runs a cattle ranch in Zambia with her husband.

Mysterious deaths of ancient baobabs leave scientists baffled

Chapman's baobab — Chapman’s baobab, before it fell in 2016 © Christian Boix

DECODING SCIENCE POST by AG Editorial

A new survey of baobab trees across several countries in southern Africa has found that most of the oldest and largest of trees have died, or significantly deteriorated, over the last 12 years. The cause is still unclear, but researchers speculate that climate change may be an underlying factor.

Adrian Patrut, a Romanian professor of inorganic and radiochemistry, and colleagues used radiocarbon dating to analyse more than 60 of the largest and oldest baobab trees in Africa to try to find out how the trees could grow so large and so old. During the survey, which started in 2005, the researchers noticed that nine of the 13 oldest, and five of the six largest baobabs had died, or at least their oldest parts had collapsed and died during the study period.

These included well-known trees that have become famous for their size or natural architecture, like the Sunland baobab (that fell in 2017), the sacred Panke baobab (around 2,500 years old when it died in 2011, according to Patrut), Namibia’s ‘Grootboom’ (thought to be at least 1,275 years old and fell in 2014), and Botswana’s Chapman’s baobab (that collapsed in 2016).

“We report that nine of the 13 oldest… individuals have died, or at least their oldest parts/stems have collapsed and died, over the past 12 years,” the team said, describing “an event of an unprecedented magnitude”.

Published in the journal Nature Plants this week, the survey suggests that climate change may be affecting the ability of the trees to survive, though more research is needed to understand the exact cause.

“We suspect that the demise of monumental baobabs may be associated at least in part with significant modifications of climate conditions that affect southern Africa in particular,” said Patrut and his team. “However, further research is necessary to support or refute this supposition.”

The Platland baobab after the first two splits of May and August 2016. Image source: Adrian Patrut

The team added that an epidemic did not cause the deaths and “there were no signs of disease”.

Baobabs are notoriously tricky to date because their strange shape and growth patterns can complicate traditional tree-ring analysis — and Patrut’s method drew some controversy from other baobab ecologists. But his findings about the deaths came as no surprise: Anecdotal evidence of a die-off was already spreading in the baobab research community.

Baobabs have a unique ring-shaped structure comprising multiple stems and trunks, often of different ages. Baobabs will start growing as a single trunk but over time, develop others that may fuse to form a closed circle, or remain open. The researchers found that in some cases, all the trunks had died suddenly at the same time.

Full report: Nature Plants, Adrian Patrut, Stephan Woodborne, Roxana T. Patrut, Laszlo Rakosy, Daniel A. Lowy, Grant Hall & Karl F. von Reden (2018): The demise of the largest and oldest African baobabs

Kruger lion hunted – what we know

African male lion, wildlife — Stock photo of a lion (not the lion in question)

Opinion post: Written by Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

A large male lion was trophy hunted on Thursday morning last week in the Greater Kruger National Park. We have confirmed by way of personal discussion with the warden of the area that the hunter is from the United States and that he paid in the region of R1-million to kill this wild lion. The hunter’s name is unknown at this stage. Wildlife activists claim that the lion was a pride male lion they call Skye, but this fact is yet to be confirmed.

The lion was killed in Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), and falls within the Greater Kruger National Park. There are no fences between the private reserves and the Kruger National Park. Umbabat, in turn, is made up of many smaller private properties.

It’s highly likely that this tragic incident will justifiably trigger an emotional tsunami, with substantial consequences for Umbabat, neighbouring private game reserves and possibly even the entire Greater Kruger. At the time of writing, there is already much speculation and finger-pointing within Umbabat, APNR/Greater Kruger and amongst the broader public. Members of Umbabat are meeting today in Johannesburg to discuss the situation.

I tried to determine the facts as they currently stand and can report as follows, after a lengthy telephone discussion this morning with Umbabat warden Bryan Havemann, and with representatives of other affected parties. Havemann provided all documentation requested by me. Africa Geographic will keep you advised of further developments, as we become aware of them.

1. Was the hunt legal?

Havemann: Yes. The authority to hunt the lion was provided in a quota letter issued on 21 February 2018 by the relevant governing authority – Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. The quota request by Mbabat was initially turned down, due to inadequate information being provided, but subsequently approved once the outstanding information was provided. Information published by wildlife activists this morning via a South African news platform was based on outdated information and is not accurate.

2. Was the lion baited?

Havemann: Yes, the lion was baited. We baited the lion in order to make sure that we did not shoot lions that are prohibited in terms of the lion hunting protocol (see below).

3. How old was the lion?

Havemann: The lion met the requirements of the Greater Kruger lion hunting protocol of April 2018. These requirements are:

i) Older than 6 years;

ii) Reasonable steps are taken to ensure that no pride males under 8 years old are selected;

iii) Consultation with lodges and landowners in the area;

iv) Males cannot be shot if in the presence of females;

v) No appearance of the recessive leucistic gene (‘white lions’).

4. Was the lion killed the lion referred to as ‘Skye’?

Havemann: I am unsure of the exact identity of the lion named ‘Skye’, as we do not name lions. We met with the local landowners and lodges during the run-up to the hunt, as required by the lion hunting protocol, who provided photos of a male lion they have named ‘Skye’ (because he has a scar under his eye). We undertook to ensure that this named lion was not the target lion, and made sure that the Umbabat professional hunter was aware that this lion was out of bounds. A report by Umbabat chairman Lenny Willson described the lion killed by the hunter as follows: no facial scarring, age 8.5 to 9 years old, worn down and broken teeth, prominent spine, no appearance of ‘white lion’ gene, no other lions in the area before or after the hunt.

5. Why does Umbabat hunt lions and other species?

Havemann: We permit hunting in order to pay for ongoing reserve management and security costs. There is no profit in this, we try to cover costs. The landowners also pay levies, which provide the balance of the funds required to keep the private land available for the good of wildlife conservation. We only have one commercial lodge amongst our landowners, and so cannot reply on tourism as a major funder. We would be happy to stop trophy hunting if third parties would provide the necessary funding.

Final comment from Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

Humankind has surely evolved sufficiently to reject the fetish of a few wealthy people for killing iconic animals for fun. It is time to get rid of trophy hunting of these icons as a conservation funding mechanism where there are alternatives, and I am totally convinced that the intellectual and financial resource at Umbabat and other nearby private game reserves could solve this riddle if they applied their minds and thought outside of traditional methods. I know that many of the Umbabat owners already do feel this way.

If alternative solutions are not found, there is a real risk that the APNR will start breaking up, and that fences will come back up in places. The anger generated amongst the social media-empowered general public, driven by activists who value impact over fact, is a toxic cocktail that will drive change – regardless of the consequences.

This will be a journey for Umbabat, not an event. It’s time to start that journey.

Zambia’s hippo cull: Valid concerns and questions from those affected

Hippo carcass with two trophy hunters — © Umlilo Safaris

Opinion post: Written by Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

A showdown is looming between tourism operators in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park and trophy hunters, in the wake of the Zambian government’s decision to cull up to 2,000 hippos over a 5-year period in Luangwa Valley, across the river from the tourism lodges – and to award the culling contract to a South African trophy hunting outfit Umlilo Safaris (so much for the empowerment of local people and generation of revenue that stays in Zambia).

The tourism operators in South Luangwa have built their industry and a hard-earned reputation for authentic camps and walking safaris over many years – and this latest blow could conceivably impact their livelihoods, on the employment of local people and on the sustainability of the industry. Luangwa Valley is the home of the walking safari experience, a reputation worth defending. They have questions and very valid concerns, but it would appear that these are falling on deaf ears.

Contextual reality check:

1. Tourism in Luangwa Valley brings in about US$27m per annum in revenues and employs approximately 1,200 people directly and indirectly. Revenue from trophy hunting amounts to approximately US$200,000 per concession, and there are two such concessions nearby the main tourism areas. Employment figures for trophy hunting are unknown.

2. The hippo is classified as “vulnerable” on IUCN’s Red List of threatened species. There is an estimated population throughout Africa of only 115-130,000 individuals, with a “downward shift”. IUCN: “The conservation status of Hippos remains precarious and the need for direct conservation action to protect Hippos and Hippo habitat across their range is a priority”;

3. The Zambian authorities have justified this culling exercise on the basis that this will prevent anthrax outbreaks among animals due to high populations of hippo. And yet, in this research paper by their very own Chansa Chomba from the Department of Research, Planning, Information and Veterinary Services at Zambia Wildlife Authority, advises that culling is not an effective population control strategy. His research goes on to advise that culling:

i) removes excess males and frees resources for the remaining female individuals, leading to increased births and facilitating rather than suppressing population growth rate;

ii) did not significantly affect population size and density.

Comment from tourism operators in the area:

Opening statement: “If culling for meat and revenue could be done without negatively affecting tourism in the area, and the hippo population would not be jeopardised, many of us here would support it, as it could provide protein and additional revenues for local people… and that would help to secure the future of conservation.”

Concerns and questions:

1. This five-year cull is in the main tourist area of South Luangwa, where ease of road and air access was built on the backs of photographic tourism investment and development from the safari lodges, operators, NGOs and charities. Now, these people are going to come and take advantage of that, and in the process, threaten the survival of the very industry that created a nice environment for them!

2. This the reality of hippo hunts:

Umlilo Safaris offers clients five hippos per trip, during our prime tourism season of June to October, from now until 2022.

Relatively unskilled trophy hunting clients will be shooting hippos in the river opposite the busiest game viewing area in Zambia. The hunts will take place in the day time when the hippos are in the water. We know that killing a hippo in water often takes 6 or 7 shots and that the carcass will then sink before resurfacing later. The carcass will then be hooked, dragged to the shoreline, butchered and dried on drying racks.

Photographic tourists will boycott the area and instead go to countries that do not also host trophy hunts. This will lead to tourism camps shutting down, jobs being lost and hard-earned conservation successes coming under threat.

3. How will the hippo meat be cured? Usually, this is done by drying it, using the traditional method of fires made from mopane wood. It would appear that Umlilo Safaris has been given permission to fell trees in order to cure the hippo meat. We have a continuous battle on our hands to save the woodland and habitat that supports such amazing wildlife. Local people are not allowed to cut these trees, so why should trophy hunting be allowed to cut down trees? Has a permit been issued by the Forestry Department or Community Resource Board? So many elephants are killed by trophy hunters on the basis that they push over trees and are a ‘threat to biodiversity’ – it seems hypocritical that trophy hunters now want to cut down trees to cure hippo meat.

4. Predators will be lured out of the park by the smell of dead hippos, and become ‘fair game’ for the trophy hunting concessionaires that operate the concession that Umlilo Safaris is using to kill hippos. These legally chosen concessionaires are also not happy to have these fly-by-night hunters, operating in what they were promised was their exclusive hunting area. True fair chase hunters have the good sense to stay away from the photographic tourism area and conduct their hunts away from the river and the park.

Local tourism operators are not the only people with questions and concerns:

1. In a statement to Zambia’s Lusaka Times, Peter Sinkamba, President of the Zambian Green Party, said “Culling of wildlife is not an option. It is a primitive wildlife conservation strategy… What is more appalling is that the Luangwa Valley is not overpopulated as they claim. The hippo population in that conservation area has dwindled by about 14-20% in the last 20 years, motivated by mainly poor conservation policies, strategies and allocation of financial and human resources. The culling policy is motivated by pure greed.”

2. Richard Kock, professor of wildlife health at the Royal Veterinary College, speaking to the UK’s Independent newspaper, says he believes the Zambian government have yet to provide adequate data to justify the ‘cull’. “There’s no doubt that hippos can build up numbers until there really are probably too many for the ecosystem… and so I think anthrax may well be a factor in controlling their populations, and it may benefit the environment because they will consume large quantities of herbage, and obviously that will affect other species.”

