Page 16 – 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

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

COVID-19 ‘perfect storm’ threatens conservation in Africa

A new report examines just how bad COVID-19 is for Africa’s wildlife and protected areas and what needs to be done to save our wild spaces

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

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story is a photographic book celebrating these charismatic predators and telling their story

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

Strawberry leopard – a first for Gauteng

Photos: The ‘strawberry leopard’ is a genetic rarity that seldom occurs, and is almost never seen. Well, one has now been seen in South Africa

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

Cycads: Are you living next door to a poacher?

The most endangered living organisms in the world today are not rhinos, elephants, or even pangolins – they are plants called cycads

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

The Power of Unity – Cheetah coalition in Maasai Mara

This is the story of a cheetah coalition of five males – the Tano Bora coalition, meaning ‘The Magnificent Five’ – in Kenya’s Maasai Mara

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

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

Bee wise

On the south-western tip of Africa, a bee conservation group has spent the last seven years discovering the wisdom of our wild honeybees

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

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

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

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

Kruger waterhole problems

Kruger waterhole problems are being reported, and it is not clear which waterholes are closed as per the Kruger ecosystem management plan

KHWAI

Khwai in Northern Botswana is a wildlife haven. Bordering the Okavango Delta, Moremi & Chobe – Khwai is an iconic safari destination

Human-lion conflict in a key lion population area

Human-lion conflict is a major issue for the conservation of wild lions – we look at the successful Kwando Carnivore Project in KAZA

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

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story is a photographic book celebrating these charismatic predators and telling their story

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

Donkey smugglers profit off wildlife trafficking routes

Cross-border donkey smugglers in Zimbabwe and Botswana are operating pipelines used for ivory, pangolins and Covid-19 contraband

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

Swimming blind – why critically endangered blind cave catfish needs research

The blind cave catfish, only found in a cave in Namibia, lives in total darkness. It is one of the rarest freshwater fish species in the world

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

Why are elephants dying in Zimbabwe and Botswana?

Elephants dying: Professor Keith Somerville investigates the mysterious deaths of more than 300 elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana

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

Domestic cat predation on wild animals in Cape Town

The domestic cat is a honed killing machine whose impact on biodiversity in South Africa is only now being fully revealed

Counting lions: new study shows the importance of good counts for lion conservation

Counting lions using correct techniques is vital to understand how many lions there are. Historical surveys have not resulted in good data

Zebra

The zebra is a firm favourite among safari-goers because of their dazzling black and white stripes and familiar horse body language