CEO NOTE: 25 December 2020
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OK, it’s Christmas Day so I will keep this brief.
Firstly, thanks for the many responses regarding the Okavango oil prospecting story we ran last week. We will keep our eyes on that situation and keep you apprised. For now, we expect plenty of posturing and bluster while the EVIL ONES determine whether there is sufficient oil to ruin yet another African ecosystem, bank the proceeds offshore and leave Africa’s people to pay the cost.
The video below is special for its rarity but also deeply disturbing to me. Does that make me a speciesist? That emaciated baby rhino carcass with no PROTECTIVE mom nearby probably tells another story …
Our first story below is a carbon copy of what has happened to so many species. Add passionate collectors and the pet trade to insatiable Far East demand for wild species as food, medicine and status – and you have an industry where legal and illegal traders operate side by side and often HAND-IN-GLOVE. Interesting that a few reptile collectors (they use a fancier term) tried to distract from the message on our social media shares of this story with claims of incorrect facts. When challenged, they disappeared back into the shadows.
Our two other stories, though, are good news. Both involve restocking of former ranges, and both projects were driven by organised, professional conservation entities, ably supported by their partners – including governmental. These successes give me HOPE that we can restock Africa’s wild areas and regain some of what has been lost – once we tame the illegal stuff.
Festive season greetings to you all. We will publish a newsletter on New Year’s Day – so please keep an eye on your emails.
Story 1
https://africageographic.com/stories/the-extinction-business-south-africas-cold-blooded-reptile-trade/
THE EXTINCTION BUSINESS
South Africa’s trade in reptiles is a growing industry that is unregulated, unsustainable, and unethical – says report
Story 2
https://africageographic.com/stories/operation-twiga-v/
SUCCESS!
15 critically endangered Nubian giraffe have been translocated from Murchison Falls NP to Pian Upe WR in Uganda
Story 3
https://africageographic.com/stories/cheetahs-return-to-bangweulu-zambia/
MORE SUCCESS!
Three cheetahs have been successfully translocated from South Africa to Bangweulu in Zambia – the first cheetahs there in nearly a century
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
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