The ongoing slaughter of Kruger’s rhinos forces the debate about rhino horn trade into the open again. Tony Carnie reopens this can of worms
Category Archives: Opinion Editorial
Comment – teamAG – Friday 31 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 31 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 24 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 24 December 2021
Furore over Namibian community-based conservation
Journalists target Namibia’s community-based conservation program. This is what 76 affected entities have to say – decide for yourself
Demand for sustainable travel – what travellers can do to help build back better from COVID-19
Covid has taught us that we should prioritise responsible, sustainable options if we are to make a real difference when we travel. But how?
Comment – teamAG – Friday 17 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 17 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 10 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 10 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 03 December 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 03 December 2021
Tana River primates – on a broken wildlife highway
The critically endangered Tana River red colobus & mangabey are endemic to the forests on the banks of the Tana River
Comment – teamAG – Friday 26 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 26 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 19 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 19 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 12 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 12 November 2021
Mobilising Africa’s biodiversity experts to put nature on the decision-making map
African biodiversity experts mobilise to produce a continental map of ‘biodiversity intactness’ for African decision-makers.
Comment – teamAG – Friday 05 November 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 05 November 2021
In defense of (some) tourism
How do we rebuild travel after the trauma of 2020? Tourism is a conservation asset we can’t afford to lose and Africa is ahead of the game.
Comment – teamAG – Friday 29 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 29 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 22 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 22 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 15 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 15 October 2021
Covid- 19: Devastating impacts, inspiring recovery
COVID-19 has caused a systemic shock to the tourism sector in Africa. The majority of tourism companies have reduced staff and cut pay with seismic repercussions for conservation and local livelihoods.
Comment – teamAG – Friday 08 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 08 October 2021
The great African fencing debate
African conservationists are engaged in a furious fencing debate – should protected areas be fenced to conserve wildlife such as lions?
Comment – teamAG – Friday 01 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 01 October 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 24 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 24 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 17 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 17 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 10 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 10 September 2021
Hunting and photo tourism – where to from here?
Which of hunting and photo tourism is better for conservation, or are they both failing to deliver? Michael Schwartz asks and answers
Comment – teamAG – Friday 03 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 03 September 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 27 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 27 August 2021
Leopard conservation in South Africa
Leopard conservation in South Africa requires a metapopulation strategy and a sustained, transparent commitment from government – expert opinion
Comment – teamAG – Friday 20 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 20 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 13 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 13 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 06 August 2021
Comment – teamAG – Friday 06 August 2021
CEO note: Another giant elephant hunted
CEO note: Another giant elephant hunted
Another giant elephant trophy hunted – is this conservation?
Another giant elephant shot in Botswana. What are the consequences for elephants, local communities, and hunting operations?
CEO note: The ‘elephant problem’
CEO note: The ‘elephant problem’
CEO note: Okavango oil scam | Luangwa Valley | Rebranding wild dogs
CEO note: Okavango oil scam | Luangwa Valley | Rebranding wild dogs
CEO note: Elephants & oranges – Greater Kruger context
CEO note: Elephants & oranges – Greater Kruger context
Casketts citrus farm and Greater Kruger are now bedfellows
The Casketts citrus farm on the Greater Kruger border is here to stay. We consider the context and settle a few rumours and untruths
Casketts citrus farm debate
Casketts citrus farm on Greater Kruger border – conservationist Trevor Jordan provides some context in this opinion post
CEO note: Safari tips + Kili ice & otters
CEO note: Safari tips + Kili ice & otters
CEO note: And the winners are …
CEO note: And the winners are …
CEO note: Finalists!
CEO note: Finalists!
The end of SA’s shameful lion breeding industry – what now happens to the lions?
Thousands of captive-bred lions in South Africa – what is to happen to them as breeding facilities are closed down
Under immediate threat: Zambia’s Kasanka NP and world’s largest mammal migration
Threat to the world’s largest mammal migration – The buffer zone of Kasanka National Park is under threat from commercial agriculture
CEO note: Top 101 pics + Botswana rhino poaching
CEO note: Top 101 pics + Botswana rhino poaching
Rhino poaching in Botswana – why the smoke and mirrors?
Rhino poaching in Botswana – we try to make sense of the rumours and our CEO asks why the smoke and mirrors?
CEO note: Entries closed + behind the conservation scenes
CEO note: Entries closed + behind the conservation scenes
CEO note: Failure + spring-loaded cat + best pics
CEO note: Failure + spring-loaded cat + best pics
CEO note: Free at last + land of grey giants + best pics
CEO note: Free at last + land of grey giants + best pics
CEO note: Success | trophy hunting data | Amboseli
CEO note: Success | trophy hunting data | Amboseli
CEO note: Lions | lions | lions
CEO note: Lions | lions | lions
CEO note: Hope 4 elephants | Mundari | safari tips
CEO note: Hope 4 elephants | Mundari | safari tips
CEO note: Lions vs giraffes | parrot voodoo | Gorongosa
CEO note: Lions vs giraffes | parrot voodoo | Gorongosa
CEO note: Elephants – good & bad news
CEO note: Elephants – good & bad news
CEO note: Makeup monkey + elephant hunting
CEO note: Makeup monkey + elephant hunting
CEO note: ‘Problem’ lions + Africa’s 11 dog species
CEO note: ‘Problem’ lions + Africa’s 11 dog species
CEO note: Question: Largest mammal migration on Earth?
CEO note: Question: Largest mammal migration on Earth?
