Forest elephants have finally been granted species status (something scientists have known for decades). With this has come the appalling IUCN classification of ‘critically endangered’
Author Archives: teamAG
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 13
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Mandrill – a colourful character
The mandrill is a colourful, tool-using, socially complex monkey that lives in groups called hordes in the forests of western Central Africa.
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 12
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Translocating lions does not reduce conflict – research
New research from Botswana shows that translocating lions in conflict with livestock owners is expensive and results in high lion mortality, repeat offences and very little reduction in human-lion conflict.
African canids – 11 fascinating species
Today, 11 African canids, from excitable African painted wolves and shrewd jackals to the tiny fox species, hunt the continent’s desert, alpine grassland, savanna and woodland.
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 11
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Kasanka Bat Migration – an astonishing natural wonder
The Kasanka bat migration in Zambia is the largest mammal migration on planet earth. It’s a spectacular must-see for nature lovers
Fairy circles – ghostly footprints of dead Euphorbias
Fairy circles – Euphorbia toxins are responsible for the bizarre fairy circles that have baffled and fascinated scientists – new research
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 10
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Laikipia – land of staggering natural beauty
Laikipia in Kenya – a land of staggering beauty & biodiversity – a mosaic of wildlife conservancies, ranchlands & commercial farms
SEEK and ye shall find – elephant identification
Elephant identification is a difficult task – but a new system based on ear patterns is making the task easier – research by Elephants Alive
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 9
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
The rhino Cryovault – frozen in time
If all the money, time, blood and sweat fails to save our wild rhinos, Hemmersbach has a solution. The rhino Cryovault holds repositories of rhino DNA, gametes, and tissues preserved indefinitely.
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 8
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s best kept secrets – a magical tract of montane forest bursting with extraordinary biodiversity
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 7
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
African Wildcat
African wildcats are one of Africa’s “Secret 7” – tough little cats are just as untamed and fierce as their iconic big cat cousins
Does the farming and legal trade of wildlife do more harm than good? New study
Farming and legal trade of wildlife could increase demand for wildlife products and so be negative from a conservation perspective – research
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 6
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
KGALAGADI
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offers one of the most intimate immersions in nature imaginable – free from the trappings of modern life
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 5
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Meet the world’s smallest chameleon
This dwarf chameleon is officially the world’s smallest chameleon, measuring just 22mm. Found only in Madagascar, this is Brookesia nana
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 4
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Did fences cause the elephant deaths in Botswana?
New study examines whether fences could have impacted the elephant deaths in the Seronga region of Botswana in mid-2020.
Unravelling the elaborate sex lives of spotted hyenas
High-ranked male spotted hyenas are more reproductively successful than their low-ranked rivals – hormone and behaviour analysis reveals why.
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 3
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Kruger rhino populations plummet – latest official stats
Rhino populations in the Kruger National Park have plummeted to an estimated 3,529 white and 268 black rhinos – due to poaching & drought
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 2
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
‘Gold rush’ as Botswana meets appetite for lion parts
Investigation reveals Botswana is exporting both live lions and lion parts to South Africa – possible links to canned hunting
MAKULEKE
Between two rivers and three countries, Makuleke Contractual Park in northern Kruger is a spectacular biodiversity and historical hotspot
Of ivory, elephants, shipwrecks and slaughter
Ivory recovered from 500-year-old shipwreck reveals details of the ivory trade and how it has devastated forest elephant populations.
Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 1
Fantastic images from our Photographer of the Year 2021. Enter now to win US$10,000 cash and a Botswana safari
Cape Parrot
This is Africa’s rarest parrot. The Cape parrot is found only in small fragmented patches of the remaining mistbelt forests in South Africa
Spotting elephants from space
Artificial intelligence and satellite images can help conservationists count elephants from space, says new research.
