Can regulated trophy hunting support conservation in a modern reserve reliant on tourism and wildlife? We explore the case of Timbavati
Category Archives: Natural history
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
Africa’s new ecoregion: Islands in the sky
A new ecoregion has been proposed for Southern Africa’s threatened ‘sky islands’, consisting of 30 isolated rainforest-covered mountains
120 rhinos rewilded to Greater Kruger in historic move
African Parks has translocated 120 white rhinos to Greater Kruger in an initiative to rewild 2,000 rhinos into secure, protected areas
Africa’s Parrots
Africa’s parrots are colourful characters that live in complex social groups. But they are among the most threatened of all bird families
More Angolan giraffes return to Iona NP
More Angolan giraffes have returned to Iona NP, Angola, as part of a conservation initiative to restore and enrich the park’s biodiversity
Africa’s migratory animals under threat
UN report: Africa’s migratory animals – from wildebeest & birds, to dugongs & whales – are under threat due to habitat loss and climate change
KAZA elephants – new analysis adds vital details
An analysis of elephant population trends in KAZA shows a worrying increase in poaching, slowed population growth, negative population trends outside of protected areas, and the need for more accurate information to combat threats
How a wobbly earth and green Sahara led to the spread of humans
How did wobbles in the Earth’s rotation lead to the greening of the Sahara Desert, and the wider distribution of humans and other species?
Amboseli super tuskers down to 10 as trophy hunters operate in stealth mode
Amboseli’s super tuskers are down to about 10, as trophy hunters operate in stealth mode. And with a 3rd elephant hunted in Enduimet, Tanzania, the integrity of the Amboseli elephant population is in jeopardy
The changing face of wattled crane conservation
Wattled cranes rely on wetlands and grasslands for survival – linking them to the human populations that depend on these ecosystems
