Issue 12: The Connected Edition A WILD START TO 2019! March - April 2019 EXPOSING SOUTH AFRICA’S PREDATOR PARK SCAMS TACKLING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST Protecting forever, together.

I Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 28

to its critically important (and often completely absent) habitat and its role in a natural ecosystem; and where it is often seen as a A WORD FROM source of amusement. Picture the scene of children laughing at the antics of a troop of captive monkeys who are in fact, demonstrating WHAT’S abnormal behaviour due to stress, fear or frustration. 4. These facilities often detract from the needs, and importance of ‘real’ conservation in which wild and free populations living in THE CEO natural habitats are what really saves species. Captive facilities create a “Noah’s Ark” ideology that suggests that samples of wild INSIDE animals can be put ‘safely’ into enclosures and this way, we have Much has been said recently about zoos, and the role rescued and saved them from extinction. Their very role in the wild, that they play in society. Social media and a heightened and our very dependence on nature as something we cannot control A word from the CEO 2 or manipulate is lost of the audience who very quickly moves into public awareness around the welfare needs of wild asking what is for lunch and negotiating traffic to get home. animals have brought to the fore the issue of the lone 5. Many of these facilities are also guises for captive breeding and Noticeboard trade; on occasion removing animals from the wild under the • Events 3 elephant Lammie at the Johannesburg Zoo, the welfare pretence of ‘saving them from human wildlife conflict’ or needing of the animals at the East London and Bloemfontein to ‘rehabilitate’ them. But the truth is they need new genetics or Features simply new stock. This in turn creates enormous amounts of work zoos, and the concerns around the wildlife trading that for conservation officials and NGOs who struggle to get these • Exposing South Africa’s predator park scams 4 occurs behind the scenes of most private zoos in South animals released or who legitimise the system by issuing permits. • Partnerships: An innovative approach to 7 A system that is highly susceptible to sloppy controls at best and impactful conservation Africa. corruption at worst. • Rocklands: Conservation and management 10 6. The manipulation of a caring public is often taken one step further challenges in adventure-based tourism The war cry of zoos (private and state-owned) has, for generations, when some of these facilities in fact charge ‘volunteers’ to assist been their role in environmental education and conservation, with with hand-rearing young animals who have simply been removed • Tackling illegal wildlife trade 13 the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria having published a from their mothers in order to stimulate more breeding and whose series of conservation strategies, which aim to enable their member future will never, ever be as a wild or free ranging animal. Showcasing our supporters: For the love of wildlife 14 organisations to “deliver on their core mission of conservation”. The Ways to give: Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… trouble is that it assumes that all their member institutions, as well The EWT is not against zoos or captive wildlife facilities in principle, as the thousands of non-member institutions, share this core mission. but has seen the industry change significantly in recent years, with or your phone! There is nothing that actually requires any zoo or captive wildlife any hint of conservation or genuine education only being seen in a facility to engage in conservation – or even education. So it is up to few institutions. Granted, not all captive wildlife facilities are equal Tails from the field the visiting public to draw the distinction between those facilities and some do indeed fulfil an important role along the conservation • A place of connectedness and biodiversity within a 15 that do engage in conservation or education and those that exist for chain. But in a world where many people only see wild animals as a city – Table Mountain’s freshwater ecosystems and commercial purposes only. a commercial opportunity, many, MANY do not. So the EWT urges the public to be cautious about their potential role in legitimising the elusive Ghost Frog Zoos have been around for centuries with the oldest surviving zoo institutions who do NOT contribute to conservation by suggesting what • A wild start to 2019 17 having been established in 1752 in Vienna, Austria as a collection you should look out for and what questions to ask, such as: • The exchange of a lifetime: Loxton to Kamiesberg 19 of animals or an “imperial menagerie”. Despite the London Zoo • Medike Nature Reserve – one year on 20 establishing itself as “the first zoo in the world founded for the scientific • What credible, meaningful education programmes are in place at purpose of studying wildlife” as far back as 1828, the majority of zoos these facilities that serve to benefit the conservation of animals in globally have been and remain, repositories of wildlife ‘specimens’ the wild, along with their all-important habitats and ecosystems? Green heroes for display, entertainment and commercial value. Environmental • Is the conservation plan of the facility publicly available and does it • Giving back 23 education on the other hand, has its roots in the 1970s in the western share its conservation activities with its visitors? • Making a positive difference 24 world, and in South Africa, was only formally recognised after 1994. So • How do the species on display in these facilities contribute at what stage, globally or locally, did the role of zoological institutions meaningfully to the conservation of their compatriots in the wild? morph into a meaningful tool to empower visitors to address the plight • Are the interests of these display animals put first or are they being Walking the talk of endangered species and declining environmental health? And did exploited? • Energy saving tips 25 the large numbers of privately owned predator, snake and wildlife • Is the facility accountable for where the animals come from; where parks that exist today, all get established to educate people about their progeny go to; and to the visiting public as to the application Science snippets conservation in a meaningful and effective manner? Education is a of best practice (welfare, enrichment, husbandry and so on) for all tricky business and the world is full of experts who work tirelessly their ‘exhibits’? • Pilanesberg National Park: Bringing the Cheetah 26 on improving the link between imparting information and developing • Do I, as a visitor, get the full value of a conservation education back from local extinction minds; creating strategies to change behaviour and developing ‘lesson’ or am I paying purely for entertainment for myself or my • Mitigating the impact of large mammals on wooden 27 effective curricula that improve human conduct. All too often, captive children with no meaningful impact for the benefit of the species on electrical distribution poles in the Kruger National wildlife facilities rely on the ‘education’ rhetoric when in fact, all they display? National Park actually do is charge people to see a wild animal in an enclosure, and by showing people what the animal looks like, and perhaps displaying The list of questions is potentially much longer, but if the visiting a board with facts about its breeding biology, they justify their role as public simply asked these questions and applied their minds to the Showcasing our supporters: Wearing your support on your 28 being ‘educators’. If this was to actually have any conservation benefit, answers, we may see the weeding out of those facilities, which frankly sleeve! would species like rhino, lions, vultures and a host of reptiles and should cease to exist, from those that actually benefit our wildlife. In amphibians, be in a worse state today than ever in history? the 250 years that have passed since Vienna opened their “tiergarten”, the world has moved on in many ways, and the confinement of wild Wildlife fact file animals in situations that compromise their health and wellbeing, • Serval 29 Where effective and meaningful conservation and / or education has that provide no conservation value whatsoever, and that only exist for • Blue Duiker 30 happened (yes, there are examples), it has largely come about as a human entertainment and commercial gain should be relegated to the • Cape Porcupine 30 result of specific institutions redefining their core purpose and moving history books. For the only ‘education’ value of these places lies in away from the entertainment / commercial proposition from which their display of what human beings should NOT do and how humanity they may have arisen. But in most cases, I would go so far as to say needs to transform. Meet the pack that they actually detract from conservation for the following reasons: • Oscar Mohale 31 • Megan Murison 32 1. They often lull the visiting public into a false sense of Yolan Friedmann EWT CEO • Samantha Page-Nicholson 33 comfort about the plight of the species. When people see large numbers of lions (for example), ‘safe and secure’ behind fences, [email protected] they often believe that the species is not threatened with extinction Ways to give: Every swipe counts! 34 and that these captive populations can simply be bred up and ‘put back’ into the wild in order to bolster numbers. Pups’ place 35 2. This fallacy is often perpetuated by the institutions themselves, which falsely claim that this is the purpose behind their breeding programmes. Using lions again as an example, no captive bred lion In closing: Mwitu’s missive 36 has ever been released into the wild and this is not a requirement of any lion conservation plan anywhere on the globe. 3. People cannot be ‘effectively’ educated about the plight of a species when their knowledge of it is in an unnatural environment; when it is mostly behaving abnormally; when there is no connection drawn

