Somkhanda Game Reserve rangers are joining more than 150 ranger teams across Africa in gearing up for the 2021 Wildlife Ranger Challenge. This multi-million-dollar fundraising initiative culminates on 18 September and supporting thousands of the men and women on the frontline of Africa’s protected areas. Africa’s rangers are stretched to capacity and continue to see drastic … [Read more...]
Back to the wild: a story of orphaned rhino
Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, co-managed by WILDLANDS – a programme of the WILDTRUST, will for the first-time release two white rhino orphans back into the wild, giving them a second chance at a normal life. Makhosi (4 years old), who was named by the Zulu Royal family and Mpilo (3 years old) or Ncenga iMpilo in full, a name he was given by the Emvokweni Community Trust, … [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...]
EWT responds to China’s illegal wildlife trade ban
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) welcomes the announcement by the Chinese Communist Party to enforce the ban on illegal wildlife trade and increase regulation of wildlife markets. Evidence points to wildlife markets as a source of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has resulted in human and economic costs. The EWT emphasises their position that these markets pose … [Read more...]
KZN conservationist now a Royal Geographical Society Fellow
Well-known KwaZulu-Natal conservationist Sheelagh Antrobus has just been accepted as a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Geographical Society, the professional body that advances geography and supports related fields of interest across the globe. Antrobus, the founder of conservation organisation Project Rhino, is one of the integral members of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation … [Read more...]
Trained dogs to be placed across SA to stop poachers
World Rhino Day this year is again marred by horrendous statistics illustrating the poaching pandemic across the African continent. According to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), since 2008 some 7,900 black and white rhinos have been slaughtered for the illicit trade of their horns. The fight against poaching has been arduous and continually … [Read more...]
Conservation Canine Annie’s ‘marathon’ shift takes out three poachers
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Conservation Canine, Annie, and her handler, Colin, have struck again, with their efforts leading to the arrest of three suspected rhino poachers in Balule Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo. In what may be one of the most exciting anti-poaching follow-ups of the year, Annie and Colin tracked through the night to secure this victory for … [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...]
DEA showcases the sterling work of Hoedspruit’s Environmental Monitors
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has applauded a group of Environmental Monitors (EM), also known as Maeba (Doves), for their impeccable work geared towards fighting the scourge of rhino poaching in the Hoedspruit area. With at least 1 659 young South Africans participating in the Environmental Monitors Programme, the initiative aims to increase conservation … [Read more...]
The rhino killing fields of KwaZulu-Natal
Conservationists warned that the lifting of the ban on the South African domestic trade in rhino horn would spell an all out war on South Africa's remaining rhino. This certainly seems evident after the discovery of two more rhino carcasses this week. This gruesome find brings the total number of rhino poached in a five month period to the highest ever recorded in the … [Read more...]
Rhino conservation heroes honoured at awards dinner
The African ethos of Ubuntu promotes the power of a village, supporting one another to achieve common goals. For conservation efforts to be successful, many areas of vulnerability must be addressed. This requires a collaborative approach by a variety of passionate contributors. At the Rhino Conservation Awards, a gala dinner held at Joburg's Montecasino Ballroom on Monday … [Read more...]
A ranger’s view on the rhino poaching epidemic
Rangers working in the Kruger National Park (KNP) refer to it as ‘the beast’. With a size of 19 485km² and temperatures that sore to a blistering 50°C, working in the field is not for the faint-hearted. Rangers work up to 21 days in the bush under these harsh conditions, without the luxuries many of us take for granted, and away from their families and loved ones. While only … [Read more...]
Kruger National Park to combat rhino poaching with new regional court
South African Environmental Minister Dr Edna Molewa has welcomed the opening of a regional court in Skukuza to assist in combating rhino poaching-related offences in the Kruger National Park. “Having a Regional Court in Skukuza will ensure that the case turnaround times for rhino poaching and related cases are expedited thus making a significant contribution to tackling the … [Read more...]
