Natural history Archives - Africa Geographic

It’s not about the worm

Mopane worms are a popular source of protein and delicious snack for rural people in Limpopo – read about a sustainable Kruger harvest program

Aardvarks and climate change

Aardvarks are being severely impacted by climate change, says research being conducted in arid areas where temperatures are expected to rise

Buffalo – Godfather of the African bushveld

The African buffalo has earned itself something of a reputation – particularly the cantankerous old ‘dagga boys’. Learn more here

Rhino poaching stats 2020 – more shades of grey

Rhino poaching for 2020 is lower because of the COVID-19 lockdown – although SA Minister claims the victory for her team

A plane full of hyenas

Four spotted hyenas completed a journey of over 1 400 km to Zinave National Park, Mozambique – after decades of no carnivores in the park

8 Cheetah cubs rescued in Somaliland – destined for illegal pet trade

8 cheetah cubs rescued in Somaliland during three operations – they were destined for the illegal pet trade that continues despite Covid-19

Human impact results in leopard inbreeding – research

Human activity is affecting negatively on leopard populations – via changes in age, sex & social structure of leopard populations – research

Declining Dynasties: Painted Wolf Pressures

Some say that the painted wolf (African wild dog) population in Mana Pools is the lowest in a decade. Why is this and how can we help?

Trophy hunting ban could harm conservation on private fenced farms in South Africa – says study

Trophy hunting on many private fenced farms in South Africa – this study examines the impact that a ban could have on biodiversity

Chameleons – 6 must-know facts

Chameleons are unique, weird and wonderful – changing their skin colour and shooting their tongues out at 10,000 km/second !

Understanding rinderpest

Rinderpest is a deadly virus that devastated livestock & African wildlife species in the late 19th century – the impacts are still felt today

Cheetah brothers go on international walkabout

A cheetah brother coalition has attracted the attention of researchers as they journey across international borders in search of territory

Rescued pangolins given a rare second chance

Seven rescued pangolins rehabilitated and moved to a new home that is secure and ready to once again play host to pangolins

The real economic value of Greater Kruger National Park

A 2020 study has revealed the considerable economic, social and political contributions of the Greater Kruger National Park

Lion cubs to bones – we interview Lord Ashcroft about ‘UNFAIR GAME’

We spoke to Lord Ashcroft about his book UNFAIR GAME – a must-read exposé of South Africa’s morally bankrupt captive lion breeding industry

Leopards: silent, secretive and full of surprises

Leopards: These breathtakingly beautiful, charismatic, powerful & mysterious creatures are the top request on safari. Learn about them here.

Botswana elephant graveyard: mystery death toll rises to 400

What we know about elephants dying under mysterious circumstances near the northern Botswana village of Seronga, north of the Okavango Delta

Botswana’s zebra migrations

Botswana hosts two zebra migrations, one of which is the longest mammal migration in Africa. The zebras travel in search of water and grazing

Can CITES be fixed? Practical suggestions that make sense are being ignored

CITES is failing to protect species from too much international trade. Here are some practical solutions to CITES problems

The rat with a deadly secret

Deadly secret: the crested rat transfers poison from the bark & leaves of a highly toxic tree to its fur as a predator-evasion strategy

POACHED: Silverback mountain gorilla Rafiki killed – big blow for conservation tourism

Rafiki, one of Uganda’s most loved mountain gorilla silverbacks, has been killed by poachers in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

An elephant named Fortunate has his research collar removed

Mining, research collars and how an elephant named Fortunate played a crucial part in ongoing research to save the species

Lion evolution according to genome sequencing

Scientists have used genome sequencing of lions to reveal the evolutionary history of living & extinct lion species.

20mm pygmy seahorse discovered in South Africa

A divemaster has discovered a new species of pygmy seahorse in a sandy coral reef in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, that is only 20 mm long.

The 10 cat species of Africa

Africa has 10 cat species, from the iconic lion and leopard to tiny secretive species that few people have seen or even heard of.

Why are rhinos important for ecosystems?

Learn about why rhinos are vital ecosystem engineers & why Africa’s wild places would never be the same again if rhinos were to disappear

Wildlife trade between South Africa and China exposed – legal and illegal

The vast scale of legal and illegal trade in wildlife species between South Africa and China – many of them CITES 1 species – has been revealed by an extensive report.

Forest elephant populations smaller than previously thought

Africa’s forest elephant populations are smaller than was previously thought, say researchers. This realisation has a significant impact on future priorities and conservation strategies.

The importance of bats

Bats are vital role-players for biodiversity & farm crops. It’s time for humankind to acknowledge & protect these hard-working mammals

Farming wild animals – is China the model for South Africa?

Farming wild animals is a big industry in South Africa but not near the Chinese scale. Should SA follow China’s lead, as it seems to be doing?

What’s in a (scientific) name?

The weird meanings behind animal scientific names – for example, the black rhino scientific name means ‘double horn double horn’

NEWSDESK: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade

Newsdesk: Blanket wildlife trade bans + SA venison market & zoonotic disease + call to halt big cat bone trade

>2,000 vultures now feared poisoned in Guinea-Bissau – largest mass mortality ever

Over 2,000 critically endangered hooded vultures have died across Guinea-Bissau of poisoning due to belief-based use.

Hyenas eat baby elephant while its mother watches helplessly – both elephants were stuck in mud

Hyenas eat baby elephant while its mother watches helplessly – both elephants were stuck in mud. WARNING: Some may find the images distressing.

Which African countries have the highest percentage of protected land?

We compare the proportion of each African country’s land that falls under some form of protected status – to assess their conservation ranking

Secretive forest species such as giant ground pangolins and Congo peafowl revealed by camera traps in DR Congo

Secretive forest species such as giant ground pangolin, Congo peafowl and cusimanse revealed by camera traps in DR Congo.

Elephant Warriors

Elephant collaring in the Greater Kruger by Elephants Alive and Blue Sky Society Trust – a process driven by science and the need for data

Coronavirus disrupts Botswana elephant hunts, threatens great apes & causes Malawi bushmeat ban

Coronavirus is impacting on elephant hunting in Botswana, the great apes and poaching of bushmeat in Malawi

Meet the lion coalitions & prides of the Greater Kruger

Meet the famous Mapogos and other celebrity lion coalitions of the Greater Kruger – the warriors, the courageous and the notorious.

American parrot breeder wants to import wild-caught African grey parrots for a captive breeding scheme for the pet trade

An American parrot breeder has applied to import wild-caught endangered African grey parrots into the United States of America

COVID-19: Will African governments now crackdown on illegal wildlife trade?

With COVID-19 killing people and wrecking economies, will African governments at last treat wildlife trade as a serious issue?

Poachers kill white giraffes in Kenya

The famous white giraffes of Kenya have been dealt a devastating blow, as 2 of the 3 are killed by poachers, leaving only a bull giraffe.

What exactly is CITES and how does it work?

CITES was established to regulate the international trade of animals & plants, to avoid the over-exploitation of endangered species

CITES processes are corrupt, says report

A report from TRAFFIC explains how corruption undermines the CITES-authorised trade in wildlife and offers suggestions as to how to mitigate its effects.

Newly discovered Taita Mountain dwarf galago (bushbaby) could already be on the brink of extinction

Newly-discovered species of bushbaby (galago) in Kenya’s Taita Hills is already on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss, say scientists

The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is one of the world’s most misunderstood animals. Public perception often tends towards scorn and even outright hate – they are reviled as cowardly, thieving, dirty, ugly, lazy…the list goes on. These impressions are embedded in human history and public consciousness then reinforced by mainstream media and films. Fortunately, though, […]