1 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 2 24 May 8 June EWT Annual Kremetart Golf Day Cycling Race EXPOSING The Kremetart Cycling Race is the only one day, four stage race in South Africa. The Soutpansberg Mountain Range offers SOUTH a wonderful backdrop to the race, and is also home to the EWT’s Medike Nature 22 April: Earth Day Reserve and Soutpansberg Protected Area projects, so it made perfect sense that the AFRICA’S 22 May: EWT would be added as a beneficiary for International Day for this year’s event, which takes place on 8 Biological Diversity June 2019. PREDATOR For more information, visit http://www.kremetartcycling.co.za/ Entries close on 8 May 2019. PARK SCAMS 14 May: Country Club 25-26 May Johannesburg Talk – & 1-2 June Paul Tully Book launch Bezhoek Extreme [email protected]. Life is like a Kudu Horn This article originally appeared on Africa – Margret Jacobsohn Geographic https://africageographic.com/ blog/opinion-activist-exposes-south-africas- Namibian communities have played a lion-park-scams/ and is the opinion of its leading role in stopping recent rhino author poaching. How was a disastrous situation - two years of rhino deaths and no arrests - turned around in 2015? Margaret Jacobsohn, author of Life is like a Kudu Horn, is a specialist in community-based action who has spent the last 35 years living and working in remote parts of Namibia. Have you ever wondered why South Africa add up. Right? On the face of it, lion parks look like fantastic At her book launch, she will discuss this seems to have so many captive lion cubs, in nurseries for unfortunate ‘orphaned’ cubs – offering a caring and other issues relevant to modern home, and eventual return to the wild. Oh, and of course there Africa – and to the planet. She believes the what are known as ‘lion parks’? are endless streams of tourists paying to manhandle the cubs challenges of community-based natural The reason, in my opinion, is one that we all continuously throughout the day – when lion cubs should be 25-26 May & 1-2 June sleeping, feeding and bonding with their mother and siblings. resource management work in rural Africa need to face up to: IT’S A SCAM. differ from the international challenges Bezhoek Extreme Instead, they are passed around like binoculars on a safari we face only in scale and specific content game drive. – whether the problem is crime, plastic The organisers of the Bezhoek Extreme are proud to announce that the 2019 The still-growing lion cub petting industry pollution, or fake news. While individuals The numbers edition of the race will be in support of the critical conservation work undertaken masks a sinister legal industry in South According to South Africa’s Department of Environmental can and should make a difference, only by the EWT. For more information visit https://www.bezhoekextreme.co.za/ communities – the ordinary public – can Africa. Playing with cute little lion cubs is the Affairs, South Africa has an estimated 8,000 captive lions in change the world. Politicians don’t lead approximately 200 breeding facilities. One can add to this an – they follow, she says. Dr Jacobsohn tip of the iceberg – it’s what you don’t see that unknown number of private (backyard) breeders that operate has won some of defines this abusive industry. without permits and provide an endless supply of cuddly the world’s top merchandise to this hungry industry. environmental When tourists and volunteers visit one of the numerous ‘lion Each of these lion parks and breeding facilities may have awards, including parks’ in South Africa and enter the playpens of young orphan between 1-4 breeding females. If we take a conservative the United Nations cubs, their instinct is to question the situation. What? Why average of two lionesses per facility – that’s 200 facilities, 400 Global 500 and are so many lion cubs being orphaned? And, almost without 8 June lionesses and conservatively 2,400 lion cubs born every year the Goldman exception, they are told a lie – that the cubs’ mothers died (assuming two litters per year per lioness and three lion cubs Environmental Kremetart or abandoned them. This lie is repeated again and again – in per litter – an extremely conservative estimate). Prize for Africa, marketing material, press releases and hashtags – so much so jointly awarded Cycling Race that even good, caring people repeat the mantra and become Lion farmers/breeders speed-breed their lionesses by to her and Garth party to the lie, and the scam. You see, these lion cubs are removing the cubs soon after birth, thereby inducing the Owen-Smith. forcibly removed from their mothers – to feed what has become lionesses into estrus once more. Wild lions breed only once a lucrative lion cub petting machine. per year, at the most. The tiny blind cubs have now become part of the machine. We can all do the research. I’ve done it for five years, both as an animal advocate and consultant in the tourism industry. Where and what are all these lion cubs destined for? Endangered Wildlife Trust: Spend 5 minutes on Instagram and see for yourself. There There is no documented evidence of any captive-bred lion in are thousands of images of young, motherless lion cubs (plus South Africa having been released into the wild – despite claims cheetahs and even tigers) and all of them are being interacted Physical Address: to the contrary. So remove that solution from the equation. with by tourists and volunteers. Building K2, Ardeer Road, Postal Address: [T] +27 11 372 3600 So why are these lion parks claiming that their lion cubs are “orphans”? And what exactly is the journey for that lion cub Pinelands Office Park, Private Bag X 11, [F] +27 11 608 4682 How could it be that there are so many big cat mothers out after its petting shelf life has expired? What is the link between Modderfontein, 1609 Modderfontein, 1645 [E] [email protected] there suddenly willing to abandon their cubs? This does not Gauteng, South Africa Gauteng, South Africa www.ewt.org.za

3 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 4 these tiny cubs and the burgeoning canned lion hunting Here are some of the replies. The level of deceit is obvious. industry?

TIMELINE AND ROLEPLAYERS: FROM PETTED TO HUNTED • REMOVAL OF CUBS: This usually happens after only a few hours or days after birth, when the newborn lion cubs are forcibly removed by breeders from their mothers and sold or loaned to lion parks for exhibition and petting purposes. Volunteers have often described to me the days when newborn cubs arrive by the box-load. Again the reply to obvious questions is that the mothers died or rejected and abandoned their babies.

• PETTING: Each tiny cub, initially still with closed eyes, is petted by thousands of tourists keen to experience a close encounter with a cute and cuddly big cat cub. The cubs are handed from person to person and forced to pose for the all- important selfies. bushveld trees, for that African feel. The lion, fresh from captivity, is released into this enclosed area – and shot. Legally • WALKING: Once the cubs reach the age of about six months the hunt organiser needs only release the lion into this area for they become too big (and dangerous) to cuddle, and graduate 36 hours for it to be classed as “fair chase”. to being walked with tourists, while a handler protects the tourists from being harmed by the adolescent and sometimes • LION BONE TRADE: The final stage for the (now dead) lion boisterous lions. is the selling of its bones to the insatiable Asian market for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for approximately $1000- $1500 per skeleton.

90% of lion park visitors WHY LION PARKS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE SCAMS polled were told the lie that To avoid the usual slew of accusations and legal threats from this industry, let me be clear on one point: the lion park facilities the park’s lion cubs are offering tourists the opportunity to play with lion cubs are not the same entities offering canned hunting experiences. I will orphaned or abandoned by leave it to you to come to your own conclusions in this regard. their mothers. Recently I conducted a small research task on social media to highlight this issue. / Considering that Instagram is the go-to place for lion-petting • VOLUNTEER EMPLOYMENT: Local and international selfies, I based my research on this platform, with the following volunteers are tempted to South Africa, with the tantalising results: prospect of caring for these newly “orphaned” baby lion Using popular hashtags and an appropriate time period to It is up to all of us cubs. These naive volunteers pay for such work experience prevent double-counting of cubs, I asked my population of 100 at lion parks, believing the lie that their work is important respondents: “Did the park inform you about where these lion to stamp out the conservation work – to ‘save’ orphaned cubs and help with ‘lion cubs (that you are interacting with) came from?” research’ and/or to ‘return the lions to the wild’ wrongs that we see. • TOURISM: Local and international tourists, in their thousands, pay around R100-R200 ($10-$20) for the opportunity to play with baby lion cubs and to walk with adolescent lions, usually at the same facility. These tourists are fed the same lies. At this stage, the lion parks wash their hands of Of those answers gained from my questioning 90% were • Result in a decline in the non-conservation related breeding their ‘orphaned’ lions. similar to those above. The other 10% stated that they either of big cats (namely lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards and could not remember, were not told by the facility or that they mixed breeds); • HUNTING: After two years of tourist petting and walking, the didn’t ask about the whereabouts of the cubs’ mothers. lion progresses to the second-last stage of its usefulness. The • Create better monitoring capability of both the legal and tourism industry now has no further need for this lion, and it To be clear on this matter: 90% of lion park visitors polled were illegal wildlife trade in South Africa; is traded into the hunting industry, where it is shot by trophy told the lie that the park’s lion cubs are orphaned or abandoned hunters in what is known as ‘canned hunting’. Some of the by their mothers. • Ensure both local and international tourists are safeguarded lions are sold to zoos, others are kept back for breeding, but from deceitful practices; the majority disappear into the opaque and sprawling network What we have here is cruel exploitation of helpless lion cubs of trophy hunting farms that are spread across the South and the scamming of thousands of tourists and volunteers • Protect South Africa’s reputation as a respectable, African bushveld. Lion parks will often vehemently deny any every year. And this is all legal, apparently. responsible tourism destination; association with the hunting industry, claiming that they sell / trade / swap lions to intermediaries and that they have no This must end. The lion parks in South Africa are not only • And repair South Africa’s conservation reputation, following control over what happens after that. The lion parks will simply fuelling the trade in wildlife and wildlife parts, they’re blatantly years of abuse by this cub petting industry. refuse to disclose the identities of the buyers or locations of scamming innocent tourists and volunteers out of their money, the lions’ new homes, in order to keep the lions “safe from and ruining South Africa’s proud tourism brand name. Instead of dwelling on the past and asking how this evil poachers”. industry was allowed to mushroom and thrive, let’s take In March 2016, the United States Department of Agriculture a step forward and simply end it. I believe in progress and There have been several exposés on various lion parks around barred zoos from allowing cubs under four weeks old to be that the South African government, and President Cyril South Africa (CBS 60 Minutes, Carte Blanche, The Guardian, petted or fed by members of the public. Ramaphosa particularly, can lead this beautiful country to name just a few), which have uncovered these sales and away from abusive industries like this. permits, demonstrating how cub petting facilities are selling I urge and plea with South Africa’s Government to adopt a their lions to known lion hunting outfits. The canned hunt similar regulatory policy, and to ban all public interactions with It is up to all of us to stamp out the wrongs that we see. Please attracts trophy collectors paying anywhere from $4,000 for a big cats. let’s start by stamping out the scam that is the big cat cub lioness, to $40,000 for a male white lion (hunting wild white petting industry. lions is illegal). The hunt takes place in a small fenced area The effects of such restrictions would: (often the size of half a football field), complete with typical

5 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 6 PARTNERSHIPS: Our experience is that developing partnerships is critical to addressing wetland degradation, which is driven by a myriad AN INNOVATIVE of factors that cannot be addressed by a single organisation. Some of the drivers of wetland degradation are, for instance, linked to human health and to resolve these we need to work APPROACH TO with organisations in the health sector. Besides, developing partnerships has enabled us to use limited resources to implement impactful conservation intervention across Africa. IMPACTFUL In our quest to restore wetland ecosystems and stabilise crane populations across Africa, partnerships remain the tool of choice, although we acknowledge that they cannot solve all CONSERVATION problems or apply to every situation. Partnerships are indeed not the answer to everything and may be impossible in some circumstances. They can also be difficult to negotiate and even when concluded, partnerships may be negatively affected by lack of transparency and lack Mwape Sichilongo, of equity among partners. Partnerships too can have serious ICF/EWT Partnership Southern Africa governance challenges especially in legitimacy, benefit Floodplains Regional Manager, and sharing and upholding a rights-based approach. Most private sector partnerships, for instance, appreciate the importance Dr Adalbert Aine-omucunguzi, ICF/EWT of community engagement but do not always take it seriously Partnership East Africa Regional Manager and, sometimes, do not invest in developing their own capacity [email protected] and to deal with effective community engagement. [email protected] The second most important site for Grey Crowned Crane and Blue Moreover, adequate time and resources have to be invested Wildebeest in Zambia is Liuwa National Park Management under in the partnership process, as the process is usually as good a community-private-public partnership. A three way long term as the product. Vision sharing, transparency and goodwill agreement has been signed by the partners – Government through the are essential and, as George Archibald, co-founder of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, African Parks Network as International Crane Foundation, says in his autobiography, the mandated managing partner and the Barotse Royal Establishment. above everything else friendship is always a good ingredient!

