GRAA Chapter Newsletter 11 Winter 2017

Newsletter #11

World Ranger Day Edition 31 July 2017

In this issue:

From the Editor’s Desk 2

Namibia’s Conservation Pioneers 3

Helicopter lost in the dunes of the 4

50 Years of Game Capture (Part 2) 6

Rhino attack survivor: an active campaigner against poaching 9

North Durban’s exemplary Honorary Officers 10

Matondoti Crocodile Poaching May/June 2017 13

Sustainable Development Awards 2017 16

A tribute to Albi Brückner 17

News from Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness 18

June News Headlines 20

1 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter 11 Winter 2017 From the Editor’s Desk

This World Ranger Day (31 July, 2017) we celebrate the inspirational Contributors: work of conservationists present and past. We start with an update on the progress of Conservation Pioneers of Linda Baker Namibia, the book that Peter Bridgeford has spent many years of Peter Bridgeford painstaking work to compile. It’s expected to reach the shelves later Chris Brown this year. We have a sneak preview of content, with a story by Roelf de Sue Cooper Bruine about a helicopter lost in the desert - long before the days of Roelf de Bruine GPS,cellular phones and digital tracking methods. Louis Geldenhuys Louis Geldenhuys and Mark Jago wrap up 50 years of Game Capture, noting some of Mark Jago the remarkable achievements - some of them 'world firsts'. Ginger Mauney Allisdair McDonald For nearly 25 years, Basil Pather has worked tirelessly to save the Basil Pather unique Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve (Ezemvelo KwaZulu- Mark Paxton Natal Wildlife) in the heart of Durban. Having started his career as a Nekulilo Uunona senior ranger in during the early 1990s, he has remained a dedicated officer who doesn’t let the lack of resources and finances With thanks to Travel weigh him down. He has rallied together a voluntary team of Honorary News Namibia and NEWS Rangers who champion environmental education, construction and for allowing us to maintenance, research and law enforcement. We invited him to reproduce articles highlight some of the work done and share some insights into the printed in their system. There’s no news of the system being resurrected in Namibia, publications. but we hope that Basil’s work can inspire some debate on situation.

We welcome all our Nekulilo Uunona reports on how workhand Tulikokule Hilja Niipele, new readers from injured by a rhino cow during a patrol at last various organizations year, has become an active anti-poaching campaigner, while GRAA - if you are not Chairperson Mark Paxton shares his recent involvement in the already a GRAA successful cross-border arrest of alleged crocodile poachers. We pay Namibia Chapter tribute to conservation legend Albi Bruckner, catch up on activities at member, please Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness in and end with an update of environmental news that made the headlines in July. contact one of our committee members Last, take a moment today to pay tribute to the men and women who listed below and sign are actively working as rangers, and, if you have retired from the up today! profession, reflect on some of your most treasured moments in the veld.

GRAA COMMITTEE CONTACTS

Chair: Mark Paxton [email protected] Secretary: Sue Cooper [email protected] Treasurer: Toni Hart [email protected] Committee member: Peter Bridgeford [email protected] Committee Member: Peter Wolfe [email protected] Editor: Linda Baker [email protected]

2 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Namibia’s Conservation Pioneers

Book to feature 70 biographies and ranger stories

Peter Bridgeford has spent several years collecting stories for the forthcoming publication, Conservation Pioneers In Namibia and Stories by Game Rangers, set to reach bookshelves later this year.

“I will be publishing it myself and selling it through the GRAA Namibia, who will receive a flat fee for every book sold. It will also be sold through book wholesalers in Namibia. No costs yet! Barbara Curtis is currently editing the text - about 150 000 words - with Ursula Bader completing the layout,” Bridgeford told the newsletter. The book will also include many photographs.

“I also want to get GRAA on board to sell it in South Africa, again they will receive a fee.” It will not be ready for at least another two months.

The ambitious project has resulted in Bridgeford collecting biographies of 70 pioneers from 1906 to 1972.

Some of the contributors and contributions include:

Peter Bridgeford Birth of conservation in Namibia Establishment of Namutoni and Okaukuejo Bernabé de la Bat Etosha — 75 years Hu Berry In a flash of a second — Etosha 100 Peter Bridgeford Conservation Pioneers

Stories by rangers Dieter Aschenborn A game ranger in Etosha Johan Brisley Wounded wildebeest Lynne Tinley Etosha Piet Halali Etosha days Kallie du Preez Kallie and the elephant Hu Berry Tribute to Charles Clinning Gino Noli When smoke gets in your eyes Scotty Kyle My first days in Etosha Gert Jordaan A close shave in the Naukluft Allisdair MacDonald The wanderings of an African Leon van Rooyen Ostrich smugglers Duncan Gilchrist Wild man from the north

Other authors include Bernabe de la Bat, Stoffel Rocher, Erwin Leibnitz, Hannes Holtzhausen, Willie Adank, Basil Pather and many more.

