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.
Category Archives: News
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.
Breaking: STROOP scoops more awards, stands alongside Steven Spielberg, Natalie Portman and Ellen DeGeneres
Acclaimed South African documentary film, ‘STROOP – Journey into the Rhino Horn War’, has continued to attract the attention of international and local judges and audiences alike, winning two more prestigious awards.
Introducing the Safari Guide of the Year 2019
And the winner is… After a tough week of scrutiny from mentors and intense but convivial competition amongst the five chosen finalists, the coveted title ‘Safari Guide of the Year 2019’ has been awarded. Find out about the winner here.
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.
Iconic desert-adapted elephant ‘Voortrekker’ killed by trophy hunter in Namibia
In yet another blow to big elephant genes, the iconic desert-adapted elephant bull known by millions of fans worldwide as ‘Voortrekker’ was killed by a trophy hunter after being declared a ‘problem-animal’ by Namibian authorities
Africa could skyrocket tourism investment & earnings – working paper
New report illustrates how African countries can attract tourism investment and significantly increase revenue and socio-economic benefits.
Catastrophic breaking news: 537 vultures found poisoned in dark day for Botswana conservation
Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has announced that they have recently identified a poisoning site with 537 dead vultures (comprising five species) and two tawny eagles.
Video: Instagram influencers eat pangolin in Gabon – call it ‘armadillo’
Instagram influencers Jessica Nabongo and Sal Lavallo ate pangolin in Gabon hotel
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.
Breaking: Zambian hippo cull via hunting cancelled. Again
Breaking: Zambian hippo cull cancelled. This is the latest about-turn since the Zambian government announced plans to cull 2,000 hippos in Luangwa Valley by offering ‘hippo management hunts’.
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.
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.
Elephant management plan announced for KAZA countries
Elephant management plan announced by southern African countries that host more than 50% of the remaining African savannah elephants.
Another giant elephant taken by trophy hunters
Another blow for Africa’s remaining large-tusked elephants, as trophy hunters kill another massive elephant in Gonarezhou, Zimbabwe. The surgical removal of Africa’s giants continues.
Breaking: STROOP beats media giants to take top film prize
The groundbreaking South African film, STROOP – Journey into the Rhino Horn War, has taken one of the world’s top wildlife prizes, ‘Best of Festival’, at the International Wildlife Film Festival in the United States.
Opinion: Kruger citrus farming impact report rated as ‘poor’ – serious questions asked
The Draft Impact Report compiled for the proposed citrus farm near Kruger has been deemed ‘poor in analytical components’ and ‘unsatisfactory because of omissions or inadequacies’ according to Elephants Alive researcher.
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.
Death row “nuisance” elephant Riff Raff gets a reprieve as judge intervenes to prevent shooting
Wildlife groups say Riff Raff is a victim of human-elephant conflict, call for review of decision that would sentence him to death.
Become an Eco-warrior and donate towards educational conservation comics for children
Become an ‘Eco-warrior’ and help the Southern African Conservation Trust educate the less privileged children by making a small donation towards their educational conservation comics.
What CITES will debate at CoP18 in May for these African species
CITES debates: White rhino, elephant, giraffe and other African species come under the spotlight at the May CoP18 sessions.
Addressing Malawi’s deforestation crisis
On the International Day of Forests the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust addresses Malawi’s deforestation crisis.
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.
Luxury lodge closes as loggers move in to make way for dam in Selous Game Reserve
Azura Selous, a luxury game lodge situated along the banks of the Great Ruaha River in the remote Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania, has announced its sudden closure due to the unexpected arrival of loggers in the area.
‘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.
Video: Elephant experts condemn Zimbabwe’s inhumane capture of wild baby elephants for Chinese zoos
Elephant experts condemn Zimbabwe’s inhumane capture of wild baby elephants for Chinese zoos as video emerges showing animals in distress.
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.
Opinion: Dereck Joubert reacts to Botswana hunting and culling recommendation
Respected filmmaker and conservation spokesperson Dereck Joubert has reacted to the Botswana government committee proposal to resume trophy hunting, and commence with elephant culling. Plans also include erecting fences to prevent certain wildlife migrations, and improve on human-wildlife conflict mitigation methods.
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.
Award-winning STROOP now available via download
Acclaimed South African documentary ‘STROOP’ continues award sweep… and releases on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Vimeo.
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.
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”.
Understanding yellow fever
Yellow fever is a disease spread by the bite of infected female mosquitoes. We take a look at this disease and the readily available vaccine
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.
2 Countries want changes to white rhino CITES listings, to permit trade
Proposed changes in CITES have been released, with Namibia proposing to downlist its population of white rhinos to Appendix II, to allow only international commercial trade in live animals and hunting trophies, and Eswatini seeks to allow unrestricted international commercial trade in all specimens of its white rhino population, which is currently included in Appendix II.
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.