One of the key conservation challenges Corruption Perception Study has revealed that corruption is those being promoted by the African Parks Network involving affecting all countries in the world and all sectors including 15 national parks in over ten African countries. There are of our times is the limited capacity in conservation. This compromises the implementation of also community-public initiatives such as through community single institutions to address the policies, even good ones, of which there are many. Ultimately, forestry and community game ranching or community-private multiple threats to the environment high levels of environmental degradation manifesting in poor sector initiatives such as joint ventures. These are helping waste management and loss of biodiversity especially from to overcome traditional barriers and biases such as lack of that are emerging. This situation is demographic factors and socio-economic factors such as technical capacity or that communities are not interested in critical to conservation in both rural and poaching and infrastructure development are the main drivers. conserving the environment. urban landscapes, protected and open Many African governments have realised the consequences The Africa Crane Conservation Programme (ACCP) is using areas, on public and private land. of not addressing this challenge and admitted the enormity the approach of partnerships to help restore wetlands and of the situation. Zambia, for example, has approximately 30% populations of vulnerable and endangered crane species of its total landmass dedicated to one form of conservation across the African continent. These partnerships are with The 2018 Global Wetlands Outlook states that 35% of all or the other. At 22,000 km², the Kafue National Park is larger the authorities in government, as well as with other relevant wetlands globally have been lost since 1970 and 25% or a than some countries! Even if we eliminated any wastage of NGOs and communities. Some of them are formalised in legal quarter of wetland-dependent species are threatened with resources and inefficiencies, and resolved all governance instruments while others are ad hoc. Besides the practical extinction. This is as a result of competing and incompatible issues, the mandate of managing 30% of the country is simply wetland conservation benefit, our partnerships provide Grey Crowned Crane activities encroaching on wetlands. Another illustration of the too large and the competition for resources from the national opportunities for our staff to gain field experience that broadens current conservation challenge is financing. A 2018 study by treasury too high. Conservation partnerships are one of the their vision and helps in designing unique and impactful the Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN) – a collaborative fastest emerging solutions with positive results and many conservation projects. Where important sites for Cranes are in effort between the Zambian Government and the United lessons to be shared. protected areas, partnerships with allow government facilitate Nations Development Programme (UNDP), found that of all access and compliance with legal requirements. approved budgets for biodiversity related sectors the average Wildlife, forestry, fisheries and water legislation in Zambia releases are in the region of 40% over the past five years. This now provide for different types of partnerships. Community For example, through partnership with Conservation reality regarding conservation financing is probably typical partnerships to enhance legitimacy and uphold community International, our East Africa team has been trained in the of many developing countries. Conservation is important but rights are probably the easiest to promote but the most use of Conservation Agreements to promote community there just isn’t the money to run it, especially protected areas difficult to implement due to limited management skills and stewardship. Conservation Agreements are voluntary as competing land uses perceived to be of more economic institutional weaknesses due to limited empowerment of the negotiated agreements that outline conservation actions value are increasing. marginalised community partners. that communities will undertake to reduce threats to the environment, and the benefits that will be provided in return for The implications of this state of affairs for biodiversity Partnerships with the private sector are offering important those actions. This model has worked well across our projects conservation, especially when considered together with successes and lessons including opportunities because of sites in East Africa. Two important sites for cranes in Zambia austerity measures being implemented by governments their institutional robustness, access to resources, skills where the ACCP is active are managed by a community- and governance challenges, are vast. Governance in this and focus on performance. The number of conservation private-public partnership. In both sites, wildlife populations context is to be seen in its widest sense, ranging from low partnerships is growing both in numbers and diversity. These are increasing, and tourism development has commenced and Signing conservation agreements capacity, conflicting roles and poor stakeholder participation, include private-public partnerships and community-private- is proving to be a workable model for achieving conservation to misapplication of funds and corruption. The 2018 Global public partnerships in protected area management, such as outcomes.

7 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 8 ROCKLANDS: CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN ADVENTURE-BASED TOURISM

Alex Weiss, [email protected]

The Cederberg, in the northern reaches of the Bouldering began in Rocklands with a handful of individuals in the early 2000s on the Pakhuis Pass. Around 2005, new areas Cape Fold Mountains, is one of South Africa’s for bouldering were being explored in the valley below it and as premiere holiday destinations. It offers shady word-of-mouth spread, bouldering in the region snowballed. campsites, sumptuous rock pools and walls of Over this period, climbing spread from being exclusively on Cederberg Wilderness Area onto a mosaic of privately-owned rock canvassed with centuries old rock art. plots. The combination of exponential growth of the sport and multiple-land use and ownership has created a challenge to managing the impacts of the sport and conservation of the There is an array of hiking trails, coursing area. among some elaborate rock formations such as the Wolfberg Cracks, Maltese Cross The mainstream media, in and Wolfberg Arch. In the last two decades 2011, indicated that climbing however, Rocklands and the Pakhuis Valley generated between R4m – R5m has become the most notorious playground in the region, attracting climbers from across to the economy of Rocklands/ the world. Clanwilliam

Outdoor recreational activities that contain an element of risk The rate of the growth of the sport exceeded the landowners’ and adventure have gained in popularity across the world over expectations. In 2011, there were approximately 600 climbers the past three decades, and rock-climbing is no exception. throughout the climbing season, with numbers peaking in 2017 Bouldering is a type of rock climbing on boulders or overhangs at around 2,500. Until recently, the impact of the sport was not that are small enough so that ropes and other gear are not extreme and no concerted intervention was implemented. The required. A boulderer requires minimal equipment, usually 2017 climbing season, however, saw an increase in impacts on only climbing shoes, a chalk bag (containing magnesium the environment, particularly that of human waste disposal carbonate dust) and a crash pad (or bouldering mat). and widening staging areas at boulders but also an isolated incident of an indigenous Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) Rocklands, 35km north-east of Clanwilliam, is a world- being damaged during the opening of a new climbing route. renowned bouldering site. Bouldering, as with any outdoor sport, has an impact on the biophysical environment and Impacts associated with climbing depend not so much on since 2005, bouldering in the region has grown in extent the total number of climbers, but rather on the spatial and and numbers, signalling rising concern for conservation and temporal concentration of climbers in particular areas. In this management of the area. vein, whilst most climbers have not noticed a big impact on the area, the scale of these issues is not vast as Rocklands Rocklands falls within the Greater Cape Floristic Region contains multiple areas, and climbers are indeed spread out. (GCFR) and is found at an interface of the semi-arid Succulent Nevertheless, individual boulders were identified as being Karoo Biome and Fynbos Biome. The vegetation type in which particularly affected in popular areas. the bouldering sites are found is Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos. The GCFR is the smallest and richest of the six floral kingdoms Landowners and climbers generally are concerned about the in the world and the irregular nature of the Succulent Karoo/ ecological impacts, although overwhelmingly it is deemed Fynbos interface promotes floristic intermingling. Fynbos important to recognise the scale of impacts relative to other is the most biodiverse biome in South Africa and contains conservation versus the amount of people venturing through the highest number of endemic species. It is however highly the area spanning primarily a four-month window susceptible and sensitive to trampling and disturbance. (May – August).

9 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 10 and programmess such as formalised committees, forums and environmental management plans (EMPs) that respond adaptively to the dynamic changes in tourist demographics. Such interventions are beginning to take place.

