Can commercial captive breeding of parrots reduce pressure on wild populations, or does it worsen the conservation crisis?
Category Archives: Natural history
The mountain gorilla: gentle giants
Everything you need to know about the Mountain gorilla—habitat, behaviour, threats, and how to see them on an African safari
Leopards in the crosshairs: how trophy hunters are gunning for Africa’s elusive cats
Trophy hunters are targeting Africa’s leopards. A new report reveals the true cost of killing the cats we can’t afford to lose
Hornless hope: is rhino dehorning the most effective tool in saving the species?
Rhino dehorning slashes poaching by 78% – a bold, effective strategy that challenges how we think about wildlife crime prevention
Trophy hunting to return to Madikwe & Pilanesberg? Elephant, rhino & buffalo
Trophy hunting may return to Madikwe & Pilanesberg, targeting elephant & buffalo in both parks, & rhino in Madikwe – per a tender from NW Parks & Tourism Board
West Coast National Park
Discover South Africa’s West Coast National Park – wildflowers, whales, ancient footprints & epic birding just 90 minutes from Cape Town
How apes use sex to keep the peace
Research reveals bonobos & chimps use sex to resolve tension. Great ape sex offers insight into the evolutionary roots of human intimacy
Popular lion Bon Jovi euthanised after killing cattle
Well-known lion Bon Jovi was euthanised near a rural village in community-owned farmland near Zambia’s Kafue National Park after reportedly killing cattle
Simien Mountains National Park
Simien Mountain National Park in Ethiopia offers a cornucopia of experiences – Simien wolves, endemic ibex, geladas and breathtaking trekking
Shooting for sustainability: the role of trophy hunting in Timbavati
Can regulated trophy hunting support conservation in a modern reserve reliant on tourism and wildlife? We explore the case of Timbavati
Kruger lion population: declining in the north
A new survey sheds light on the state of the lion population in the north of Kruger, revealing trends that could shape future conservation efforts
Poaching and trafficking on the rise in northern Kenya – threatening endangered giraffe, cheetah and more
Rampant poaching & wildlife trafficking in northern Kenya is driving endangered species such as reticulated giraffes, hirolas & cheetahs to local extinction
Saving Hoedspruit’s leopards
Discover how the Ingwe Research Program studies Hoedspruit’s 140 leopards, using citizen science to track leopards & boost their conservation
Famous Liuwa Plain lion Bon Jovi relocated to Kafue after becoming ‘problem’ lion
Famous Liuwa Plain lion Bon Jovi is relocated to Kafue National Park – he had killed cattle and was a threat to local villagers
Livestock, wildlife, and the future of the Maasai Mara
Do cattle in the Maasai Mara harm wildlife or land? Recent studies challenges exclusion policies and call for a new conservation approach
The science of counting Kruger’s elephants
New research says Kruger’s elephant numbers have been underestimated, with improved aerial surveys revealing a growing population of elephants
The unique roars of leopards
Leopards have unique voices. A groundbreaking study shows how researchers can identify these elusive cats by their distinct roars
Addo Elephant National Park
From relaxed elephants to hard-working dung beetles, Addo Elephant National Park is a conservation marvel packed with wildlife, adventure, and history.
Painted predators, vanishing prey: a wild dog crisis
The African wild dog is hunting harder for less due to prey scarcity caused by poaching. Can they overcome this changing landscape?
You asked: Our CEO’s view on hunting
Is hunting justifiable? Simon Espley explores the ethics & realities of hunting’s impact on conservation, biodiversity, & local communities
How are Greater Kruger’s 120 rewilded rhinos doing?
We check in on the 120 rhinos rewilded to Greater Kruger as part of the African Parks Rhino Rewild initiative
Boko Haram, fishermen, and the threat to black crowned cranes
Lake Fitri, Chad’s vital bird habitat, faces threats as Boko Haram drives human migration, endangering black crowned cranes & waterbirds
New hope for Tsavo’s wild dogs
Tsavo’s African wild dogs face major threats. Tsavo Trust & Painted Wolf Foundation are working to save these painted dogs. Here’s how
Botswana elephants mass die-off solved – cyanobacteria theory affirmed by scientists
Hundreds of elephants mysteriously died in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in 2020. Scientists affirm cyanotoxins were the likely cause
Kingsley Holgate’s Afrika Odyssey – the finale, with rhinos
Kingsley Holgate’s Afrika Odyssey expedition connected all African Parks’ protected areas. As a finale they visited the rhinos at AP’s Rhino Rewild HQ
African elephants – how many tuskers are left?
