Reinet Meyer is the senior inspector at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the provincial city of Bloemfontein, located in the central grasslands of South Africa. In April, she received a tip: Two adult lions had been held for two days without food or water in tiny transport crates on a farm called Wag ‘n Bietjie (“Wait a While” in Afrikaans) about 20 miles … [Read more...]
Blaauwberg Nature Reserve the first to win green award
The Blaauwberg Nature Reserve will be the first coastal site in South Africa to receive the Green Coast Status Award. The award, presented by the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (Wessa) on Friday, is in recognition of the commitment by the City’s environment management department and its implementing partner, the Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation … [Read more...]
87 elephants killed by poachers in Africa’s ‘last safe haven’
At least 87 elephants have been killed for their ivory in Botswana in recent months, according to the conservation nonprofit Elephants Without Borders, which discovered the carcasses. It’s a sharp and disturbing increase in poaching for a country that has been considered elephants’ last stronghold in Africa, says Mike Chase, the organization’s director. “It came as a … [Read more...]
Eco pools may help save endangered toads
Who would have thought a suburban swimming pool could save lives? William and Lisa Macdonald, of Sun Valley, near Fish Hoek in the Western Cape, may have found a way to help save the endangered western leopard toad (Schlerophrys pantherinus) from extinction in their area. “We settled here eight years ago and found the greenery of the dune belt, nestled at the foot of Table … [Read more...]
Wildlife photographer Beverly Joubert is determined to save big cats
Beverly Joubert’s ceaseless passion and talent have made her a heroine in the field of wildlife photography. She is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, filmmaker, photographer, and cofounder of National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative. Together with her husband, Dereck, she has devoted more than 30 years to photographing and documenting the plight of African … [Read more...]
Court case looms as the battle against glyphosate continues
The stage is set for September 6 when the New York Supreme Court will hear an appeal filed by agribusiness major Monsanto against Avaaz, a civic campaigning network, that has around 45 million subscribers around the world. The US-based organisation will go to court in defiance of the court's 'command' that they turn in all internal communication on the issue of adverse effects … [Read more...]
All-women expedition across Southern Africa tackles poaching head on
Final touches are being made to an all-women 50-day conservation adventure from South Africa into Southern Africa. The Journeys with Purpose: Rise of the Matriarch expedition brings together 12 women from around the world who will travel 9 000km across four countries to raise awareness about the contentious human-wildlife conflict. Headed by Carla Geyser, a … [Read more...]
Lion breeding industry harming SA’s reputation according to new poll
A nationwide survey, by the Humane Society International (HSI), has revealed that the majority of South Africans believe the captive lion breeding industry is harming the country’s international reputation. This announcement comes on the first of a two-day South African Parliamentary inquiry into the lion breeding industry. According to the study, South Africans demonstrate … [Read more...]
Will palm oil-free certification save forests?
The global movement to avoid palm oil is growing. In the one year since the International Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Programme (POFCAP) was launched in Australia, it has declared 705 products from 18 countries free of the controversial vegetable oil, and is helping shoppers make informed choices as they browse supermarket shelves. Certified palm oil-free … [Read more...]
Local rockers pledge to keep our carnivores Wild ‘n Free
In the build up to World Lion Day on 10 August, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), a champion of conservation in Africa, has launched an exciting new project, entitled Wild ‘n Free. Through this initiative, the EWT is calling on all South Africans to be the voice for the voiceless and join the fight against keeping carnivores in captivity for petting, walking-with, … [Read more...]
Africa’s silent giraffe extinction: the long and short of it
It’s hard to comprehend that giraffe numbers have plummeted by almost 40% in just three decades. This rapid slide now places them amongst the most threatened species on the planet, with only approximately 98,445 individuals remaining across this massive African continent! A population collapse of this nature could conceivably be driven by that evil Far East cabal of wildlife … [Read more...]
Deforestation is affecting global water cycles and causing drought
A growing body of evidence indicates that the continuing destruction of tropical forests is disrupting the movement of water in the atmosphere, causing major shifts in precipitation that could lead to drought in key agricultural areas in China, India, and the U.S. Midwest. Every tree in the forest is a fountain, sucking water out of the ground through its roots and releasing … [Read more...]
NSPCA removes 69 horses from the SANDF
Following major welfare concerns of the horses belonging to the South African Army in April 2018, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) was finally granted the ownership of 69 horses. In April 2018, horses were found to be dying of starvation while in the care of the South African Army Special Infantry Capability (SAASIC) Unit at the Potchefstroom Base of the South African … [Read more...]
