Oz, the very first live, adult rhino in South Africa to have a CT scan (after presenting with an unusual swelling to his face) is “doing very well”, according to Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary. The sanctuary said many people had been asking after hearing the exciting news of the ground-breaking scan on Tuesday. The […]

A weighty 75,504 global citizens (including at least 9,011 voices from South Africa) are calling on Minister Barbara Creecy and her Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to implement the New Deal for People and Wildlife, as outlined in the draft Policy Position on the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of elephant, lion, […]

International World Rabies Day is on the 28th of September and the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Khayelitsha, aims to vaccinate 1000 dogs in one day. This is after the recent identification of rabies-infected dogs in the Khayelitsha area, the first since 1994 in the Western Cape. What is Rabies? Rabies is a deadly virus that can […]

As we celebrate World Rhino Day today – 22 September – we recognise the pioneering technological innovations that are proving to be highly effective in protecting Africa’s threatened rhino populations from poachers. Watch the Video: Postcode Meerkat For almost five years, Postcode Meerkat – the most advanced wide-area surveillance system ever developed for counter-poaching purposes […]

Three rhino poachers were yesterday sentenced to 105 years in prison by the Skukuza Regional Court, for rhino poaching and related offences. The South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 3 September, welcomed the sentencing. The three poachers were arrested in 2017 after killing three rhinos in Marula (southern) section of the Kruger National Park. SANParks […]

There has been an international outcry after a wild lion, named Mopane, was allegedly killed by an American trophy hunter outside of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, in disturbing similarities to the killing of ‘Cecil’ which made headlines six years ago. The trophy hunter is allegedly again an American – named as Phillip Smith (not […]

With Lockdown restrictions eased since last year, the rhino poaching war has certainly heated up in South Africa. The last seven days have been hectic – a suspected rhino poaching kingpin gunned down just before appearing in court, three suspected poachers arrested in separate incidents (with tourists helping report them), and at least 21 poaching […]

A keeper was mauled to death yesterday by a rogue Siberian tiger at a predator park near Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa, after the electric fence to its enclosure was turned off for maintenance. The tiger then went on to kill another tiger. Jasper, a male Siberian tiger, scaled the 12-foot high fence […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has today, 18 May 2021 welcomed the culmination of two long-running rhino poaching trials by the Skukuza Regional Court. One rhino poacher was sentenced on 14 May whilst three – including a former SANParks employee – were sentenced on 17 May. The Managing Executive of the Kruger National Park, Gareth […]

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities. “Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health […]

In commemoration of World Pangolin Day today – 20 February 2021 – Investec has announced plans to fund and support the first dedicated pangolin veterinary ward in Africa in partnership with the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH). “Pangolins are currently the world’s most trafficked non-human mammal. In 2019, 97 tonnes of scales were trafficked from […]

A critically endangered African White-Backed vulture was tragically found poisoned, with the possibility of more vulture carcasses removed from the site in Zululand over the festive season. This comes exactly one year after an incident in the same area which later resulted in the rescue and rehabilitation of four African White-Backed vultures and one Lappet-Faced […]

Two horses have been rescued in the Free State by the Bloemfontein SPCA, after a concerned community member – who had witnessed the horses being abused – contacted the organisation. A third horse was also rescued after the SPCA saw it being uncared for. The SPCA said the first two horses had apparently been ridden […]

In line with the mission of World Animal Day on 4 October, young South Africans have stepped up to raise welfare standards and conserve our collective wildlife heritage, starting in South Africa… writes Louzel Lombard Steyn. A new generation of conservationists are on the rise and on World Animal Day, young leaders have called for […]

There has been widespread condemnation after a pride of seven lions in the Karoo National Park in Beaufort West were killed, apparently put down by the South African National Parks (SANParks)… but this evening SANParks will be holding a webinar where its conservationists and other experts will answer questions, and explain their reasons behind the […]

Five young boys have been nicknamed ‘The Magnificent 5’ by the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa, after their caring rescue of a timid Labrador. The Animal Welfare Society (AWS) of South Africa – which offers a range of veterinary services to the underprivileged and disadvantaged communities of Cape Town – said the group of […]

The High Court of South Africa has dismissed the appeal filed by Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm against the judgment of Honourable Ms Justice Mokgohloa concerning Zanchieta’s inclusion in the award-winning Blood Lions documentary; and instructed Zanchieta to pay Blood Lions’ legal costs. Blood Lions’ documentary feature film – which blows the lid off claims made […]

Away from the beaches and lagoons for which the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay is famous, at 8am on a Saturday morning in the industrial area, crowds of people gather with their dogs, which run around playing, barking and causing a ruckus alongside their owners who are queueing down the street. It is overcast and […]

This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates the situation in Standerton, South Africa, that has shocked the nation. Video footage this week of the streets of Standerton in the Lekwa municipal district in Mpumalanga, showed how the residents and municipal workers are burning fires late into the night and dumping their rubbish right outside the municipal buildings. […]

Between July and August 2020, 10 critically endangered African White-Backed Vultures have tragically been discovered dead in four separate incidents in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Thanks to special GPS tracking units, these are helping identify what the threats to the species are… which unfortunately appear to be man-made threats. Of the 10 deceased birds, four […]

In a world-first for the endangered Temminck´s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), a reintroduction program has been launched to release this species into an area where they became locally extinct decades ago – KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Manyoni Private Game Reserve in Zululand, KZN, is working closely with the African Pangolin Working Group, HSI Africa and Johannesburg […]

While many safari lodges wait for lockdown on tourism to be lifted so they can take in guests again, life remains busy. For several lodges in Bela-Bela a few weeks ago, staff were faced with the enormous task of saving a giraffe that was trapped in a swimming pool. According to a post on Facebook, […]

Conservation groups from South Africa and around the globe have called on the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and their Global Tourism Crisis Committee to phase out close-contact wildlife encounters and entertainment practices in tourism to help build a more resilient and sustainable industry going forward…. writes environmental writer Louzel Lombard Steyn.  This as […]

Wildlife is thriving off Simon’s Town during lockdown and “life’s a beach for these locals”, according to the City of Cape Town, South Africa. This beautiful Southern Elephant Seal was photographed early yesterday morning, Monday 18 May 2020, at the Simon’s Town harbour by Dave Hurwitz.  The seal was first sighted yesterday, according to the City, […]

Cape Town, South Africa, has been buzzing this week with the arrival in Hout Bay of another super pod of dolphins. (In April, local residents under lockdown were entertained by thousands of dolphins swimming in the bay.) UPDATE: Super pod of dolphins swims into Hout Bay, South Africa on 23 April 2021. Cape Town resident […]