3. Will Travers, chief executive of Born Free, believes that the government has failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate any overpopulation of hippos in the Luangwa River, or to make public any data that justifies the cull. “They are, apparently, using the same flawed rationale for the slaughter as last time – a preventative measure to avoid a future outbreak of anthrax, combined with an assertion that low rainfall will exacerbate the situation… They also appear not to have informed key stakeholders in the Luangwa Valley… The negative consequences for thousands of hippo and Zambia’s reputation as a wildlife tourism destination cannot be underestimated.”

My final thoughts

This hippo cull strategy has the stench of underhand dealings, and good people on the ground in Zambia will be negatively affected if the decision to cull up to 2,000 hippos over five years goes ahead.

There is no question in my mind that African governments should determine their own conservation strategies, as unpopular as some of their decisions may be for members of the public. And I also have no doubt that international pressure groups and animal rights activists do not have the granular understanding to make these decisions on behalf of Africa. They play an important whistle-blower role, but that is where it stops. And neither should the trophy hunting industry be permitted to hold sway over conservation decisions like these. They do not have the big picture in mind, and their industry is too riddled with corruption and morally-bankrupt operators to be taken seriously.

That said, our African governments have to finally understand that these decisions are not made in an information vacuum (as they were before the advent of the Internet and social media). They surely have to grasp the reality that the fragile tourism industry is Africa’s great long term sustainable economic hope, and that lack of transparency and proper scientific justification for controversial decisions will harm this industry, and ultimately our own people.

Zambia’s Luangwa Valley is an absolutely amazing tourism destination, and hopefully good will come of this negative publicity. A luta continua!

There’s a Leopard in my Garden

One of the most popular requests from safari tourists to their guides is to see leopards. This is a tough task, even for the most experienced of guides, due to the elusive and cunning nature of these big cats. But there is a town called Hoedspruit, near the Kruger National Park in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, where having leopards in your garden is, well, the norm.

The residents of Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate (HWE), a fenced lifestyle ‘suburb’ of this bushveld town, are blessed with regular sightings of leopards. Fences pose no problems for these lithe felines as they come and go at will.

HWE is 680ha in extent, with half consisting of undeveloped bushveld and the other half consisting of residential homes. Various species such as impalas, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and warthogs call this estate home, as well as a host of smaller species such as mongooses, genets, porcupines and civets. And then there are the predators that come and go at will, often making use of holes dug under the fence by aardvarks and warthogs.

**Left:** *Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate homes, from the perspective of a drone* © Jurie Moolman; **Right:** *Google Earth image of Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate*

We asked HWE resident and confessed leopard junkie Villiers Steyn a few questions about what it is like to live with leopards in your garden:

Africa Geographic (AG): Let’s get to the scary bit first, have people been attacked by leopards in HWE, and how do you stay safe while out walking in the estate?
Villiers Steyn (VS): I’m not aware of any attacks on humans. They have, however, surprised quite a few residents by suddenly appearing in their gardens. My wife and I have been lucky enough to encounter them on foot, and I’ve even cycled past one as well. I believe it’s perfectly safe to walk around the estate during the day, but I wouldn’t recommend walking alone at night.

A relaxed Big Boy strolls confidently across a road in the estate. He used to drink water from the author’s birdbath and was regularly seen strolling amongst houses on the estate © Villiers Steyn

AG: Based on anecdotal evidence, leopards seem to target and eat dogs – how do you keep your pet dogs safe?
VS: Leopards have attacked and eaten dogs on the estate. It infrequently happens though because residents are continually being made aware of the risks in estate correspondence. The rule is simple – keep your dogs inside the house when it’s dark; otherwise, they might become leopard food. In fact, we don’t even like leaving our dogs alone outside during the twilight hours, because leopards are very active around sunrise and sunset.
Leopards easily jump over the small fences to get into gardens and wouldn’t hesitate to grab Fluffy where he’s taking a nap on the porch! Dogs are not allowed off the lead when they’re being walked in the estate and walking them at night is looking for trouble…

AG: How often do residents report leopard sightings and are the leopards relaxed with humans in the vicinity?
VS: When we first moved to HWE in 2013, there was a massive male called Big Boy that was frequently seen by residents. My wife and I would jump in the car every time we heard monkey or impala alarm calls nearby our house, and more often than not, we’d find Big Boy. He would casually walk between houses and cars, and even drink from our birdbath!

Thanks to spot pattern analysis, a local guide identified him as a leopard that grew up in the nearby Thornybush Game Reserve, hence his relaxed demeanour around vehicles and people. Unfortunately, he disappeared in mid-2015, perhaps due to a territorial dispute with another leopard, Houdini, who took over as the dominant male in the area.
The rest of the leopards that frequent HWE are much shyer than Big Boy. They are hardly ever seen during the day, but if you’re lucky to catch a glimpse of one of them at night, they’re less likely to dash away into the thickets as they do when the sun is up. Sometimes months go by with no leopard sightings, but recently a female leopard, Kulua, and her two cubs were seen in the same area six days in a row. She must have had a kill in the vicinity.

**Clockwise from top left:** 1) *Houdini is a massive male leopard, and is currently the dominant male frequenting the estate*; 2) *A female leopard named Nsuku, regularly seen on the estate*; 3) A young male leopard named Ntambo; 4) *A female leopard named Kulua enters the estate via a hole under the boundary fence.* All photos © Villiers Steyn

AG: How many leopards frequent HWE, and do you have any population dynamics?
VS: Over the past five years, I’ve identified 15 individual leopards on HWE – four adult males, three adult females, seven cubs and one unknown individual. Some have come and gone, and others have successfully defended their territories here for many years.

The leopards certainly don’t live on the estate permanently. Their movements take them beyond the estate boundaries into neighbouring game farms and the Greater Kruger National Park.

Currently, HWE is dominated by one massive male we call Houdini. Two adult females, Kulua and Nsuku, are also regularly captured on camera traps, and both have cubs. Kulua’s two cubs are close to a year old, and Nsuku’s cub is closer to six months old. It is difficult to age the cubs because we hardly ever see them and they seldom show up on camera trap photos. We do know that one of Kulua’s current litter is a male. Her previous litter consisted of a male and a female (Mafu and Mila), both of which survived to adulthood, and Nsuku raised a male cub (Ntambo) successfully in her previous litter.

A leopard feeds on a large kudu bull on the estate © Villiers Steyn

AG: What species do the leopards prey on in the estate?
VS: Much of the hunting happens at night, so it’s tough to say precisely what the leopards prey on in the estate. I have, however, followed their tracks and drag marks to carcasses of duikers, waterbuck calves and impalas. I’m sure they also catch a lot of small things like francolins and guineafowl, of which there is no shortage. Interestingly, the leopards don’t hoist the carcasses up into the trees like they usually do – perhaps this is due to the low number of competitive predators and plenty of dense shrubs to hide the carcasses under.

AG: How do leopards enter or leave the estate, bearing in mind the electrified game fencing?
VS: The leopards crawl underneath the fence at various points along the boundary where warthogs and other creatures have dug holes. These become little highways in and out of the estate for a variety of creatures – including genets, civets, honey badgers, porcupines, spotted hyenas and even wild dogs and aardvarks! I often place camera traps at these points.

**Camera trap images:** *Other wildlife seen on the estate includes civets, aardvark, wild dogs, hyenas, honey badgers and porcupines* © Villiers Steyn

AG: Are HWE residents proud of having leopards in the estate?
VS: Yes! The residents are very proud of having leopards on the estate and show incredible interest in the camera trap photos and videos I post and the short reports I write from time to time. Some of us are members of WhatsApp groups that alert each other when we see one so that everyone can come out and enjoy the sighting.

AG: Concluding thoughts?
VS: Many people think it’s “strange” or “amazing” that leopards and so many other beautiful creatures live amongst people here in the estate. If you ask me, it’s perfectly normal. I don’t look at it as animals living in a suburb, but rather as humans that live in the bush. Their numbers and behaviour here in the estate are probably very similar to what it is in the neighbouring reserves. The only difference is, we’ve built our houses in their home ranges.

ABOUT VILLIERS STEYN

After completing a diploma in Nature Conservation, Villiers Steyn studied the movement patterns of leopards in Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve as part of his Master’s Degree. Following that, he crisscrossed southern Africa for six years as a freelance travel writer for some of South Africa’s leading travel magazines, focusing primarily on wilderness areas. Today he’s based in Hoedspruit where he makes a living as a professional photographer and photographic safari guide. Follow Villiers as the Safari Expert on Instagram and Youtube.

ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

The Turkana – Nomadic by Nature
Joe Bürgi and his wife, Ursula, are perennial travellers and photographers from Switzerland. Their passion for the exploration of off-the-beaten-track destinations has allowed them to compile a catalogue of unique photos that tell inspiring, eye-opening stories of remote tribes that are largely unknown to the rest of the world.
In this gallery, we showcase a series of photos of the nomadic, pastoralist Turkana tribe in northern Kenya. These photos are a true reflection of the raw, harsh environment that they inhabit, and the pride that they possess is a testament to their cultural beliefs. It is astonishing, enthralling and above all, real.

Mountain gorilla numbers surpass 1,000

Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda © Stuart Sinclair [first runner-up in Photographer of the Year 2018]

Media release from Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration

The population of mountain gorillas, one of the world’s most endangered species, is on the rise after a population survey was performed in the transboundary Virunga Massif, one of the two remaining areas where this critically endangered great ape is still found.

The survey results revealed that numbers have increased to 604 from an estimated 480 in 2010, including 41 social groups and 14 solitary males in the transboundary area. When combined with the published figure of 400 mountain gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (where the rest of the sub-species is found), the total population sits at an estimated 1,004 mountain gorillas.

The survey was conducted by the Protected Area Authorities of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda under the transboundary framework of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, and supported by many partners and various donors.

As in the previous mountain gorilla census in 2010, survey teams walked pre-determined “recces” (reconnaissance trails) ensuring thorough coverage of all forest areas to sweep the Virunga Massif from the southwest to northeast and search for signs of gorillas, other key mammals, and illegal activities.

When fresh gorilla signs were detected, the teams followed the gorilla trail to locate three recent night nest sites. At each of these nest sites, the teams collected faecal samples that were analysed genetically to determine individual genotypes. The survey teams also collected data on signs and sightings of select mammals, such as elephants, and illegal activities, such as snares. While exercising caution due to the limitations of the study, there were no indications of declines in populations for the select mammals surveyed, including elephants, since 2010.

Young mountain gorilla juvenile reaching out in Virunga National Park, DRC — A young mountain gorilla juvenile reaching out in Virunga National Park, DRC © Bobby-Jo Photography

The increase in mountain gorillas inhabiting the Virunga Massif is attributed to the effectiveness of conservation policies, strategies, notably regulated tourism, daily protection and veterinary interventions, intensive law enforcement, community conservation projects, and transboundary collaboration among government institutions and NGO actors. Further, these results are a testament to the tireless effort of the rangers and trackers who daily protect and monitor mountain gorillas and their habitat, including those that have been killed in the line of duty.

It is also important to recognise the role of the communities that live in close proximity to these national parks who co-exist with mountain gorillas and contribute to conservation efforts.

Despite the rise in numbers, the two populations of mountain gorillas still remain relatively small and vulnerable to a potential rapid decline due to factors such as their limited habitat, climate change, dependency on resources in the park by people, and the risk of disease transmission.

Mountain gorilla family in Virunga National Park, DRC — A family portrait of the Rugendo mountain gorilla family in Virunga National Park, DRC © Bobby-Jo Photography

The black & white of African wildlife explained

King cheetah, pseudo-melanism in animals — A ‘king’ cheetah’s colouring is an example of pseudo-melanism, also called abundism. This photo is of a zoo animal. © Brad Francis/Flickr

DECODING SCIENCE POST by AG Editorial

Every now and then nature experiments by producing a black or white mutation of an animal or bird that is otherwise normally coloured. There is something magical about seeing a white lion, black leopard or ‘king’ cheetah in the wild, as if it were a spiritual shadow of the species, a form of higher being.

