Natural history Archives - Africa Geographic

Human-wildlife conflict: The ones that got away from snares and shotguns

Scientists can now detect injuries from snares & shotguns on trophy-hunted lions & leopards – quantifying the extent of previously unreported human-wildlife conflict

Elephants that creep in the dark – how elephants distinguish between human activities

Chobe elephants have learnt how to change their activity patterns to reduce risk of human encounters – new research

The miniature owls of Africa

Africa hosts a variety of miniature owls. From scops-owls, to white-faced owls & owlets, here is the rundown of these small, endearing birds

Pongola’s elephant management crisis: a different perspective

Pongola Game Reserve faces an elephant management crisis. Paul Cryer & Pete Ruinard provide a different perspective on the challenges at hand

Safari Season – visit Africa in Sept, Oct, Nov

When is the best safari season in Africa? We answer one of the most common safari questions with a comprehensive look at the best African destinations and when to visit them in September, October and November.

Snakes – everything you need to know

Admired and feared, snakes are marvels of natural engineering, behaviour & movement. Here’s everything you need to know to understand snakes

Lions target particular types of cows – research

Understanding how predators select cattle for prey could help in protecting livestock from lions, mitigating human-wildlife conflict

Five years until the Kalahari’s hornbills start to vanish

Scientists have predicted that the Kalahari’s hornbills will start to vanish in five years – and climate change is to blame

Hawaii’s conspicuous African chameleons

How did chameleons come to evolve their kaleidoscopic capacity? Escapees from the 1970s Hawaiian pet trade may hold the answer

Not on our watch: The Timbavati Traverse

The Timbavati Traverse is an excellent opportunity for bushveld walkers & runners to make a real difference for Greater Kruger’s rhinos

Kids eat first: research on wild dog feeding habits

New research shows that there is order in wild dog hunts. Painted wolf pups are the first to eat at a carcass.

Habituating leopards

Following the death of leopard Hosana, Jamie Paterson & Maxine Gaines take an in-depth look at leopard habituation & tourism ethics

Giraffe evolution – pieces of the puzzle

Under pressure – genetic research on giraffes reveals evolutionary secrets of how they cope with high blood pressure and maintain bone density.

Making Hippocrates proud: How animals self-medicate

Scientists have observed chimpanzees medicating the injuries of their peers – a behaviour never before witnessed in the animal kingdom

Kalahari’s overlapping cheetah litters

A cheetah mother has been observed simultaneously raising two cheetah cubs of different age classes – behaviour never witnessed in the wild

Northern Madagascar

Northern Madagascar – biodiversity, lush rainforests, mangroves, azure lagoons, palm-fringed beaches, lemurs and ferocious fossa

Trophy hunting will not save Africa’s lions – Opinion editorial

Trophy hunting will not save Africa’s lion populations, & the UK ban on imports is a positive step for conservation, writes Hans Bauer

Pongola’s elephant management crisis

Pongola Game Reserve can no longer keep its elephants. Malcolm Thomson explains the challenges of elephant management

Surviving in post-pandemic Zimbabwe

As tourism slowly recovers in post-pandemic Zimbabwe, hunger still stalks the country. Many resort to the basics to survive the loss of income

Elephant bulls – breeding and trophy hunting

Does the hunting of elephant bulls with large tusks lead to the decline of Africa’s tuskers? We examine the science

Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus – a large semiaquatic mammal – is one of the most powerful, speedy and feared animals in Africa

Keeping count – wildlife populations in Kruger’s private nature reserves

Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), part of Greater Kruger, completed their 2021 wildlife census. We analyse the ebb & flow of results

Farmed vs wild rhino horn – what the research tells us

Does farming of rhinos prevent illegal trade in wild rhino horn? Research into consumer preferences sheds light on the rhino-horn trade

How much to kill a woolly mammoth?

The trophy hunting of 2 of Botswana’s largest tuskers threatens community wealth, a wildlife corridor & tusker survival. By Simon Espley

South and central Madagascar

South and central Madagascar is popular with tourists who enjoy the spiny forests, elegant sifakas, ring-tailed lemurs and desert canyons

Hosana, famous Sabi Sand leopard, killed under tragic circumstances

Well-known leopard Hosana of Sabi Sand is believed to have been killed in self-defence by an anti-poaching unit on patrol

Iconic Amboseli super tusker Tolstoy dies

Famous Amboseli super tusker Tolstoy has died at the age of 51, six weeks after being treated for a spear wound

Trophy hunters kill two of Africa’s biggest elephants in Botswana

Trophy hunters have killed 2 of the largest elephants left in Africa. The ongoing removal of large-tusked elephants is a conservation concern

Counting animals – the technology helping conservationists

Counting wild animals can be a complicated process, particularly when estimating populations in some of Africa’s massive protected wild areas

Botswana to develop 8 new lodges on Chobe Riverfront?

