Blog posts in Conservation And Research

Here we go again: Lion Bone – ‘To Trade or Not to Trade’ – It Clearly Matters

Last week I attended a South African Parliamentary Colloquium on the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa. There are anywhere between 6000 and 8000 lions being bred in captivity within... read more

Rhino Dehorning Explained

Rhino dehorning is not a pleasant thing to witness. Just the mention of it evokes a sense of brutality. It is a sad reality that in order to help save rhino species from the threat of poaching, the... read more

Why are African Wild Dogs so Endangered?

African Wild Dogs are endangered mostly due to ongoing habitat fragmentation, conflict with human activities and infectious disease. The estimated decline in African Wild Dog population size can be... read more

Giraffe – New Endangered Species?

Giraffe are firmly favoured for their spectacular appearance on the African savannah. With adaptations that render them completely unique – dramatically elongated neck, a tough agile black tongue,... read more

First Ever African Wild Dog Introduction to Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Partnerships continue to drive endangered species conservation success as endangered African Wild Dogs are reintroduced to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique after decades of absence In a... read more

Lion Whisker Spots & Other Ways of Identifying Individual Lions

Each individual lion is identifiable from the unique lion whisker spots found on each side of the face. Other characteristics such as ear tears, facial shapes and scars are useful too, however, lion... read more

Camera Trapping and its Role in Priority Species Monitoring

Did you know that the first “camera traps” (remotely triggered cameras to capture wildlife imagery without a human presence) were used in the late 1890’s by photographic pioneer George Shiras?... read more

Rhino Dehorning Explained: A Conservation Approach to Save the Rhino

All too often in the conservation arena, we are faced with making a choice between two options which are both unattractive. Think Donald vs Hilary… In the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where... read more

The Secretive Seven Caught on Camera

Everyone knows and longs for sightings of the “Big 5”, but have you ever heard of or seen the Secretive Seven? They are the Aardvark, African Wild Cat, Cape Porcupine, Civet,... read more

New Population of Black Rhino Established!

The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) has established its 11th population of Black Rhino! The successful relocation saw a total of 14 critically endangered Black Rhino moved to a new home.... read more