News Desk, Author at Africa Geographic

>2,000 vultures now feared poisoned in Guinea-Bissau – largest mass mortality ever

Over 2,000 critically endangered hooded vultures have died across Guinea-Bissau of poisoning due to belief-based use.

American parrot breeder wants to import wild-caught African grey parrots for a captive breeding scheme for the pet trade

An American parrot breeder has applied to import wild-caught endangered African grey parrots into the United States of America

Akagera NP (Rwanda) tourism revenue up 25%

Conservation success story – Rwanda’s Akagera National Park’s growth continues with a 25% growth in revenue in 2019.

Breaking: copper mine in Lower Zambezi NP cancelled

The planned open-pit Kangaluwi copper mine in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park WILL NOT proceed, says the Zambian government

Saving the Northern White Rhino: Third Embryo Successfully Created

International scientists and Kenyan conservation authorities have successfully created the third viable embryo of the near-extinct northern white rhino. The global initiative has taken yet another step in the long journey to pull this subspecies back from the brink.

Another mass vulture poisoning raises alarm in South Africa

Yet another mass vulture poisoning raises alarm bells that deliberate poisoning of vultures for belief-based use is on the increase, say experts.

Mountain gorilla population continues to rise

Great news! The population of mountain gorillas is on the rise, and now stands at an estimated 1,063 individuals.

Collared elephant hunted in Botswana, tracking device destroyed

A large bull elephant carrying a research collar with a tracking device has been killed by trophy hunters in Botswana, and the tracking device destroyed.

Lions in Gorongosa show population increase

Lions in Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) are benefitting from better conservation measures, and show a population increase to 146, the nature reserve announced on Wednesday.

Critically endangered addax antelope to be reintroduced in Chad

The critically endangered addax antelope is to be brought back from the edge of extinction through reintroducing captive-bred species into the wild in Chad.

Large illegal logging operation uncovered in Mozambique

Security operation uncovers large illegal logging operation in Mozambique.

Celebrated tusker Matt dies in Kenya

One of north Kenya’s largest tuskers, a celebrated bull elephant called Matt, has sadly died – of natural causes.

Okapi conservation gets a boost, with new DRC reserve management partner

Okapi conservation has received a boost, with the signing of a new management agreement for The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Malawi: On the frontline in the fight against illegal wildlife trade

Malawi may be one of the continent’s most peaceful nations, but it is currently locked in a fierce battle to protect some of the world’s most threatened species of wildlife.

Botswana elephant hunting: Chaos and disillusionment as citizen licenses are raffled

Botswana elephant hunting: Eight elephant hunting licenses were awarded to Maun-based Botswana citizens, and the eight winners and almost 6,000 losers were unhappy with the results when the reality of the T&Cs set in.

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

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

Saving Spots – a new initiative to protect wild cats in southern Africa

A new project called Saving Spots has been launched to protect declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as ‘Heritage Furs’.

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

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

Trophy hunters kill popular Zimbabwean lion Seduli – on World Lion Day

A well-known male lion called Seduli, who was popular with photographers, has been shot by hunters on the outskirts of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe this past weekend on World Lion Day.

Scientists write letter to Botswana president about elephants

Prominent elephant scientists write to Botswana’s President Masisi about strategy to manage elephants and reduce conflict with humans.

Wild-caught elephants for USA zoos

United States zoos look set to take wild-caught elephants from Zimbabwe.

Construction of Luangwa River hydroelectric dam halted, conservationists delighted

The Zambian government has halted plans to build the proposed Ndevu Gorge hydroelectric dam across the Luangwa River – helping to secure the benefits it provides to wildlife and people.

New population found of critically endangered riverine rabbits

Great news for conservationists as a new population of Critically Endangered riverine rabbits has recently been discovered in Baviaanskloof.

Botswana trophy hunting: Fewer than 400 elephant hunting licenses to be granted annually, says government

Fewer than 400 elephant hunting licenses will be granted annually, the Botswana government has announced, following the reinstatement of hunting.

Botswana brings back trophy hunting

The Government of Botswana has taken the decision to lift the hunting suspension.

Penguins can inform fisheries management, say researchers

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

Rescued baby elephant stabilised, awaits permits for transfer to care centre

A 3-month-old baby elephant found wandering alone in Mozambique has been rescued, and awaits the necessary permits for transfer to a care centre in South Africa, for eventual release back into the wild.

Video: Three pangolins returned to the wild in Malawi

Good news as three pangolins have been successfully released back into the wild in Malawi after being confiscated.

Elephant bull with failing eyesight treated for serious injuries

A collared elephant bull, called Matambu, has been successfully treated for a serious injuries after a suspected tusking by another bull.

Massive rhino dehorning operation in Balule, Greater Kruger

The entire rhino population of Balule (Greater Kruger) has been dehorned, in a massive operation.

Video: The unintended victims of a hidden killer

The piece of looped wire doesn’t look like much. But place this wire in the hands of wildlife poachers, and it becomes one of Africa’s most deadly weapons.