On the next pages, we feature one of the articles to be showcased in the book.

3 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

Helicopter lost in the dunes of the Namib

by Roelf de Bruine

avail. Nico threatened to leave it right there for the Helicopters for game counts and capture were initially agents to collect. I suggested we all get on my truck and hired from Cape Town. This was expensive and the SWA explore the dunes. Administration decided to acquire its own, mostly for game capture use. Nico Maritz, the administration pilot, We returned around midday, had lunch and warily did a ‘conversion’ and for the third and last count of the hitched up batteries and tried again. The chopper fired Diamond Areas on my watch, he decided it would be up after a few tries. Everything was now urgent, as we the ideal opportunity to familiarise himself with the new had lost half-a-day. machine, nicknamed Heksie (witch), before the more taxing flying during the capture season. Nico asked us to move further east, closer to the farm borders, where most of the game was, then he need not In 1978, flying from , he picked me up in fly so far west to refuel. He was readying for take-off Keetmanshoop, and to overnight in /Ai-/Ais we flew when we checked maps for the evening rendezvous. down the . The next morning we met Looking at my map, I suggested the eastern-most point up with the other staff in two trucks at Rosh Pinah, and of the Uri-Hauchab Mountain would be ideal and easy to the count could begin. locate. Nico and Johan Lichthelm, a new ranger, then took off. To make it a more useful and scientific expedition, I had invited scientists from Gobabeb Research Station to join Later that afternoon, I parked our vehicle halfway up a us in the Koichab Pan area, in their Landrovers, all fitted hill at the eastern end of Uri-Hauchab, to guide the with sand tyres. I took the lead in one vehicle and had chopper to where the others had made camp. It did not the two new staff members alternate between the other arrive. truck and the chopper. We made camp some distance into the dunes, but travelling down the dune streets that My assistant from Keetmanshoop said he heard angled slowly westwards, we ended up further west than something that could have been the sound of a I intended. helicopter, but was not sure. As the sound was to the west of us, it did not make sense. With me was a lecturer The next morning, everything began to go wrong. The from the Geography Department of Stellenbosch chopper refused to start! Even after coupling up the two University and, as we both heard nothing, I discarded truck batteries for 24-volts to jump-start it, it was to no the possibility of the helicopter being to the west of us. 4 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Worst possible scenarios immensity of the dunes. As I topped one of the high dunes overlooking the gap between the middle and the That night, the ‘worst possible scenarios’, plagued me. most westerly hill, I radioed Head Office again. Polla To the east of us lay the huge complex of the Awasib Swart informed me that the police helicopter had not Mountains, with grassy plains in between, where there found Nico and the chopper. Mat de Jager, the other were usually some game such as oryx, mountain zebra, conservation pilot in the Piper Navajo aircraft and with ostrich and springbok. This is where I thought they Eugene Joubert on board, was sent to search for the would have been counting late the previous afternoon. missing chopper. I then contacted Windhoek Airport There were many places where it would be difficult to control tower and was told, when they last spoke, the find a downed helicopter. Navajo was close to Oyster Cliffs, to the west of Uri- Hauchab. The next morning, I sent the other two vehicles to the nearest farm, Aandster, owned by Thys Louw, an Honorary Conservation Officer. Just before midday, on 'Fuel for Africa' the last dunes close to the farm,, I first radioed conservation officer Johan Hugo on the farm Zais in the I set off at speed down the dune, up the rising sandy Naukluft Mountains, to come to Aandster with fuel for a valley and as I topped out on the southern side, at the possible extensive search of the Awasib Mountains. moment of turning to go west, I saw the Navajo flying Then I reported to Head Office, where Polla Swart gave out from behind the hill. Out with the radio, attached the me the good news that Nico had made radio contact antenna and called Mat. We had a special mutual with a South West Airways flight from to channel with the plane. Normally the HF does not work Lüderitz. well over short distances, but that day, it was as if talking

