Natural history Archives - Page 3 of 39

African grey parrots: How social media is facilitating both illegal trade and the fight against it

A recent study examines how social media marketplaces facilitate trafficking of endangered African grey parrots.

Samanyanga – the legendary big tusker of Malilangwe

A moving tribute to the magnificent tusker known as ‘Samanyanga’, of Zimbabwe’s Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve – by wildlife filmmaker and photographer Kim Wolhuter. Samanyanga died of natural causes.

Declining Dynasties – Blacktip

It is a year since the BBC first screened Dynasties: Painted Wolves and nearly three since they stopped filming in Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Since then, the dynasty has struggled. In part two of this trilogy (read part one here), Nicholas Dyer, who has followed these packs for the last seven years, continues the story with […]

Katavi National Park takes radical action on hippos

Opinion by biologist: Controversial dam being built in Tanzania’s remote Katavi National Park to save hippos may have negative environmental consequences.

Akagera National Park: The intricate link between conservation and community

Akagera National Park in Rwanda is a success story in the making – where wildlife conservation, tourism and community upliftment are one and the same.

Raising cheetah cubs in the Kalahari

It takes a lot of skill to be a good cheetah mom in the Kalahari Desert.

Opinion: Trophy hunting is not all black and white, says conservation biologist

Trophy hunting: Conservation biologist explains the complexity of the situation in a remote area of Tanzania, calls for reason and practical solutions that work on the ground.

Okapi conservation gets a boost, with new DRC reserve management partner

Okapi conservation has received a boost, with the signing of a new management agreement for The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Severe drought affecting elephants and other wildlife in Mana Pools

Severe drought in Mana Pools is affecting elephants and other wildlife – a photographer shares her images and thoughts.

Hearing the silence of the African bush

When last did you hear the silence of the bush and when will you hear it again?

Unusual sighting: Crocodile found crushed under elephant carcass

What happened here? Squashed crocodile found underneath elephant, both animals dead.

Wild Art

Flowers and plants captivate me, skulls, skins and bones fascinate me. To me, they are potent symbols of life and death, inseparable and complementary. Living with my life partner Clive Stockil in the Lowveld wilderness of Zimbabwe, I am an artist and a naturalist, celebrating the indigenous plants and wildlife in the wilderness and in my […]

Extreme sighting: Male lions kill and feed on lioness in Greater Kruger

Male lions kill and eat a lioness, as witnessed by EcoTraining students in the Greater Kruger.

Opinion: How hunting black rhino contributes to conservation in Namibia

Black rhino hunts benefit conservation of our rhinos – opinion post by conservationist, on behalf of 64 Namibian conservation organisations.

Botswana on alert after surge in rhino poaching

Unprecedented surge in rhino poaching raises alarm in Botswana.

Elephants and trees

Does removing elephants save trees? This fascinating report delves into this important conservation issue.

Skilful climbers: Lionesses scale near-vertical cliff in pursuit of prey

A great sighting as two lionesses show off their athletic climbing skills as they make their way up a near-vertical cliff face in pursuit of potential prey.

Malawi: On the frontline in the fight against illegal wildlife trade

Malawi may be one of the continent’s most peaceful nations, but it is currently locked in a fierce battle to protect some of the world’s most threatened species of wildlife.

Declining Dynasties

It is a year since the BBC first screened Dynasties: Painted Wolves and nearly three since they stopped filming in Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Since then, the dynasty has struggled. Nicholas Dyer, who has followed these packs for the last seven years, tells the story of Tammy and the Nyamatusi Pack. 📷 Six […]

Botswana elephant hunting: Chaos and disillusionment as citizen licenses are raffled

Botswana elephant hunting: Eight elephant hunting licenses were awarded to Maun-based Botswana citizens, and the eight winners and almost 6,000 losers were unhappy with the results when the reality of the T&Cs set in.

Son of Mozambican war veteran arrested in possession of rhino horns

Lucílio Matsinhe, son of a popular Mozambican war veteran, has been arrested for possession of rhino horns.

Collaring elephants in Gilé National Reserve – wilderness at its best!

Elephant conservation in action: Collaring elephants in Gilé National Reserve in Mozambique.

Zimbabwe elephants: Report identifies existing conservation problems, calls for community involvement

Zimbabwe elephants: Report fingers ZimParks for incompetence and international NGOs for hoodwinking donors, concludes that surrounding communities have to be involved in conservation as beneficiaries.

Lions in Zambia are roaming across areas thought uninhabitable for them

Research: Lions are sneaking virtually undetected through dense human zones in Zambia, thereby ensuring genetic diversity throughout the entire Zambian lion population.

New report reveals the value of lions and their landscapes

The New Lion Economy is the first project of its kind to make the link between ecosystem services, economic development, cultural significance and the survival of lions.

Trophy hunting in Zambia to be suspended due to non-payment of hunting fees to communities

Trophy hunting in Zambia has been halted because communities have not been paid their fees and share of revenue.

Incredible sighting: Rare spotted zebra foal sighted in Maasai Mara

A rare spotted zebra foal with what appears to be pseudo-melanistic colouring has been sighted in the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

A rhino renaissance in the warm heart of Africa

Celebrating World Rhino Day by taking a look at the conservation success story of the formidable black rhinos in Malawi.

