news Archives - Africa Geographic

>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.

NEWSDESK: Caged lions and Coronavirus + Maasai Mara poaching threat under lockdown + eco nightmare project for Limpopo River basin

Caged lions and Coronavirus + Maasai Mara poaching threat under lockdown + eco nightmare project for Limpopo River basin

Coronavirus has finally made us recognise that illegal wildlife trade is a public health issue

The global Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic may prove to be an important moment in the attempts to address the illegal wildlife trade.

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

Leopard raids ground-hornbill nest

Video: a leopard raids a ground-hornbill nest in the Greater Kruger – yet another threat facing this threatened species

Black honey badgers spotted in Gabon

4 Melanistic (black) honey badgers captured on a camera trap in Gabon.

The death of ‘Julian’, one of Africa’s last great tuskers

Another of Africa’s great tuskers has died of natural causes.

Lightning kills 4 mountain gorillas

Lighting has killed four mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda – including one pregnant female and one baby.

Baboon kidnaps lion cub

A baboon kidnapped a tiny lion cub in the Kruger National Park, and was seen grooming the dying cub in a large tree

Akagera NP (Rwanda) tourism revenue up 25%

Conservation success story – Rwanda’s Akagera National Park’s growth continues with a 25% growth in revenue in 2019.

Smoked baby chimpanzee on hotel menu, says NGO

Smoked baby chimpanzee on the menu at prominent DRC hotel, says NGO.

Riff Raff the “problem” elephant receives extended protection against destruction

Good news as Riff Raff – the “problem” elephant destined to be destroyed – has been granted extended protection at his current reserve by the South African High Court.

Matusadonha National Park to be managed and restored by African Parks and Zimbabwe government

Zimbabwe’s iconic Matusadonha National Park will now be managed by African Parks and the government in a bit to secure the park and restore wildlife populations.

Large illegal logging operation uncovered in Mozambique

Security operation uncovers large illegal logging operation in Mozambique.

Breaking: Campaigners outraged as Zimbabwe exports 30+ baby elephants to Chinese zoos

More than 30 wild-caught baby elephants, held captive for nearly a year in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, have been flown out of the country via Victoria Falls Airport en route to Chinese zoos.

Update: Open-cast copper mine given go ahead inside Lower Zambezi National Park

TRAGEDY for Zambian conservation as court gives go ahead to mine inside Lower Zambezi National Park.

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.

Construction of Luangwa River hydroelectric dam halted, conservationists delighted

The Zambian government has halted plans to build the proposed Ndevu Gorge hydroelectric dam across the Luangwa River – helping to secure the benefits it provides to wildlife and people.

Catastrophic breaking news: 537 vultures found poisoned in dark day for Botswana conservation

Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has announced that they have recently identified a poisoning site with 537 dead vultures (comprising five species) and two tawny eagles.

Video: Instagram influencers eat pangolin in Gabon – call it ‘armadillo’

Instagram influencers Jessica Nabongo and Sal Lavallo ate pangolin in Gabon hotel

Death row “nuisance” elephant Riff Raff gets a reprieve as judge intervenes to prevent shooting

Wildlife groups say Riff Raff is a victim of human-elephant conflict, call for review of decision that would sentence him to death.

Captive lion breeding is here to stay, says DEA

The Department of Environmental Affairs has rejected the Portfolio Committee’s resolution to end the captive breeding of lions.

Updated rhino poaching stats – what is not being disclosed – comment from award-winning filmmakers

Award-winning filmmakers Susan Scott and Bonné de Bod comment on the latest rhino poaching statistics released by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

New citrus farm on Kruger border – have your say

A citrus farming enterprise has purchased a small but ecologically pivotal farm on the border of the Klaserie and Timbavati private nature reserves (Greater Kruger) near the town of Hoedspruit, and plans to develop a citrus orchard in this vital game reserve area.

Update on rhino translocation fiasco: Tenth black rhino dies, remaining survivor attacked by lions

A tenth endangered black rhino has reportedly died after a botched translocation, according to Kenya’s tourism minister.

Lions tested for tuberculosis in Greater Kruger

A veterinarian and the ProVet Wildlife team recently darted a pride of five lions in the northern part of Greater Kruger to test for TB.