on a phone in town. He was Nico gave co-ordinates that flying away from me and by put him somewhere south of the time I made contact, he Sossusvlei and stated that he was a small speck and close was without fuel, but that the " T h e r e w e r e m a n y to Sossus, I thought. He said Police helicopter from Walvis places where it would they had just found the Bay was on its way. Because chopper. I asked if he had of the emergency, I had to be difficult to find a enough fuel for me to reach interrupt a conversation downed helicopter." him in under an hour. ‘Fuel for b e t w e e n t h e w i f e o f a Africa’, he said. colleague at Möwe Bay talking to her daughter in Back down the valley in South Africa. The result was pursuit and at high speed, I that the helicopter lost in the unexpectedly encountered sand Namib Desert was on the main news in South Africa, corrugations, a 100 to 200 cm high and half to one causing ‘concern’ for my family back there, for they knew metre apart. For a moment, I had a sinking feeling and of my involvement. thought it was not a good time to trash the Ford. I managed to ease it to the left onto the smoother sand, As I had the fuel on board my vehicle, I asked that the rising to a low escarpment, when my companion police helicopter rendezvous with me at Awasib Pan. We shouted: “There’s the chopper!” We were passing it at a sat next to the water-filled pan, mirror in hand, to flash distance of not much more than a hundred metres. From the helicopter when it came into view. the top of the dune, it was hidden by a small hillock and going up the valley - we were just too low to see it. So Darkness came but no helicopter. easy to miss things in the vastness of the Namib! That night, I put two and two together: the helicopter, As I approached, Nico was on the chopper’s step turning Nico’s Heksie, had only a VHF radio and if he had made the rotor out of the way for refuelling. I thought this is contact with a flight between Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, he going to be too easy and stopped short. As we had to be close to the coast. The noise heard two approached each other, Nico, looking a bit worse-for- evenings before now made sense.Back west, now along wear, with quiet emotion said: "This is what makes one a the northern side of Uri-Hauchab hills, almost lost in the better person."

Roelf started working at Gobabeb in 1968 and was transferred to Game Capture in 1971. In 1974 he moved to Keetmanshoop, in charge of the south. In 1979 he took over the newly established Namib-Naukluft Park. He resigned in 1981. He now lives in .

5 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

50 Years of Game Capture (Part 2) by Louis Geldenhuys and Mark Jago

supported Millennium Challenge Account. Time moves on, Namibia embraces her wildlife with renewed vigor as a natural resource to be used Parallel to this, MET sets in motion a country-wide sustainably for the betterment of all Namibians. programme designed to assist newly emerging Namibian farmers to access the benefits of game The Ministry of Environment and (MET) through the Wildlife Breeding Stock Loan Scheme. embarks on a series of large-scale reintroductions and supplementations of game into former ranges Concomitantly the tourism and hunting industries through the ever-growing highly successful continue to flourish, on the back of which the conservancy programme, which empowers rural Namibian game industry grows at an exponential communities to become resource managers rate with certain high-value species being bought through not only deriving benefits from game but and sold for incredible prices. also assisting Government in achieving significant As a result of all this activity the need to capture, national biodiversity goals. care and translocate wildlife in Namibia continues to Partners grow. The remarkable amount of knowledge gained and capture techniques developed by the experts in Over the years a number of partners have the field of previous years is built on by an ever- collaborated with Government to facilitate these growing number of individuals and capture teams endeavours: World Wildlife Fund, the European encompassing an array of different skill sets. Union’s Enhancing Wildlife-based Economy in Rural The game capture course is formalised and Areas (EWERAP), Integrated Community-based becomes essential for anyone wishing to learn the Ecosystems Management (ICEMA) and the French art, while the wildlife veterinarian must become Fund for World Environment (FFEM), and the USA - familiar with the new array of medical drug

Table from Vincent Guilleman 6 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 combinations used to immobilise, anaesthetise, Region in 2010. Due to the rugged and highly tranquillise, sedate and otherwise treat the wild remote area in which the rhino were caught and animal. moved, traditional methods making use of ground retrieval could not be used. However, the basics remain the same, with those responsible for the capture of wildlife using a However the helicopter, with a 1500 kg slinging mixture of physical capture of larger numbers capacity, was able to lift an immobilised rhino through the plastic boma, the drop net, the net gun upside down and fly for up to 20 minutes that and others, and chemical immobilisation of the allowed the rhino to be moved over mountains and individual by remote injection using a dart fired from out of and into otherwise completely inaccessible a dart gun. areas. The operation involved the coordination of a large number of people and equipment and resulted in stakeholders at all levels being involved Capture and translocation in the successful management and conservation of highlights the black rhino in Namibia. The capture and translocation highlights in which the MET has been involved during the last 20 years have been noteworthy. R h i n o C u s t o d i a n s h i p