This research project highlights the value of qualitative studies in understanding the effectiveness, legitimacy and acceptability of conservation initiatives. Additionally, it Map of bouldering sites (crags) in 2005 and 2017 respectively. In 2005 there were approximately 5 suggests that effective conservation requires coordination bouldering crags compared to 54 in 2018 amongst stakeholder groups and continuous adaptation and monitoring. Qualitative research has a vital role to play in conservation as it can be used rapidly to determine social and ecological statuses for planning as well as monitoring purposes. Findings from this research provide a glimpse of insight and clarity into understanding an aspect of mountaineers in the adventure tourism context, thereby enhancing the integration of tourist preferences and perspectives into conservation management, which Map showing the location of have been generally underestimated within broader policy The ‘Minki’ boulder on The Plateau field. Chalk stains (a) are evident, vegetation has been trampled on (b) Rocklands and management frameworks. The results from this study and the staging area (shaded in turquoise) has expanded (the area shaded in red) (c). can be used to guide and improve current management actions and socio-ecological outcomes. The ability of this, however, cannot be overstated and to go beyond Other conservation threats in the Cederberg include the community as well as information dissemination is one aspect understanding perceptions and execute a shift towards conversion of natural habitat to permanent agriculture, that would assist in more effective management. realising adaptive management, these findings will be best rapid and intensive development, over-exploitation of water served in furthering cross-stakeholder deliberations which resources, infestation by alien species, and inappropriate fire There are multiple facets to ecological conservation and can enhance the sustainable management of the sport and management. climbing management of the area including permits and access Newly established sign put up by a local landowner environment simultaneously, whilst also generating management, monitoring, and information dissemination. following the 2017 climbing season long-term socio-economic development. Estimates from the mainstream media in 2011 indicated that Currently substantive coordination exists between climbing climbing generated between R4m – R5m to the economy organisations, individuals, and stakeholders, and plans are of Rocklands/Clanwilliam. A current threefold growth in being formulated and implemented to enhance conservation the number of climbers suggests that this figure is now and climbing management. Stronger relationships, more significantly higher. Tourism is a major contributor to the conscientious engagement and coherent structures and economy of the Western Cape and adventure-based tourism guidelines between local climbers, climbing organisations in Rocklands is an extension of this. The socio-economic and land managers are integral for successful sustainable benefits of bouldering at Rocklands emphasises the growth of management of bouldering in the adventure-niche based adventure-niche based tourism and the ability of ecotourism tourism context, so that it is ecologically, economically to generate income and infrastructure development. and ethically responsible. This case study suggests that communication and coordination between stakeholder groups Climbing intrinsically relies on a healthy environment and that involves adventure-tourists is vital to the success of Individuals bouldering at Rocklands climbers will support programmes that protect natural conservation programs. Climbers in this case are furthermore resources as well as those with historic and cultural values. integral to the relationship between the different landowners To ensure the success of conservation interventions they as they, through participating in the sport, monitor the should include and be backed up by outreach to the climbing environment. community. One example of this is the issue of human waste disposal. In response to this issue, toilets were built at two In an increasingly globalised, digitally connected world, sites – at parking lots of trailheads. However, climbers suggest potential strategies for communicating with visitors are that they are misplaced for the practicalities of climbing and diverse, via a variety of multimedia platforms from social media thus will not solve the problem. In another event, a climbing and websites to strategically located signboards. Monitoring area was closed off by landowners who were disgruntled with and access management can be enhanced with technology, on persistent disregard for the area (such as littering and graffiti). websites and mobile applications. These methods, however, Roadside Agterpakhuys valley from the Pakhuys Pass looking north Enhanced communication and engagement with the climbing rely on building on essential traditional forms of coordination

Agterpakhuys valley looking south west from the Plateau boulder field

11 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 12 SHOWCASING OUR SUPPORTERS TACKLING ILLEGAL FOR THE LOVE WILDLIFE TRADE OF WILDLIFE The EWT held its first Valentine’s Day Ashleigh Dore, EWT Wildlife in Trade Programme Manager Dinner at Possums in Johannesburg [email protected] on 14 February 2019.

Guests shared their love not only with their partners, but with the EWT as well, through their generous Over the last year, the EWT’s Wildlife in Trade The focus species for our work will be rhinos support. Although the rain poured down, and power Programme has been working with other and elephants, which are both facing severe cuts struck, this did nothing to dampen the mood, and perhaps even added to the romance of the occasion, conservation NGOs to develop a programme of and increasing threats from poaching, and the as Thomas Dancer mesmerised the guests with research aimed at better understanding illegal main output of the research will be empirical his skilful saxophone playing. Love was definitely in wildlife trade in and around the Great Limpopo information indicating when, where and how the air, as this wonderful event raised in excess of Transfrontier Conservation area (GLTFCA). illegal products from these species move R325,000 for our conservation work. Together with our research partners, TRAFFIC around the GLTFCA region. We will share this (the wildlife trade monitoring network) and the information with relevant law enforcement Guests were not only treated to the most incredible World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF SA), with authorities, including the South African Police meal and fabulous wine, sponsored by Painted Wolf support from the United States Agency for Service, Department of Environmental Affairs, Wines, but also to a talk by Grant Beverley, EWT International Development (USAID), the EWT is National Prosecuting Authority and South African Carnivore Conservation Programme Lowveld Regional embarking on a study to identify trade routes Revenue Services, to assist them in targeting Coordinator, about his decade-long love affair with for illegal wildlife trade out of the GLTFCA. The wildlife crime as effectively as possible. Accurate Wild Dogs. A day with him in the field was one of the GLTFCA is an area of very high biodiversity information is vital for successful enforcement hotly contested auction prizes. Many thanks to all of and is a critical region for the conservation of of wildlife crime, and it is the intention of this our wonderful auction and raffle prize sponsors, as well as Possums for hosting us, Sharry Banner for her charismatic species impacted by wildlife crime project to provide this. assistance in organising the event, and our fabulous and, as a result, faces a disproportionately high guests for showing their love and support! threat from organised wildlife criminals.

WAYS TO GIVE Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… or your phone!

Supporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan. All you need to do is:

1. Download the SnapScan application on your smartphone

2. Register with your details – this should take no more than a few minutes

3. Scan our EWT barcode to make your donation in the amount of your choice (be sure to choose donation rather than e-shop from the dropdown menu) – you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so you know the transaction is secure. It’s as easy as one-two-three!

Once you’ve made your donation via SnapScan, you’ll get an SMS confirming the transaction, and the EWT will be notified via SMS too. Supporting Conservation in Action couldn’t be simpler.

13 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 14 TAILS FROM THE FIELD A PLACE OF CONNECTEDNESS AND BIODIVERSITY WITHIN A CITY – TABLE MOUNTAIN’S FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEMS AND THE ELUSIVE GHOST FROG

Joshua Weeber, EWT Threatened Amphibian Programme Table Mountain Project Intern [email protected]

Typical Table Mountain Ghost Frog habitat

Table Mountain rises above a bustling Critically Endangered by the IUCN. One of six species within Field work has begun! the Heleophryne genus, the Table Mountain Ghost Frog metropolis, a rocky beacon suffocated on one epitomises the isolation of the mountain, restricted to just six side by concrete office blocks and frantic train perennial streams on the mountain, and disconnected from stations, and hemmed in on the other by the its immediate relatives by the densely populated coastal plain around Cape Town. The species has also vanished from two icy shores of the Atlantic ocean. This towering other streams on the mountain in the last 30 years, streams geological wonder stands isolated and that have experienced severe human impacts in the form of alien plants and extensive path development. The remaining six disconnected, separated from its sandstone streams are facing similar threats. Despite these issues, very relatives the Hottentot Holland Mountains to little is known about the Ghost Frog’s habitat requirements, the east by the vast dune system of the Cape life history or population size. Nor is there adequate long-term monitoring of the perennial streams in which the species has Flats. Although this ancient isolation has led evolved. Filling this knowledge gap is a crucial step towards to the emergence of a variety of incredible ensuring the Ghost Frog’s survival. flora and fauna restricted to the mountain, it has also made this unique system susceptible to change. As the city continues to grow, Heleophryne rosei, a unique human activity now threatens to disrupt this amphibian, Red Listed as isolated mountain ecosystem and the unique These tadpoles have large mouths which they use to organisms that call it home, in particular the Critically Endangered suck onto cobbles - Photo credit Nick Telford Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Photo credit Nick Telford sensitive freshwater streams that meander by the IUCN. down the mountain.

In light of this, and thanks to funding from the Table Mountain These streams are home to a variety of other endemic range- restricted species such as the undescribed freshwater their survival for future generations to come. South African National Parks (SANParks), Fund, a three-year project was launched in January 2019, PROJECT PARTNERS: Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the Cape Nature (CN), the City of Cape Town (CCT), dedicated to improving the freshwater ecosystems on Table fish (Galaxias sp) and the possibly extinct Elusive Skimmer (Orthetrum rubens). The population of Rose’s Mountain Toadlet Table Mountain Fund (TMF), the University of Cape Town (UCT), Stellenbosch University Mountain. Lead by the EWT, in partnership with the South South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), (SU), the South African Environmental Observation Network African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the project (Capensibufo rosei) on Table Mountain has also disappeared, aims to implement long-term monitoring protocols to assess almost certainly a result of anthropogenic influences. However, trends in stream health, establish baseline data on key target fully understanding the issues these freshwater ecosystems species endemic to these streams, as well as identify and face and correctly identifying measures to address them is implement conservation interventions to directly improve no easy task. This project aims to provide a solid foundation (SAEON) and the Freshwater Research Centre (FRC). Dr Jessica da Silva (SANBI), Dr Ian Little (EWT), stream health. on which long-term conservation actions can be built, and KEY CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Weeber (EWT), Assoc. Prof. Res Altwegg (UCT), Nick Telford (SANBI). cultivate partnerships and synergies to coordinate and Dr Jeanne Tarrant (EWT), Prof. Krystal Tolley (SANBI), At the heart of this project is the Table Mountain Ghost Frog strengthen these actions. It is time we learnt more about (Heleophryne rosei), a unique amphibian Red Listed as these complex systems and initiate actions that will ensure

15 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 16 A WILD START TO 2019

Cole du Plessis, These masks reduce stress for the Wild Dogs during Performing health checks on the Wild Dogs EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme, the relocation process - Photo credit Johann Vorster - Photo credit Johann Vorster Wild Dog Expansion Project Coordinator [email protected] were able to manage the situation and ensure the Wild Dogs’ Wild Dogs - Photo credit Johann Vorster (Vossie) wellbeing throughout this delay.

