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 […]

A student game ranger, from Scotland, was injured on Wednesday when he was charged by a rhino on a game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The British trainee was apparently on a 10-week training course in northern Zululand, and was being taught field craft when he and his tutors surprised a large black rhino. According […]

The Kruger National Park (KNP) today, 17 May 2021 announced their management plans in anticipation of the coming winter fire season which usually takes place between June and October. Fires are a common and natural occurrence in KNP which is found within the Savanna biome (also knows as the Tropical Grasslands), and like the Fynbos […]

Now’s your chance to take a trip to a beautiful South African park. The South African National Parks (SANParks) is offering a 40% discount on new online bookings for stays between (and including) Wednesday, 12 May to Tuesday, 18 May 2021 at a selection of parks and camps. SANParks says: “#LiveYourWild” The discount is available […]

(Reuters) – Kenya began its first national wildlife census on Friday, aiming to aid conservation and identify threats to its vast but threatened wildlife populations. The census will run until July, with rangers, researchers and community members counting animals on land and from helicopters. It will focus on counting rare species such as the pangolin, […]

HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – Rhino poaching is unfortunately on the rise again in South Africa since the government loosened coronavirus restrictions, following a year-long lull due to the pandemic, wildlife parks say. The strict limits on travel, including international travel, imposed in March last year had the happy side effect of keeping poachers at […]

It’s great news for wildlife as Minister Barbara Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) today announced crucial and long-awaited steps towards changing the status quo of the commercial captive lion breeding industry in South Africa. Speaking at a stakeholder’s feedback meeting in Pretoria, Minister Creecy said that South Africa will […]

DAKAR (Reuters) – Rory Young, co-founder and president of Chengeta Wildlife, was tragically killed in an ambush during an anti-poaching patrol in Burkina Faso this week. Two Spanish journalists, who were making a documentary about Rory’s exemplary efforts to protect wildlife, were also killed. Rory’s charity trained anti-poaching rangers in Africa. Born in Zambia, Rory […]

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has undertaken one of the biggest rhino dehorning operations in KwaZulu-Natal. The operation, which was funded and supported by conservation NGO Wildlife ACT, set out last week to dehorn the entire population of white rhino on Spioenkop Nature Reserve… writes Janelle Barnard, Love Africa. The dehorning of rhino populations has been adopted […]

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA urgently needs all our help for the wildlife that has been injured by an out-of-control fire which began raging on the Table Mountain slopes on Sunday morning. The SPCA emergency response efforts have been underway since yesterday. Inspectors were dispatched to the Rhodes Memorial site on Sunday to look […]

A suspected poacher in the Kruger National Park was killed yesterday by elephants whilst fleeing from South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers. One of his accomplices was successfully arrested. A third suspect escaped, although injured by the elephants. SANParks said in a statement today that the deceased and his two accomplices were fleeing from rangers […]

The iconic Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, with support from Wildlife ACT, has released a new pack of Endangered African Painted Dogs into their new home. This is an important milestone in the conservation of this species as they are the most endangered carnivore in Southern Africa, with an estimated 3000-5000 individuals left in the wild, of which […]

The Kruger National Park (KNP) has made history by appointing its first ever female Head Ranger, Cathy Dreyer… who is affectionately known as the ‘Rhino Whisperer’. Dreyer has an exemplary record in conservation management – particularly with rhino (which is crucial for the Kruger), as well as in law enforcement, people and strategic management competencies. […]

Hollywood filmmakers and movie stars have joined forces with Humane Society International (HSI) to produce a powerful short film, #SaveRalph, to end cosmetic testing on animals around the world, including South Africa. Although banned in 40 countries, the practice of testing on animals is still legal in most of the world, and is even making […]

Thirty Banded Mongooses that inadvertently ‘hitched’ a ride from Mabula Game Lodge for 170km to a house in Silverlakes, Pretoria, have been successfully rescued and returned by the Owl Rescue Centre. As the Centre says, this “unusual” (and uniquely South African!) story should make it into the Guiness World Book of Records. The mongooses’ adventure […]

It looks like an ordinary domestic scene of pet dogs being fed beside a swimming pool in South Africa, until you look a little closer and realise amongst the dogs are some very obedient warthogs who’ve learnt how to sit obediently to receive their snacks! “Sit Varkie (Piggy),” the woman feeding the animals can be […]

A life-size pencil drawing of an African elephant is bringing its viewers to tears, so magnificent and realistic is the artwork… an homage in fact to a real-life elephant named Makavuzi, affectionately known as Mak. The stunning picture, which captures Mak’s soul, was created by talented Zimbabwean artist David Filer with an all-Zimbabwean team taking […]

While the iconic great white shark is without a doubt the most recognisable in False Bay in the Western Cape of South Africa, it might surprise you that more than 20 different shark species have been seen in the region. Bringing awareness to the 13 lesser-known species that are commonly found on these shores, a […]

Photos of a gemsbok with a thick spider web wrapped around its horns have caught the attention of social media users in Southern Africa, who haven’t yet been able to agree on how the web (or webs) got there. The photos were taken by Jess Isden in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana. Jess, a […]

Tragically another white rhino cow and her calf were killed in South Africa over the weekend for their horns, but fortunately two rhino poaching suspects have been caught thanks to an incredible amount of team work. The incident took place at PP Maré Boerdery near Gravelotte in Limpopo. According to Hope for Wildlife Helicopter Services, […]

A Gauteng vet, Dr Clifford Bull, and his awesome team at Craig View Veterinary clinic in Boksburg, South Africa, have used a 3D printer to rebuild the fractured jaw of an over 30-year-old leopard tortoise. “It’s not every day a Vet is asked to assist a 30 year old pet, or to rebuild a patient’s […]

KAMPALA, UGANDA – Six lions have been killed in Uganda by suspected poisoning. The Uganda Wildlife Authority said in a statement that it is “saddened” to announce the death of the lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lion carcasses were found yesterday evening in the Ishasha sector, which is well known for its tree-climbing […]

The suspects in two long-standing rhino poaching trials in the Mhala Regional Court have finally been successfully prosecuted. The South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 17 March 2021, commended the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga for the successful prosecution. In February 2021, three accused suspects – who were arrested back in August 2018 – […]

Trucks transporting 100 donkeys for the donkey skin trade were intercepted last Monday evening near Mooiriver, after almost 18 months of inactivity, according to the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA). The NSPCA said it was alerted to the trucks and immediately contacted the Mooi River SPCA and local South African Police Service (SAPS) who assisted […]