Between 1999 and 2013 a total of 10,568 animals Programme (Table) of 15 different species were translocated to The highly successful Black Rhino Custodianship 38 conservancies by MET and private capture units Program continues with recipients coming from under the auspices of MET and the with the both conservancies and private farmers; today there assistance of partner funding. are in excess of 30 custodians. The management of these satellite populations as part of the larger metapopulation involves annually the capture of a large number of black rhino on both custodian land and within Namibia’s protected areas. Some of these rhino will be translocated directly from “veld to veld”, while a smaller number will be required to undergo a six-week boma adaptation period so that they become familiar with different foods and are habituated to the point where they can be translocated over greater distances.

Some of the rhinos will be captured for identification p u r p o s e s , h a v e s a m p l e s a n d b i o m e t r i c measurements taken and, additionally today, a number will be dehorned in order to reduce the risk of poaching.

Slinging Rhino in Kunene

'Slinging' Rhino

One of the more unusual translocations included Crate training rhino going to Cuba the lifting and slinging of a number of black rhino under a Super Huey helicopter in the Kunene

7 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

The capture, care and translocation of rhino has duration door-to-door. There were no casualties advanced over the years to the point where today during the translocations with all animals arriving they can be moved large distances, and in 2007 safe and sound. MET was involved in an international three-way Mindful of the essential components of conservation exchange program whereby Diceros bicornis in which Namibia’s natural resources are utilised to bicornis were moved from Namibia to South Africa, maximise both their ecological as well as which in turn moved Diceros bicornis minor from economical value, South Africa to Zambia, which for their part agreed to provide an assortment of game to Namibia MET’s biannual auctions of high value species have including puku, lechwe, sitatunga and oribi. continued with the sale of a number of species including black rhino, buffalo, roan and sable. The Twelve black rhino were caught in Namibia and proceeds of these auctions have continued to go placed in specially designed bomas on Waterberg, into the highly successful Game Product Trust Fund. which included overhead heating and facilities to “crate train” them to the point where they could be Waterberg’s specific-pathogen-free population of loaded into rhino crates and driven for 48 hours to buffalo has generated a large amount of funds that their destination in SA. This boma period required a have been used in turn to further conservation dedicated team to cut browse, feed and clean twice goals. daily, and work with the rhino for at least 12 hours a day. A question often asked is what have been the most significant advances in game capture over recent time. Naturally there have been many. Perhaps one of the most valuable has been the reduction in Flying to Cuba losses of game caught and moved, which goes hand-in-hand with a critical improvement in animal Both black and white rhino were part of a welfare. consignment of 144 animals of 22 species of wildlife that were caught and transported to Cuba in two 14 A combination of refined capture techniques, -hour flights in a Boeing (Jumbo!) 747 for a distance holding facilities and transport systems - together of 11, 888km in 2012 and 2013. This project was with an increase in our understanding of a number one of the largest of its kind, involving a variety of of veterinary medicines used to immobilise and species including carnivores, antelope, buffalo, sedate animals - has been critical. In particular the birds, rhino and elephant, taking over three years to use of the Long Acting Neuroleptics, a group of plan and two years to execute. drugs originally used in human medicine, are today being used very successfully to reduce the stress It involved a large number of people from both under which wild animals find themselves during Namibia and Cuba, private and state; the transport and captivity. construction of two purpose built vector-free quarantine facilities; the testing of nearly 200 There is of course still much to learn, and so the next animals for 32 different diseases and two journeys, fifty years are going to be very exciting! e a c h o f 4 8 h o u r s

State of the art vector-free quarantine bomas on Waterberg Auction Buffalo 2014 8 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Rhino attack survivor: an active campaigner against poaching by Nekulilo Uunona

On 26 January 2016, workhand Tulikokule Hilja Niipele (37) was gored by a black rhino during a routine foot patrol in Waterberg Plateau Park. She was injured on her back, left thigh and left leg. The black rhino had a small baby that ran towards Niipele while on patrol and the mother was just trying to protect it.

Although Niipele was hospitalised for three months and spent a further three months on sick leave, she has still suffers back pains.

When asked about her attitude towards rhinos after the incident, she laughed and said: “I love wildlife and I am here to protect them”.

She is an active campaigner on social media against poaching and the attack did not lessen her love of animals.

Niipele has now been moved to where she is working for Revenue as an administrator. She complains that she does not sleep well and she will be seeing a psychologist regarding the attack. Workhand Tulikokule Hilja Niipele (37) was gored by a black rhino during a routine foot patrol in Waterberg Plateau Park

Nekulilo Uunona is an External Researcher (Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management) SASSCAL, Namibia University of Science and Technology.