Botswana’s dubious call for tenders for 8 new lodges in Chobe NP, despite regulations preventing developments, has angered environmentalists

Big cat farming and the illegal tiger trade in South Africa

South Africa’s illegal tiger trade and farming of other big cats threatens the wild populations of these animals across the world

Jackals of Africa – consummate survivors

Jackals are the ultimate survivors of the African bushveld. These social & intelligent canids are expert opportunists and masterful lurkers

Super tusker Tolstoy treated for spear wound

Amboseli super tusker Tolstoy is in recovery after being treated for a spear wound, following a midnight raid on nearby crops.

Namibia’s elephant auction: Evaluating the results

Namibia’s controversial elephant auction: balancing conservation, welfare and legality – Opinion editorial

Japan: An illegal ivory trader’s haven – new report

Japan’s domestic ivory market is driving the illegal ivory trade around the globe, creating a cover for illicit imports and exports

Southern ground-hornbill – Africa’s rara avis

The southern ground-hornbill is a complex, social, endangered species that marks the dawn chorus with its haunting, thunderous call

Caracals of Cape Town – navigating a landscape of fear

Caracals navigate the dangers of the urban Cape, attracted to the edge of urban spaces at a significant potential risk – new research.

Gerenuk – Africa’s gawky oddball

Gerenuk: these tiny giraffe gazelle are endearing, somewhat comic and almost alien in appearance – and high on the safari bucket list

Hope for African wild dogs? New report

Could we double African wild dog (painted wolf) numbers by 2050? With funding, collaboration and recovered territory, it’s possible.

More forest elephants in Gabon than previously thought – new research

Good news: there are more forest elephants in Gabon than previously believed – first countrywide elephant population estimate in 30 years

Kruger rhino poaching update: 75% population reduction in 10 years

Rhino poaching has decimated Kruger NP populations by 75% in 10 years. We dive into the latest research figures from SANParks

Wildlife corridors – paths of connection and hope

Wildlife corridors are used by lions, elephants & other large creatures. If humans avoid those corridors they can reduce loss of lives & livelihood

The emotions of human-wildlife conflict

Human-wildlife conflict – emotions and cultural significance attached to wild carnivores strongly influence mitigation strategies. New Research

Eastern Madagascar

A journey through eastern Madagascar is an adventure for endemic lemurs, birds, reptiles, pristine beaches and ancient forest

Western Madagascar

Western Madagascar boasts iconic images and creatures – fossas, lemurs galore, upside-down trees and rocks with teeth!

Thomson’s gazelle – underappreciated speedster

The Thomson’s gazelle is an under-appreciated antelope of the Mara-Serengeti – a terrific athlete, and integral part of the Great Migration

Lion nomad settles in Zinave NP – first in 30 years

A large nomad lion has settled in the remote Zinave NP, Mozambique; the first lion there in 30 years – major conservation success story

Orange bat discovered in Guinea

A new (orange) bat species has been discovered in Guinea. With bright orange fur and black wings, Myotis nimbaensis is unlike any other bat

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

Giraffe conservation status – latest numbers give hope!

Good news! All 4 giraffe species populations have been increasing after sustained conservation interventions

High society – spotted hyena inherit social networks

High-ranking spotted hyena cubs inherit a social network of allies which increases access to resources & breeding opportunities: New research

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

Poaching and tuskless elephants – the scientific confirmation

Ivory poaching selectively drives the evolution of tuskless elephants – new research confirms what many experts have suggested for decades

Herding 4 Health – people, livestock and conservation

Herding 4 Health is a rural community activity promoting conservation by teaching innovative herding in and near wildlife areas

Sunbird feathers and the sweltering cost of beauty

Gorgeous iridescent sunbird feathers play an essential role in visual communication but could dangerously increase heat absorption – new research

Caracal – Africa’s deadly beauty

The caracal, with its luminous eyes, dramatic ear tufts, bold facial markings and stocky physique is arguably Africa’s most exquisite cat

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.

Striped hyena – the forgotten fourth hyena

Striped hyenas lurk in the shadows, shy and elusive. They are seldom seen, poorly understood and may answer our questions on hyena evolution

White-bellied pangolin pups in Nigeria

White-bellied pangolin pups, rescued from an animal market in Lagos, desperately need help from Namibian pangolin expert Maria Diekmann

Bees – a solution to human-elephant conflict

Bees and elephants – their busy, buzzing ways are providing a solution to human-elephant conflict – an innovative conservation solution

Grabbing the lion by the tail – intervention vs interference

Grabbing the lion by the tail – Interference and intervention in the lives of wild animals are controversial and there are no simple answers as to when or if they are appropriate. Jamie Paterson gives her perspectives.

Oryx – four legendary spear-tipped antelope

Oryx – four robust, dignified and courageous species. Icons of the desert perfectly adapted to their desiccated rangelands.

Crossing the human-wildlife barrier

Crossing the human-wildlife barrier – is it ever okay? Three positive African examples involving a pangolin, a blesbok and a clan of hyenas

African eagles – Avian apex predators, part 1

African eagles soar through the skies, sharp-eyed and fierce, bringing unexpected death from above to their prey.