Note that these white or black individuals are not a separate species or subspecies of the normally-coloured animal – they are purely a genetic anomaly. While the occurrence is very rare in the wild, and worth celebrating when seen, claims that ‘white lions’ (for example) are a rare species are incorrect and misleading.

A white lion cub © Simon Vegter/Wild Wings Safaris

When it comes to white lions (who are technically leucistic), the white lion gene lives on in the tawny lion population in the Timbavati area of the Greater Kruger National Park, and white individuals will probably keep popping up sporadically – for as long as the tawny lion population there remains stable. Attempts to breed white lions in captivity to ‘save the species’ are misguided and usually all about money – because white lions are popular as caged exhibits and hunting trophies.

The process of captive breeding of white lions by isolating the gene and producing more white lions than nature would usually produce leads to inbreeding and weak/genetically compromised individual animals that are not suitable for introduction into wild lion populations.

white lion cub sitting with normal-coloured siblings — A white lion cub sits among its normal-coloured siblings © Simon Vegter/Wild Wings Safaris

Let’s understand the phenomena at play here, in layman’s terms:

Albinism

Albinism (white) results in whitish-pink fur or feathers, and eyes with reddish pupils (the diagnostics trait). It is only passed on if both parents transfer it to their offspring.

Albinism is caused by a genetic mutation causing an absence of tyrosinase in pigment cells. Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme that is needed to produce melanin, the pigment responsible for blacks, grays, browns, rusty browns, and pale yellows of feathers and body parts – and so albinos cannot produce any melanin at all and thus lack any colouration that is caused by the pigment. Eye colour is also produced by melanin, and so albinos have reddish/pink eyes because the blood vessels show through, not being masked by the darker melanin usually present in eyes. Albinism occurs in many species, including humans.

Albino civet at waterhole — A rare albino African civet © Shenton Safaris – read more about this sighting here

Leucism

Leucism (white) results in a partial or total loss of pigmentation – resulting in patches of white colouring in fur or feathers. Leucines, unlike albino animals, have normal-coloured eyes, and may or may not have normally coloured legs and beaks. Leucistic animals and birds do produce melanin (unlike albinos which produce no melanin), BUT the condition prevents melanin from being deposited in the fur or feathers.

So, melanin would be present in the skin, beak, legs, eyes and other body parts of a leucistic bird, for example. The white lions referred to above are also another example of leucism.

White baboon in Arusha, Tanzania — A leucistic baboon © Tracey Sawyer – read more about this sighting here

Melanism

Melanism (black) results in an excess of dark pigmentation. Melanism is found in many different species, including amphibians, reptiles, and mammals – but not in humans. Pseudo-melanism, also called abundism, is another variant of pigmentation, characterised by dark spots or enlarged stripes, which cover a large part of the body of the animal, making it appear melanistic. One example of abundism is the ‘king’ cheetah.

All three conditions above are hereditary but can skip generations. The condition can be passed on by generations that show no visual signs of the condition.

baby pseudo-melanistic zebra, Okavango Delta, Botswana — A baby zebra with what appears to be abundism (pseudo-melanism) © Michael Fitt

The Turkana people – Nomadic by Nature

Joe Bürgi and his wife, Ursula, are perennial travellers and photographers from Switzerland. Their passion for the exploration of off-the-beaten-track destinations has allowed them to compile a catalogue of unique photos that tell inspiring, eye-opening stories of remote tribes that are mostly unknown to the rest of the world.
In this gallery, we showcase a series of photos of the nomadic, pastoralist Turkana tribe in northern Kenya. These photos are a true reflection of the raw, harsh environment that they inhabit, and the pride that they possess is a testament to their cultural beliefs. It is astonishing, enthralling and above all, real.

? Three Turkana tribeswomen wearing traditional necklaces © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana tribe inhabit the Turkana district in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. They form part of the Nilotic tribes and are regarded as the third largest pastoralist community in Kenya, after the Kalenjin and Luo, being slightly more numerous than the Maasai.

? Turkana tribesmen standing Turkana-style, on the shores of Lake Turkana © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana originated from the Karamojong region of northeastern Uganda. Oral tradition suggests that they arrived in Kenya while chasing a disobedient bull. History shows that unlike many other tribes, they were not affected by colonialism as little value was seen in the dry, arid land that they inhabited.

? Turkana village near Lake Turkana © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana don’t have any permanent settlements, frequently moving as food and water sources become exhausted. Livestock not currently being milked are moved to mountain slopes or foothills, where the vegetation lasts longer than on the plains.

? Turkana tribeswoman with the traditional beaded necklace worn as a sign of marriage © Joe Bürgi

Similar to the Maasai and Samburu, the Turkana wear colourful clothing and regalia. Women adorn themselves with brightly-coloured, beaded necklaces, and the men dye their hair with specially-coloured soil. The social standing of a woman in the tribe is evident by the quantity and style of jewellery that she wears.

? A young herder and his camel on the dunes of Lake Turkana © Joe Bürgi

Just like the Maasai, the Turkana’s livelihood is dependent on their livestock to provide sustenance – though they do not revere livestock to the same extent as the Maasai. Camels are one of the animals that they raise, along with other livestock such as goats, zebu (subspecies of domestic cattle) and donkeys. They live completely off the animals’ produce – such as milk, blood, skins and meat. Any money made from the selling of livestock is used to buy goods such as maize, beans, sugar, tobacco, and vegetables.

? Turkana tribeswoman outside her home – the huts and fences are constructed from doum palm leaves © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana live as a social unit called an awi – this consists of the man, his wives (polygamy is an accepted practice), children and dependent women. The size of the awi differs according to wealth, but the average awi size is approximately 20-25 individuals. The head of the household ‘owns’ the livestock, but they are allocated to the women – the number of animals received depends upon the women’s status within the awi.

? Turkana tribe children © Joe Bürgi

Unlike other nomadic tribes, the Turkana do not have many complex customs or strong social structures. Each Turkana family tends to be self-sufficient, though, at times, several families may graze their livestock collectively.

? A traditional Turkana dance on the shores of Lake Turkana © Joe Bürgi

In terms of faith and religion, the majority of the Turkana still practice their traditional African religion. They believe in a god of the heavens or skies, whom they call Akuj or Kuj. This god is usually called upon when they are experiencing extreme hardship or crisis, such as during times of drought.

? A Turkana boy keeping an eye on his camels near a waterhole © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana keep camels for two main reasons. The first is for their use as a pack animal – ideally suited for the harsh conditions of a desert environment. The second is for their nutritious milk that is easily digestible.

? The village chief sitting on a typical Turkana stool – an ekicholong © Joe Bürgi

Turkana men carry around stools, or ekicholongs, which are used for a variety of purposes, from simple chairs to avoid sitting directly on the hot desert sand, to headrests that help keep their head off the ground and protect any ceremonial head decorations from being damaged.

? A Turkana tribesman on the shores of Lake Turkana © Joe Bürgi

The Turkana are quite adept at crafting their jewellery – such as the stunning bracelets and necklaces that the women wear. They are also quite proficient in woodcarving, stone carving and metalwork, producing their weapons such as spears, clubs and knives.

? A young Turkana herder and his camels © Joe Bürgi

Like cattle, camels can also be negotiated as bridewealth, slaughtered on ritual occasions, and are also given between men to create or to affirm pragmatic friendships.

? Young herders with their goats, making their way to a nearby waterhole early in the morning © Joe Bürgi

Due to the high value the Turkana place on their livestock, often they will raid other tribes to acquire more animals. Even though this could be seen as theft from an outsiders point of view, it is considered a perfectly acceptable traditional custom amongst the Turkana and other pastoralist tribes in northern Kenya.

Opinion: Africa is not Disneyland

Southern ground-hornbill with hare in Serengeti, wildlife photography, Africa — Southern ground-hornbill with hare in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania © William Walldén – Photographer of the Year 2016 wildlife category winner

Some imagery that comes to our screens can be tough to stomach, and every now and then Africa really tests one’s emotional make-up.

There is primordial energy in the wilds of Africa, where ecosystems still function naturally, and wild animals are, well, wild. The following photos submitted to our Photographer of the Year competition reflect what goes on all day every day out there in the wild, where animals kill to survive and where individuals (weak and strong, old and young) often suffer horribly in the process.

Four lions fighting over zebra carcass in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Africa wildlife photography — Lions fight over a zebra foal carcass in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Sibyl Morris (Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant)

Death can be slow and agonising or violently immediate, with many versions in-between. What is noticeable to the Africa Geographic team is how some people react negatively to such images, condemning these natural events as cruel, or unfair even, sometimes insisting that the ‘victim’ should have been ‘saved’. As if leopards have a vegan option.

We even receive direct messages from incensed followers, demanding that we remove these ‘horrible’ scenes, or face the cold shoulder.

African wild dog carrying impala head in Khwai Concession, Botswana, African wildlife photography — An African wild dog with his young impala trophy in Khwai Concession, Botswana © Anja Denker – Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant

Behind the scenes, there appears to be a sympathy ranking system. For example, a fish gasping its last breath in a rapidly drying pool of muddy water would not generate too much sympathy, whereas a cute baby scrub hare being snacked on by a ground-hornbill would get people tapping that ‘sad face’ emoji.

African rock pythons suffocating impala in Kruger National Park, South Africa, African wildlife photography — An African rock python kills an impala in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Jennifer Kucherawy – Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant

So many storified wildlife documentaries follow the same Disney theme – lioness has cute baby cubs, cubs get lost, cubs get found again, all is well in Simba country.

In real life, of course, many cubs are killed by rival male lions, hyenas and crocodiles. Others starve to death or die of thirst. Only one in eight male lion cubs survive the rigours of life in Africa.

Three wild dogs attacking hyena in Savute, Botswana, wildlife photography — Three wild dogs attack a hyena that stole their kill in Savute, Chobe National Park, Botswana © Johan J. Botha – Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant

The Africa Geographic team compiled this amazing celebratory video from clips submitted by our community. All 18 wild dog puppies featured towards the end were killed shortly after this video clip was filmed, by lions. THAT is the real Africa!

Bateleur eagle sitting on stennbok carcass in Kruger National Park, South Africa, wildlife photography — A bateleur eagle visits a steenbok carcass in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Jennifer Kucherawy – Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant

Whatever floats your emotional boat, wherever you draw the line – hopefully, you all agree that Africa’s wild essence is to be celebrated and that these images represent Africa in all her raw, savage, AWESOMENESS.

Lion staring at camera through buffalo carcass in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa, wildlife photography — A lion cub stares at the camera through a buffalo carcass in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa © Bobby-Jo Vial – Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant

Zambia hippo cull via trophy hunting not as high as 2,000, says minister

Hunter with hippo, trophy hunting — © Umlilo Safaris

Sourced from third-party site: Xinhua

The Zambian government on Tuesday denied reports that it has authorised the culling of 2,000 hippos in the Luangwa Valley.

Born Free, a conservationist organisation which two years ago led protests against plans by the government to cull elephants in the famous Luangwa Valley, in eastern Zamiba, has reported that the government plans to reinstate the culling program which was halted after protests in 2016.

According to the organisation, the government has agreed to conduct the culling with a South African hunting firm of up to 2,000 hippos over the next five years.

But Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda, while acknowledging that the culling will take place, said it was not 2,000 hippos that will be killed. He told reporters during a press briefing that the government has agreed with the South African firm that not more than 250 hippos will be culled in a year and that the figure may vary depending on the environment.