MET Employee Attacked By Rhino

Radiowave.com.na | 28 January 2016

A 36-year-old woman is recovering at the Okakarara State Hospital after she was attacked by a female Rhino at the Waterberg Plateau National Game Park on Tuesday morning. Tuli works for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at the park. Speaking to the Namibia Press Agency, Tuli explains that she and two other colleagues were tracking the same rhino and its calf to identify them for administrative purposes when the attack happened. She says the Rhino simple charged them. All three trackers headed for trees, but Tuli only managed to climb a smaller tree, which was unfortunately no match for the Rhino. She was gored and sustained serious injuries to most of her body. She is however in a stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

9 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 North Durban’s exemplary Honorary Officers By Basil Pather

Honorary Officers are members of the public who share an interest in conservation and who want to make a difference. They range from students to pensioners, from unemployed to academic - in terms of legal requirements there is no restriction except the age limit of 18.

I have male and female volunteers including students completing their in-service conservation training; pensioners or retired volunteers who assist with guided educational walks; IT specialists who assist with database and research projects; secretaries; financial accountants; engineers, plumbers and electricians. Officers assist with marine research Persons with disabilities contribute their area of expertise and are valuable team members.

Because conservation staff are limited, our honorary officers form our eyes and ears in terms of surveillance Last year, honorary officers played an integral role in the for law enforcement. construction of Beachwood’s R415 000, 340 meter eco- friendly timber-plastic boardwalk, sponsored by Grinrod They also operate as marshals for sporting activities in Bank through the Wildlands Conservation Trust’s Blue protected areas, helpers on film sets and supervisors at Fund. clean ups with school groups, and valuable hosts during various conservation functions, where they also help set up venues and receive guests – at no cost to the Research organisation. They also help clear alien invasive Officers assist with marine research for the National vegetation in reserves. Marine Line fish System, in association with the Oceanographic Research Institute. During routine patrols with conservation officers, they monitor the catch per unit effort, along with species composition. This enables scientists to make informed decisions in respect of size and bag limits. It should be noted that this is different from law enforcement, which the permanent staff control.

Permits, inspections and education Honorary Officers with specialised skills (permits) assist me with reptiles, nursery and aviary inspections, orchids, animal Honorary officers help constructs a 340-metre rehabilitation, hunting /problem animals. boardwalk At fishing competitions, officers hand out fishing brochures and answer questions

10 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 related to the marine environment. During school their professional opinion and advise on potential holidays, my officers pitch a gazebo next to rock pools hazards, not costing the organisation financially. or camping areas, and educate and inform visitors about marine life in the pools.

We celebrate expos and special calendar days, such as International Coastal Cleanup Day, World Environment Day and National Arbor Day - officers go out to events at schools or other venues to highlight special themes associated with the days and events.

We celebrate expos and special Honorary officers and volunteers help with calendar days clean-ups

Historians conduct tours to generate revenue for other projects and for servicing equipment and boats.

Working with Honorary Officers Honorary Officers are a free support service in you carrying out your conservation mandate. Due to financial constraints you are hampered, but the invaluable input from the Honorary Officers assists you to tick all the boxes in your key performance indicators.

As a Conservation Manager you are a specialist of sorts You need to be broadminded in your approach - but not in everything. Hence, officers can provide as to how you manage your Honorary Officers, all within handling, identification and various other skills that you a legal framework and within the policies of your may not be competent in. Even with environmental organisation. We have very strict criteria and disciplinary impact assessments and GIS projects, they can provide procedures, including special induction every two years

The Honorary Officers are a group of volunteers who give of their time and expertise to assist and support KZN Wildlife in their mission 'to ensure effective conservation and sustainable use of KwaZulu-Natal’s biodiversity in collaboration with stakeholders for the benefit of present and future generations'.