The team, in the five-vehicle convoy, arrived at Karingani Game Reserve at midnight. We drove the crates straight into the boma, offloaded them, and on the count of three, everyone On 26 January, a pack of 13 Wild Dogs was opened the crate doors and watched on as the newly formed pack had touched down on the turf of their new home. As part successfully relocated into Karingani Game of the reintroduction process, the Karingani Pack will stay in Reserve – the newest addition to the Wild Dog the boma for several weeks before being released onto the Expansion Project. reserve. This will give them time to strengthen their bond as a newly formed pack, and allow time for them to adapt to their new home environment. Karingani Game Reserve is located in southwestern Mozambique at the junction of the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, and forms part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier The birth of Karingani Game Conservation Area. Reserve was an inspired effort to integrate national parks The property is currently under restoration and expands over Wild Dogs in transit - Photo credit Johann Vorster 150,000 ha. Due to its size, ecology, and management efforts and thereby expand connected made to keep the area protected, it has been identified as an safe space for conservation ideal Wild Dog reintroduction site and will form part of the Wild Dog Expansion Project that is coordinated by the South African management. Wild Dog Advisory Group. Large refuge sites such as these give hope to Wild Dog Without other resident packs existing in the area anymore, conservation – a species that needs space to grow. With the the dispersal groups of Wild Dogs that have previously passed feasibility assessment done prior to the reintroduction, we through have never settled, and Karingani Game Reserve anticipate that the reserve has a carrying capacity of 50 Wild has thereby contributed as a corridor but never a place of Dogs, and with the 150,000 ha for these Wild Dogs to roam, permanent refuge for Wild Dogs. By introducing a stable Karingani Game Reserve is of high priority in Wild Dog pack onto the property, the hope is to promote an increasing conservation. population in the surrounding area. This addition of space to the Wild Dog Expansion Project has On the eve of the Wild Dog relocation, the team congregated increased our total safe space to over 1,200,000 ha, which will at the temporary holding facility (a transition zone needed for allow for Wild Dog numbers to grow and the genetic diversity the international relocation) to review the capture strategies, to increase. Such work is only made possible by organisations check through the equipment and do the final checks before collaborating, and that’s what makes the Wild Dog Advisory the relocation. The following morning, at first light, the team Group a true success. In saying that, a special mention must be was underway with immobilising the Wild Dogs. Once that was made to our partners for making this Wild Dog reintroduction complete, we fitted the tracking collars, applied the necessary possible: vaccinations, drew samples and once complete, loaded the Wild Dogs into their designated crates. Karingani Game Reserve; ANAC; Saving the Survivors; Wildlife ACT; Dr Pete Goodman and the National Zoological Gardens. Shortly after that, we were en route to Karingani Game Reserve. Overall, the trip went well except for a four-hour delay as Mozambican customs officials were hesitant to allow the Wild Dogs into the country. Being an experienced team, we

Wild Dogs sedated before the move - Photo credit Johann Vorster Wild Dogs in transit - Photo credit Johann Vorster

17 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 18 THE EXCHANGE MEDIKE OF A LIFETIME: NATURE LOXTON TO KAMIESBERG

Bonnie Schumann, RESERVE EWT Drylands Conservation Programme Nama Karoo Coordinator, and Cobus Theron EWT Drylands Conservation Programme Manager ONE YEAR ON [email protected] and [email protected] Gaining knowledge on communal farming

Catherine Vise, EWT Soutpansberg Protected Area Water The EWT’s Drylands Conservation Programme landscape. The Kamiesberg farmers shared their experiences of establishing organisational structures and the challenges Conservation Project Coordinator, and is based out of Loxton, in the Nama Karoo. they faced in doing so. The structure under which the Loxton Oldrich van Schalkwyk, We focus on the conservation of Endangered farmers operate is somewhat dysfunctional. Interpersonal EWT Soutpansberg Protected Area Manager dryland species, and the Critically conflict amongst the farmers themselves, and a feeling of isolation in terms of support available to them as small-scale [email protected] and Endangered Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus farmers, are all challenges they currently face. We hoped that [email protected] monticularis) is the programme’s flagship the visit to other farmers, who had found solutions to some of species. these issues, would be beneficial. The journey to Kamiesberg was made possible through a One of our main initiatives is promoting sustainable land collaborative effort between the EWT and the Department of management practices in drylands, with a view to conserving Agriculture: Land Reform and Rural Development habitat and supporting livelihoods. The EWT engages with (Western- and Northern Cape) and CSA. farmers, including commercial farmers, commonage farmers Medike landscape and land reform beneficiaries, who farm with livestock on The knowledge exchange highlighted the properties which are home to Riverine Rabbits. We also work following key lessons: with farmers operating under, often difficult, land tenureship systems, such as commonages, to explore models to find 1. Collaboration is vital and can leverage benefits that solutions to some of the challenges they face. working in isolation cannot achieve. It’s hard to believe that a year has passed been spent over the past year performing maintenance tasks 2. Livestock improvement is key to farming efficiency in since the EWT took the historic step of on this infrastructure. This includes painting and treating terms of production. exterior walls of the Log Cabin and Pioneer’s Cottage, as well 3. Conservation and agriculture can be successfully purchasing our first ever conservation as fixing thatching on the Boulder Cottage. We had a contractor integrated through the Contractual Stewardship approach. property, the Medike Nature Reserve in the help with the thatching, but as part of this, they also showed our Rangers how to do thatch so that this task could be taken Following the visit, emerging farmer, Paul Vorster, said: “I beautiful and biodiversity-rich Soutpansberg on by the rangers in future. experienced and saw for myself what these farmers have Mountains. This purchase was the initial achieved by working together, even though there was conflict, step in a much bigger journey – the journey they managed to move forward from strength to strength. I realise now that I had to come here to learn this.” towards creating the Soutpansberg Protected Area (SPA). Feedback from both the Loxton group, as well as the stewardship farmers of the Kamiesberg, was that the The knowledge exchange was deemed a success by As we celebrate the anniversary of this purchase, made possible knowledge exchange was a success and a valuable platform Loxton and Kamiesberg farmers by the generosity of the Roberts family in Australia, we thought for sharing information. It provided an opportunity for both it fitting to look back at some of what we have achieved thus parties to gain knowledge on communal farming, the benefits far, and what we have planned for the future. and challenges of land reform, as well as the process of In 2017, the EWT invited Conservation South Africa’s Senior farmers organising themselves into formal structures. TRAILS Stewardship Coordinator, from their Namaqualand Green Over the past year, a lot of attention has been paid to opening Medike road maintenance Economic Demonstration, to facilitate a participatory needs- The knowledge exchange concept proved to be a valuable up trails across the reserve. These trails are predominantly for assessment workshop with the Krom River land reform tool to amplify the benefits of conservation stewardship and patrols undertaken by the SPA Rangers, to give them easier farmers. The purpose was to explore the challenges and needs learning from peers about the various conditions of farming access across the reserve. They will also double up as hiking Other infrastructure development included installing a solar of these farmers. The possibility of a knowledge exchange visit and organisational structures. We believe this concept is trails, and take in some of the beautiful features we have on electricity system and Wi-Fi in all the main houses (except to the Kamiesberg Conservation Stewardship Project was an important component in changing mindsets towards Medike, such as a giant Baobab, a fountain and a waterfall. the rondavel and Boulder Cottage). This largely improves raised at this meeting. sustainable land management. Seeing other farmers with The trails include the Baobab Trail, the Tree Trail, Waterfall work and communications from the reserve. We have also similar (or even fewer) resources available, reaping the benefits Trail, Pipeline Trail, Cave Trail (in progress) and Fountain Trail. spent a lot of time repairing and maintaining fences on the In 2018, Bonnie Schumann, Nama Karoo Coordinator for of sustainable land management, provided our farmers with In total, we have opened up 15 km of trails throughout the boundary of the reserve. This is in order to keep cattle from the the EWT Drylands Conservation Programme, approached insight and more importantly, the hope for positive change in reserve. neighbouring Ndouvhada property out of the Protected Area. Conservation South Africa (CSA) regarding the possibility the Nama Karoo. Redundant fences have also been removed from other areas of an exchange visit between our Karoo farmers and their INFRASTRUCTURE of the reserve, as these pose a threat to wildlife. The reserve Kamiesberg counterparts. The purpose of the proposed This initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility Medike has a number of houses as part of its built infrastructure. now also has new sign boards installed, both directing people technical knowledge exchange was to facilitate a peer-to- through the Department of Environmental Affairs and the This includes the Main Farm House, Pioneer’s Cottage, The to the reserve and notifying them of the rules and regulations peer learning visit in support of sustainable land management United Nations Development Programme. Log Cabin, the Boulder Cottage and a rondavel. Much time has of the reserve. and agricultural-centred livelihoods in the rural Karoo