Hunters with hippo, trophy hunting — © Umlilo Safaris

The culling has been necessitated by the growing population of the hippos on the Luangwa River and that the killing will be done to maintain a suitable habitat for other aquatic species, Banda said.

He said the ministry has taken interest in the program to ensure that it is done in the interest of the country and that consultations with the attorney-general have been done on the validity of the agreement with the South African firm.

An introduction to Maa – the language of the Maasai and Samburu people

Maasai warrior with cellphone driving a game drive vehicle — © Simon Espley

How do you prepare for the trip of a lifetime to Africa?

Once you’ve decided where to go and bought those khaki shorts and overlarge safari hat, how do you make sure that you REALLY connect with the country of your choice – that you are not merely a visitor passing through?

You learn the language.

Swahili (along with English) is the national language of Tanzania and Kenya and is surprisingly easy to learn. Tanzania is home to about 130 tribes and each of these tribes speak their own distinctive languages, however, one of the biggest tribal groups are the Maa speakers. Maa is spoken by the Maasai tribes as well as the Samburu and Datoga tribes, to name but a few.

You are bound to have contact with Maasai and Samburu people as they often reside close to famous game reserves.

So, in order to give you the tools to be able to connect with these fascinating tribal groups, and even make some friends, here are some Maa language basics:

Greetings

Supai – Greeting for men

Ipa – Reply to supai

Takwenya – Greeting for women

Iko – Reply to takwenya

Errabioto? – “Are you well?”

Arrabioto – “I am well”

Ashe – “Thank you”

Kai iloito? – “Where are you going?”

Kai ingwaa? – “Where are you from?”

Kai ijii? – “What is your name?”

Kai ita? – “What’s new?”

Kiti – Reply to Kai ita

Ai? – “Where?”

Ng’ai? – “Who?”

Anu? – “When?”

Nyorr? – “What?”

Maasai warriors during a ceremony in Tanzania — Maasai warriors at a ceremony © Stephanie Fuchs

Sidai – nice, beautiful, good

Torronok – bad, ugly, unpleasant

Engop – ground, floor, land

Engarre – water

Enkai – God, sky

Engolong – sun

Olappa – moon

Lolkirr – stars

Animals

Ol’ngatun – lion

Ol’ngorjine – hyena

Louwaru keri – leopard

Oldome – elephant

Esiram – kudu (antelope)

Olosokwan – buffalo

Olmaaut – giraffe

Elmun – rhino

Enketeng – cow

Enkine – goat

Engirr – sheep

Maasai warrior with cattle in Kenya — Warrior chief with Ankole-Watusi cattle © Stephanie Fuchs

People

Enkitok – woman

Endito – girl

Engerai – child

Olpaijan – man

Olaiyoni – boy

Olmorani – warrior

Ilmoran – warriors

Numbers

Nabo – 1

Are – 2

Uni – 3

Omwan – 4

Imiet – 5

Ile – 6

Napichana – 7

Isiet – 8

Endoroit – 9

Tomwon – 10

Photographer of the Year 2018 Winners

2018 Photographer of the Year 2018 Winners

MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO:
What a privilege it is to receive these fantastic images from all over the world, and to have this first-hand feel for the experiences our community members enjoy across this fantastic continent we are lucky enough to call home!

We received 25,593 entries to the 2018 Photographer of the Year competition, up from 15,171 last year, and the standard of entries was again spectacular. Reducing that incredible volume to one winner was a fantastic journey for my team and I. We met each week over the five months to make a weekly selection, and then during the judging month of May, we had the tough job of choosing the photos that we feel stand out this year. A daunting task indeed.

Our approach to what makes a good photograph is primarily based on whether that photograph evokes an emotion, tells a story and reflects the true diversity and amazingness of Africa. Of course, there are technical issues to consider, and these are important. But most important for us is that the photograph breaks through the clutter of everyday life and makes you FEEL Africa’s pulse.

This year the 25 images that made it into the final round were of a similarly high standard, and choosing an overall winner, two runners-up and seven commendable finalists was especially tricky. The final choices were made based on the underlying message communicated by the images.

I want to thank our sponsors Land Rover South Africa, Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula – because in these days where just about everything has been commoditised, they understand that quality ALWAYS trumps quantity.

Lastly, a special thank you to everybody who entered this fantastic display of Africa’s wealth. Please do so again in 2019.

~ Simon Espley, CEO

A Rüppell’s vulture in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Sushil Chauhan

WINNER – 2018 PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Sushil Chauhan – A Rüppell’s vulture in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

“While waiting for over two hours in the hot equatorial sun for a migration crossing to happen, I decided to change my focus to a group of vultures that were feeding on a drowned wildebeest carcass. Fully fed, this beauty decided to dry off its wings in the sun, which produced this interesting image of a great raptor. These raptors face many problems, from loss of habitat, reduced breeding sites, and reduction in large ungulates (resulting in fewer sources of food), to death from poisoning, the witchcraft trade and collisions with power lines. They play such an important role in making sure that diseases such as rabies and anthrax do not spread, and they also help cycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. We must help conserve these amazing raptors at all costs.”

Judges’ comments:

This amazing image portrays vultures for what they are – majestic and regal birds that deserve our respect. This sensitive representation of one of Africa’s most threatened birds is a refreshing change from the stereotypical vulture image of bloodied hoodlums fighting for scraps of meat. The coincidental draping of another vulture’s wing over the head of this bird is almost ‘angelic’ and adds to the dignity of the image.

ABOUT SUSHIL CHAUHAN

I am a Kenyan wildlife enthusiast, nature lover and keen photographer. Trained professionally as a safari consultant and guide, my most profound passion has always been to work with wildlife and travel the world. My goal is to take photographs that create awareness about wildlife, conservation and wilderness areas.

A baby mountain gorilla gets all the attention in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda © Stuart Sinclair

FIRST RUNNER-UP

Stuart Sinclair – A baby mountain gorilla gets all the attention in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

“This photo was taken in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Walking into this family of gorillas was spectacular. They were so comfortable in our presence, very relaxed and observant. It was amazing to see their strong family bond, and this photo highlights that. After a short time, they played and fed in front of us. Some of the youngsters ran through the group, seemingly knowing that it would cause a stir, and enjoying the reaction!”

Judges’ comments:

This touching image speaks volumes about family bonds and parental pride. The close framing adds to the intimacy of the moment, and the eye contact from father and infant drags you in. Those of us who are lucky enough to have been gorilla-trekking understand the technical difficulties in low-light conditions, thick vegetation and the limited available time.

ABOUT STUART SINCLAIR

I was born in Zimbabwe but moved to Australia as a child 22 years ago. Africa is well and truly in my blood, though, and I love getting back as often as possible. There is something magical about the wildlife in Africa. It’s so important that we cherish and protect it for future generations.

A male leopard stalks guineafowl in the early morning golden light in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

SECOND RUNNER-UP

Annemarie du Plessis – A male leopard stalks guineafowl in the early morning golden light in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

“This young male leopard was stalking guineafowl during the early morning, paying absolutely no attention to our game drive vehicle in the Greater Kruger. We were following him for quite a while, and then he disappeared into the bushes, following the unsuspecting guineafowl. He suddenly appeared from the bushes behind us and stalked into an open area, providing me with the perfect opportunity to get this shot. What makes this shot so much more special to me is the streak of sunlight creeping through the bushes and onto his face. He may have missed the guineafowl, but I got my shot!”

Judges’ comments:

We found ourselves caught in the moment with this stalking leopard, wondering what he was hunting and when he would pounce. The framing of his tightly-coiled yet light-footed body and curled tail occupies the entire image and creates a sense of fluid motion. The intense concentration so evident in his piercing eyes also helps to balance the image.

ABOUT ANNEMARIE DU PLESSIS

Wildlife photography is my absolute passion and sadly, only a hobby. I would love to be in nature permanently, capturing all happenings and sightings to the audience at home! I am a businesswoman and co-owner of Zanis Gymnastics Academy in Polokwane, Limpopo in South Africa. My love for wildlife and nature started at a young age, and since then it has just grown – and with Kruger only 3 hours away, I can live my passion! Initially, I decided to start a Facebook page to share my images with the people at home. The response was overwhelming, and due to my supporters’ demand, I started entering small competitions. Africa Geographic is supplying a massive platform for us amateur photographers, and it is the second year that I have entered. In 2017, my image of the majestic elephant bull was under the Top 24 images and printed in their high-quality coffee table book – a first for me!

A gorilla inspects a shoe in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda © Andrea Galli

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Andrea Galli – A gorilla inspects a shoe in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

“The rule says that you should keep a 7-metre distance from gorillas… but what can you do if you are stuck between a silverback and some curious youngsters who want to play? You just stay put and enjoy… One of them tried to steal my camera, and after a talking-to from the guide he just pretended he was doing nothing wrong, and with nonchalance started playing with the shoelaces of a guest close to me…”

Judges’ comments:

This image spoke to us of that push-pull tension between man and beast. Humans are the cause of the rapid decline in mountain gorilla populations, and yet without the tourism dollar and 24/7 involvement on the ground from local human inhabitants, government employees, researchers and conservationists, this critically endangered great ape would surely go extinct. Andrea’s caption explains that the young gorilla was keen to engage, and in so doing ‘disobeyed’ the strictly-enforced proximity rules – adding a touch of humour to the conservation message.

ABOUT ANDREA GALLI

Born and bred in Italy on Lake Como, my wife, Linda Oteri and I decided to follow our passion for wildlife photography and moved to Johannesburg 3 years ago. Here we founded Wildshot Safaris, and now we organise photographic tours and tailor-made trips.

Two elephant bulls fight under a stormy sky in Amboseli National Park, Kenya © Andrew Campbell (Instagram/acsafaris)

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Andrew Campbell – Two elephant bulls fight under a stormy sky in Amboseli National Park, Kenya

“I watched these two bulls sparring for over an hour on a floodplain in Amboseli in Kenya. At first, there were clear skies, and then a huge storm built up above and around them. What with the dust, the clouds, the light, the drama and the action it was truly an incredible scene and I was lucky to pop off a few shots before they eventually moved off.”

Judges’ comments:

There is so much going on in this dramatic image – and we were all transported there to watch these giants fight it out. The energy of the moment is palpable, and the combination of sparring elephants and threatening clouds with the subtlety of swirling dust and shafts of sunlight make this an evocative image.

ABOUT ANDREW CAMPBELL

Having been born and brought up in Kenya, I have had the luxury of living a good deal of my life on safari. I am now lucky enough to live a lifelong dream, and my passion for the great outdoors has now become my job, and the bush is now my office.

Leopard cub and its meal in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Andy Howe

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Andy Howe – Leopard cub and its meal in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

“This is a four-month-old cub of the leopardess called Fig, in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy in Kenya. We found Fig about a kilometre away from her cub, where she had been resting up for most of the day. She eventually made her way back to her cub’s location, and as they were greeting each other, a hare appeared in the acacia scrub nearby. Fig didn’t think twice, and the unsuspecting hare had no chance as she quickly caught and killed it. She was immediately joined by the cub who took control of proceedings, with a little guidance from its mother.”

Judges’ comments:

This image speaks of that raw naked instinct that is so essential for survival in the wild, and yet so missing from the modern-day portrayal of wildlife, which tends to be Disney-like and driven by human sensitivities and political correctness. The fierce eye contact from this leopard cub speaks volumes about how tough and resilient Africa is, and of how it will survive despite human efforts to tame it.

ABOUT ANDY HOWE

Andy Howe is a UK-based wildlife photographer, specialising in capturing the personality and character of his subjects with a particular focus on owls and birds of prey. He also loves Africa and its wildlife with a passion. Andy leads small groups of photographers to the Maasai Mara region of Kenya several times a year to photograph the Great Migration and Africa’s big cats. Andy has been honoured, awarded and published internationally in such publications as Bird Guides Bird Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Africa Geographic, Nature’s Best Awards, to name but a few. Recently he received honours as a Fellow of the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers and also as an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. Andy also donates images to worthy causes and is currently involved in the charity, Art For Africa exhibition, helping to raise funds for vulnerable and disadvantaged children, as well as also actively helping the Remembering Wildlife charity for critically endangered species.

