A magical floral fireworks video has been going viral on WhatsApp in South Africa, and around the world, as the planet ushers in 2021… filled with hope and appreciation for the beauty in nature. The video begins with the message ‘Happy New Year / Naturally’ and ends with ‘2021’. In between it features amazing footage […]

Enjoying the festive season, these monkeys in Umdloti, just north of Durban, appeared to be having some quality family time when Andrea Ben captured these cute photos of them “monkeying around” yesterday. Vervet monkeys are regular visitors to many gardens along the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) coast, and residents have been encouraged by Monkey Helpline to plant […]

LIMPOPO – Police in Lephalale have launched a manhunt for an unknown number of suspects in a rhino poaching incident that took place on Monday evening at a nature reserve in South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a media statement that the poaching of the protected and endangered species was discovered […]

Three African Painted Dogs in KwaZulu-Natal have been successfully collared to assist with their conservation. Monitoring the endangered species is essential – with only about 550 African Painted Dogs left in South Africa, every individual counts, writes Janelle Barnard… An afternoon of darting and collaring African Painted Dogs on Somkhanda Community Game Reserve almost became […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on Friday that items believed to be those of missing Field Ranger, Checkers Mashego, who went missing in the Stolsnek Section of the Kruger National Park during the evening of 17 November 2020, were discovered by a search party in the same section during the late afternoon of Wednesday, […]

A thirsty elephant at Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, surprised visitors (and a couple of zebra witnesses) with his agile leopard crawl to make his way to a water hole. Watch below. Addo, which is 72km from Port Elizabeth, is the third largest national park in South Africa and is famous […]

The Nkombe Rhino Organisation, run by Joe Pietersen, recently completed its 100th dehorning – a final desperate measure to give rhino a chance at survival against poachers. The video below of the milestone event shows viewers a close-up view of the heartbreaking, yet vital, dehorning process which can save a rhino’s life. Anthony Kirkwood, Creative […]

GAUTENG – Seventeen rhino horns were seized at a warehouse in Kempton Park, South Africa, on Monday. The seizure of the valuable haul was thanks to a multi-disciplinary approach driven operation by Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Customs, and Environmental Affairs. The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (HAWKS) said in a statement on […]

How do we save whales and other marine animals from plastic in the ocean? Our new review shows reducing plastic pollution can prevent the deaths of beloved marine species. Over 700 marine species, including half of the world’s cetaceans (such as whales and dolphins), all of its sea turtles and a third of its seabirds, […]

A black rhino in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, that was struggling to walk, with a giant splinter stuck in his foot, has had the obstruction removed thanks to the awesome work of world-famous wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds and his great team. According to Buffalo Kloof Private Game Reserve, the black rhino was spotted […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) is today celebrating Captain David Simelane, South Africa’s first black game capture rated pilot. Nicknamed “Blackhawk”, Simelane completed his game capture rating, which is an endorsement on his pilot license, with flying colours on 2 December 2020. SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni said in a statement: “We are extremely proud of […]

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population has declined by over 95% since the 1900s and by nearly 65% over the past 30 years. In the early 1900s, there were an estimated 1.5 million to 3 million African penguins inhabiting islands off the coast of southern Africa. By last year, this had fallen to about 17,900 […]

A shootout has taken place between armed rhino poachers and an anti-poaching unit on SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary in Limpopo, near South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park, on Thursday afternoon. SanWild said the suspected poachers were armed with automatic rifles. The chase is still on to catch them. “A Helicopter, armed response unit with tracker dogs, […]

A video is going viral of a crocodile snapping at a bakkie in Richard’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Watch below. According to the Zululand Observer (ZO), the crocodile has been keeping local residents “on their toes” for the past few weeks. The paper said it appeared to be looking for somewhere quiet last […]

A year-long investigation by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has allegedly revealed information indicating “gross negligence” by Ezemvelo in protecting rhino. The DA said it will be asking the new KZN Environmental MEC, Ravi Pillay, to appoint an independent team to probe Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s “complicity in rhino deaths in the province”. At […]

Despite overwhelming worldwide opposition, including a parliamentary resolution to close down the captive lion breeding industry, SA’s government is ignoring red flags that the industry is damaging the country’s reputation and deliberating a 2020 annual trade quota for the export of lion bones… writes Melissa Reitz. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) said in […]

Aardvarks are notoriously elusive, nocturnal mammals. They generally hide in their underground burrows during the day and emerge at night to feed exclusively on ants and termites. Aardvarks are widespread throughout most habitats of Africa south of the Sahara, except deserts. But their actual numbers are not known because they’re so elusive. Aardvarks top the […]

Beautiful blue sea dragons (known scientifically as Glaucus Atlanticus) washed up on Fish Hoek Beach near Cape Town, South Africa, last Monday 16 November, and local resident Maria Wagener was there to capture these rare, wonderful photos (and video below) of the incredible blue creatures from the ocean. Maria, who has lived in Fish Hoek […]

South Africa Rhino Poaching: It’s a fantastic day in South Africa for rhinos, wildlife conservation, and the country’s legal system. Today the sentencing of three rhino poachers, for 25 years imprisonment each, was upheld in court. The notorious rhino poaching Ndlovu gang had appeared before a full bench of three High Court judges three months […]

The notorious Ndlovu Gang – who were found guilty in April 2019 of 55 charges relating to the poaching of at least 13 rhino (though estimated to be closer to 100) – will find out today at the High Court in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, whether their appeal has been […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s denial of his alleged secret stake in trophy hunting has “dug him into a deeper hole”, according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which recently claimed to have proof the President is a 50% owner of a hunting safari company, and allows the company to hunt on […]

A virtual prayer meeting has been held for missing Kruger National Park field ranger, Checkers Mashego. Mashego was first reported missing by colleagues early on Tuesday evening (17 Nov) when he failed to show up at the agreed rendezvous point, after a routine patrol along the Nsikazi River in the Stolsnek section of South Africa’s […]

Well known animal rights organisation PETA US claims to have uncovered proof that South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has invested heavily in the trophy hunting industry in SA. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) alleges the SA President has carefully hidden his connections and investments in the controversial industry… but his cover has […]

The now famous chacma baboon Kataza, who made headlines after he was controversially removed from his troupe in Kommetjie, Cape Town, is to be returned home after the city was taken to court by a concerned citizen, Ryno Engelbrecht. The relocation of the male baboon in late August caused a huge outcry and locals started […]

Patricia Anne MacDonald got a surprise during Lockdown when, at around 2.30am one night in July, she realised that the sound of creaking trees and branches breaking at her home in Cape Vidal, South Africa, was not the wind! It was elephant! “I must admit,” she told SAPeople. “It was quite scary at the time. […]