Chobe National Park – Africa’s elephant Eden

Chobe National Park boasts the world’s highest elephant density, lush riverine woodland & vast dry savannas – embodying the safari spirit

Counting the Cape parrot – Africa’s rarest

Counting Africa’s rarest parrot – the Cape parrot – on a mountain top in Magoebaskloof, South Africa. By teamAG, led by CEO Simon Espley

Sable and Roan – the ‘horse-goat’ antelopes

Sable and roan – the two magnificent Hippotragus antelope – delight in their majestic bearing, gorgeous coats and rapier horns.

Wildlife economy in the Africa – Unlocking the potential

The ‘State of the Wildlife Economy in Africa’ report inspires investment in nature to improve conservation and support economic development.

Mukalya Private Game Reserve – Rescuing wilderness

Mukalya Private Game Reserve is a gorgeous piece of restored wilderness on the Zambezi River – an inspiring, family run safari experience.

Is lion hunting sustainable?

Lion hunting sustainability in Africa has been extensively investigated by pragmatic experts desperate to conserve our remaining wild lions

70 – leopard trophy hunting quota in Botswana for 2022

Leopard trophy hunting – the Botswana government has allocated a quota of 70 leopards for 2022. Is this sustainable and how do we know?

Hyena cubs infected by parasite ‘self-sacrifice’ by approaching lions

Funky fact: Hyena cubs ‘self-sacrifice’ by recklessly approaching lions if infected by a microscopic parasite. New research

Chimps kill baby gorillas – observed for the first time

Chimps kill gorilla babies in two separate incidents in Loango National Park, Gabon – the first time the behaviour has ever been observed

Odzala-Kokoua National Park – biodiversity bonanza

Odzala-Kokoua NP in Congo is one of Africa’s hidden gems – a testament to the resilience of both the continent’s people and her ecosystems

Leopard conservation in South Africa

Leopard conservation in South Africa requires a metapopulation strategy and a sustained, transparent commitment from government – expert opinion

Why rural communities choose wildlife hunting over cattle

Rural communities choose wildlife over cattle if they see and enjoy long term benefits from trophy hunting – says Namibian community member

Trophy hunters kill another breeding Hwange lion – Mopane

Trophy hunters kill another breeding lion (named Mopane) from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park – in a mirror of the Cecil tragedy

Forest elephant – endangered gardeners

Forest elephant numbers are believed to have plummeted 86% in just 31 years yet their role in maintaining forest ecosystems is critical.

Marvellous meerkats – mongooses of the desert

Marvellous Meerkats – socially complex and fascinating little mongooses found across the deserts of Southern Africa.

Namibia’s livestock guarding dogs are saving cheetahs

Guard dogs are saving cheetahs, says new research based on livestock guarding dogs – because livestock losses have reduced by 91%

A journey to see Africa’s threatened sea turtles

Five of the world’s seven magnificent sea turtles swim Africa’s oceans and nest on the beaches – all are threatened by human beings

Wildebeest sleep and the mysteries of slumber

Wildebeest sleep for just four and a half hours in a 24 hour period – most deeply in the dead of night – says new research

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with the famous crater at its heart, is a spectacular, year-round safari destination of abundance,breathtaking vistas and ancient history.

Do we have an elephant problem?

The ‘elephant problem’ – ecologists, landowners and tourists are grappling with the elephant problem. But what does this mean?

The science behind rebranding wild dogs

Rebranding wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) – new research suggests that “painted dog” triggers the most positive reaction from humans

Luangwa Valley – vast Zambian wilderness

The Luangwa Valley is a vast Zambian wilderness and playground for tourists seeking an authentic safari experience

Lake Malawi – freshwater beach & island paradise

Lake Malawi is one of Africa’s best-kept travel secrets – a freshwater lake surrounded by gorgeous beaches, islands and biodiversity with endless opportunities for fun and relaxation.

How the Kilimanjaro glaciers left truth in the cold

Kilimanjaro’s disappearing glaciers have been a symbol of climate change for more than than 15 years. Science says it is much more complicated.

Otters of Africa – four adorable mustelids

There are four species of otter in Africa – all of them intelligent, playful, fascinating predators.

Do tracking collars impact animals negatively?

New research indicates that animals fitted with tracking collars, experience no long-term, negative effects. Further research is needed however.

White-eared kob and tiang migration South Sudan

A recent survey in South Sudan by the NGO Space for Giants shows that the white-eared kob and tiang migration, continues, despite decades-long civil wars

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

Lion farming and zoonotic diseases

The zoonotic diseases that lions carry and why lion farming is potentially harmful to human beings – new research

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?

Four giraffe species, seven subspecies: new research

Giraffe – four species and seven subspecies the correct division – says new research

Banks must help fight illegal wildlife trade

Banks can help fight illegal wildlife trade but their failure to identify the financial footprints of poaching syndicates results in lost opportunities to disrupt trade – new research