The Milky Way over Baobab Forest at Kubu Island, Botswana © Darryn Haltmann

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Darryn Haltmann – The Milky Way over Baobab Forest at Kubu Island, Botswana

“Kubu Island is as remote as it is picturesque, and I long wanted to return there for some astrophotography. I planned my holiday around getting there at new moon and managed to find this beautiful baobab outcrop when I scouted for locations on the first night and day. I also noted the ambient light on either side from two small towns in the distance and hoped to capture this. Returning on the second night, I managed to capture this Milky Way.”

Judges’ comments:

We were impressed by the technical prowess of this image, and by the sense of mystical awe generated. We love how the photographer anchored each end of the Milky Way halo as it forged its path across the night sky, making a perfect dome over the central group of baobabs.

ABOUT DARRYN HALTMANN

Darryn is a passionate astro and wildlife photographer who enjoys combining his love of nature with his passion for photography. From a young age, he spent hours in the garden photographing birds and reading photography magazines. He honed his skills through various courses, workshops and online tutorials. He believes that the essence of photography is capturing a moment and always strives to use his photos to communicate the inherent beauty of nature.

Maasai warriors jump at sunrise near their village on the outskirts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © John Kerrod Wells

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

John Kerrod Wells – Maasai warriors jump at sunrise near their village on the outskirts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

“In the early morning, we were fortunate enough to witness a group of Maasai warriors display their strength and skill as they jumped, framed by the golden light of sunrise. Later at their village, we learned of their history, watched the adamu (the jumping dance), and perused their wares. Another amazing day in Africa!”

Judges’ comments:

This image is all about energy and fun – and instantly drives us into safari mode. Capturing the jumping warriors in the perfect wave formation conveys a sense of constant motion, and the rising sun silhouetting the warriors and etching the quintessentially African umbrella thorn tree adds dollops of romance.

ABOUT JOHN KERROD WELLS

With interest in photography sparked by a photography-loving dad, it was a once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica that turned my hobby into a passion. I love to photograph wildlife, landscapes, cityscapes, and everything in between, while travelling to far off places or at home in Central Queensland, Australia.

A row of white rhinos in a reserve in Kenya © Luke Street

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Luke Street – A row of white rhinos in a reserve in Kenya

“Laikipia County in Kenya is one of the last strongholds for the white rhino in East Africa. It was a true honour to be able to view these animals in such numbers, under such incredible protection. I was delighted in capturing just about the full spectrum of the different life stages of the white rhino in one image.”

Judges’ comments:

We were overcome with a sense of hope and wonder at seeing three generations of rhinos so perfectly captured. So much coverage these days of rhinos is distressing, and by contrast here is an image that speaks of future generations in safe hands. So many rhino custodians are fighting seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the battle to keep these special unicorns safe, and this image speaks to years of investment and effort by so many people.

ABOUT LUKE STREET

I have always had a deep passion for nature and wildlife, and always knew I wanted to be involved in the industry. I have been a safari guide for the last seven years and for the last three of those years, I have found an incredible passion for nature photography.

An attractive feather duster worm in False Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa © Peet J. van Eeden

COMMENDABLE FINALIST

Peet J. van Eeden – An attractive feather duster worm in False Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa

“The feather duster worm is also known as a mop worm and has a white fan of feeding appendages. The crown of feeding appendages, or radioles, consists of two fan-shaped clusters that project from their tubes when underwater. Each radiole has a paired side of branches, making a two-edged comb for filter feeding. Size varies between tiny to over 10 cm (2.5 in) in length. Some small species can bend over and extend their tentacles to the seafloor to collect food.”

Judges’ comments:

This image immediately drew us in, confused as to what and where. The feathery lace-like detail and sense of swirling motion generate a sense of wonderment, almost to the point of being hypnotic. We know so little about life in the oceans, and this image helps draw us into that realm.

ABOUT PEET J. VAN EEDEN

I am a full-time Gastroenterologist based in Cape Town. As a weekend diver and photographer, I have been involved in underwater photography for over four decades. I specialise in underwater macro photography. My key inspiration remains my love for the world below the waves.

Portrait of a leopard mother and her 6-month-old cub in Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa © Henrico Muller

THE “FACEBOOK FAVOURITE” WINNER – as voted by our Facebook community
Henrico Muller – Portrait of a leopard mother and her 6-month-old cub in Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa
VOTES: 546

An African rock python kills an impala in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Jennifer Kucherawy

THE “WEBSITE FAVOURITE” WINNER – as voted by visitors to our website
Jennifer Kucherawy – An African rock python kills an impala in Kruger National Park, South Africa
VOTES: 5,553

“Slow dancing” in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa © Deon Hoon (Instagram/deon.hoon)

THE “INSTA FAVOURITE” WINNER – as voted by our Instagram community
Deon Hoon – “Slow dancing” in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa (Instagram/deon.hoon)
VOTES: 3,804

Forest hornbills being decimated in Ghana

Brown-cheeked hornbill, African birdlife — Brown-cheeked hornbill © Dimitry Naumenko/WikiCommons

Six out of eight Ghanaian forest hornbill species have shown significant population declines due to uncontrolled hunting, according to a long-term research project.

The large forest hornbills of west Africa are now popular targets of the rampant bushmeat industry now that most mammal species have been all but wiped out in certain areas. Large hornbill species are also targeted for their unique casques (a hollow helmet-like structure on the bill, used for decorative purposes) and suffer population declines due to habitat destruction – but in this case the primary cause for population reductions is hunting for meat.

The Upper Guinean rainforests are a biodiversity hotspot because of the wide range of species found there, and they are on the front lines of the current global extinction crisis. Species such as large hornbills, with restricted habitat requirements and slow reproductive rates, are particularly vulnerable.

The research project was carried out in 26 forests from 1990 to 2014 – covering a range of key areas, from national parks to logging concessions. Of concern is that the hornbill species were already locally extinct or rapidly disappearing – even in the relatively protected national parks with largely intact forests. Encounter rates during the period of the research dropped by up to 88% for certain species.

Depleted populations of large hornbills persist mainly in two large and relatively well-protected wildlife reserves – Ankasa Resource Reserve and Kakum National Park. Contrastingly, the five largest species of the nine hornbills known to Bia Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have vanished completely.

The researchers conclude that uncontrolled hunting is the major driver of the recent drastic forest hornbill population declines and local extinctions. They call for urgent conservation action to prevent further declines and impending extirpations of forest hornbills and other wildlife in West Africa.

List of Ghanaian forest hornbill species

• Red-billed dwarf hornbill (Lophoceros camurus)
• African pied hornbill (Lophoceros fasciatus)
• White-crested hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus)
• Black dwarf hornbill (Horizocerus hartlaubi)
• Black-casqued hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata)
• Yellow-casqued hornbill (Ceratogymna elata)
• Black-and-white-casqued hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus)
• Brown-cheeked hornbill (Bycanistes cylindricus)
• Piping hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator)

Full report: Biological Conservation, Holbech, L. H., Annorbah, N. N., Phalan, B., & Arcilla, N. (2018): Uncontrolled hunting and habitat degradation decimate and extirpate forest hornbills in Ghana, West Africa , 223, 104-111

Zambia reinstates plan to cull 2,000 hippos

Two hunters with hippo carcass, trophy hunting hippos — © Umlilo Safaris

Sourced from third-party sites: Born Free Foundation and CAJ News

Conservationists are up in arms over the announcement by Zambian authorities that the 2016 decision to suspend the culling of 2,000 hippos has been overturned. The plan to reduce the hippo population in the Luangwa Valley over the next five years has been justified by Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), arguing that the exercise is a wildlife management tool aimed at preventing anthrax outbreaks among animals due to high populations of hippo.

The cull is being promoted to trophy hunters by the South African hunting outfitter Umlilo Safaris as a ‘hippo management hunt‘.

Born Free, the conservationist organisation that led the efforts to stop the slaughter in 2016, is calling for the authorities to urgently reconsider and abort the agreement that only benefits private safari hunting companies and trophy hunters.

A hunter with a hippo carcass, trophy hunting hippos — © Umlilo Safaris

“Our sources reveal that the government has moved swiftly to reinstate the cull, perhaps hoping this would go unnoticed,” said Born Free President, Will Travers. “They are, apparently, using the same flawed rational for the slaughter as last time.”

He said the authorities had neither provided evidence demonstrating that there is an overpopulation of hippos in the Luangwa River nor proof that such a hippo cull of healthy animals would prevent a future outbreak of anthrax.

Born Free is now appealing to national and international wildlife conservation organisations in calling on President Edgar Lungu to “personally intervene and call a permanent halt to this damaging and distressing plan, with immediate effect”.

Wild hippo numbers across Africa are under increasingly pressure with a maximum estimate of just 130,000 animals. In addition, as efforts increase to end the trade in elephant ivory, hippos are being increasingly targeted for their ivory as a replacement. According to Born Free, the latest data confirms that in the decade to 2016, more than 6,000 hippo teeth, 2,048 hippo tusks and a further 1,183 hippo ‘trophies’ were exported to EU Member States alongside thousands of other ‘parts and products’.

Elephant cow with calf saved from snare

Elephant under sedation while being treated for injury © Peace Parks Foundation — The elephant cow under sedation while her injury is treated © Peace Parks Foundation

Sourced from third-party site: Peace Parks Foundation

A remarkable rescue mission was undertaken Sunday, 20 May 2018 in Mozambique, when a female elephant, with a two-week-old baby right on her heels, was seen early-morning with a snare cutting into her left hind leg.

Brian Neubert, Peace Parks Foundation’s Conservation Manager in Maputo Special Reserve, spotted the elephant in a group of around 20 other elephants. Flying with helicopter pilot Richard Fair, he noted her position and hastily returned back to base to refuel and mobilise a ground-crew to assist with removing the snare.

“After a fair amount of flying, she was again located around 3pm. She was darted from the air and while the helicopter chased the rest of the herd away, the ground grew started to move in. Once the area was safe, veterinarian Dr João Almeida was able to remove the snare and treat the wound,” says Peace Parks Foundation’s Operations Manager, Gavin Hulett.

Treating snare wound on elephant's leg © Peace Parks Foundation — The team remove the snare and treat the wound © Peace Parks Foundation

The small calf was secured and held away from the mother while she was being treated. DNA samples were also taken of the mother by the Eduardo Mondlane University for their data base collection.

Maputo Special Reserve staff ensured the safety of all involved in the operation, while Peace Parks Foundation staff handled the coordination between the various teams. Thanks to this effective teamwork and speedy response both the mother and baby elephant are doing well.

Elephant calf being kept safe while its mother was being treated for snare injury © Peace Parks Foundation — The calf was kept safe while the team treated the elephant cow’s injury© Peace Parks Foundation

Snaring is a common poaching method used to capture animals of all sizes. Unfortunately, as is the case with this elephant, other species that are not the primary target often get caught in snares which severely impacts on population numbers. Plans are in place to train and deploy additional field rangers to counter this.

This intervention was made possible through financial support received from Moz Parks Foundation and Travel Channel.