Ranger forces strengthened in Mozambique

On 16 May 2018, 39 recruits, of which three are women, celebrated their graduation as rangers during a passing out parade held in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique. This follows the successful completion of a gruelling eight-week ranger training course presented by the Southern African Wildlife College, that prepared the new recruits for their stand against wildlife crime in the various conservation areas to which they will soon be deployed.

Kenya to fast-track laws to make wildlife killing capital offence

Kenya will fast-track laws to make wildlife poaching a capital offence as part of the country’s bid to conserve flora and fauna.

Attacks by captive carnivores – the stats revealed in open letter to minister

A formal letter to the Minister of Environmental Affairs from some of the top wildlife NGOs in the country about the captive carnivore interactions in South Africa. Records show that at least 37 incidents of captive carnivore attacks have occurred since 1996, affecting no less than 40 victims.

SA hunters expelled over canned lion hunting

Two South African hunting associations that embrace canned lion hunting have lost an appeal to retain their membership to Europe’s top hunting organisation, and have been thrown out of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation for breach of policy.

Another collared elephant shot outside Zim national park

Hunters in Zimbabwe have shot dead a bull elephant collared by scientists for research purposes, the second such killing in a month, a conservation group says.

Wild dogs return to Gorongosa after decades of absence

Wild dogs will soon roam free in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for the first time in decades.

Taiwan to revise laws for complete ban in ivory trade from 2020

Taiwanese officials are working to revise regulations so that a solid ban against trade in ivory can be put into force in 2020.

Britain to ban sale of ivory items, regardless of age

With a prohibition on the sale of nearly all antiques containing ivory, the new legislation will create the toughest ban on ivory in Europe.

R.I.P. Sudan – last male northern white rhino

It is with great sadness that Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Dvůr Králové Zoo announce that Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhino, age 45, died at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on March 19th, 2018.

Trump administration to allow elephant trophy imports on “case-by-case basis”

The U.S. government will allow hunters to import elephant trophies on a “case-by-case basis”, breaking the president’s pledge.

Lion relocation success: Somkhanda lions reveal their cubs

Four cubs have been spotted recently, sticking closely to their mom, at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is a true success story around wild lion and their translocation to one of the only community-owned reserves in the country.

Mass poisoning incident leaves lions, vultures dead near Ruaha

A mass poisoning incident in the Wildlife Management Area just outside Ruaha National Park has left six lions and over 70 vultures dead.

Largest US safari club slams door shut on SA’s canned lion industry

The world’s largest hunting club, Safari Club International (SCI) has slammed the door shut on South Africa’s canned lion industry, announcing it will no longer allow captive-bred lion operators to advertise or market captive-bred lions (CBL) at its annual convention, and will reject all captive-bred lion entries for its record books.

Trump confirms US elephant trophy ban remains

US President Donald Trump has confirmed in an interview with Piers Morgan that he will not be lifting the ban on elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Elephant kicked during capture in Zimbabwe

Mr President: Selling wild-caught baby elephants to China is just plain evil

An open letter to the president of Zimbabwe regarding the recent exportation of wild-caught baby elephants from Zimbabwe to China.

Federal Court invalidates decision for trophy imports to US

The US Federal Court of Appeals has invalidated the decision to allow the import of animal parts from trophy hunts from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

China’s ban on domestic ivory sales now in effect

China’s complete ban of the buying and selling of ivory products went into effect on Sunday.

Japan’s ivory market must close down, according to study

With China announcing that it would shut down all ivory trade by the end of this year, concerns have been raised that Japan’s failure to prevent illegal ivory exports will undermine China’s prospective ban and the efforts to end the global trafficking of elephant tusks.

New hunting association formed after outcry over captive-bred lion hunting

A new association representing the interests of professional hunters, opposed to hunting captive-bred lions, has been formed in South Africa.

Snakebite season in Southern Africa

Many bites from deadly snakes are difficult to prevent as people accidentally stand on snakes, especially at night. But the snake that has been biting lots of people recently is the poorly-known stiletto snake, also known as the side-stabbing snake.

PHASA approves canned lion hunting, faces backlash

In a change of policy after earlier turning its back on the breeding and hunting of captive lions, the Professional Hunters’ Association of SA (PHASA) has now approved such practices. During their annual general meeting on 22 November, members voted to approve “the hunting of captive bred lions as a legitimate form of hunting”.