Page 22 – Africa Geographic

Opinion: Trophy hunting in the Greater Kruger versus broader conservation priorities

Trophy hunting in the Greater Kruger – biodiversity conservationist provides perspective, and suggests that well-funded groups opposed to hunting have a disproportionate voice in social media, compared to local communities that are affected by living amongst or near wildlife, and carry the costs.

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.

Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 17: Gallery 3

Our Photographer of the Year 2019 is now in full swing and there is only a month left to go before entries close! There are three galleries showcasing this week’s Weekly Selection. To see the other two galleries for this week’s selection, click here: Weekly Selection Gallery 1 and Weekly Selection Gallery 2. ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE STORY The …

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Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 17: Gallery 1

Our Photographer of the Year 2019 is now in full swing and there is only a month left to go before entries close! There are three galleries showcasing this week’s Weekly Selection. To see the other two galleries for this week’s selection, click here: Weekly Selection Gallery 2 and Weekly Selection Gallery 3. ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE STORY The …

Continue reading “Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 17: Gallery 1”

Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 17: Gallery 2

Our Photographer of the Year 2019 is now in full swing and there is only a month left to go before entries close! There are three galleries showcasing this week’s Weekly Selection. To see the other two galleries for this week’s selection click here: Weekly Selection Gallery 1 and Weekly Selection Gallery 3. ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE STORY The Honey …

Continue reading “Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 17: Gallery 2”

The Honey Badger

There is an expression in Afrikaans that goes “so taai soos ‘n ratel” – which translates to “as tough as a honey badger”. Across the continent honey badgers have earned the reputation of being tough, even lending their name to an armoured personnel carrier used by the South African Defence Force. This reputation is in part …

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Opinion: Loss of wilderness is Africa’s primary cause of wildlife population reductions

Lodge owner says that the loss of wilderness areas is the main reason behind reductions in populations of lions, elephants and other species.

Video: Sketching a Chobe lioness

Alison Nicholls, our art safari guide, shares a video of her sketching a lioness in Botswana.

Wildlife vet: the Botswana elephant debate is actually about a bigger conservation issue

Botswana elephant debate: Wildlife vet says that this is NOT about too many elephants in Botswana, it’s about too many elephants in areas where humans, livestock and elephants overlap.

Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 1

Our Photographer of the Year 2019 is now in full swing and there is only a month left to go before entries close! There are three galleries showcasing this week’s Weekly Selection. To see the other two galleries for this week’s selection click here: Weekly Selection Gallery 2 and Weekly Selection Gallery 3. ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE …

Continue reading “Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 1”

Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 3

Continue reading “Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 3”

Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 2

Continue reading “Photographer of the Year 2019 Weekly Selection: Week 16: Gallery 2”

Why identifying individual elephants is important, and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play

Understanding the importance of identifying elephants and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play.

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.

Opinion: Put down the petitions – help create alternatives for Botswana beyond elephant hunting

Botswana elephant debate: Tourism marketing manager urges the tourism industry to create alternatives beyond elephant hunting.

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.

Samara – Rewilding the Great Karoo

Recreating a self-sustaining ecosystem and restoring it to its former glory is the vision of Samara Karoo Reserve in the Great Karoo.

Mount Toubkal: The roof of North Africa’s Atlas Mountains

The imposing Atlas Mountains of North Africa stretch thousands of kilometres creating an almost impenetrable barrier between the Atlantic and the mighty Sahara. Within this range lies Mount Toubkal that rises over all – and the reason for our visit.

Should Africa’s protected areas be reconfigured? – IUCN report

IUCN report asks if Africa’s protected areas need to be reconfigured in light of current conservation realities.

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.

Trophy hunting in Africa is in decline, and no longer pays its way

Trophy hunting in Africa is in decline, and no longer pays its way, leading to poaching and habitat loss in hunting areas – according to IUCN report

‘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 2018 aerial survey – of elephants, baobabs and cattle

Botswana elephant survey now made public. You’ve seen all the political posturing from all sides, now read the actual report and make up your own mind.

What’s the difference between turtles, tortoises and terrapins?

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are reptiles characterised by a cartilaginous shell – though often the terms used to describe these species can get a bit confusing, depending on the type of English used.

Comoros – The Forgotten Archipelago

The Comoros. It’s a name that conjures up a rich history of mighty sultans who once ruled over a melting pot of different cultures on islands at the end of the world. A volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast, the Comoros is made up of three major islands, called by their French names: Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Nzwani). Once …

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Opinion by human-wildlife conflict specialist: Botswana has found her voice about elephants – but will we listen?

Human-wildlife conflict specialist comments on the recent recommendations regarding the hunting ban and human-elephant conflict in Botswana.

Opinion: Dr. Mike Chase on elephant poaching in Botswana

Dr Mike Chase, from Elephants Without Borders, provides a statement on the elephant poaching in Botswana.

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.

Opinion: Activist exposes South Africa’s lion park scams

Lion activist says let’s call a scam for what it is.

Praslin: The wicked seductress of the Seychelles

Granitic in nature, laid-back in character and absolutely enticing at its core, this is Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles – a place of unparalleled beauty waiting to be explored.

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.

Black leopard: My quest to photograph the most elusive cat in Africa

British wildlife photographer, Will Burrard-Lucas, has captured a series of high-quality camera trap photographs of a wild melanistic leopard (otherwise known as a black panther) in Africa.

Opinion: Pro hunter responds to our CEO regarding hunting in Greater Kruger

Professional hunter Paul Stone has responded to Simon Espley’s opinion editorial questioning whether the trophy hunting industry will ruin Kruger National Park’s expansion plans.

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.

Opinion: Our CEO asks whether the trophy hunting industry could ruin Kruger’s big expansion plan

Our CEO asks whether the trophy hunting industry will bring the Greater Kruger to its knees.

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”.