Aerial view of elephant and her calf © Peace Parks Foundation — Both the mother and her calf are doing well now © Peace Parks Foundation

Photographer of the Year 2018 Finalists: Gallery 2

The time has come to announce the Finalists for our Photographer of the Year 2018! It gives us great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 25 photos, as chosen by our judges, exhibited in two stunning galleries.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Finalists. To see the other gallery click on the link below:
• Finalists Gallery 1
The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition is brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula. To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A gorilla inspects a shoe in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda © Andrea Galli

? A black rhino is photographed through the legs of an elephant while drinking in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Johan J. Botha

? Maasai warriors jump at sunrise near their village on the outskirts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © John Kerrod Wells

? A baby mountain gorilla gets all the attention in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda © Stuart Sinclair

? Two elephant bulls fight under a stormy sky in Amboseli National Park, Kenya © Andrew Campbell (Instagram/acsafaris)

? Portrait of a Samburu woman in northern Kenya © Vedran Vidak

? A hamerkop with a toad in Zimanga Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Andreas Hemb

? A young lion after a delicious zebra meal in the mud in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania © Panos Laskarakis

? Leopard cub and its meal in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Andy Howe

? “Horror of drought” in Nsumo pan, Mkuze Game Reserve, South Africa © Tanya Nadauld

? Wet baboons after the rain in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

? An attractive feather duster worm in False Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa © Peet J. van Eeden

? A beautiful atmospheric sunset with elephants in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe © Greg Metro

Photographer of the Year 2018 Finalists: Gallery 1

The time has come to announce the Finalists for our Photographer of the Year 2018! It gives us great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 25 photos, as chosen by our judges, exhibited in two stunning galleries.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Finalists. To see the other gallery click on the link below:
• Finalists Gallery 2
The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition is brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula. To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A row of white rhinos in a reserve in Kenya © Luke Street

? A Rüppell’s vulture in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Sushil Chauhan

? An elephant’s trunk in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe © Giovanni Frescura

? The Milky Way over Baobab Forest at Kubu Island, Botswana © Darryn Haltmann

? A male leopard stalks guineafowl in the early morning golden light in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

? Aerial view of Sossusvlei in Namibia © Panos Laskarakis

? A Maasai warrior jumps in Lolkisale, Arusha region, Tanzania © Ian Hanson (Instagram/thespurtrail)

? A hyena pup guards his mother while she rests in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana © Johan J. Botha

? A food stall in the busy square of Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakesh, Morocco © Miguel De Freitas

? A wise-looking chimpanzee in Kibale National Park, Uganda © Prelena Soma Owen

? Lioness and her cubs drinking in Zimanga Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Leon Fouche

? A wasp at a water tap in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana © Fanie Heymans

? A martial eagle with a banded mongoose in Singita, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa © Ross Couper

How cheetahs modify prey handling behaviour to outsmart lions and hyenas

Cheetahs in the Serengeti National Park change their behaviour when handling large kills based on the threats presented by lions and hyenas, according to researchers. A new study – led by Anne Hilborn of Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment in the US – has revealed that male cheetahs and single females eat their prey as quickly as possible, whereas mother cheetahs take things a bit more slowly, allowing their cubs to eat their fill while keeping an eye out for possible threats.

Hilborn and her colleagues studied 35 years of observations from more than 400 hunts involving 159 cheetahs in the Serengeti in northern Tanzania to find out whether cheetahs’ prey handling behaviour altered in response to the threats from larger predators.

Cheetahs do not have the strength to haul their prey up trees like leopards do, nor can they defend themselves against larger predators, such as lions and hyenas. This is why they have developed certain tactics when it comes to hunting and eating their prey, and research shows that they tend to hunt when larger predators are away or less active.

Five cheetahs eating a kill — A mother cheetah keeps an eye our while her sub-adult cubs eat © Derek Keats

Lions and hyenas are known to attack cheetah cubs, as well as steal prey (known as kleptoparasitism). The primary threat for male cheetahs and single females is having their prey stolen – this is why they will eat their prey as quickly as possible, rather than keeping an eye out for attacks, to reduce the risk of theft. On the other hand, a mother cheetah prefers safety over speed, and her main concern is to ensure that her cubs are safe and that they can get enough to eat – which can take some time as cubs can be slow eaters and will take time out to rest and play.

“Instead of speed, mothers use vigilance to minimise risk,” explains Hilborn. “They spend more time paused before eating, perhaps also to catch their breath, and are more vigilant. This increases the amount of time they spend eating, which in turn increases their overall handling time.”

The ability of cheetahs to modify their prey handling behaviour depending on the type of risk they face likely allows them to coexist with numerous larger carnivores.

Two cheetahs eating prey — © Anne Hilborn

Full report: Springer’s Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology journal, Anne Hilborn, Nathalie Pettorelli, Tim Caro, Marcella J. Kelly, M. Karen Laurenson, Sarah M. Durant (2018): Cheetahs modify their prey handling behaviour depending on risks from top predators

Ranger forces strengthened in Mozambique

Rangers marching in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique — The 39 recruits demonstrating their marching skills during a passing out parade held in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique © Peace Parks Foundation

Press release from Peace Parks Foundation

On 16 May 2018, 39 recruits, of which three are women, celebrated their graduation as rangers during a passing out parade held in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique. This follows the successful completion of a gruelling eight-week ranger training course presented by the Southern African Wildlife College, that prepared the new recruits for their stand against wildlife crime in the various conservation areas to which they will soon be deployed.

During the first two weeks of the course, the more than 100 applicants selected from the region were put through intensive mental and physical training sessions. Sourcing these candidates from communities surrounding the conservation areas contributes to job creation and improving community support for conservation within the region. Only the top 40 students were then selected to complete the remainder of the course which focused on both the practical and theoretical aspects of anti-poaching operations, such as patrolling, road-blocks, gate controls and arrest procedures. Senior Limpopo National Park rangers, as well as various local institutions, contributed to the curriculum by offering additional training support in conservation legislation, shooting skills and drill instruction.

At the end of the training, each ranger was evaluated based on critical attributes and skills needed in teams that stand against wildlife crime, based on which the rangers have been assigned to appropriate roles within several anti-poaching forces.

Ranger receiving her certificate — Gilda Jorge Chitlango receiving her certificate from field ranger, Simao Manyike and LNP Park Manager, Peter Leitner. Gilda is one of only three female students who completed the course © Peace Parks Foundation

Of the 39 elite rangers who completed the course, five will be posted to Banhine National Park which sits within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. The anti-poaching support, which started in 2017, addresses both illegal logging and charcoaling as well and wildlife poaching to prepare the Park for potential future wildlife relocations.

Limpopo National Park will employ 29 of the new rangers. The region which includes Limpopo National Park continues to struggle under the strain of poaching of key species such as elephant and lion and has seen an increase in wildlife poisoning and snare traps – both methods which leave a myriad of species, including large numbers of vultures and critical small carnivores, devastated in the process. The strengthened ranger forces will focus on securing the so-called Intensive Protection Zone which borders Kruger National Park on its western perimeter, protecting the areas of the park with the highest game densities and tourism development potential. They will operate from a new mobile field operations base supported by a helicopter that will greatly increase ranger mobility.

Graduating ranger and his family — Erduardo Alfredo Thaunde poses with his proud family shortly after the parade. Friends and family members attended the ceremony in support of the loved ones who completed the gruelling eight-week course © Peace Parks Foundation

The remaining five rangers have been assigned to offer support to the Carnivore Protection Programme within Limpopo National Park. Their specialised duties will include patrolling and monitoring known carnivore range areas in an effort to gain a better understanding of the movement and habits of carnivores in the park, reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflict, and eliminate any poaching threats.

This latest batch of recruits is the result of a project embarked upon by Mozambique’s National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) in partnership with and funded by Peace Parks Foundation, to improve ranger capacity in the Mozambique components of the Great Limpopo and Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Areas. The project will increase the number of feet on the ground, as well as improve their skill set, whilst putting in place suitable infrastructure and support resources and developing standardised operations and protocols. These include establishing central command and control structures that are integrated into digital radio networks in all relevant parks. Mobility for deployment and recovery of patrols and support logistics will also be improved through the provision of solar bicycles, motorbikes, vehicles and Samil trucks.

In addition to the graduating class of 2018, the Peace Parks funded project has trained and deployed 26 new rangers to Zinave National Park as well as 5 rangers to Banhine National Park in 2017, and will also see 30 rangers added to the Maputo Special Reserve forces in the near future.

Group photo of the graduating ranger class — The graduating class of May 2018 © Peace Parks Foundation

Photographer of the Year 2018 Semi-finalists: Gallery 3

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the Semi-finalists! These are the top 51 photos, as chosen by our judges, exhibited in three stunning galleries.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Semi-finalists. To see the other two click here:
• Semi-finalists Gallery 1
• Semi-finalists Gallery 2
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A food stall in the busy square of Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakesh, Morocco © Miguel De Freitas

? Aerial view of Sossusvlei in Namibia © Panos Laskarakis

? A Rüppell’s vulture in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Sushil Chauhan

? A mountain gorilla infant in Virunga National Park, DR Congo © Bobby-Jo Vial

? Maasai warriors jump at sunrise near their village on the outskirts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © John Kerrod Wells

? A black rhino is photographed through the legs of an elephant while drinking in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Johan J. Botha

? “Horror of drought” in Nsumo pan, Mkuze Game Reserve, South Africa © Tanya Nadauld

? A wise-looking chimpanzee in Kibale National Park, Uganda © Prelena Soma Owen

? Flies surround a dung beetle at the African Impact Dumela Lodge, Hoedspruit, South Africa © Yvonne Katrin Baeumchen

? Wet baboons after the rain in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

? A hyena pup guards his mother while she rests in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana © Johan J. Botha

? “Teething toy” – a baby baboon chews on a stick in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

? “The winged soldier” – a devil firefish in northern Zanzibar © Peet J. van Eeden

? Up close with a chameleon in Sapo National Park, Liberia © Gianluca D’Amico

? A martial eagle with a banded mongoose in Singita, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa © Ross Couper

? “The artful maze” – a herd of zebra stand together in random formation in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Shishir Kumar Jain

? A pair of collared nightjars roost on the ground in Madagascar © Aron Frankental (Instagram/afrankental)

Photographer of the Year 2018 Semi-finalists: Gallery 2

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the Semi-finalists! These are the top 51 photos, as chosen by our judges, exhibited in three stunning galleries.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Semi-finalists. To see the other two click here:
• Semi-finalists Gallery 1
• Semi-finalists Gallery 3
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A male leopard stalks guineafowl in the early morning golden light in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

Photographer of the Year 2018 Semi-finalists: Gallery 1

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the Semi-finalists! These are the top 51 photos, as chosen by our judges, exhibited in three stunning galleries.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Semi-finalists. To see the other two click here:
• Semi-finalists Gallery 2
• Semi-finalists Gallery 3
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A thirsty hyena enjoys the water from the Cubitje Quap waterhole in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana © Willem Kruger

? A pangolin recently rescued from poachers wallows in a stream nearby the Rare & Endangered Species Trust rehab facility in Outjo, Namibia © Noelle Alcorn/Rare & Endangered Species Trust/Global Conservation Force

? A cheetah mother observes human movement from the safety of the grass in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Olli Teirilä

Terminally ill Vietnamese find comfort in rhino horn

A recent study has revealed that the reasons why the Vietnamese buy illegal rhino horn is not only for medical and health-related reasons, but also as a form of comfort to those that are terminally ill.

Conducted by the University of Copenhagen and the Vietnamese office of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the study found that there has been a shift in values that drive the poached rhino horn trade in Vietnam. For example, instead of using rhino horn as a treatment for cancer, family members are using it rather for a ritualistic purpose – offering it to those who are dying (from illnesses like cancer) as a source of comfort.

“For us, the surprising trend is that horn is increasingly being used as a symbolic gesture to console terminally ill family members,” said Associate Professor Martin Nielsen, of the University of Copenhagen.

“The horns are intended to provide the ill with a final source of pleasure and to demonstrate that their families have done everything possible to help them.”

Through 30 interviews with Vietnamese purchasers of rhino horn, it was discovered that the most prevalent use was for treatment of hangovers, followed by treating minor ailments such as backache and fever. And now, using it as a form of comfort to terminally or seriously ill patients hoping for a cure has been added to the list.

