An appeal court has increased the prison sentence of a rhino poacher from 11 to 15 years. An appeal court has increased the sentence of a man convicted of rhino poaching from 11 to 15 years. The initial sentence was far too lenient and not in line with the Limpopo Environmental Management Act, said the […]

Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch the show on Sunday 29 January in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 31 January if you’re abroad. Tiger on the Loose She was an eight-year-old Bengal tiger named Sheba, hand-reared and loved. […]

Following the sad news of the euthanasia of Sheba, the 8-year-old female tiger that escaped from Walkerville – injuring a human and killing several domestic animals – Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH) has once again warned of the dangers of keeping wild, rather than domesticated, animals as pets. The recent case of Sheba the tiger […]

The City of Cape Town says it “condemns the brutal and deadly attack” on a Cape fur seal yesterday early evening, 8 January 2023, at Monwabisi beach, Khayelitsha. Four suspects have been arrested thanks to an anonymous tip-off and the swift response from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and the City’s Law Enforcement. The […]

The recent trail of vicious pit bull attacks that have literally cost life and limb – the death of three children and two adults – is a matter of concern to everyone in South Africa from animal behaviour experts to pet owners and residents. In recent months, media outlets have reported on deadly cases of […]

Little Charlie, a baby hippo who was abandoned at a few days old, was raised with rhino and probably thought he was a little rhinoceros too. In fact he didn’t even like water, which was a problem because hippos need to wallow in the water to prevent sunburn (so his human carers had to keep […]

This is the heart-stopping moment when two safari guides held their nerve in front of a charging elephant – and bravely gave it the chance of life. Many in their position would have taken the option of a panicked shot to save their own skins but this pair gave the tusker the benefit of the […]

The Warriors of Wildlife environmental organisation – founded by former South African expat Lionel de Lange – has completed a successful rescue mission, extracting two long-suffering lions from the Ukrainian war zone recently. The two “prisoners of war” were collateral damage in the conflict between Russia and its neighbours and were locked away in cages […]

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has made the “tough decision” to drop animal welfare as a focus area for funding in 2022/2023, a decision that some organisations say is ignorant and unfair. Others say that the application for NLC funding is laborious and simply not worth applying for. The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has excluded […]

Saving Africa’s rhinos will require a multidimensional strategy, with private game reserves and national parks cooperating and anti-poaching efforts working in tandem with education campaigns, according to Joe Cloete, the CEO of Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. Cloete says this isn’t a new approach, but it is one that needs to be developed […]

This year’s Rhino Peak Challenge is all geared up to take place on 17 September, with 36 Ambassadors summiting the iconic ‘Rhino Peak’ for endangered species conservation. About the Rhino Peak Challenge The Rhino Peak Challenge is a unique trail event, focusing not on victory or glory, but on raising funds for vital species conservation […]

When the Blood Lions campaign was launched, following the premier of the film in 2015, taking on the captive predator industry seemed a near impossible task. Today, we are at the cusp of seeing the closing down process begin, and all those that have held the vision and participated in the process can take credit. […]

Today is World Lion Day (10 August) – a day to celebrate one of Africa’s most iconic species and to raise awareness on conservation issues globally. Lions are recognised worldwide for their importance not only from a nature conservation and ecological perspective, but also symbolically, culturally and in terms of tourism. The significance and dignity […]

A new five-part mini-series celebrating and profiling anti-poaching K9 units in South Africa’s nature reserves has been launched today. The ‘pawsome’ series, ‘Making CONTACT’ was filmed in Hluhluwe iMfolozi, Kruger National Park and Cape Town and has been created by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, with a goal to help keep paws and boots on the ground […]

Commissioned six years ago and kept under lock and key by the Office of the KZN Premier until now, the hidden report into rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has been partially released to the Democratic Alliance (DA) following extensive pressure. Last month the DA submitted a Public Access to Information Application (PAIA) for the report, […]

On April 1 the number of rhinos poached in Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), since the 1st of January was 60. It’s just one month later, and that already horrific number has shockingly jumped to 94 (actually 95, as of yesterday). Imagine how many rhinos will now not be born because of those that have been […]

At least 71 rhino have been poached this year alone in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife parks, putting KZN on the road to the species facing extinction in the region within the next five years! This shocking revelation – allegedly by sources within the organisation – has prompted the Democratic Alliance (DA) to submit a Public Access […]

The Western Cape High Court has granted an urgent interim relief against the South African government’s controversial trophy hunting quota decision, which was announced in February. This means that no animal can be hunted until the matter is resolved. The High Court granted the interim relief on Friday afternoon, pending the judgment of the interim […]

A myth-busting exercise on hunting questions the claim that bagging wildlife trophies is sustainable… By Don Pinnock, Daily Maverick. When you strip trophy hunting to its essentials, it’s about the desire to kill wild animals – justified by faulty economics. What it’s not about is conservation or community upliftment. That’s the finding of an extensive […]

Old friend… when I saw you, just a few short weeks ago, I could see that your eyes had lost their sparkle. I wished to be wrong, but I knew, right away, that this was our last meeting. I did not linger, much. You were in no need of company. Just quietly standing… I could […]

A total of 451 rhino were poached in South Africa in 2021, according to the SA government, with 327 lost within government reserves and 124 on private property. While there is a 24 percent decrease in rhino poaching compared to the pre-Covid period in 2019, there has been an increase in poaching on private properties, […]

Demand for rhino horn in Asian markets, especially Vietnam and China, has pushed the remaining rhino populations to the brink of extinction. In the past decade, nearly 10,000 rhinos were killed by poachers in Africa. The remaining rhino populations in Africa and Asia are steadily declining, with fewer than 30,000 animals left in 2020 from […]

Well known KwaZulu-Natal safari guide Gavin Udal captured a rare scene last week, at the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in South Africa, of a troop of Vervet Monkeys swimming across a swollen crocodile-infested river! This is not something monkeys would usually do. Gavin – who owns and runs Wendy’s Country Lodge & Zululand Adventures – said: […]

Rhino poaching in South Africa is at a critical level despite the “deafening” silence from official government communications and mainstream media, according to one of southern Africa’s most dedicated, well-respected wildlife vets, Dr Dave Cooper. Referring to the violent killing of rhino as ‘murders’ rather than the mild, mundane word ‘poaching’, Dr Cooper has issued a massive […]

Two German nationals are expected to appear in a South African court on Monday for the alleged illegal trade and possession of reptiles and controlled substances (drugs). “The men were nabbed while illegally catching and trading in reptiles, including Armadillo Girdled lizards which are a threatened and protected species, geckos and tortoises in the Northern […]