WWF South Africa and the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit are teaming up to support research on southern right whales which are facing a variety of new threats, not least the impact of a warming climate on their food supply. The Whale Unit, which falls under UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, has been monitoring southern right … [Read more...]
Plans for frog protection hop into action
Good news for nature lovers in the Helderberg! Frog lovers are ready to hop to the next level after the rescue attempt at Paardevlei during March this year. During our first rains a large colony of platanna froglets hatched at the Paardevlei area near the Somerset Mall and decided to brave the busy R44 to reach the nearest water body at the Sanctuary dam during a mass … [Read more...]
Massive frog massacre averted thanks to eco saviours
One Sunday morning earlier this month, Bolander received an urgent call from Somerset West resident Elma Pollard (previous environmental correspondent for Bolander, and editor of the Green Times), saying that there was a massive frog migration underway from Paardevlei dam, over the R44 to the Sanctuary dam. "The cars are driving over the frogs, it’s a massive slaughter, and … [Read more...]
COP21: Pacific Islanders on the front line of climate change
Up to 70% of Pacific Island dwellers would have to migrate due to climate change. This was said at COP21 today. The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) presented the first nationally representative household survey conducted on climate change and … [Read more...]
Ordinary citizens across Europe helping ailing refugees
Last week saw yet another horrible development in Europe’s refugee crisis: the discovery of 71 bodies in an airless truck, abandoned by an Austrian highway. But the tragedy seems to have galvanized an uprising. Yesterday, Austrians took to the streets in Vienna, to say that they don’t want Europe to become a “mass grave” for people fleeing conflict in other parts of the … [Read more...]
More than 80 leopard toads start marching
On Monday 27 August, toads started migrating in Sunvalley Fish Hoek and Lakes, with more than 80 toads recorded in 3 hours! The following day, toads in Noordhoek joined the party and the ToadNUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers) had calls coming in from Devilliers farm, Living Art farm and in Noordhoek proper as well as Fish Hoek sports fields. Volunteers were trying really … [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...]
Watch out for the toad moon
The next full moon is the start of our resident endangered Western Leopard Toad's epic migration across the Western Cape's roads to their local breeding ponds! In Noordhoek a group of special folk, the ToadNUTS dedicate themselves to helping ensure a safe passage for the toads towards and back from their breeding places. Now they are counting the days to the big work … [Read more...]
Navigating the protein crunch
Twenty-five thousand people die per day from starvation, while as many die of obesity-related conditions. This was just the start of what I learned at the launch of Jason Drew and David Lorimer's new book, The Protein Crunch at The Bay Bookshop in Cape Town. If these words are a fracture of what's contained in the book, I thought, it is going to blow my mind. And that's … [Read more...]