The demand for rhino horn is widespread and growing in Vietnam. From the interviews, it was revealed that over 70% of the respondents preferred horn from wild rhinos over farmed animals due to their perceived higher potency. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 1,054 rhino were killed by poachers in South Africa in 2016, and 1‚028 in 2017. The number of rhinos remaining worldwide is estimated to be 30‚000, with an estimated 19,000 and 21,000 living in South Africa.

There is also a particular interest to those in the higher income brackets who are willing to pay premium prices for rhino horn in order to show off their socio-economic status, or by gifting it to seek favour and support from those in power. Powdered horn can fetch up to R1-million (500,000 kroner) per kilo.

With this new understanding of the different values of rhino horn, the researches hope that this will help in developing new strategies that can be used in campaigns to reduce the illegal trade in rhino horn.

“Understanding the motivation of horn buyers is vital for addressing this problem. Among other things, our results demonstrate that the nature of demand changes over time. As a result, we must continually rethink strategies to curb the trade in rhinoceros horn,” says Nielsen.

“The study suggests that information about the decline of rhinoceros populations and awareness about hunting being controlled by organised crime does not affect consumer demand. Dealing with the problem requires other strategies.”

The rhino horn trade is among one of the most organised forms of environmental crime, and the number of rhinos killed by poachers has increased markedly since 2008. Because Vietnam is the country with the greatest demand for rhino horn, it also bears the brunt of the blame for poaching.

Full report: Human Dimensions of Wildlife, Hoai Nam Dang Vu & Martin Reinhardt Nielsen (2018): Understanding utilitarian and hedonic values determining the demand for rhino horn in Vietnam

Tanzania invites bids for logging in Selous to pave way for huge hydropower plant

The Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) has invited tenders for large-scale logging in the Selous Game Reserve, a world-renowned wildlife area, where it plans to construct a large hydropower plant.

TFS has placed a tender invitation on its website inviting bids for logging of standing trees with a total volume of almost 3.5-million cubic metres in the Rufiji district, setting in motion plans to develop the project.

“Our intention is to clear the project area before implementation of the project starts,” said Dos Santos Silayo, Chief Executive of the Tanzania Forest Services Agency.

The logging tender will be opened on Wednesday morning at the TFS office in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, according to the document.

By clearing the trees, the construction of the Stiegler’s Gorge hydropower project will be able to commence in June this year. Upon completion, the plant will provide 2,100MW of electricity to a country that is currently extremely under-supplied. The plant will be designed to supply more than double the country’s power generation capacity.

According to Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Medard Kalemani, the plant is expected to completely end the country’s power woes and sustain local industries with electricity and sell the surplus power to neighbouring countries.

The Selous Game Reserve is a Unesco-designated reserve and is one of the largest protected wild areas in Africa, home to elephants, lions, rare birds and other species. Conservationists are opposed to this project as it is likely to have a potentially negative impact to wildlife in the area, especially for the critically endangered black rhinoceros.

9 Fascinating facts about black-footed cats

Black-footed cat in the wild, Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa — © Andreas Jonsson

The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) might weigh as much as a lion’s paw, but it is as vicious as the rest of the wild cat family. Here are 9 facts about the black-footed cat, also known as the small-spotted cat, that you need to know:

1. Even though this member of the genus Felis looks more like an adorable moggie, it is believed to be the world’s deadliest cat. They achieve the highest kill rate, successfully taking their target in 60% of hunts. Other wild cats often spotted on your African safari, such as lions and leopards, rarely succeed more than 20-40% of the time. (Read more on Africa’s 10 cat species here).

2. This tiny cat is perhaps the smallest of all wild cat species in Africa. The total length of its body is between 50-72 cm (including the tail). The male weighs between 1.7-2.4 kg while the female is only 1-1.6 kg. Kittens weigh a mere 60-90 g when born. They are so small that they do not even trigger conventional camera traps, making them difficult to study. For this reason, it is tricky for researchers to estimate the number of black-footed cats in the wild, but it is believed that there are less than 10,000 mature individuals in the wild, and that the population is declining. For these reasons, the black-footed cat is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List.

3. Sometimes walking more than 35km a night to find prey, the black-footed cat is an opportunistic hunter that takes anything it can overpower. Males can even take down hares or small bustards.

4. The black-footed cat is also solitary, with both sexes marking their territories by urinating.

5. These cute cats have pink skin, which is different from other wild cats, whose skin is usually dark tan to black.

6. The black-footed cat’s vision is six times better than that of humans, aided by enormous eyes. It’s also equipped with excellent night vision and impeccable hearing that can pick up even the tiniest sound – which is why they are easily disturbed and tricky to spot when on safari.

7. Despite its name, only the pads and underparts of the cat’s feet are black. Coat colouration ranges from reddish-fawn (in the southern parts of Africa) to a much paler colour further north. The chin and throat are white, with distinct dark bands on the throat, and a black-tipped tail. This description helps a lot when differentiating it from an African wildcat.

8. The black-footed cat can be found in parts of southern and central southern Africa, favouring arid to semi-arid scrub and short grassland, and open terrain close to rocky outcrops. (Check out our safaris to Southern Africa here).

9. This great hunter is predominantly nocturnal but occasionally crepuscular – which means it can be seen out of its den just after sunset and before sunrise (add this to your sighting list for your next African safari). During the day they rest either in burrows dug by other species, in hollow termite mounds or among rock tumbles. That’s where it gets its Afrikaans name from – miershooptier – which means anthill tiger.

Kenya to fast-track laws to make wildlife killing capital offence

Sourced from third-party sites: Xinhuanet and Save the Rhino

Kenya will fast-track laws to make wildlife poaching a capital offence as part of the country’s bid to conserve flora and fauna, a senior government official said last week.

Najib Balala, the Minister for Tourism and Wildlife, said that once the laws are enacted, the offenders of the wildlife crimes will face the death penalty in accordance with the laws of the land.

“We have in place the Wildlife Conservation Act that was enacted in 2013 and which fetches offenders a life sentence or a fine of 200,000 U.S. dollars. However, this has not been deterrence enough to curb poaching, hence the proposed stiffer sentence,” Balala remarked during the official launch of the northern white rhino commemorative stamps at Ol Pejeta Conservancy located in Laikipia County on the slopes of Mount Kenya.

The initiative to issue a set of stamps to celebrate the northern white rhino was instigated by the Postal Corporation of Kenya in honour of ‘Sudan’, the remaining male northern white rhino that died on March 19 after suffering from age-related health issues and from a series of infections.

Last year Kenya saw a decline in the number of rhinos and elephants poached, largely thanks to enhanced wildlife law-enforcement efforts and investment in conservation. “Kenya lost nine rhinos and 60 elephants to poachers in 2017, compared to 14 rhinos and 96 elephants lost in the previous year” said Balala.

However, just earlier this month poachers shot dead three black rhinos inside a rhino sanctuary in Meru National Park and had their horns removed.

Richard Vigne, the CEO of Ol Pejeta Conservancy that was home to Sudan the rhino, said the tragic story of the northern rhino will be captured forever as a signal to the world. He added that whilst Kenya remains a global leader in conservation, there are nonetheless many species across the planet that face a similar plight.

Attacks by captive carnivores – the stats revealed in open letter to minister

Media release by Endangered Wildlife Trust, Blood Lions, National Association of Conservancies, Panthera, Wild Trust, WildlifeACT

OPEN LETTER TO DR EDNA MOLEWA, THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS RE CAPTIVE CARNIVORE INTERACTIONS

It is with grave concern that the undersigned organisations, note that yet another person has been seriously injured by a captive carnivore in South Africa. The incident, which took place at Thabazimbi Predator Park in Limpopo at the end of April 2018, is not an isolated incident. Records show that at least 37 similar incidents have occurred since 1996, affecting no less than 40 victims. This figure reflects only those incidents that have been reported in the media and hence there could be more.

We respectfully and urgently request that you take the following information into consideration:

Of the 37 known incidents:

•Forty victims were involved with 28 being injured and 12 killed;

• Fourteen (38%) of the incidents involved captive cheetahs;

• Twenty-two (60%) incidents involved captive lions;

• One incident involved a captive tiger;

• 92% of the fatalities were due to lions and 46% of all lion attacks were fatal;

• These incidents involved 13 adult women, 18 adult men, and nine children, showing that no gender or age group is exempt;

• These incidents are geographically widespread as follows: Limpopo – nine; Eastern Cape – eight, Gauteng – six; North West Province – four; KwaZulu-Natal – four, Western Cape – two, and one unknown.

• These incidents occurred in a variety of ways, with the most common attacks occurring while people were inside the camps with the carnivores (24 incidents). Four incidents involved people being attacked through a fence. On three occasions, the animals had escaped, while on another three occasions victims were inside or on a vehicle. Another three incidents involved the victim trespassing, attack by released captive cheetahs and one unknown circumstance.

Members of the conservation sector have been expressing concern about the captive facilities where these interactions take place for more than 10 years because:

• They have no conservation value;

• There are no adequate safety regulations in place to protect tourists and facility staff;

• Welfare standards are often compromised or not regulated or monitored, and are further complicated by unclear mandates on welfare between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries;

• Links to shooting (‘canned hunting’) of captive Lions and the bone trade are negatively impacting on South Africa’s conservation image.

There are clearly significant risks posed by the interactions between humans and captive carnivores, and it is worrying that despite this, the sector remains ineffectively regulated. There are no regulations governing which carnivores may be kept in captivity, or why; by whom and for what purpose; under which conditions and with what activities related to them. As a result, it is highly probable that the incidences of injury or death as a result of interactions with captive carnivores will continue.

With at least 28 injured people and 12 fatalities, the time has clearly come for legislation to be put in place to end all public interactions with carnivores in South Africa. There is no justifiable rationale for the public to be interacting with carnivores in captivity, risking people’s lives.

We further call on the South African government to institute strict regulations for the management of all carnivores held in captivity that ensure that only qualified, experienced people have access to these animals and that no risks are posed to either human or animal life by unrestricted, unregulated access by all people.

Should the South African government continue to turn a blind eye to this issue, more people will be injured or killed. It is clear that the current system is flawed and a failure to react rapidly to protect people would be negligent.

Signed:

Endangered Wildlife Trust,

CEO, Ms Yolan Friedmann, yolanf@ewt.org.za

Senior Trade Officer, Dr Kelly Marnewick, kellym@ewt.org.za

Blood Lions

Producer, Ms Pippa Hankinson, hancobb@iafrica.com

National Association of Conservancies, Stewardship of SA,

Chairman, Mr John Wesson, jjwesson674@gmail.com

Panthera

Senior Director, Lion & Cheetah Programs, Dr Paul Funston, pfunston@panthera.org

Wild Trust

CEO, Dr Andrew Venter, andrewv@wildtrust.co.za

WildlifeACT

Director, Mr Mark Gerrard, mark@wildlifeact.com

Identifying venomous snakes: How hard can it be?

Juvenile boomslang, snake, reptile — The large, emerald green eyes of a juvenile boomslang © Tyrone Ping

Actually, it’s a lot more complicated than you’d think. There aren’t any hard and fast rules to distinguish a venomous snake from a non-venomous snake in southern Africa, and many people get bitten by snakes that they misidentify as ‘harmless’. I like to call this “learning the hard way” once they realise they’ve just picked up a venomous snake.

In our digital age of the internet and social media, we have access to a wealth of information about snakes. However, a large portion of this information is inaccurate, and it’s not governed by any standards. This means that anyone with access to a computer can write about any given topic and publish articles online. So, when it comes to telling the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes you can’t always trust Google.