How many tuskers are left in Africa? We embark on an extended investigation to estimate the number of tuskers remaining on the continent
Elephant populations drop by 90% (forest) and 70% (savannah) in 53 years – study
Research has uncovered population density declines of 90% for forest elephants and 70% for savannah elephants across Africa in 53 years
Elephants, carbon markets, and the conservation of miombo woodlands
Discover the surprising link between carbon markets & elephants: how protecting Africa’s miombo woodlands benefits both climate & wildlife
Martial eagles hunt lion cubs in Maasai Mara
Martial eagles have been recorded hunting lion cubs in the Mara ecosystem. A new study delves into the extraordinary behaviour of this apex predator
The unbreakable baobabs: are Africa’s iconic trees here to stay?
Africa’s baobabs are tougher than we think. Despite climate change concerns, these iconic trees show resilience against the odds
Has Zito the cross-border super tusker been trophy hunted in Tanzania?
Africa Geographic is seeking more information on the possible trophy hunting of another cross-border super tusker in Tanzania
Chimpanzee speak: New research reveals human-like conversations
Discover how new research reveals striking similarities between chimpanzee and human communication, deepening our understanding of primates
Flamingos in peril: East Africa’s flamingos threatened by rising lakes
Rising lake levels caused by climate change are threatening East Africa’s flamingos, pushing their iconic habitats to the brink
Necks for feeding or fighting? Giraffe evolution’s tallest debate
Is the giraffe’s long neck for feeding or sexual selection? The necks for sex or food dispute continues, with new findings re-kindling debate
Changing tastes: Why Zakouma’s lions are eating better
Improved management in Zakouma, Chad, has led to healthier prey populations. Lions now favour larger species & prides are getting bigger
Counting pink dots – a tale of machines, flamingos and rivers
Over 500,000 flamingos counted in Botswana’s Sua Pan using AI reveal vital conservation needs and the impact of climate change
Is an obsession with trees harming our grasslands?
Grasslands sequester carbon faster than trees, & are crucial in combatting climate change. Is an obsession with trees harming our grasslands?
Saving Mozambique’s last dugongs
How do we save the last dugong population on Africa’s east coast? African Parks and the government of Mozambique are building local understanding of the elusive dugongs of the Bazaruto Archipelago seascape. Lorena Matos reports
Conservationists condemn Namibia’s plan to cull 723 wildlife amidst drought – MEFT responds
Namibia’s plan to cull 723 wild animals amid drought has sparked global outrage. Conservationists say the cull is politically motivated & unnecessary. MEFT responds
Queleas added to hyena menu
Queleas have become an unexpected addition to the diet of spotted hyenas, showing hyenas’ adaptability and opportunism
Rhino Rewild: Is this the most critical wildlife conservation undertaking of our time?
Simon Espley attended the pioneer stage of a visionary project to translocate 2,000 farmed rhinos into the wild. Here’s how it went down
Africa by night – 12 nocturnal animals and where to find them
Experiencing nocturnal animals is a highlight of any African safari. Here are the top 12 nocturnal animals to seek, and where to find them.
Necks for sex or food? The driving force behind giraffe-neck evolution
Why do giraffes have such long necks? A new study questions whether feeding or mating played the bigger role in giraffe neck evolution
Are fenced lions happy?
Does lion pride behaviour change between fenced & open systems? Researchers monitoring lions in Kruger, Pilanesberg & more aim to find out
Saving European rollers – flyway conservation – how you can help
A decline in European rollers has ignited conservation of these birds & their flyways, boosting protection of rollers & other species
Why did the 3-legged lion swim the 1.5km croc-infested channel?
Watch: Researchers capture lions’ 1.5km swim through crocodile-infested waters, as lions search for new mates & territory
Can rhinos survive climate change?
Unable to cope well with prolonged periods of extreme temperatures, rhinos are particularly vulnerable to the increasing heat associated with climate change
Op-ed – Saving Namibia’s desert lions: workable alternatives to culling of problem animals
Op-ed: Izak Smit explores solutions to human-wildlife conflict in Kunene, Namibia, focusing on ethical conservation of desert-adapted lions
The hidden ivory trade: hippos under threat amidst rising demand
As elephant ivory bans push traffickers to alternate sources, hippos fall victim to the ivory trade. Paul Hilton explores the impacts, from Uganda to Hong Kong
World’s largest overland mammal migration confirmed in South Sudan
New survey confirms South Sudan hosts the world’s largest overland mammal migration: the 6-million-strong Great Nile Migration