The three-legged painted wolves of Manyoni

The team at Manyoni spring into action to rescue two endangered painted wolves, an alpha female and male, after both suffering from serious leg injuries on separate occasions.

Twiga Tracker – Using modern technology to save the endangered reticulated giraffe

In a world first, the single largest GPS satellite tagging of endangered giraffes has taken place in Kenya.

Leopard takes down impala

The unpredictable nature of wildlife is what makes going on safari special and unique. Who knows what may be lurking around the next acacia bush or down a quiet dry riverbed? However, knowing what signs to watch for and adopting a deeper understanding of animal behaviour can give you that little boost in ‘reading’ this unpredictability. […]

Pride life: Following the Nanyukie lions in the Serengeti

With a prime location in the Serengeti, Lemala Nanyukie camp has front-row seats to watching the fascinating lives of the resident lion pride.

Daisies that close at night have camouflaged petals to protect them from herbivores

A recent study has revealed a novel way in which flowers can avoid being eaten by herbivores.

Vultures of the Old World

“When one thinks about vultures, one envisions a bald-headed, blood-thirsty scavenger waiting for something or someone to perish. We have been brought up to believe that evil surrounds vultures, and this has led to cinematography portraying the species in a negative and unloved light. This has most certainly contributed to the species being disliked and […]

Saving Spots – a new initiative to protect wild cats in southern Africa

A new project called Saving Spots has been launched to protect declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as ‘Heritage Furs’.

Leopards in Namibia – latest population census results

The results of a recent leopard census in Namibia, providing a more accurate estimate of the distribution and number of leopards in the country.

Opinion: Approval of citrus farm on Greater Kruger border puts the region’s Protected Area Expansion Project at risk

Citrus farm approved on the border of Greater Kruger. Concerned protected area managers believe that this will threaten the entire region.

Escape and evade strategies in the avian world

Find out about the various escape and evade strategies that birds have developed to avoid predators in the wild.

Minister: How many wild rhinos do we have left?

How many rhinos do we have left in our National Parks? An open letter to South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.

Rhinos: Trade in horn and increase trophy hunting, says Minister. Have your say, within 30 days

South African minister wants white rhinos downlisted on CITES so that horn can be traded internationally, and she wants more black rhino to be trophy hunted. Read this important post, and have your say.

Remarkable sighting: Cape cobra versus mole snake

A venomous Cape cobra and powerful mole snake face off in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, providing a most unique and unforgettable sighting.

OPINION: Rhino horn trade – designing a sales mechanism should international trade become legal

Rhino horn trade: If the international sale of rhino horn was legalised could it be more successful than the previous legal sales of elephant tusks?

Professional hunter gored by buffalo in Greater Kruger

A professional hunter has been gored by a male buffalo in the community-owned Makuya concession of the Greater Kruger.

Three captive lions killed after mauling owner to death

Three captive lions have been shot and killed after one attacked and mauled the owner to death at a lion camp near Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa.

Elephants and ivory – CITES CoP18 and what the opposing countries want

Battle lines are drawn at the CITES CoP18 conference which starts this weekend, and elephants and ivory are the controversial issues at play. Here is an opinion post from three organisations about each of the proposals on the table.

Watch: Hippo takes over leopard kill

Always expect the unexpected out in the African bush! A camera trap reveals out of the ordinary behaviour as a hippo robs a leopard of its kill.

Bushbabies – The Southern Lesser Galago

With their large saucepan eyes, big ears and bushy tails, galagos, also known as bushbabies, are one of Africa’s most endearing creatures of the night. Often referred to in South Africa as nagapies, meaning “little night monkeys” in Afrikaans, they are regarded as one of the smallest of the prosimian primate species. Although reasonably common throughout parts […]

Trophy hunters kill popular Zimbabwean lion Seduli – on World Lion Day

A well-known male lion called Seduli, who was popular with photographers, has been shot by hunters on the outskirts of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe this past weekend on World Lion Day.

Scientists write letter to Botswana president about elephants

Prominent elephant scientists write to Botswana’s President Masisi about strategy to manage elephants and reduce conflict with humans.

Poor fencing has devastating effects on roaming elephants

Elephants are being shot because poor fencing results in elephants roaming into communal lands outside of Songimvelo Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Incredible sighting: The black cat of the Serengeti

A rare sighting indeed at Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge in Tanzania, where this melanistic serval has been seen regularly over recent weeks.

A closer look at women in the Field Guiding industry

South Africa commemorates National Women’s Month in August and here we take a look at women in the field guiding industry.

Newborn turtles journey to the sea

Nothing quite beats the sensation of watching newborn turtles climb and clamber towards the beginning of their ocean lives. It is a tough journey, however, and to make it to the shoreline there are many obstacles that need to be overcome.

Best photographic hotspots in northern Namibia

Namibia is a photographer’s paradise, where in the north you will find both fantastic scenery as well as unforgettable encounters with Africa’s magnificent wildlife.

The Brown Hyena

Steeped in myths and legends regarding magical powers, hermaphroditism and black magic, and more recently cast as villains by Disney, the hyena family undoubtedly suffers from a bad reputation. With their gentle, social interactions and strong kin bonds rarely witnessed, and their reputation amongst farmers as a livestock predator, the misunderstood and secretive brown hyena […]