Snake eyes

A common piece of misinformation that has gone ‘viral’ online is that you can tell harmless snakes from harmful ones just by looking at the eyes. If the snake’s pupil is round it is said to be harmless, while if the eye is elliptical (like cat eyes) the snake is said to be venomous, which is totally false within southern Africa.

All the shape of the pupil tells you about the snake is whether it is nocturnal (active at night) or diurnal (active during the day).

Let’s debunk this myth by having a look at some of southern Africa’s venomous and non-venomous snakes, and the pupil shapes they have.

Puff adder, reptile, snakes of southern Africa — The highly venomous puff adder © Tyrone Ping

Rhombic egg eater, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The harmless rhombic egg eater © Tyrone Ping

In short, if you have to get close enough to see the inner workings of a snake’s eye you are already too close, and well within the strike zone of the snake. So, it’s best to avoid this all together!

Green mamba, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The highly venomous green mamba © Tyrone Ping

Spotted bush snake, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The harmless spotted bush snake © Tyrone Ping

Snake head shapes

Another common misconception that sits in fiction is that all venomous snakes have triangular heads (much like an adder). Many non-venomous and mildly-venomous snakes may imitate adders by flattening their heads and striking out viciously.

The harmless rhombic egg eater and the herald snake are well known for this behaviour.

Herald snake, reptile, snake of southern Africa — A herald snake flattening its head in a defensive pose © Tyrone Ping

There are numerous venomous snakes capable of inflicting dangerous, painful bites, such as the infamous stiletto snake. This snake’s head is barely discernible from its body, which makes it easily confused with many harmless snakes such as blind snakes or thread snakes.

Bibron's stiletto snake, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The dangerous Bibron’s stiletto snake © Tyrone Ping

Bibron's blind snake, reptile, snakes of southern Africa — The harmless Bibron’s blind snake © Tyrone Ping

Snake colours

When it comes to snakes and their colours, there are typically two variations you’ll encounter: snakes with bright colours and those with dull or cryptic colours. It’s commonly known that animals with bright colours are coloured so as a warning sign to keep away.

There are many brightly coloured snakes found in southern Africa, although many of these simply imitate the dangerous species while being practically harmless.

The old rhyme “Red touch black, safe for Jack. Red touches yellow, kills a fellow” is not applicable to southern African snakes.

Coral shield cobra, reptile, snakes of southern Africa — The dangerous coral shield cobra © Tyrone Ping

Spotted harlequin snake, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The mildly venomous spotted harlequin snake © Tyrone Ping

Dull or cryptic colours are used by animals as camouflage to blend into their natural habitat and surroundings.

Many snakes rely on their camouflage to hide them while they ambush prey, or to simply help to prevent them from becoming prey to something else. Both highly-venomous and harmless snakes make use of cryptic colours, so don’t let this fool you.

East African gaboon adder, reptile, snake of southern Africa — The dangerous East African gaboon adder © Tyrone Ping

What should you do when you encounter a snake?

• Do not panic. Contrary to popular belief, snakes won’t simply attack you.

• Do not pick up the snake, especially by the neck or behind the head; this is extremely dangerous and if done incorrectly you could get you bitten.

• Do not attempt to kill the snake. Remember, if you’re close enough to strike the snake with something, you’re close enough to get bitten. Some snakes can spit/spray their venom up to 3 metres.

• Do maintain a safe distance away of at least 3 metres. At this range it is very difficult for a snake to bite you.

• Do keep an eye on the snake at all times and call a local snake catcher (Google is your friend here) to safely relocate it.

• Do take a photo of the snake if possible, and only if it can be done safely. This will help the snake catcher identify the snake should it disappear before they arrive.

The snakes of southern Africa are a complex group of animals, and no single rule applies to all of them. If you’re still concerned about coming across a snake at some point, invest in a good field guide and get to know the venomous snakes in your area; education is the key.

SA hunters expelled over canned lion hunting

Lion cubs bred in captivity © Audrey Delsink

Written by Simon Bloch

Two South African hunting associations that embrace canned lion hunting have lost an appeal to retain their membership to Europe’s top hunting organisation, and have been thrown out of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation for breach of policy. The decision was taken by the international council’s general assembly in Madrid.

The expulsion of the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) and Confederation of Hunting Associations of South Africa (CHASA) is considered the strongest rejection of South Africa’s hunting policies, as well as of bodies that support canned lion or captive-bred lion shooting operations which are widely regarded as unethical and unsportsmanlike.

The expulsion follows a policy reversal by the two hunting bodies in November last year to support the captive lion hunting industry, and permit membership of their organisations by persons who engage in the practice of captive-bred lion shooting. This is despite the fact that in 2015, PHASA members voted unanimously to reject captive lion hunts at the body’s AGM in Polokwane.

Tamás Marghescu, Director General of the International Council said that “both organisations had exercised their rights of appeal in accordance with the statutes, but failed in their bid to be reinstated. At the 65th General Assembly held in Madrid on May 4, an appeal was heard concerning the decision by the executive committee to expel the two organisations. The members decided by 114 votes to 3 that the organisations were in breach of policies and the expulsion was confirmed. There were 9 abstentions.”

In September 2016 the executive committee of the International Council adopted the International Union for Conservation of Nature 13 which called on the South African government to terminate the hunting of captive-bred lions.

Since PHASA’s 2017 AGM in November, the world’s leading hunting institutions have moved to distance themselves from the organisation and the canned lion hunting industry, which continues to tarnish South Africa’s conservation reputation.

The decision to expel the two organisations was widely welcomed by representatives of prominent African hunting bodies and organisations.

Danene van der Westhuyzen chairperson of the Operators and Professional Hunters Associations of Africa and vice president of the Namibian Professional Hunters Association said both organisations supported and applauded the decision. “It shows a movement towards unity, but even more so, that hunters condemn any such unethical practices.”

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa exco members for comment. Meanwhile, the Brandfort lion breeding farm and slaughterhouse discovered by the Free State SPCA last week, belongs to a former SA Predator Association council member Andre Steyn.

The gruesome discovery of at least 54 dead lions and a further 260 plus lions in captive conditions at Steyn’s farm, Wag-’n Bietjie, last week, sparked public rage over lions and tigers that are bred for the bullet and skinned for their bones for export to South East Asia’s widely unregulated medicine markets and wildlife body-parts trade.

Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 4

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 101 photos from the competition!
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Top 101. To see the other four click here:
• Top 101 Gallery 1
• Top 101 Gallery 2
• Top 101 Gallery 3
• Top 101 Gallery 5
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A black rhino is photographed through the legs of an elephant while drinking in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Johan J. Botha

? A cheetah mother observes human movement from the safety of the grass in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © Olli Teirilä

Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 2

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 101 photos from the competition.
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Top 101. To see the other four click here:
• Top 101 Gallery 1
• Top 101 Gallery 3
• Top 101 Gallery 4
• Top 101 Gallery 5
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? An intimate moment between a baby ground squirrel and his mom in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa © Henning de Beer

? A four-day-old white lion cub is carried by its mother in Ngala Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Daryl Dell (Instagram/daryldellsafaris)

? “Perched in the wind” – a southern ground-hornbill’s feathers are ruffled by the breeze in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Chantelle Melzer

? “Look carefully” – A lion cub stares at the camera through a buffalo carcass in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa © Bobby-Jo Vial

Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 5

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 101 photos from the competition!
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Top 101. To see the other four click here:
• Top 101 Gallery 1
• Top 101 Gallery 2
• Top 101 Gallery 3
• Top 101 Gallery 4
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A wet and bedraggled leopard cub walks in the rain in the Auob River, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa © Charmaine Joubert

? “The artful maze” – a herd of zebra stand together in random formation in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Shishir Kumar Jain

? “Amused” – a young vervet monkey keeps itself amused with a piece of wire as it looks into the camera in Kruger National Park, South Africa © Adam Kotze

Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 3

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 101 photos from the competition!
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Top 101. To see the other four click here:
• Top 101 Gallery 1
• Top 101 Gallery 2
• Top 101 Gallery 4
• Top 101 Gallery 5
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? An inquisitive pangolin gets up close and personal in Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve, South Africa © Andrea Galli

? Maasai warriors jump at sunrise near their village on the outskirts the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya © John Kerrod Wells

? A male leopard stalks guineafowl in the early morning golden light in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa © Annemarie du Plessis

? A relatively large jumping spider (Hyllus treleaveni) in Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa © Eraine van Schalkwyk

? “Feeding on leftovers” – a lioness walks with a piece of elephant tail in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia © Manuel Alexander Graf

Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 1

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 competition, brought to you by Land Rover South Africa, with stunning prizes from Canon South Africa and Tanda Tula, has come to an end.
With the competition closed, the judges now face the incredible task of going through hundreds of photos – featured in the Weekly Selection galleries – to choose the finalists and eventually the winner!
It is now with great pleasure that we present (in no particular order) the top 101 photos from the competition!
The overall winner of the competition will receive a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 18-135mm IS USM lens. In addition, the overall winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up (along with their partners), will experience the ultimate photographic safari at Tanda Tula Field Camp, located in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
The most popular entries on Facebook, Instagram, and our Website will receive our 2018 Yearbook – a stunning selection of the past year’s greatest photography from around Africa. In addition, five commendable finalists will also receive a 2018 Yearbook.
The following gallery showcases the Top 101. To see the other four click here:
• Top 101 Gallery 2
• Top 101 Gallery 3
• Top 101 Gallery 4
• Top 101 Gallery 5
To see the complete collection of 2018’s Weekly Selection galleries click here.

? A thirsty hyena enjoys the water from the Cubitje Quap waterhole in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana © Willem Kruger

? A rescued pangolin relaxes at the Rare & Endangered Species Trust rehab facility in Outjo, Namibia © Rare & Endangered Species Trust/Noelle Alcorn/Global Conservation Force (Instagram/restnamibia)

? “Different ways” – gemsbok cross the dunes on a winter’s morning in one of the most remote places on the planet in northwestern Namibia © Panos Laskarakis

Going on an adventure

The simplicity of it all

Bags packed and ready to return

Ruzdi’s trip

ACCOMMODATION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, RUZDI EKENHEIM

Watch the five reintroduced lions bond as a pride over a meal, filmed by Simon Price

Watch the “Keep the Luangwa Flowing” campaign advert below

OPINION POST by Don Scott

But why should anyone listen to me on this subject?

The ‘Most Vocal’ award goes to…

How committed are we all really? The facts speak for themselves.

Major concerns from those who bothered to pitch up

What is the truth, if not factual?

The trophy hunting debate is futile

‘High’ and ‘low roads’ – which is best?

It’s all about habitat

Conservation status

Giraffe species

ALL SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES IN NUMBERS

Giraffe Action Fund

Giraffe translocation: Operation Twiga

Who is Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF)?

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The below questions were addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) by a foreign national, questioning Namibia’s wildlife conservation strategies:

To which the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) responded as follows:

Limpopo National Park lion targeted

Valuable research also impacted

Gaining a deeper understanding

Safeguarding more than just predators

WARNING: CONTAINS DISTRESSING IMAGE

The ultimate adrenaline activity

River rafting adventure

Taking to the skies

Luxurious Livingstone

A cruise down the Zambezi

Dinner on a steam train

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, SARAH KINGDOM

DECODING SCIENCE POST by AG Editorial

Further readings about baobabs:

Opinion post: Written by Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

Final comment from Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

Opinion post: Written by Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic

Contextual reality check:

Comment from tourism operators in the area:

Local tourism operators are not the only people with questions and concerns:

My final thoughts

ABOUT VILLIERS STEYN

ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

DECODING SCIENCE POST by AG Editorial

Let’s understand the phenomena at play here, in layman’s terms:

Albinism

Leucism

Melanism

Greetings

Animals

People

Numbers

List of Ghanaian forest hornbill species

Snake eyes

Snake head shapes

Snake colours

What should you do when you encounter a snake?