CEO note: A story about perspective
CEO note: A story about perspective
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve is a malaria-free safari haven and conservation success story that benefits people, wildlife and the ecosystem
CEO note: Boycott Africa + elephants vs villagers
CEO note: Boycott Africa + elephants vs villagers
Cheetahs return to Bangweulu, Zambia
Three cheetahs have been successfully translocated from South Africa to Bangweulu in Zambia – the first cheetahs there in nearly a century
The extinction business – South Africa’s cold-blooded reptile trade
South Africa’s amphibian & reptile trade is a growing industry that is unregulated, unsustainable, and unethical – says report
CEO note: Frack the Okavango + arch enemies + Gorongosa
CEO note: Frack the Okavango + arch enemies + Gorongosa
Paradise is closing down: The ghastly spectre of oil drilling and fracking in fragile Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta under threat as oil drilling and fracking loom on the horizon after Canadian company tests massive prospecting concessions
Arch-enemies? New research on lions vs hyenas
Lions vs hyenas is the ultimate African drama. New research has shed light on the dynamics between these two apex predators
CEO note: Crafty strategy + great news + rhino facts
CEO note: Crafty strategy + great news + rhino facts
RHINO
Africa’s 2 rhino species are the most numerous of the world’s 5 species. Here is everything you need to know about black and white rhinos
580 elephants return to Virunga in DR Congo – and other species follow in their wake
580 elephants have been seen moving again between Queen Elizabeth NP in Uganda and Virunga NP in DR Congo – and other species are following
Female banded mongooses incite violence for better mating opportunities
Female banded mongooses lead their groups into deliberate conflict with rival groups to increase their chances of mating – research
CEO note: Free at last + Hwange + the edge
CEO note: Free at last + Hwange + the edge
The Edge of Existence and human-wildlife conflict – we interview James Suter
The Edge of Existence tells the story of human-wildlife conflict on the western boundary of Tanzania’s Serengeti. We interview the filmmaker
HWANGE
Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest national park, Hwange is a safari paradise that hosts large populations of elephants, lions and wild dogs
CEO note: Reality check + another ‘problem’ elephant killed
CEO note: Reality check + another ‘problem’ elephant killed
Jens Cullmann, 2020 Photographer of the Year – gallery two
This fantastic gallery by Photographer of the Year 2020 winner Jens Cullmann will have you booking your next safari with Africa Geographic
Forest elephants going hungry as climate change stops trees from fruiting
Forest elephants are losing body condition – most probably due to climate impacts on forest tree fruit production – say researchers
Chacma Baboon
The baboon is one of the largest monkeys in the world, with human-like cunning and 4cm canines that rival those of leopards
CEO note: Captive-bred lion hunting not ‘fair chase’ + Lost & found
CEO note: Captive-bred lion hunting not ‘fair chase’ + Lost & found
Riff Raff the ‘problem-causing’ elephant shot and killed
The ‘problem-causing’ elephant known as Riff Raff has been shot and killed by provincial authorities in South Africa
Captive-bred lion hunting not acceptable – say Dallas Safari Club & CIC
Captive-bred lion hunting “not representative of responsible, sustainable, fair chase hunting … damaging the reputation of hunters” …
Lemurs of Madagascar
The lemurs of Madagascar are a fascinating family of primates of all shapes & sizes that have evolved to fill every niche on the island
“Lost” species of chameleon found in hotel gardens
A ‘lost’ species of chameleoln – Voeltzkow’s chameleon – has been found in a hotel garden in Madagascar after it had been assumed extinct
CEO note: Perfect storm alert + Mana Pools
CEO note: Perfect storm alert + Mana Pools
Mana Pools
Mana Pools is Africa’s iconic park for bush walking without a guide – renowned for encounters on foot with wild dogs & relaxed elephant bulls
Saving rodents, losing primates – we need tailored strategies to manage bushmeat trade
Viewing all bushmeat trade through one lens over-simplifies the complex situation and could lead to accelerated disappearance of some species
CEO note: Strawberry leopard + here be dragons + living next door to a poacher
CEO note: Strawberry leopard + here be dragons + living next door to a poacher
HERE BE DRAGONS – The Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile has evolved over millennia to be a cunning, patient and ferocious predator that is capable of taking down large prey
The Colours of Salt
AERIAL ART is a coffee table book by photographers Jay & Jan Roode who celebrate the spectacular Namibian coastline with astonishing images
Ruaha
The ancient Ruaha landscape, dominated by huge baobabs & elephants, is home to a wide variety of wildlife for the perfect wilderness safari
Trophy hunting – how do African people feel?