Within the HO Corps, there are 52 Honorary Officer groups throughout KZ-N. Usually, but not always, groups work in a particular Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve. The work of each group varies depending on the reserve, but basically entails the Honorary Officers bringing their skills and experience to assist in the running of the reserve. Honorary Officers’ duties and powers are specifically legislated in terms of the KZN Nature Conservation Management Amendment Act. Honorary Officer status enables volunteers to act as agents of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, as specified by all relevant legislation and enjoy both the responsibilities and privileges attached to this status. http://ezemveloho.com

11 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

to update them on legal policies and the latest • Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Excellency Award for 2013; developments within the organisation. • Enviropaedia/ Eco-Logic’s Biodiversity Award for 2014; We provide free, specialised training from some Ethekweni Sustainability Expo Award for Best volunteers to ensure that they are competent in fields • Biodiversity Display 2015; from tactical communication, first aid, animal identification, capture, research projects, permit • Ethekweni Sustainability Expo Award for Best applications, rhino monitoring to rock art conservation. Biodiversity Display 2016;

Durban’s Ushaka Marine World has assisted with training • Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Excellency Award for 2016. in seal capture and the h a n d l i n g a n d c a re o f We h a v e f e a t u re d i n stranded animals. numerous print media and “There is nothing stronger than the on television programmes I run a strict ship ensuring, heart of a volunteer.” I always convey such as SABC’s 50/50 and uniform is worn with pride, to my Honorary Officers that I cannot Pasella. accountability, competency pay them for their contribution to and credibility, as they conservation, not because they are View the Pasella video represent me and the worthless, but because they are here:. organisation. priceless. View the Wildlands I have about 30 Honorary Trust video on the Officers of various ages, B e a c h w o o d reflecting the rainbow of Boardwalk here. our country. It must be noted that a Captain is only as good I have led the North Durban Honorary Officers to win as his crew is an analogy I use with my various accolades. In the past five years, these have volunteers. included: 12 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Matondoti Crocodile Poaching May/June 2017 by Mark Paxton

patrols along the river in the southern part of the n the afternoon of Thursday, 4 May at about O Luenge-Luiana Park and talked to many people and 17h00 I was out on the river with some guests and officials, including the regional Administrator based came across one of the Angolan Government- at Ndirico in . At this particular meeting they sponsored boats from Matondoti. The boat, which brought up this case of crocodile skins and was on the Namibian side of the river and heading submitted our photos of the poachers and their towards Shinyungwe/Shamvura area, had two men boat together with the names of the individuals in it. Also in the boat were one or two large involved. crocodile skins with skulls attached. The boat made no attempt to evade us and innocently went past. During their patrols, they also uncovered substantial illegal logging operations in the park, which they Although I was armed as I usually am I had guests will be pursuing through the appropriate channels. on the boat whom I could not put at risk. I could therefore do little more than talk to the poachers On Friday 9 June, again with guests, I found this which I did. They both seemed to be Angolan same boat on the Namibian side of the river near although one spoke good English. Matondoti - cleverly hidden from view while the owners were presumably in the Shinyungwe/ After several minutes of heated exchanges, they Shamvura area. I immediately reported this to Chief were forced to turn back and they then immediately Inspector Nekundi who informed the Evero Border headed for the Angolan river bank while talking on Police. their cell phones. We had no cell phones on the boat and I could only report the incident two hours Together with two sergeants we confiscated the later to Warrant Officer Matayi from the Ndiyona boat and took it to Evero Border Post. According to Police Station. Two officers came out the following Chief Nekundi, both these incidents have been morning after another phone-call to Ndiyona. handed over to Superintendent Chinene of the Angolan Police at Ndirico.

Assistance and statements During the last week of June these men were arrested by Superintendent Chinene. They have Coincidentally, we had GRAA member Roland been charged with the illegal possession of Goetz, Manuel Xavier and several other KAZA team crocodile skins and the illegal use of a Government members staying with us while working on boat. They are currently in jail and awaiting trial. establishing management structures for the Luenge- Luiana National Park. They immediately offered their assistance as this incident involved the Park. Our Cross-border cooperation guests, who were Namibians, also offered to give This is an excellent example of successful Namibia/ supportive statements to the Police. These were Angola cross-border co-operation resulting in the submitted with many clear photos of the suspects swift arrest of alleged poachers which will hopefully and their boat. set a precedent for future illegal activities in this After a few days I made contact with Chief Inspector area. Mukoso from the PRU who confirmed that because This case also signifies the successful cooperation the suspects were now obviously back in Angola the between KAZA and GRAA members which will case had been handed to Chief Inspector Nekundi hopefully ensure the success of the Luenge-Luiana in charge of the Border Police. Meanwhile Roland National Park. and his colleagues had done some extensive vehicle

13 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

LEFT: Tourists on my boat when the alleged poachers were found.

BELOW: The two suspects with crocodile skins in their boat were diverted back to Angola.

14 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

LEFT: Miguel (KAZA) and Roland Goetz (GRAA) - together with some police from Evero Border Post - investigating the incident and questioning another suspected illegal fisherman on the same boat in the same area.