Captive lion breeding is here to stay, says DEA

The Department of Environmental Affairs has rejected the Portfolio Committee’s resolution to end the captive breeding of lions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Botswana government questions elephant survey report by Elephants Without Borders

Botswana’s government has questioned a new report by Elephants Without Borders detailing their 2018 elephant aerial survey.

Namibia culls hyenas to save its wild / feral horses

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

Research reveals why zebras got their stripes

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

Hunting ban in Botswana should be lifted says government committee, and elephants culled

Hunting ban should be lifted and elephants culled, says Botswana’s government committee. Other recommendations include growth of the hunting industry, some animal migration routes closed and human-wildlife conflict strategies implemented.

Fate of meerkats tied to seasonal climate effects

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

Researchers discover tiny new frog species in Ethiopia

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

Updated rhino poaching stats – what is not being disclosed – comment from award-winning filmmakers

Award-winning filmmakers Susan Scott and Bonné de Bod comment on the latest rhino poaching statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Detecting wildlife cybercrime

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

Servals thrive at huge petrochemical plant in South Africa

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

Parliament attacks Kruger agreement with neighbouring private reserves

The South African Parliament has strongly criticised South African National Parks for signing a formal agreement on 5th December to ratify a long-standing cooperation arrangement between Kruger National Park and several neighbouring private and community game reserves, which together form an area known as “Greater Kruger”.

First new widow spider species discovered in 29 years

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

New Tanzanian reserve declared to protect invaluable forest

A rich forest teeming with unique and endangered wildlife in Tanzania has finally been placed under protection, supported by World Land Trust and other partners.

Turtles being ‘feminised’ by climate change, say scientists

Up to 93% of green turtle hatchlings could be female by 2100, as climate change causes “feminisation” of the species, new research suggests.

Africa is divided over ivory trade ahead of wildlife meeting

Several African countries with some of the world’s largest elephant populations will push this year for looser controls on legal ivory trade, while another group of countries on the continent says more restrictions are the best way to curb the illegal killing of elephants for their tusks.

World’s rarest duck released back into the wild

A duck thought to be extinct for 15 years has been brought back from the brink and given a new home on a remote lake in Madagascar.

Somaliland wildlife medicine and husbandry: new partnership announced

The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) has announced a new international partnership between European and African institutions to enhance Somaliland’s ability to treat and care for confiscated wildlife.

A great year for wildlife in Maputo Special Reserve

In a conservation success story, more than 4,200 animals have been translocated to Maputo Special Reserve since 2013 through a multi-year rewilding project led by Peace Parks Foundation.

4 Elephants die as mercy mission goes wrong during heatwave

Tragedy as four elephant bulls that were causing havoc in the Gravelotte area in Limpopo die during relocation attempt.

Famous super tusker Tim rescued from certain death

Tim, an icon of Amboseli and one of Africa’s largest and most magnificent elephants, has been rescued from certain death.

Lion bone quota now reduced to 800 skeletons from 1,500

The quota for the lion bone trade has been reduced from 1,500 to 800 lion skeletons, according to a media statement from the DEA.

Balule responds regarding traumatising elephant hunt incident

Balule Nature Reserve responds to the incident regarding a traumatising elephant hunt.

Video: Malawi gains new giraffe population in Majete Wildlife Reserve

Thirteen South African giraffe have been translocated over 2,500 km and safely released into Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve, establishing its first population.

Lake Malawi fish species at risk of extinction

The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has revealed that overfishing is causing fish species in parts of the developing world to decline, with 9% of the 458 fish species assessed in Lake Malawi at high risk of extinction.

Rare conservation win: Mountain gorilla population ticks up

The IUCN has updated the status of mountain gorillas, officially changing them from ‘Critically Endangered’ – the highest level of threat – to ‘Endangered’.

Giraffes are in trouble, says IUCN status update

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is once again drawing attention to the plight of giraffes.

Captive lion breeding and bone trade: MPs call for an end to the practice

The Environmental Affairs Committee has called for a policy and legislative review on captive lion breeding for hunting and lion bone trade.

Good news as China now reverses decision to lift ban on trade in tiger and rhino parts

China has postponed the lifting of a ban on the trade of rhino horn and tiger parts for medicine and other uses, the government said on Monday, after a storm of protest from conservation groups over a plan to water down the decades-old prohibition.

To end wildlife trafficking, engage with local communities – study

The international donor community and governments have invested heavily in fighting illegal wildlife trade, but so far, they haven’t succeeded in ending rhino poaching. New research from UCT shows that for these initiatives to succeed, local communities – many of which live in or near protected areas – need to be involved.

Scientists warn that the world’s wilderness areas are disappearing

Scientists reveal that just 23% of the world’s landmass can now be considered wilderness, with the rest lost to the direct effects of human activities.

Botswana’s president addresses the issue of game farms and hunting in Botswana

Botswana’s president addresses the issue of game farms and hunting in Botswana.

China lifts ban and legalises tiger bone and rhino horn for medical purposes

China has revised a law on the ban of rhino horn and tiger bone products that would now allow domestic trade and use of the products for scientific, medical and cultural purposes.