19 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 20 There is also a lot of routine maintenance work that happens is part of a wider project they are involved with, documenting DONOR VISITS Here the rangers spent their time planting indigenous trees on a regular basis, which includes maintaining roads and biodiversity across the Soutpansberg. It has been a real asset Over the past year, we have welcomed several friends and at the schools and gave talks on careers in conservation and trails, as well as the water pipe infrastructure. Our SPA having them on board with this important work. donors to Medike and shown them around the mountain. This tourism to the learners. Rangers, who have quite a task on their hands keeping Medike includes Paul Salaman, CEO of Rainforest Trust, Nick Bubb We also assisted an inspiring young man, Malimavhi Lifuwa well maintained, take all this on. These team members were Medike has also welcomed additional researchers, including from Fauna and Flora international, and the Roberts Family, “Lula”, a Grade 11 learner, who has an interest in snake employed from the local community, and it is wonderful to Ruth Miller of Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, whose generous donation made the purchase of Medike conservation and provides his services to the community by see these young Field Rangers gaining valuable reserve as well as Daniel Bartsch of the Natural History Museum in possible. We look forward to ongoing work with these partners. catching unwanted snakes and releasing them back into the management skills, while Medike provides work security for Stuttgart, Germany. They were out sampling for Tenebrionidae wild. He received further snake handling training as well as members from local rural tribal villages. In this way, the EWT specimens, a rare beetle that has yet to be described. GETTING AROUND snake handling equipment and ID books. This was done with is already contributing towards socio-economic upliftment in The Medike team received a Nissan NP300 Hardbody 2.5 TDi the assistance of our partners, Soutpansberg Centre for the region. Double Cab Hi-rider from Nissan S.A. (Pty) Ltd. This vehicle is Biodiversity Conservati a highly valuable addition to Medike, and is used extensively for ANTI-POACHING PROGRAMME – SNARES AND PATROLS We are currently in discussions reserve management, research, combating wildlife security As part of Medike’s outreach programme, the EWT delivered In addition to routine maintenance undertaken by the rangers, with a well-known UK risks, water conservation through protecting the catchment much needed baby clothes, baby blankets, reusable cloth their main function on Medike is to undertake the anti- areas of the western Soutpansberg Mountains, biodiversity diapers, feeding chair etc., sponsored by EWT’s Shelley Lizzio poaching programme. The rangers go on regular patrols university to potentially stewardship work, and community outreach work on resolving and children’s chairs sponsored by the Underhay family, to across the reserve, as well as onto neighbouring properties. become a field site for them. human-wildlife conflict and environmental education. Tswelopele Pre-school and Crèche. Tswelopele is situated in They specifically sweep for snares as well as look for fish Receiving this versatile vehicle has opened up a tremendous Indermark informal village. Tswelopele was founded in 2000 by traps in the Sand River. The Rangers remove these so that amount of opportunities for supporting local communities Pastor Fredericka Ralephata, with six children and has grown they eliminate the threat to biodiversity. The SPA Rangers also while protecting the natural environment on Medike Nature to taking care of 195 children, five days a week. Fredericka is confront people entering the property without permission, They were also on the hunt for clearwing moths, Sesiidae, Reserve. supported by 14 staff members (previously unemployed), who often escorting them off the property. where they successfully caught five specimens. Two of these work for a small salary as caregivers and teachers. The staff species are as yet undescribed, and Daniel will go about the MEDIKE’S WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME are quite creative with very little financial and other resources The SPA Rangers Anti-poaching Unit also does extension work process of classifying these new species from Medike. Much work has been done to remove rubbish from Medike, to provide care and education for the children. Tswelopele gives in the neighbouring communal properties, and assists these including a regular litter clean-up campaign along the railway two meals a day and transportation to and from the crèche. properties by sweeping for snares on them. This helps out the line. The Rangers have also cleared lots of unwanted material Ndouvhada community, and assists in our work on eliminating from the housing areas, with most of this being taken to the SPA Rangers joined a group of twelve volunteers from the poaching in the area. local landfill site in Louis Trichardt. Here, recyclable materials EarthWatch Institute and three researchers from Durham are sorted out and taken for recycling. University’s Primate and Predator Project (PPP), on a In total, the Rangers have removed over 173 snares from community outreach excursion. We did a snare sweep on the Medike, 63 snares from neighbouring Ndouvhada property, COMMUNITY OUTREACH Ndouvhada’s communal land neighbouring Medike. The aim and ten snares from the neighbouring Moss and Gawsworth SPA Rangers have received training in environmental wasn’t just to reduce the risk these snares pose to wildlife, properties. Sixteen fishing nets and seven fish traps were also education from Judy van Schalkwyk of WESSA Eco-Schools. but also to the community’s livestock. Thirty-six snares and removed from the river, between Medike and the neighbouring They then put this training to good use by visiting a local school one fish trap were removed. The Ndouvhada community is properties. and conducting workshops on communities neighbouring extremely grateful for the EWT’s support. It felt a bit like we protected areas. have come full circle, as Phil and Sue Roberts whose generous RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION donation made the purchase of Medike possible, first came to As part of the regular patrols undertaken by the SPA Rangers, The SPA Rangers also visited two local schools on Mandela Day, the Soutpansberg as EarthWatch volunteers in 2011. they are collecting wildlife mortality data on the 3.7 km in partnership with WESSA Eco-Schools, the Soutpansberg section of railway line that passes through Medike. These data Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, and H12 Leshiba AN EYE ON THE FUTURE contribute towards one of the EWT’s other projects, the Wildlife Game Reserve. Looking forward, we plan to develop Medike as a research and Transport Programme, where they are investigating destination. These plans are already well underway with a wildlife and rail interactions. number of researchers already visiting us. We are currently in discussions with a well-known UK university to potentially Medike has implemented our own surveys on invasive alien become a field site for them. plants within Medike, which are predominantly found on the banks of the Sand River. This is not that surprising, as rivers We are also looking into the potential of developing Medike are known to be pathways for invasive species to move into for ecotourism, including hiking trails across the mountain. new areas. These data are being used to inform a management As part of this, we will also look at other income generating plan, where invasive species will be targeted for management activities that we could do on the mountain. as part of Medike’s Biodiversity Management Programme. One of our main focuses will be to expand the area of land under EWT ownership, and thus managed purely for biodiversity The reserve now has two resident volunteers, Ryan van conservation. We are already looking to increase the size of Huysteen and Melissa Petford, from the Soutpansberg Centre Medike by another 1,335 ha, incorporating neighbouring for Biodiversity and Conservation (SCBC). Ryan and Melissa SPA Field Ranger Khathu Mukhumeni removing a hyrax snare. properties into the reserve. This is in its final stages, and we are instrumental in documenting the biodiversity of the EWT staff baby clothing donation at Tswelopele Creche look forward to bringing more land under our management. reserve, sampling extensively and compiling species lists. This

From left to right: SPA Field Ranger John Mohlolo removing a typical antelope snare ; Medike is home to amazing biodiversity such as the rare Giant Carrion Flower From left to right: Rainforest Trust donor visit; Another example of the rare biodiversity at Medike, the Schwarz’s White-collared Monkey

21 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 22 GREEN HEROES GIVING

BACK GREEN HEROES MAKING A Sharry Banner POSITIVE

Sharry Banner grew up in Tzaneen, where When you were a child, what did you want DIFFERENCE Spurgeon Flemington and his daughter Wren to be when you grew up? she was always surrounded by animals. I always knew that I wanted to be involved with animals. Between the family dogs, feral cats, a very Whether domestic or wild, working with these wonderful large assortment of wild birds that were creatures has always been food for my soul. I consider myself very lucky that the thing that makes me so happy, Spurgeon Flemington is a farmer in the What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? fed by her father twice a day or, of course, allows me to make a difference in their lives too. I don’t like gifts. I guess my three children, if they qualify. a vast number of snakes and other critters, Underberg area and feels fortunate to live What inspires you? in close proximity to the Maloti Drakensberg When you were a child, what did you want be they domestic or not, they were never far Giving back and making a difference. World Heritage Site. He spends a lot of time to be when you grew up? away! I honestly had no idea. What’s one thing about you that would on the trails in the mountains and it was surprise other people to know? Living in Tzaneen also enabled the family to visit the Kruger What inspires you? Despite my reputation as a party animal and behind my about eight years ago, while out on the trails, National Park on most of their holidays and so her love for Stories of the impossible. People who never give up. Nature. casual and friendly demeanour, I am quite a workaholic. that the idea to have the first Giant’s Cup the bush and its wildlife started from a very early age. Trail Run first occurred. What’s one thing about you that would What is your favourite place to travel? For many years, she supported various animal welfare surprise other people to know? The bush has a very special place in my heart, for me there organisations by way of donations but felt a need to become Oh boy, this’ll come back to haunt me. I believe in antediluvian is nowhere else in the world that is quite as peaceful. That In order to organise that first Giant’s Cup, he and Matt Goode more involved and to see what the donors’ money was being advanced civilizations. being said, I also find water extremely calming and will needed to form an event company and that’s how Running spent on. In 1999, she became a volunteer at the Society definitely never complain about being near the sea. Man Adventures came to be. for Animals in Distress (SAID) and has since played a large What is your favourite place to travel? part in organising their fundraising events, as well as being Haven’t done much travelling in recent years due to the leg- What’s the last book you read? a member of their Executive Committee. What prompted you to make the link between irons of three children but a year exploring South America The Choice by Edith Eger – A true story of hope. Along with her dear friend Elizabeth v Straaten, she has trail running and conservation? and a visit to Gobekli Tepe in Turkey would be top of the list. also organised fundraising events for sterilisation projects The World Heritage Site is the location and Ezemvelo KZN If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? for animal welfare organisations across Southern Africa. Wildlife is the custodian of all the events we do and, without What’s the last book you read? To eliminate animal cruelty through awareness and The EWT is, however, the first ‘conservation’ organisation such a pristine wilderness, these events would simply not Mortality – Christopher Hitchens education so that both humans and animals can live that she has assisted with fundraising in the form of a golf be viable. There are therefore several reasons to link trail peacefully alongside one another. day and two fundraising dinners. running and conservation. Practically, you are conserving What’s your advice for people who are inspired to make a the very resource that allows you to stage such beautiful difference but aren’t sure how to do so? For people to realise the negative impact that we are having What has been the highlight of this work so far? events, and morally, you cannot but help to assist with the You can’t adopt the world. Don’t become overwhelmed on our beautiful planet and to work together to conserve Being involved in the implementation of various projects conservation of these areas when you are confronted with and paralysed by the flood of depressing news on the what we have to leave a legacy for our children. and seeing the positive response and huge difference they them daily and, via the events, you now have a platform to do environment. Don’t try and save the Polar Bear. Rather find To laugh a lot and remain healthy, allowing me to continue can make has been extremely rewarding. In particular, the something about it. one small thing that you can do yourself on a local, practical my work in making a difference. impact that the SAID education programmes have had on and sustainable level that can make a positive difference to responsible animal ownership in informal settlements and What has been your most challenging adventure to date? the environment. If every person did this one small thing, we What’s your advice for people who are inspired to make a disadvantaged areas. Ha, I don’t have as many adventures as I’d like but I guess would change the world. difference but aren’t sure how to do so? scouting the course of the Hundred Miler for Ultra Trail Get involved as a volunteer at a welfare organisation that What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Drakensberg up in Lesotho could be classified as an you support financially to see where you can make more Naturally, our beautiful daughter as well as a child of a adventure. It involved days on end wandering around at 3,000 of a difference. If every person undertook to get involved different kind, a rescued German Shepherd-cross pup that m+, on my own, following cattle paths that vanish into thin with these organisations in some way, no matter how big I was gifted for Christmas in 2008. Our Bella is our family’s air and trying to find 70 km of course that might be suitable or small, it would have a ripple effect that would make our large furry angel! for a trail run. world a much better place for all.

