Considering the perilous state of the world's rhinos, and the utterly dire situation for several sub-species, giving rhinos their own year is pretty much the least we can do, but there it is. Coinciding with World Environment Day (being celebrated in Rio), the government of Indonesia, in cooperation with a number of conservation groups, including WWF, has declared 5 June the … [Read more...]
72 hours to save our oceans
Our oceans are dying. Beset by pollution and demolition by industrial fishing, the magical and bountiful deep blue is turning into a barren desert. But in the next 72 hours, governments are considering a new rescue plan - and we can help push it through. Shockingly, governments spend billions subsidising the commercial fishing industry to pillage our seas. The new plan would … [Read more...]
Everest Summiteers Collaborate for Conservation
At a one-of-a-kind event in Johannesburg last month, 18 of the 25 South Africans who have summited Mount Everest, and two non-South African summiteers now residing in this country, collaborated in support of conservation. The event, held at the Hyatt in Rosebank, was attended by more than 160 people and raised over R500 000 for Wild Dog conservation, primarily through an … [Read more...]
Hoedspruit launches 7-Day conservation program
The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) is proud to launch an exclusive 7-day conservation programme, affording South African citizens the opportunity to gain hands-on and practical experience in conservation and wildlife as well as the overall running of the Centre. The programme welcomes participants aged between 18 and 25, which runs during December 2011 and … [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...]
Help stop the mass extinction
We can never do enough for our rhinos, who are in danger of extinction. In 2009 there was a dramatic increase in rhino poaching, with 135 animals killed. In 2010, a staggering 333 animals were brutally slaughtered for their horns. Our planet is currently undergoing the largest mass extinction in its history with at least 30, 000 species going extinct every year. However, all … [Read more...]
Quest to save the Clanwilliam Cedar Tree
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat has long been committed to saving the endangered Clanwilliam cedar tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) from extinction. On the 21st of May (2011), this ecological haven in the Cederberg once again joined forces with CapeNature to co-host the annual Clanwilliam Cedar Tree event in Heuningvlei in the Cederberg … [Read more...]
Stop killing baboons in Mpumalanga
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) in Forests to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Furthermore, one of the declared goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which has 195 member states, as stated in their official 'Forest Biodiversity Program of Work' is to 'Restore forest … [Read more...]
Hurray for South Africa’s biodiversity!
The United Nations designated 2011 - 2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. The word is dropped into conversations daily, but we don't know how much it actually means for South Africa. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem like our planet earth. It gives an indication of the health of ecosystems: the more natural the … [Read more...]
Rhino war in bloody swing
Last week three more rhinos died in the Kruger National Park. The demand for illegal rhino horn this time also claimed the life of a calf. Gunshots were heard and rangers went to investigate. Tragically, it was too late: The poachers were already sawing the horns off one of the rhinos. An exchange of gunfire followed, and the two poachers were killed. According to Eyewitness … [Read more...]
Ensuring a future for SA’s frogs
Across the globe, amphibian numbers have been in fast decline since first reported in 1990. Habitat change due to human population growth has been identified as the leading factor, but in pristine habitats population reductions are as a result of a number of factors including ultraviolet light, climate change and infectious diseases. The South African National Biodiversity … [Read more...]
The end of the line is now
The end of seafood by 2048! The ocean without fish. Imagine the global consequences. The award winning film The End Of The Line by Rupert Murray had me sitting at the edge of my seat - and swallowing back the tears. The press were treated to 30 minutes of this important new documentary on the inconvenient truth of the onslaught on our oceans, but that was enough for me to … [Read more...]
Truth about endangered giant sable revealed
It was hoped that the presence of the Zambian antelope would be a lifeline for the survival of the giant sable, described as critically endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species. It was feared that the giant sable had completely died out in the wild because of the effects of the Angolan civil war. Then two small populations of these majestic antelope with their … [Read more...]
