South Africa is well-known for its intensive captive lion breeding industry, but its captive cheetah breeding side has never received the same exposure. As with lions, captive bred cheetah cubs are taken away from their mothers within days of birth to be hand-reared, which starts the habituating process. They are then used for petting, walking with cheetahs, and as photo … [Read more...]
Conserving sharks and rays in the Indian Ocean
At a press conference held in Johannesburg recently, the issue of overfishing and overuse of ocean resources was unpacked with a specific focus on the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). WILDOCEANS, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and TRAFFIC collaborated on a presentation given at the conference with a specific focus on overfishing linked to sharks and rays. Rhett Bennett, … [Read more...]
Lion trade: the secret threat faced by SA tourism industry
Annually, thousands of tourists flock to South Africa to experience our unique wildlife. But behind this booming industry is an ugly truth, many wildlife encounters support the mistreatment of iconic species, such as lions. Tourism plays a vital role in job creation and contributed over R130-billion to the economy in 2017, about 2.9% of the total gross domestic product … [Read more...]
Landmark decision for lions ahead of World Lion Day
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is delighted to note that the Pretoria High Court has today set aside the 2017 and 2018 lion bone quotas, stating that these were both unlawful and unconstitutional, and that due process was not followed in the setting of these quotas. Before giving his judgement, Judge Jody Kollapen said that this issue has implications for both current … [Read more...]
Calls for captive lion breeding ban welcomed by civil society
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have come out strongly in favour of a new Parliamentary report that calls for a ban on captive lion breeding in the country. Entitled Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting and Bone Trade in South Africa, the new report finds: Captive lion breeding holds no conservation value; There is no … [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...]
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...]
Critical water resources gobbled up by alien invasives
As South Africa continues to battle the drought which is further impacting on already scarce water supplies, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is implementing measures to conserve wetlands – a primary source of fresh water – and to prevent the loss of water resources to alien invasive plants. Since long before the era of the Egyptian Pharaohs, wetlands have supported the … [Read more...]
Are captive-born predators fit for release into the wild?
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is growing increasingly concerned about the proliferation of captive facilities holding a range of carnivores in South Africa for the sole purpose of tourism and financial gain. We urge the public to consider a few facts when visiting any of a number of these facilities that hold lions, Cheetah, Leopards, Wild Dogs, hyena and even some exotic … [Read more...]
Joy as migratory falcon arrives in KwaZulu-Natal
Raptor enthusiasts across the world were overjoyed and relieved to learn that a migratory female Amur Falcon Falco amurensis finally reached her wintering grounds at Newcastle in Kwa-Zulu-Natal on the 10th of January 2013 after an eventful 14 500km journey from the species’ breeding grounds in northern China and Mongolia. This bird was fitted with a satellite transmitter in … [Read more...]
Save the owls, help your garden
I just love falling asleep to the hoo-hoo emanating from our forested front garden. They love the huge and untrimmed trees and probably the healthy supply of elephant shrew that reside amongst the shrubs and hide beneath the ivy. But these wise and helpful creatures are threatened in several ways, with humans at the source of them all. We have encroached on their natural … [Read more...]
Save the Cape vulture
South African vultures are in serious trouble, especially the Cape vulture, which is critically endangered, with only 2900 breeding pairs remaining. Reasons for their decline are varied, but include problems such as pylon injuries, malicious poisonings, muti killings and insufficient food sources. Conservationist Kerri Wolter provides some perspective on the plight of these … [Read more...]
Through the eyes of a toad!
Imagine you are a western leopard toad living in your snug little home under a pot plant for 11 months of the year, happily snacking on organic, 'pesticide free' cockroaches and crickets in your vegetable patch at night while your human sleeps. It's the end of July, it's raining and the moon is getting fuller with every passing night. Your belly is laden with 1000 eggs … [Read more...]