23 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 24 SCIENCE SNIPPETS WALKING The Endangered Wildlife Trust regularly publishes the results of our conservation science research in scientific journals, so THE TALK that our work can contribute to a growing body of knowledge on conservation science. In this feature, we’ll be sharing tips on how we can all make a difference to the Here we highlight our most recent scientific environment in our daily lives. We’d love you to share some of your tips too! Please publications and other important conservation tell us how you make a difference by emailing your tips to [email protected], and we could feature them in a future issue of the magazine. science-related news.

In this edition, we’re sharing a few tips on how to save electricity. • Set your electrical geyser’s thermostat between 55° C and 60° C. To save energy, make sure the geyser and all hot water steel pipes in the roof are well insulated. • Use fewer light bulbs with higher wattages. For instance, one 100 watt bulb produces the same light as two 60 watt bulbs. PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK: • When buying a dishwasher, look for energy saving features like a short wash cycle. • Tumble dryers that operate with an electronic humidity control are the most BRINGING THE efficient as they automatically shut off the drying cycle when clothes are dry. Even better, use a washing line outside! CHEETAH BACK • Match pots and pans to stove plates. Small pots on large plates waste electricity. Samantha Page-Nicholson, • When you defrost food, leave it in the fridge overnight. You’ll use less electricity EWT Conservation Science Unit Lion than defrosting food in the microwave. FROM LOCAL Database Coordinator • Paint the walls of your home in a light colour. Dark colours tend to absorb light, [email protected] requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect. EXTINCTION A collared Cheetah in Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg National Park is a beautiful the Pilanesberg population had reached nine. In October 2017, Rain had another litter of four – however, only one young game reserve located in the North West male reached independence, but was sadly killed in January Province of South Africa. It is home to the 2019. The population reached a peak of 13 individuals after Big Five, a collection of herbivore species, 3 and a half years. In an unfortunate turn of events, in April 2018, the three males from the first litter killed their father(s), as well as the Endangered Wild Dog and and were subsequently removed and relocated to two other Cheetah. In fact, Cheetahs were the first of reserves. In late 2018, two male Cheetahs were reintroduced from Dinokeng into Pilanesberg to introduce new genetics, the larger carnivores to be reintroduced into and one of the Pilanesberg’s young females was moved to Pilanesberg. another reserve. Both Cheetah movements were facilitated by the EWT’s Cheetah Metapopulation Project. In 1981, seven Cheetahs were released and this population did so well that, by the end of the decade, the park had 15 The population in Pilanesberg is thought to be currently made individuals and by the 2000s, there were almost 20 Cheetahs. up of Rain, the two newly reintroduced Dinokeng males, and Unexpectedly, by the mid-2000s, the population crashed – a young female from one of Rain’s previous litters. While the presumably due to a decline in preferred prey species (such population has fluctuated in the last few years, the future of as Impala) and a steadily increasing Lion population. Sadly, the Pilanesberg Cheetah population is looking promising. the once common Pilanesberg Cheetahs were thought to be locally extinct. This would not have been possible without the North West Provincial Government (Department of Rural, Environment Wherever your adventure As fate would have it, in 2012 a coalition of two male Cheetahs and Agricultural Development), who reintroduced and takes you, Trappers is the managed to enter the park – possibly through a weak point monitored Rain, the tireless efforts of the Pilanesberg National place to go for all your outdoor in the park’s fencing. In 2014, a young female Cheetah was Park management, and the supportive sponsors of the EWT’s captured on neighbouring farmlands near Madikwe Game Cheetah Metapopulation Project. The EWT will continue to equipment & apparel needs. Reserve. She was released into Pilanesberg with the hope ensure Cheetah populations thrive and increase in Cheetah that she could provide an opportunity to re-establish the once reserves around the country. thriving Pilanesberg Cheetah population. This female Cheetah affectionately became known as “Rain” and by the end of 2014, Pilanesberg had four new Cheetah cubs – the first born in the R. John Power, Vincent Van der Merwe , Samantha Page- park for almost a decade. The Pilanesberg population was once Nicholson, Mia V. Botha , Stephen Dell and Pieter Nel. 2019. Stores country wide again on the rise. Three of these cubs reached independence A note on the reestablishment of the Cheetah population in at the age of 3 years old. In 2016, Rain had another litter of the Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa. African Journal trappers.co.za /TrappersOutdoor four – of which three reached independence. By this stage, of Wildlife Research.

Images are for illustrative purposes only.

25 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 26 MITIGATING THE SHOWCASING OUR SUPPORTERS IMPACT OF LARGE MAMMALS WEARING YOUR SUPPORT ON WOODEN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION POLES ON YOUR SLEEVE! IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA. The EWT and Relate Trust are teaming up once again to raise funds for our conservation efforts as well as the Megan Murison, underprivileged. The two new cause bracelets will support EWT Programme Officer our Drylands Conservation Programme’s Riverine Rabbit [email protected] project and our African Crane Conservation Programme’s efforts to conserve the habitats that these species rely on for their survival. By purchasing these bracelets, you will not Over the course of the last 22 years, there have been numerous to trial four possible mitigation methods over a 16-month instances of conflict between business and biodiversity for the period. These four mitigation methods that protect the poles only be supporting these causes, you will also be helping to Eskom/ EWT Strategic Partnership, and this is particularly against rubbing were a steel sleeve, a Polefix industrial cast a develop skills, create earning opportunities and support local noticeable with animals having negative interactions with grating box and a VB Rhino, – see photographs). Results from enterprise development. electrical infrastructure. One such example was observed in the camera traps showed that the culprit species included the Kruger National Park, where the electrocution of animals Cape Buffalo, White and Black Rhinoceros, and African does occur sporadically due to wooden pole damage. Large Elephant. The results of the mitigation trials, along with a With over 3 million Relate bracelets sold and over R50 million mammals damage these wooden poles by rubbing up against cost-benefit study, showed that protecting the poles against raised to date, Relate is making a tangible difference to the them, causing the poles to ‘tooth-pick’ and become extremely rubbing proved to be cost-effective, and the most appropriate causes they support, and the people they employ. The EWT is unstable. Therefore, a method of mitigation was needed to mitigation method was the grating box (C in the accompanying prevent any further mortalities. Steel poles could not be used, photographs). This would prevent any direct contact with one of many incredible organisations that Relate has partnered as this would ‘earth’ the pole, making the structure dangerous the pole thereby allowing the pole to retain its stability. This with, and has helped to raise R1,704,132 to date. to any perching bird species. By using camera traps placed solution would overall improve the stability and longevity of at the tops of the poles, we began a study to determine wooden poles in the Kruger National Park and prevent large which species were using the poles as a scratching post and mammal electrocutions. LOOK OUT FOR THESE BRAND NEW DESIGNS!

CRANE

Mitigation methods

electrocution of animals does occur sporadically due to wooden pole damage RIVERINE RABBIT

The four mitigation products tested to limit/prevent the contact between wildlife and poles in the Kruger National Park: A) Steel pole sleeve; B) Polefix industrial cast; C) FRP Grating box; D) VB Rhino

Samantha K. Page-Nicholson, Gareth Tate, Constant Hoogstad, Megan Murison, Megan Diamond, Arthur Blofield, Mattheuns Pretorius & Michael D. Michael. 2018. Mitigating the impact of large mammals on wooden electrical distribution Cape Buffalo rubbing on pole poles in Kruger National Park, South Africa. African Journal of Wildlife Research.

27 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 28 Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola.

Conservation status: Vulnerable When viewed in a certain light, the Blue Duiker has a bluish sheen to its coat, which is how they got their name. Further, the name duiker is derived from the Afrikaans word “duik”, which means to dive, which is in reference WILD to the jumping and “diving for cover” behaviour they display when threatened. Blue Duikers are found in the forest and thicket habitats along the coast from the iMfolozi River in northern KwaZulu-Natal, southwards LIFE to the eastern parts of the Western Cape. These habitats are becomingly increasingly threatened by farming, particularly sugar cane and plantation forestry, as well as expanding human development. Habitat loss and FACT degradation are the main threats to this species and sadly the Blue Duiker population is declining and is therefore listed as Vulnerable.

