The fate of one of Africa’s most valuable ecosystems may depend on results from wells being drilled deep into the bedrock beneath the Kalahari of northern Namibia and Botswana in the hunt for a petroleum reservoir. For a distance of some 150km, Canadian company ReconAfrica’s oil and gas prospecting concessions border the Okavango River, a crucial source of water in a … [Read more...]
Community owned reserves collaborate to protect elephants
In a historic translocation in 2016, Somkhanda Community Game Reserve welcomed a herd of 13 elephants donated by Nambiti Game Reserve. This was hailed as an epic collaboration, as, for the first time, two community owned reserves had successfully worked together to extend elephant range and distribution. This illustrated the importance of community conservation, not only in … [Read more...]
South Africans say “no!” to exporting meat from endangered species
More than 45 000 people reacted to Dear SA’s campaign inviting comment on draft legislation allowing meat from endangered species to be added to the list of animals allowed to be slaughtered, consumed and traded. The overwhelming majority of those participating in the campaign objected to the South African government’s plan to expand the list of animals for slaughter and … [Read more...]
EWT needs your donations to fight poaching
The “storm” that is COVID 19 has arrived in South Africa and by all accounts, we have weathered it better than many had predicted. I like to put this down to the resilience and fighting spirit of South African people from all walks of life. We are certainly a nation of survivors! The lengthy lockdown has not however been without severe, and in some cases, catastrophic … [Read more...]
Plans for logging in Ebo Forest denounced by civil society
Greenpeace Africa and local communities denounce a decision by the Government of Cameroon to open up 68,385 hectares of pristine rainforest to logging. The fate of a 65,007 ha zone of Ebo, also threatened with logging, remains unclear and must also be spared from chainsaws. The 14 July decree to log a zone about half the size of London blatantly ignores requests by local … [Read more...]
Help support our nature protectors this World Ranger Month
This year, Zimbabwe ranger Charles Chinobva faced and survived one of the many dangers that come with being a ranger - a close encounter with a Black Rhino which left him with a severely punctured lung. Charles Chinobva and Junior Pfumgwa were on a mission to photograph a black rhino mother and her calf. Once spotted, Charles pointed the camera in their direction. “As I … [Read more...]
Stop the next coronavirus: ban wildlife trade!
Our world has changed beyond belief - hundreds of thousands have died, shops are shuttered, and we can’t even hug our family and friends. The likely cause of this pandemic? The global wildlife trade. We know it’s driving the extinction of thousands of species, and is responsible for animal rights abuses - and now experts warn wildlife markets could be a “ticking time … [Read more...]
Youth delegates from across the world pledge to protect wildlife
The World Youth Wildlife Summit brought together 225 youth delegates, adult chaperones (educators and community leaders), conservation experts and keynote speakers from the 21st – 24th September, to equip the youth to become Ambassadors for Conservation and influencers to reduce wildlife crime. The impact of wildlife crime was highlighted during the Opening Ceremony when … [Read more...]
Help take care of nature’s gifts this Earth Day
Earth Day is a global event each year, and we believe that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world. Nature’s gifts to our planet are the millions of species that we know and love, and many more that remain to be discovered. Unfortunately, human beings have irrevocably upset the balance of … [Read more...]
Adventurer returns after African anti-poaching mission
50 days, four countries and 11 235km later, South Africa humanitarian and eco-warrior, Carla Geyser, has returned home having led a successful international all-women conservation mission into Southern Africa. Geyser’s Journeys with Purpose: The Rise of the Matriarch expedition spanned South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, and attracted 12 women from around the … [Read more...]
Exciting journey ahead for Somkhanda
Somkhanda Game Reserve covers over 12 000 hectares of land and is a community reserve owned by the Emvokweni Community Trust (ECT) and co-managed with WILDLANDS, a programme of the WILDTRUST. Since its establishment in 2005, it has achieved major milestones and has in the process earned its status of being a ‘Big Five’ reserve. Currently, over 80 community members are employed … [Read more...]
African elephants have 10 years left before extinction
African elephants have just over 10 years left before they’re poached to extinction. We’re wiping them out, just to trade in stupid trinkets. But right now we have a chance to shut down a major ivory market in Europe. After experts found Europe's 'antique' trade is driving the slaughter of elephants by giving cover for illegal ivory, the EU launched a public consultation, … [Read more...]
730,000 elephants missing from protected areas in Africa
A new study from the Conservation Ecology Research Unit (CERU) at the University of Pretoria predicts how many elephants there should be in 73 protected areas spanning 21 African countries. The research concludes that, largely due to poaching, protected areas are missing 75 per cent of their elephants, some 730,000 individuals. One-third of protected areas have less than five … [Read more...]
