South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has lost its appeal to keep a moratorium on the local trade in rhino horn. SA’s highest court – the Constitutional Court – made the ruling yesterday, in effect opening the way to make the trade and sale of rhino horns legal within the country. The United Nations’ global ban […]

An elephant in the Kruger National Park (KNP) has tragically killed a female staff member, and seriously wounded another. In a statement today, the park confirmed an employee of South African National Parks (SANParks) based in the Kruger National Park (KNP) was trampled to death by an elephant and another sustained serious injuries. The tragic incident […]

Humans and animals need to do several things to pass on their genes: eat, avoid being eaten, reproduce and sleep. Missing any of these biological imperatives leads to death. But when we’re asleep we can’t perform those other functions. One of modern science’s big mysteries, then, is: why do we sleep? Scientists have suggested many […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the arrests of 13 suspected poachers – as well as the fatal wounding of another-  in the Kruger National Park (KNP) yesterday in three different operations. The arrests include two ‘insiders’ – a South African Police Services (SAPS) member and a SANParks Environmental Monitor. The arrests – on 28 […]

The Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage (FTTRO) has taken drastic measures to ensure the safety of their staff and rhino orphans… as the reality hits that human lives are at risk, and police report an escalation of poaching attacks in South Africa. The Orphanage experienced a brutal poaching attack in February that resulted in a horrific […]

SKUKUZA – Since the beginning of March, 16 rhino carcasses have been found in the Kruger National Park (KNP)… and it has also been revealed that the Kruger is tightening security to prevent poachers entering the park as guests. Only three of the 16 dead rhino that were found still had their horns intact. Post-mortems will be done […]

Angélique van der Merwe captured this beautiful footage of six Cape Clawless Otters venturing onto the shore at Onrus Beach yesterday morning at around 07h00. She came upon the special sighting whilst out on a morning stroll. Angélique (Lelulu on Instagram) said: “I stumbled upon them. I have seen one at night at the lagoon […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the death of a Field Ranger in what appears to have been an accidental shooting. The incident happened at Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park (KNP), where the Field Ranger was based and details are still sketchy at this stage, but the South African Police Service (SAPS) […]

A new wildlife organisation has launched with the ambitious aim of saving every single surviving rhino or elephant victim of poaching. It’s called The Now or Never African Wildlife Trust (NNAWT)… and it has search giant Google on its side! NNAWT brings together key players – with extensive experience and contacts – in the war on poaching, […]

A cheetah has tragically mauled and killed a three-year-old boy this weekend on John Varty’s farm, near Philippolis in the Free State, South Africa. East Coast Radio (ECR) reports that police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said the boy was attacked by the by the cheetah on Saturday. He was airlifted to hospital in Bloemfontein but sadly […]

An orphaned little rhino in South Africa – named J’aime, in tribute to the poached rhino in a French zoo near Paris – is happily thriving, according to The Rhino Orphanage founder, Jamie Traynor. J’aime was herself the survivor of the horrific mutilation and killing of 16 rhino across South Africa, in the space of two days, just […]

This dramatic video of Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape shows how dire the water situation is in Cape Town… where strict water restrictions have been implemented, a naming and shaming policy introduced for water ‘abusers’, and freeway signs flash warnings of how little drinking water is left. The drone footage, filmed by helicopter pilot Stephan […]

A New Zealand family are still reeling after their teenage son was attacked by a cheetah whilst on holiday in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, this week. Well, it appears it’s more Mom who’s reeling… while her 14-year-old son, Isaac, has recovered well and is kind of excited to show off his “cool” cheetah scars to his mates back […]

After last week’s alarming poaching onslaught around South Africa that resulted in the death of 13 rhino in a 24-hour time period (of which the South African Department of Environment has still made no comment!), here are some fantastic photos this week celebrating an unsuccessful poaching attack. Pilanesberg National Park and Wildlife Trust posted the photos […]

It’s official. New BBC research – which included South African participants – reveals that watching nature programmes makes you happier! BBC Earth, the BBC’s global factual brand, has today published findings of an international study titled The Real Happiness Project showing nature programming’s direct impact on the mood and wellbeing of its viewers. The research […]

While most wildlife conservationists are calling for the South African government to reveal more frequent updates on the number of rhino poached in South Africa, it appears that SA National Parks (SANParks) disagrees that this would be useful. In fact, SANParks believes rhino poaching statistics can send the wrong message. At a stakeholder seminar at the Nombolo […]

In a coincidentally well-timed documentary, tonight’s broadcast of Schofield’s South African Adventure in the UK (ITV 20h00), shows well known British presenter Phillip Schofield, and his wife Stephanie, on safari in South Africa tagging a rhino called Themba at a local game reserve as part of a programme to protect the species. As the whole […]

It’s not even full moon… and distressing reports have come in that as many as thirteen rhino have been poached in South Africa during the past 24 hours. (Update Friday 08h00 SA Time: the rhino poaching figure has been updated from eight to 13.) Captured in Africa (CIA) CEO, Drew Abrahamson, tweeted early Thursday evening: “ALARMING REPORTS from […]

The world has been mourning the news this week that one of Africa’s few remaining iconic Big Tuskers, Satao II, was killed by poachers in Kenya.  Wildlife conservationist and keen photographer Dex Kotze spent a week in Tsavo in August 2016, where he captured several hauntingly beautiful photos of the male elephant. “I saw Satao II […]

Conservationists are asking the public to make their voice heard by signing a petition for CITES to help assist in stopping the South African government from allowing the national and international trade in rhino horn. Megan Carr from Rhinos in Africa said: “South Africa is reaching yet another critical turning point in its turbulent history” as the risk of […]

This is one of those scenes that’s been filmed several times – when a large snake makes its way into a motorcar’s engine… but no matter how many times you view it, it never makes it less awesome! Terri Noscov, who appears to be from Australia, uploaded this video back in 2014… but it is still […]

The desperation, greed and – quite honestly – repulsiveness of poachers has just got even worse. Recently poachers shocked and horrified the world when they stooped so low as to kill two young rhino (as well as attacking the staff) at a rhino orphanage in South Africa. And now they have crossed another line – this […]

Karen Trendler, from Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage (FTTRO) in South Africa, has graciously asked for respect and sensitivity during this tough period as the team recovers from the traumatic attack at the orphanage a couple of weeks ago. Karen thanked the investigating teams and officers for their “ongoing commitment to the investigations into the […]

There’s a happy hippo (or he seems that way) that hangs out at the High Bridge, in Komatipoort, every afternoon and watches the traffic go by. Or so claim a few residents from Komatipoort in South Africa. Here’s the photo that’s gone viral, apparently taken by local Louw Pretorius: Ngwenya Marketing first posted the pic, […]

Award-winning filmmakers and conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who have devoted their lives to saving endangered animals, have been charged by a buffalo. Last night Dereck sent thanks through their Twitter and Facebook pages for the phenomenal support. Admin for the Dereck and Beverly Big Cat Conservation page said: “Beverly is stable and Dereck is with […]