FILE Blue Duiker Serval Leptailurus serval. Cape Porcupine Conservation status: Near Threatened Hystrix africaeustralis Due to their colouring and spotted coats, this beautiful and elusive cat Conservation status: Least Concern, is often confused with Cheetahs The Cape Porcupine is distributed (Acinonyx jubatus) although they are across South Africa and is found in considerably smaller and lack the a variety of habitats. Porcupines of distinctive tear marks on their face. the genus Hystrix are the largest Servals are wetland specialists and African rodents, with a mass of up to feed on small mammals (typically 20 kg! Did you know that porcupines rodents) and birds. While Servals are are considered important ecosystem not confined to protected areas, it is engineers? An ecosystem engineer is expected that the Serval population is an animal that significantly modifies a still declining due to loss of habitat, habitat, and porcupines play a valuable direct persecution from farmers and role in ecosystems by enriching mortalities on roads. Did you know the soil that they dig, resulting in that by the 1980s the Serval became a much healthier landscape. The regionally extinct in both the Eastern population is thought to be fairly Cape and most of the Western Cape stable, and while there are no major provinces? However, they have been threats to the species at present, successfully reintroduced in several bushmeat hunting and persecution Eastern Cape protected areas in the may be causing local declines or early 2000s and, although rare, are even extinctions in some areas. Sadly, now regularly seen throughout the porcupines are persecuted because provinces. their digging can damage crops, trees and fences. They are also threatened by the illegal muthi trade and the quill trade. You can play a role in porcupine conservation by avoiding quill décor items unless the product is shown to be from sustainably harvested Serval sources. Cape Porcupine

29 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 30 staff, the public, and other organisations) and What excites you about this position? Eskom to mitigate electrical infrastructure What I find most interesting is actually seeing how everything relates back to nature. Every person, company, where negative wildlife incidents have or organisation interacts with the environment in different occurred. ways. Often these are viewed as negative interactions and signs of risk, but in fact, these interfaces are opportunities. Opportunities for people to understand how everything Most of his days are spent liaising with Eskom is connected and how each person can actually make a officials and other stakeholders on wildlife difference – even if it’s just saying no to a plastic straw. incidents and infrastructure mitigation, and coordinating the Central Incidents Database that houses wildlife incidents. Everything relates back to nature. What excites you about this position? To me, the most exciting thing about this post is the contribution that it makes towards making power lines What are you passionate about? animal-friendly. I get to show, with data, where the My family, my boyfriend Tim, my friends, animals lines are not safe and need to be mitigated to prevent (especially fluffy four-legged ones) and saying no to single electrocutions and collisions by the utility. This position use plastics! also allows me to work with people from diverse levels – landowners, environmental officers, and managers, as If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it well as senior managers. be and why? It’s so difficult to choose only one so I have to name three What are you passionate about? amazing people - Oskar Schindler (a hero), Emma Watson I am passionate about people and nature, development (a feminist) and Sir David Attenborough (a legend). and conservation. Despite many debates about whether these can coexist, I think they can. If, as conservationists, What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and Oscar Mohale, we do not work from top-down but bottom-up and hear who did it come from? Senior Field Officer. the people’s needs, our efforts can really be supported I was once told that holding a resentment is like swallowing by our different stakeholders and make an impact. I am poison and waiting for the other person to die. Life is too Wildlife and Energy Programme passionate about working together, partnerships, getting short to hold grudges, so just forgive those that have done everyone on board to make sure development does not you wrong and move on to live your best life. We recently chatted to Oscar Mohale, a Senior harm the environment, and showing evidence (data) i.e. Field Officer with the EWT’s Wildlife and Energy telling evidence-based stories but also staying empathetic about stakeholder situations. Programme. Oscar studied BSc Entomology at the University of Pretoria, and drifted between Megan Murison, agriculture and ecology streams. Programme Officer, Everyone should believe that they National Biodiversity He then joined the Conservation Ecology can achieve great things in life, and Business Network Research Unit, and studied BSc Hons and MSc, regardless of their background, all in Zoology/Ecology, focusing on different Born and bred in Joburg, Megan ended up doing aspects of ecological restoration of mined education, culture etc. her (seven year!) university stint at Rhodes dune forests for about six years. During his University. As she has always been passionate studies, he mostly gained skills in numerical If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it about animals, she obtained an MSc in Zoology. be and why? ecology, community ecology, writing, and I would say Pastor Chris Mathebula, very weird, one might statistics. At the end of his MSc, he noted the think. It is not about his position as a pastor but the way Megan loves to travel and has seen most of he sees life. Chris sees the bigger picture of life and disconnect between science studies and day- eastern Europe and South East Asia. As she does not focus on minute things that waste human time. turns 30 this year, she is ticking off a big bucket to-day people’s struggles, and joined the EWT, He believed, I believe, and everyone should believe that where he initially worked in the Source to Sea they can achieve great things in life, regardless of their list item, and walking the Great Wall of China. background, education, culture etc. Programme, supporting the field, research She also has an amazing younger brother who MEET and administration elements of our work with What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and means the world to her. who did it come from? water. Know your purpose and run with that purpose. This came Megan’s role is a little different from many of from Bridget Jonker, my previous manager. I gave a talk on During this 2-year stint, he improved his skills this once, and it is shaping my cause/purpose of making her colleagues’, as she hardly ever works with sure development and conservation coexist. animals. Instead, she works with businesses THE in project management and working with communities. around South Africa to assist them with mainstreaming, or integrating, biodiversity into His current role sees him helping to make their business strategies and goals. electrical infrastructure safe. He works with PACK incident reporters (EWT field officers, Eskom

31 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 32 Conservation Science unit to take up a new and exciting role as the African Lion Database Coordinator.

As the title suggests, her primary role is to create a database for lion distribution and population numbers across the continent. Currently, the status, population trends and distribution for the species in many African countries is not well known.

This can be largely attributed to the fact that there is a lack of a single repository WAYS TO GIVE for this kind of data. So her role is to create that database and work with many different country representatives and lion researchers to consolidate that data. The more we know EVERY SWIPE about a species the better we can conserve them! What excites you about this position? COUNTS! This project falls within a sphere of work I have always been very passionate about – carnivore conservation. It is generally a very exciting field, and I get to work with many different people from various backgrounds. It’s also really great knowing that what I am working on is going to Did you know that you can support the EWT through the MyPlanet programme? The MyPlanet fundraising programme was launched feed into a much bigger picture and ultimately aid in the as an extension of MySchool to provide community-minded people like yourself the opportunity to support a worthy cause, such as the conservation of this iconic species. EWT, that is focussed on the improvement and protection of the environment and animals. And it doesn’t cost you a cent! So get your free MyPlanet card (no monthly fees, no costs to you!) and nominate the EWT as the beneficiary you wish to support. Then Samantha Page-Nicholson, swipe your card at partner stores when you shop, and they will donate a percentage of your purchases on your behalf. African Lion Database Coordinator, Never regret anything Conservation Science Unit that made you smile. Samantha studied her undergraduate degree at Rhodes University where she majored in • If you don’t have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card yet, simply apply for your free card now and select the EWT as your What are you passionate about? beneficiary. Once you start swiping your card, we’ll start receiving funds. Zoology and Environmental Science. Her I love to travel – especially with my hubby, Bryan. We have Honours degree was in Zoology with a specific been fortunate enough to travel to many countries – with • If you already have a MySchool card, but would like to change your beneficiary or add a charity, simply call the Client Service Centre on 0860 100 445 or email [email protected] – there is no need to get a new card! focus on African Vertebrate Zoology and in my favourite country being Croatia and my best city being London. 2014, she graduated with distinction with her Find out more by visiting Master’s degree in Zoology. At the end of 2014, If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it http://www.myschool.co.za/schools/myplanet be and why? she started at the EWT as a Conservation I think my answer is probably going to be the same as Science Intern. She got to work on a number of many conservationists/biologists – David Attenborough. projects, like the Mammal Red List, and help He has led an incredibly fascinating life and I would a love to hear his stories first hand. out with cleaning and standardising some of the EWT programme datasets. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from? “Turning plastic waste into useful products - caring for our environment” “Never regret anything that made you smile.” To be Late in 2015, she became a Senior Science honest I can’t remember where I heard it from, but it’s Manufacturers of quality plastic timber profiles for: Officer in the Wildlife and Energy Programme, just a saying that has stuck with me since high school. *DIY Market It also gives me the justification to not feel guilty about *Outdoor Furniture where her main responsibility was to manage a that holiday, any naughty shenanigans, having an extra *Decking database which recorded all wildlife mortalities chocolate, reading a Harry Potter book for the millionth time or that extra G&T! *Fencing on Eskom power infrastructure. Here she *Droppers was also involved in providing mitigation *Sole Boards recommendations to the relevant Eskom *Landscaping Accessories teams. 011 873 5486 www.tufflex.co.za In October 2018, she moved back to the jk Innovative Plastic Recycling

33 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 34 IN CLOSING: PUPS’ PLACE SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! Can you find six differences in these photos? MWITU’S MISSIVE Circle the differences and take a photo/scan the page and send it to [email protected], and you could be in for a treat! Dear Readers Much like my fellow Wild Dogs, who have strong social bonds and are such successful hunters because of the strength of our packs, we all need connections in order to thrive. I hope you have enjoyed this issue, with its focus on the collaborations and partnerships that make conservation work more impactful. Of course, the EWT’s most important partnership is with our supporters, who undoubtedly make the work we do possible. Thank you for being part of the pack!

In our quest to ensure that our pack is connected, we’ve developed a brand new website, with the generous help of pack members, Artifact Advertising. We hope that the new site will offer you a far simpler way to find all the information you need about our work, and how you can get involved. Head over to www.ewt.org.za and let us know what you think! You can share your feedback on the new site, or any other topic, by emailing me at [email protected]

Lastly, congratulations to the winners of our Wildlife on your doorstep photography and drawing competition! They are

• 1st place photography – John Todd, for his beautiful Spotted Eagle Owl photos, taken in St Helena Bay

• 2nd place photography – Claudio Pizzio, for his lovely Crested Barbet image, taken in Edenvale

• 1st place drawing – Achumilo Mdlalo, age 5-10 years, for a fantastic drawing of Barn Owl

• 1st place drawing – Asibonge Mdlalo, for a gorgeous picture of a Lilac Breasted Roller

‘Til next time Mwitu

P.S. If you don’t already receive our electronic newsletter, ChitterChatter, which goes out in alternate months from Conservation Matters, and you’d like to subscribe, please email me ([email protected]) and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

35 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 36 Killing me softly.

is the printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current topics. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and include something for readers of all ages. The cute cubs you pet could grow up to be Five bi-monthly issues of the magazine are produced each year, with a of 7,000 copies per issue. The magazine is distributed to EWT members and other stakeholders (primarily high LSM), as well as being made available at key such as check-in counters, departure lounges and car hires (list available on request) within OR Tambo and Lanseria airports in Johannesburg killed for trophies. Keep our lions wild.

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37 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 38 THERE IS NO

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