The title of the book I compiled with Colin Bell, ‘The Last Elephants’, was less predictive than a warning — elephants on the continent were in big trouble, with populations plummeting. Two years later it was time to see how they were doing… writes DON PINNOCK, DAILY MAVERICK. The state of elephants in Africa is in […]

A well-known male lion in Zimbabwe, named Mopane (or Mopani), is confirmed to have been killed by a hunter. Conservationists had petitioned over the last few years for Mopane to be protected from hunters. There has been an outcry today as Mopane’s pride, the Somadada Pride, are now apparently left unprotected and vulnerable. According to […]

Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy today released the latest rhino poaching statistics for South Africa, whilst also paying tribute to SANParks’ rangers, including those rangers who tragically died over the past year. Minister Creecy said: “Today on World Ranger Day, we want to pay tribute to our rangers for the incredible work they do each […]

MPUMALANGA – Two wildlife trafficking suspects, who were arrested in Nelspruit (Mbombela) whilst transporting 19 rhino horns in two bakkies, have appeared in court today and have been named by the SA Police Service (SAPS). According to SAPS, the accused are Schalk (Abraham) Steyn (48) and Johannes Groenewald (53). The Lowvelder said the men are […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has proudly announced that Ndabenhle David Simelane has become the first black Chief Pilot for SANParks Air Services. SANParks Chief Operating Officer Lize McCourt, said: “Simelane’s most recent promotion sees him moving from the rank of pilot to SANParks Chief Pilot and Person Responsible for Operations as per the South […]

A young female volunteer from Belgium, assisting at a captive wildlife facility in South Africa, was left traumatised after an attack by a captive cheetah last month. The facility begged her to keep the incident quiet, but for the sake of the safety of other volunteers Amandine Lequime has come forward. Amandine says she was […]

Since the dawn of creation man and beast has had an intriguing symbiotic relationship… writes Justin Steyn. This has become the mission of the Sahasrara wolf sanctuary situated in the Limpopo region of South Africa, which now seeks to open another facility in Sedgefield in the Western Cape. Passionate ecologist and committed owner of the […]

Following South Africa’s move to Adjusted Level Four with effect from today, Monday, 28 June 2021, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed guests of the following key changes to its hospitality and tourism services in its various national parks. “SANParks, in complying with government regulations, has made the requisite amendments… particularly for travellers […]

This article is a response to ‘Baboons Belong Campaign‘ published by SAPeople on 20/06/21 The City of Cape Town’s baboon program has been widely criticised for allegedly using inhumane and ineffective methods to deter baboons from urban areas and keep them within the protected area of Table Mountain National Park… write Esme Beamish and Justin […]

Photos are pouring in from around South Africa and the world, with the words “Baboons Belong” written on the palms of people’s hands, to raise awareness for a vastly improved management of these iconic animals in the Western Cape who currently face death if they don’t behave according to a set of what some people […]

Youth Day today (16 June) in South Africa is a day to pay tribute to the youth and recognise the power they have to initiate change. This year, the youth from Youth For Lions are celebrating the recent announcement made by Minister Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on their decision […]

Algoa Bay in South Africa has been awarded the Whale Heritage Site accolade, making South Africa the only country in the world with two accredited sites. Whale Heritage Sites are a global accreditation scheme developed by the World Cetacean Alliance and supported by World Animal Protection, that recognise a community’s commitment to respect and celebrate […]

Environment Minister Barbara Creecy’s report on the use and protection of SA’s iconic wildlife was groundbreaking… writes DON PINNOCK from Daily Maverick. But is there the political will to turn its recommendations into policy? At the launch of the far-reaching report on the management of lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards by Environment Minister Barbara Creecy’s […]

Simon’s Town’s penguins are poised to become global superstars, as they feature in a new Netflix original documentary series that is sure to have the world fall in love with the endangered African Penguins. Watch the trailer below. It’s very cool! This is what Netflix has to say about the TV series, which starts in […]

When great white sharks disappeared from two well-known congregation areas on South Africa’s coast recently, the possible reasons were hotly debated…. writes Alison Kock, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. The appearance of a pair of shark-eating killer whales in the area was one. Another was the decline in numbers of smaller shark species that […]

On World Environment Day yesterday two unlikely protagonists, the Addo flightless dung beetle and the oxpecker, featured in a short film about the impact of unsustainable human activity on fragile ecosystems and how these can be restored. The film is a World Environment Day special, created for Shamwari TV, which uses the story of the […]

The war on poachers in South Africa appears to have taken a sharp turn in the right direction… with successful convictions during May, as well as several arrests. Just in the past week, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has arrested another four poaching suspects. SANParks announced today (5 June 2021) that well executed operations […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Researchers in South Africa are working on a potentially new method to deter rhino poachers and smugglers by using radioactive markers to make smuggled horns detectable at global ports of entry and less desirable to buyers. The new radioactive study is a collaboration between the University of Witwatersrand and a global team […]

The Rhino Conservation Awards celebrates its 10th anniversary, an initiative that has dedicated the last decade to recognising individuals and organisations who have worked tirelessly to conserve and protect our wild spaces. And it’s time for nominations for this year’s heroes. (See details at bottom of article.) The awards highlight outstanding efforts by those who […]

Two more poachers, caught on South African soil, were sentenced on Thursday (3 June) after they killed an elephant in November 2018 in the Skukuza National Park. The two men – both from Mozambique – were sentenced at Malamulele Regional Court to eight years imprisonment. Enock Sibanda (31) and Eckson Shirinda (28) both pleaded not […]

A lone driver in South Africa got the fright of his life when an elephant charged and attacked his vehicle on Tuesday, 1 June 2021, as he was driving through the Klaserie Nature Reserve in the Limpopo Province. The video went viral, showing the elephant appearing behind trees on the side of the road… while […]

A video of an exciting battle between wild dogs, an unfortunate impala, and an annoyed hippo – filmed in the Greater Kruger National Park – is going viral this week (watch below)… but there’s even more to celebrate, as it’s been revealed that, thanks to conservation efforts, the number of wild dogs in the Kruger […]

A Khayelitsha animal clinic’s homeless dog shelter flooded in last week’s rainstorm. The Mdzananda Animal Clinic reports that their organisation is in desperate need of assistance. Homeless dogs needed to be moved to their small hospital cages during the flood as they had no other space for them. “It’s only the start of winter and the pets […]

SANParks has issued a statement clarifying a report about the dehorning of a dead rhino, following disparaging and “disturbing” comments in the press and on social media; and says it is considering its legal options. News24 posted an article yesterday (21 May), titled “WATCH | Tourists’ bloody find sparks questions whether insiders killed rhino in […]

The student guide who was attacked by a black rhino yesterday – Wednesday 19 May 2021 – in a game reserve in northern Zululand, South Africa, has been discharged and is apparently bruised (the rhino knocked him into a tree, hitting his head, and her calf ran over his legs) but is in fine spirits […]