Trophy hunting: How do African people perceive and react to trophy hunting compared to those from the Western public – research
POACHERS – the people behind the statistics – a reality check
POACHERS – who are they and what motivates them? TRAFFIC investigates the driving factors of poaching activities and suggests solutions
Tembe elephant bull relocated to community-owned reserve
A large young elephant bull has been relocated from Teme Elephant Park to Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal
Etosha
Etosha offers that iconic African safari experience: a waterhole packed with thirsty animals & the drama of stalking big cats seeking a meal
Nyungwe NP in Rwanda under African Parks management
African Parks has announced the signing of a 20-year agreement with the Government of Rwanda to manage the biodiverse Nyungwe National Park
KHWAI
Khwai in Northern Botswana is a wildlife haven. Bordering the Okavango Delta, Moremi & Chobe – Khwai is an iconic safari destination
How much water should lodges be using?
How much water should safari lodges be using? The lowering of groundwater levels could compromise the ecosystem and wildlife.
Selous be dam(n)ed
Selous is facing changes – from increased conservation status to a huge hydro-electric dam being built on the pristine Rufiji River
Elephants & cattle – restoring soil nutrient levels
Research shows that elephants can assist farmers by restoring soil nutrient levels when cattle have depleted those nutrients
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular tourism destination, for obvious reasons – offering tree-climbing lions to chimpanzees
Cyanobacteria to blame for elephant deaths – Botswana officials
Elephant deaths: The sudden deaths of over 300 elephants in Botswana were caused by cyanotoxins produced by blue-green algae, say officials
FOSSA: 5 fascinating facts
The fossa of Madagascar has the predatory skills of mongooses and civets – acrobatic and lightning-fast – and the strength of a cat
The importance of adult male elephants
The selective harvesting of old bull elephants damages broader elephant society because of the important role played by the bulls – research
Wild dogs facing increased persecution in Eastern Namibia
Wild dogs face increased persecution, as evidenced by this puppy carcass found on a road – likely the victim of an intentional killing
Trophy hunting quotas for South Africa in 2020: leopards, elephants and lion bone exports
Trophy hunting quotas for South Africa in 2020: leopards, elephants and lion bone exports – announcements by Minister Barbara Creecy
“Lost” species of elephant shrew alive and well
Researchers have rediscovered the Somali Sengi (an elephant shrew) – which was thought to be extinct and was last seen nearly 50 years ago
Tsavo – Land of legends
Tsavo East and West National Parks in Kenya are part of the broader Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem where there is a feeling of vast ancient space
Coal mining in Hwange: gov bans mining in national parks
Coal mining in Hwange cancelled – according to a recent government statement that all mining in national parks is banned with immediate effect
Zebra
The zebra is a firm favourite among safari-goers because of their dazzling black and white stripes and familiar horse body language
Coal mining in Hwange National Park
Two coal-mining concessions have been awarded to Chinese companies in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and the neighbouring Deka Safari Area
Keeping an eye on predators
Attacks on livestock by wild predators is a common problem in Africa – and scientists say that painting eyes on cattle backsides could help
A Black and White Photo Safari
An exquisite gallery of black and white images that will have you contacting Africa Geographic about your next safari
Bwindi
Bwindi is the fairy-tale forest we dreamed about as children; it is also where you can meet and spend time with gentle mountain gorillas
“Living dead” – elephants in Kruger NP are sterilizing palm trees, says research
Elephants feeding on fan palm trees are preventing the palms from reaching full size & reproductive potential in Kruger NP, says new study
Lion trophy hunting – we interview Craig Packer
We interview researcher and conservationist Craig Packer about lion trophy hunting – with a focus on Tanzania, his former home
Mud
This fantastic photo gallery of wildlife coated in mud will have you contacting Africa Geographic to arrange your next safari
Tiny primate: new species of mouse lemur discovered
Scientists have discovered a new species of mouse lemur in Madagascar – which is already threatened by habitat loss & climate change
Understanding the Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is an enormous watery oasis, home to an astonishing variety of wildlife and host to some of the best Botswana safaris
Will legal international rhino horn trade save wild rhino populations?
Will legal international rhino horn trade save the wild rhino population? Find out here in this thought-provoking opinion post
Aardvarks and climate change
Aardvarks are being severely impacted by climate change, says research being conducted in arid areas where temperatures are expected to rise
Buffalo – Godfather of the African bushveld
The African buffalo has earned itself something of a reputation – particularly the cantankerous old ‘dagga boys’. Learn more here
A plane full of hyenas
Four spotted hyenas completed a journey of over 1 400 km to Zinave National Park, Mozambique – after decades of no carnivores in the park
Kruger roan antelope deaths by neglect – more of the same, says informant
Roan antelope in Kruger breeding camps are dying due to neglect, with reasons varying from dehydration to disease – here are the facts