Video: Gorilla males who babysit have greater reproduction success

Research reveals that male gorillas have greater reproductive success if they spend more time taking care of kids.

Cannibal cobras

While Cape cobras are known to eat other snake species – up to a third of their diet – recorded instances of Cape cobras eating individuals of the same species has been extremely rare… until now, when researchers investigated and discovered how common and widespread cannibalism in cobras really is.

DRC president torches ivory and pangolin scale stockpile, releases parrots

Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on Sunday set light to an ivory stockpile to highlight the problem of poaching in the central African country.

Social media’s role in advertising illegal wildlife trade, including cheetah trafficking

Cheetah Conservation Fund data analysis confirms social media role in advertising illegal wildlife trade, including trafficking of cheetahs for illegal pet trade.

DEA announces 2018 rhino and elephant poaching stats to date

The South African Department of Environmental Affairs announces 2018 rhino and elephant poaching stats to date.

Elephant hunting: Botswana initiates month-long consultation process

Botswana initiated on Wednesday a month of public hearings to decide whether to lift the 2014 hunting ban, including elephant hunting.

Skye the lion hunting furore: Parliament wants Kruger NP agreement with private reserves revised

Environmental Affairs committee believes agreement between Kruger National Park and private reserves should be revised.

Video: 500 animals journey from Kruger to Zinave

The past two months saw the translocation of zebra, blue wildebeest and impala from Kruger National Park in South Africa to Zinave National Park in Mozambique. The overall goal is to reintroduce 7,500 game animals in Zinave over the next five years and to date over 1,300 animals have been rewilded to the park.

Elephant poaching: Botswana gov provides context, questions irresponsible reporting

The government of Botswana responds to the recent reports alleging that about 90 elephants were killed recently.

Oral vaccination protects Ethiopian wolves – Africa’s most endangered carnivore

Over the past month, a team from the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) implemented the first oral vaccination campaign to pre-empt outbreaks of rabies among Ethiopian wolves, the world’s most endangered canid, in their stronghold in the Bale Mountains of southern Ethiopia.

Video: 90 African buffalo welcomed into community conservancy in Zambia

Peace Parks Foundation has presented 90 African buffalo to the communities of the Simalaha Community Conservancy, with an additional 110 buffalo still to be brought in over the next month.

Elephants migrate despite boundaries and borders

A new study from the Conservation Ecology Research Unit (CERU) at the University of Pretoria (UP) set out to unravel migration in the world’s largest terrestrial mammal: the savanna elephant.

Update on rhino translocation fiasco: WWF-Kenya admits mistakes were made

WWF-Kenya has admitted that grave mistakes were made in the translocation operation in Kenya which saw 10 out of 11 critically endangered black rhinos die.

Update on rhino translocation fiasco: Tenth black rhino dies, remaining survivor attacked by lions

A tenth endangered black rhino has reportedly died after a botched translocation, according to Kenya’s tourism minister.

200 Elephants to be moved from South Africa to Mozambique

De Beers Group, in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation, has begun to transport 200 elephants across 1,500km from the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve in South Africa to Mozambique.

Costly communication: Heaviside’s dolphins risk being heard by eavesdropping killer whales

Research has found that the risky vocal behaviour of Heaviside’s dolphins put them at risk from killer whale attacks.

South Africa’s lion bone export quota set at 1,500 skeletons

The DEA has announced that the new lion bone export quota will allow 1,500 lion skeletons from captive-bred lions to be exported annually from South Africa.

8 Endangered black rhinos die after translocation in Kenya

Eight out of 14 critically endangered black rhinos have died after being moved to a reserve in southern Kenya, wildlife officials have revealed.

Illegal ivory sold openly across Europe – study

Illegal elephant ivory is being openly sold across the European Union, according to a report by the campaign group Avaaz.

Elephants with a purpose

Why did 53 elephants travel more than 1,250 km across three different countries this month? Here’s why.

Cheetah cub survival impacted by high-tourism areas

A study has found that high levels of tourism can have a negative impact on the rearing of cheetah cubs to independence.

Death of desert-adapted lion: Namibian minister explains policy and requests understanding

The Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism has responded to the killing of the male desert-adapted lion, Gretsky (XPL 99).

Investigating South Africa’s wildlife cryptotrade

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.

Botswana MP proposes lifting elephant hunting ban

Botswana’s parliament has adopted a motion 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.

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

The world’s largest private rhino breeder, John Hume, is on the verge of bankruptcy, leaving questions open as to what will happen to his 1,626 southern white rhinos.

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

In light of the recent backlash against Namibia for the death of a desert-adapted lion, Dr Chris Brown, CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Environment, responds to a foreign national’s questions regarding Namibia’s management of lions in the wild.

Guarding Limpopo National Park’s carnivores

A new carnivore protection ranger force, the Limpopo Lion Protection Team, has been trained and deployed – specifically assigned to support the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Programme and tasked with securing known lion ranges from targeted lion poaching.