CEO note: More shades of grey + Laikipia + jumbo ID
CEO note: More shades of grey + Laikipia + jumbo ID
CEO note: Just in case + fences & elephants
CEO note: Just in case + fences & elephants
Do fences stop elephant migration in Botswana?
Dr Erik Verreynne discusses the claim that fences are an underlying cause of the elephant mortalities in NG11/12 in 2020 in Botswana. His assessment, based on observation of elephants, the habitat and the actual state of the fences, concludes that there is little evidence to suggest fences stop elephant migration in Seronga or that they had a measurable effect on the 2020 die-off.
CEO note: Diamonds, rhino horn and elephant auctions
CEO note: Diamonds, rhino horn and elephant auctions
CEO note: Epic images + livestock loss compensation
CEO note: Epic images + livestock loss compensation
CEO note: Hukumuri – the furore
CEO note: Hukumuri – the furore
CEO note: A poached rhino carcass & the takeaway food wrappers
CEO note: A poached rhino carcass & the takeaway food wrappers
CEO note: Those dead elephants + hyena shenanigans + best pics
CEO note: Those dead elephants + hyena shenanigans + best pics
CEO note: Kruger rhinos crash + best pics
CEO note: Kruger rhinos crash + best pics
CEO note: Gold rush + sordid past + ancient walled kingdom
CEO note: Gold rush + sordid past + ancient walled kingdom
CEO note: Best pics + Africa’s rarest parrot + jumbos from space
CEO note: Best pics + Africa’s rarest parrot + jumbos from space
CEO note: A story about perspective
CEO note: A story about perspective
CEO note: Boycott Africa + elephants vs villagers
CEO note: Boycott Africa + elephants vs villagers
Boycott Africa – good intentions with unfortunate consequences?
Boycott Africa! is the demand by some who dislike the wildlife policies adopted by some African countries. Is boycott bad for conservation?
Key Questions for Human-Elephant Conflict Research
Managing elephants amongst rural villages is challenging where elephant populations are increasing due to successful conservation practises
CEO note: Extinction business + 2 success stories
CEO note: Extinction business + 2 success stories
CEO note: Frack the Okavango + arch enemies + Gorongosa
CEO note: Frack the Okavango + arch enemies + Gorongosa
CEO note: Crafty strategy + great news + rhino facts
CEO note: Crafty strategy + great news + rhino facts
CEO note: Free at last + Hwange + the edge
CEO note: Free at last + Hwange + the edge
CEO note: Reality check + another ‘problem’ elephant killed
CEO note: Reality check + another ‘problem’ elephant killed
CEO note: Captive-bred lion hunting not ‘fair chase’ + Lost & found
CEO note: Captive-bred lion hunting not ‘fair chase’ + Lost & found
CEO note: Perfect storm alert + Mana Pools
CEO note: Perfect storm alert + Mana Pools
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
Ignorant complicity amongst some safari guides
This refreshingly honest opinion editorial looks at eco-ethics amongst safari guides as they go about finding animals for guests
The great elephant balancing act
Elephants are amazing animals and a favourite for holidaymakers on safari. BUT meeting an elephant at night near your home can be terrifying
Lion farming – Lord Ashcroft submission to South African High Level Panel
Lion farming presentation by Lord Ashcroft to the High-Level Panel looking at the management of lions and other species in South Africa
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
Rhino poaching stats 2020 – more shades of grey
Rhino poaching for 2020 is lower because of the COVID-19 lockdown – although SA Minister claims the victory for her team
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
Change is coming to the safari industry
This story is about how technology and human nature are shaping the future of your dream hand-crafted safari – is that a good thing?
Lion cubs to bones – we interview Lord Ashcroft about ‘UNFAIR GAME’
We spoke to Lord Ashcroft about his book UNFAIR GAME – a must-read exposé of South Africa’s morally bankrupt captive lion breeding industry
Can CITES be fixed? Practical suggestions that make sense are being ignored
CITES is failing to protect species from too much international trade. Here are some practical solutions to CITES problems
Battle for the soul of conservation – compassion vs biology
An academic war of words has been waged in the field of conservation science over the seemingly innocuous term ‘compassionate conservation’
COVID-19 safari during lockdown: we test-drive
What will a Covid-19 safari be like under South Africa’s lockdown rules? We test-drive a lockdown safari in Timbavati, Greater Kruger
Rhino horn trade – Tourism & conservation leaders lobby SA minister Creecy
Rhino horn trade: submission to the advisory committee of South Africa’s Minister of the Environment Barbara Creecy about trade
Safari lodges – surviving the Covid-19 lockdown
Covid-19 lockdown: We spoke to several African safari lodge owners to better understand the economic impact and their future plans
Kevin Richardson, the ‘Lion Whisperer’ – hard questions and frank replies
Kevin Richardson, AKA ‘Lion Whisperer – some hard questions and frank replies about his public shows of affection for his captive lions
Farming wild animals – is China the model for South Africa?
Farming wild animals is a big industry in South Africa but not near the Chinese scale. Should SA follow China’s lead, as it seems to be doing?
NEWSDESK: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade
Newsdesk: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade
Coronavirus has finally made us recognise that illegal wildlife trade is a public health issue
The global Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic may prove to be an important moment in the attempts to address the illegal wildlife trade.
COVID-19: Will African governments now crackdown on illegal wildlife trade?
With COVID-19 killing people and wrecking economies, will African governments at last treat wildlife trade as a serious issue?
Latest rhino poaching stats: shades of grey
Rhino poaching stats released by South African government do not tell the true story of how dire the situation is, say STROOP team