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Tuskers hunted + best photos + 3 days in Vic Falls
A lucky few of you may be reading this newsletter from bed, the beach or while watching wildlife at a favourite waterhole – as a string of April holidays around the globe come as splendid respite. Perhaps you’re spending the temporary quietening of the mad rush dreaming up new travel exploits. Never fear, as teamAG’s wheels keep on turning!
I highly recommend drawing travel inspiration from this week’s Photographer of the Year gallery below. I’m blown away by the diverse subject matter in this week’s selection, including a number of allegories on life and death from Chobe, Kruger and Sossusvlei, and even skateboarders “shredding the patriarchy” in Morocco. There are only two weeks left to get your entries in, so don’t miss out.
On a nauseating note, trophy hunters in Botswana have killed two of the largest elephants on the continent. The outcry on our social media pages at this news was immense, and with good reason. That an elephant hunt of any kind – never mind of a large tusker – could be allowed in an important elephant-migration corridor boggles the mind. Read more in our first story.
Knowing the size of animal populations in protected areas and reserves is at the heart of effective conservation strategies. Those in the know predict that one day, wildlife will be counted by drones and AI. Read how researchers are laying down the foundations for this in our second story.
Happy indulging in Africa to you all!
Taryn van Jaarsveld — Editor
From our Scientific Editor – Jamie Paterson
Not all that long ago, we were just another species wandering the globe, subject to the same whims of weather and fortune as any other wild creature. So it is only natural that evidence of that time remains.
One such example is our relationship with honeyguides, which probably goes back to the time of Homo erectus. Certain members of this bird family will guide people to beehives so that they can feast on the spoils once the useful humans have broken open the hive. Seasoned travellers among you probably knew that, but did you know that in northern Tanzania, this guidance increases the Hazda tribe members’ bee-raiding success rate by 560%? The Boran people of East Africa and the Yao honey-hunters of Mozambique also have a unique call to attract the bird and begin the search.
The sad thing? As these traditional ways of life gradually disappear from human existence, the “guiding” instinct of the honeyguide will vanish entirely …
Story 1
https://africageographic.com/stories/trophy-hunters-kill-two-of-africas-biggest-elephants-botswana/
TUSKERS HUNTED
Trophy hunters have killed two of Africa’s largest elephants in Botswana
Story 2
https://africageographic.com/stories/counting-animals-the-technology-helping-conservationists/
COUNTING ANIMALS
Counting wildlife in Africa’s massive protected wild areas can be a complicated process. Read how technology can help
Story 3
https://africageographic.com/stories/photographer-of-the-year-2022-weekly-selection-week-10/
BEST PHOTOS
Check out this week’s Photographer of the Year entries. Only two weeks left to enter! Cash prizes and a Botswana safari are up for grabs
TRAVEL DESK UPDATES:
And now – for something completely different
Look away if your ideal safari is in the comfort zone because this is not your average vanilla-flavoured outing! Search for lowland gorillas, bongos, dwarf crocodiles, forest elephants and flocks of grey parrots in the dense forests of Congo in this one-of-a-kind, life-changing adventure.
OR
Enjoy a quick break (or safari add-on) at Africa’s adventure capital. Victoria Falls is massively famous for many excellent reasons. Repeat visitors or newbies will enjoy chunks of wall-to-wall action and swathes of chill time staring in awe at the smoke that thunders. This is a 3-day quick fix that we can massage to suit your ideal time in heaven.
WATCH: 72 seconds of safari heaven to encourage you to get our APP and start planning your safaris (01:12). Click here to watch
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