RIGHT: The same boat being used for ferrying people to and from Matondoti and Shamvura area across the river .

LEFT: The same boat discovered moored on the Namibian side from where it was confiscated.

15 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Environmental Investment Fund launches Sustainable Development Awards 2017

The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia in partnership with the Sustainable Development Advisory Committee and the Hanns Seidel Foundation Namibia Environmental Awareness and Climate Change Project officially launched the Sustainable Development Awards 2017 at a press conference on Friday, 7 July 2017.

This second edition of the Awards recognises achievements of companies, local authorities, civil society organisations and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in the pursuit of sustainable and responsible development.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Michael Humavindu, a member of the Sustainable Development Advisory Committee, called on both private and public sectors to continue championing economic growth for the country that is environmentally and socially responsible.

“Sustainable development is a cornerstone of our national planning documents, which also highlight the broad focus of sustainable development in terms of how we manage our economy, society and environment so that the needs of our present generations are met and crucially without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” he said.

This year’s categories are: 1. Private Sector Champions for Sustainable Development with 3 sub-categories for start ups, Small and Medium Enterprises as well as established companies; 2. Community level natural resource management and utilisation initiatives; 3. Research and Development to reward outstanding pieces of research or innovations in the eld of sustainable development; 4. Pioneering journalism in the eld of sustainable development, which will reward outstanding performance in the areas of best print media, best social media, best radio and best television; and 5. Youth Action for Sustainable Development, which focuses on youth leadership and initiatives in the area of sustainable development.

This year, the organisers have brought on board sponsors with Nedbank Namibia, Namibia Media Holdings, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, AgriBank and the Embassy of Finland coming on board to sponsor prizes for the various categories.

Entry forms for the awards can be found on the partners’ websites and will close on 14th August 2017. For all applicants applying for the category ‘Best eco-entrepreneurship among business start-ups’, a comprehensive Business Plan must be submitted with your application after completing the Eco-Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Programme co- facilitated by the NUST Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation Environmental Awareness and Climate Change Project.

For further information on this contact: [email protected] Tel: +264 61 207 243 9 Winners will be announced at a crowning event planned for 21 September 2017.

SOURCE: http://www.eifnamibia.com/media/Media_release_SDA_Awards_2017.pdf

SEE NBC VIDEO LINK HERE.

16 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 He tore down boundaries A tribute to Albi Brückner by Ginger Mauney

When he was 60 years old, Albi’s commitment to the Along the dirt roads that wind their way through the environment culminated in this boldest move yet, the Namib Desert, there are subtle signs of change. purchase of 100,000 hectares of land adjoining These signs read “No Fences.” They indicate areas NamibRand. where fences have been taken down to allow for the free movement of wildlife and the integration of land “This put him under enormous financial pressure,” back to its natural whole. says Stephan Brückner, Albi’s youngest son and the driving force behind Wolwedans, a series of high The significance of these signs is so self-evident that value, low impact tourism lodges on NamibRand. we are forced to pause and recognise that it hasn’t “But it was never about the money. It was always always been this way. There were obstacles, barriers about the land, about leaving a legacy for future to movement, limits to cohesion that had to be generations.” forcibly overcome. These signs, their message and their effectiveness, are as understated and important The colours of the desert and the sheer sense of as the man behind them, the late J.A. (Albi) Brückner. space always captivated Albi. Whenever he got the An astute businessman and a keen conservationist, chance, he left Windhoek to explore NamibRand, who served on the Board of the Desert Research visiting every corner of the property and often Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) and the Chairman of returning to the Farm Gorassis where it all began. the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Albi’s Albi’s impact on conservation in Namibia was both connection to the Namib Desert has become part of immediate, through DRFN and NNF, and sustained desert folklore. due to the land he helped to conserve and the people from nearby and around the world that he In 1984 he purchased the Farm Gorassis for the price inspired. “I believe that my father wanted to inspire of a Volkswagen Beetle. The land was overgrazed, people to do more, to give more, whether it was to sheep farming throughout the south was in a decline conservation or socially. He believed in growing old and wildlife had been shot out, so where others saw with a purpose,” Stephan says. the chance to sell and get out, Albi saw the opportunity to stake a claim not only to the land, but For more than 30 years that purpose was NamibRand. also to the future. He purchased another farm and By combining farms to re-establish the integrity of an then another, and by the mid-1990s, he had eco-system and using sustainable tourism to pay for established his vision for a private nature reserve the long-term preservation of the land, NamibRand where fences would be removed, water points became an international model for private sector restored and wildlife would return to the land that it conservation of large landscapes and for its is so well adapted to inhabit. Local and international contribution of the unique and fragile Pro-Namib investors were inspired to purchase and connect ecosystem. more farms into the mosaic that formed NamibRand Nature Reserve. “My father’s biggest hope for the future was that NamibRand would continue as is, that through our For Albi, life was always about tearing down tourism model the land would be sustainable and boundaries. This desire may have been ingrained in that greed would not interfere. NamibRand has a him when he was a child, growing up in war-torn sound constitution and structure, so he left knowing Prussia where he learned to be both firm and open- that it is in good hands for generations to come,” minded. In his teens Albi returned to Namibia, the says Stephan Brückner. country of his birth. Prior to Namibia’s independence he was among a group of Namibian businessmen NamibRand was Albi’s inspiration and his solace. who met with Sam Nujoma, then the leader of the When his wife of 55 years passed away, he found opposition resistance party, SWAPO. Afterwards, peace in the desert, and now they lie side by side some members of the business community rejected in a fairy circle, the perfect place for one who gave Albi and his efforts to understand Nujoma, but for so much to conserve the space, the integrity and him the meeting was another way of tearing down the mystery of the desert. fences. Reprinted from Travel News Namibia 17 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 News from Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness

Hi Guys,

As many of you would know, my brother Neil, his family and I have been busy with a conservation initiative in the North- Western Province of Zambia for the last 16 years, first establishing the Shinganda-Lumba Conservancy in 2001. For promotion purposes, we are now known as Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness (SWW). Situated about 50km NW of Kafue National Park, we are an integral part of the regional conservation area network.

Please find our Dry Season 2017 Edition of our Shinganda Snippets newsletter. Although we are a humble operation working in a remote and relatively hostile environment, we believe that collaboration with partners in the greater Kafue Ecosystem is key to making a big difference in this special part of the world. From a strategic perspective, SWW is ideally positioned in the landscape, providing a “conservation anchor point” for wildlife security in the NW sector of the Greater Kafue. We are pleased to announce a formal partnership with Painted Dog Conservation Incorporated (PDC Inc) in conserving painted dogs, lions, leopards, spotted hyaenas and cheetahs in the greater Kafue Ecosystem, and we look forward to continue working with relevant partners such as Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Zambia Carnivore Program, Game Rangers International and UNDP GEF5 Kafue / West Lunga Ecosystems Program in conserving all wildlife in the region.

Enjoy the newsletter.

Regards,

Allisdair MacDonald | Conservation Advisor

Shinganda Snippets Exciting news from Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness Dry Season 2017

SWW GETS LOGO

In May 2017, we decided it was time to develop a logo for Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness (SWW). This turned out to be a family affair, with Neil and Liz’s daughter, Louise, being put in charge of the preliminary design. Inspiration for the layout came from remote-sensor camera images of elephant, sable antelope and leopard captured on Shinganda over the last few years and these are now reflected in the logo. The next step was for Louise’s cousin, Struan Hopwood, to finalise the job, which he did by contributing his own time to add his finishing touches to the project.

We were very pleased to receive the finished product from Struan, which we are extremely happy with and proud of. Struan is a very talented artist, working out of an art gallery in Daylesford, near Melbourne in Australia. Check out some of his amazing artwork on www.thirteen05.com.au.Thanks to Struan and Louise for a great result!

18 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 SWW FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH PAINTED DOG CONSERVATION

SWW is very pleased to announce a newly-formed partnership with Painted Dog Conservation Incorporated (PDC Inc). PDC Inc and SWW have agreed to cooperate and work in partnership wherever possible to encourage and collaborate with partners in the greater Kafue Ecosystem to promote the conservation of all wildlife in the region, including carnivores such as painted dogs, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and cheetahs.

PDC Inc is providing support to SWW to strengthen wildlife security in the north-western sector of the greater Kafue Ecosystem, which will enable SWW to work more closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Zambia Carnivore Program and Game Rangers International to the benefit of wildlife in the region.

It should be noted that PDC Inc already provides significant support to carnivore and other conservation initiatives in Zambia, including in Kafue, Luangwa and Liuwa. For more information about PDC Inc, please see www.painteddogconservation.iinet.net.au

SWW SCOUTS STYMIE POACHING ON SHINGANDA

News of poaching is never a good thing, but it is something that we learn to live and deal with, as part of the conservation landscape in Zambia. However, when poaching problems are "nipped in the bud" this brings great relief and a reminder of just how important our contribution is to the collective, proactive anti-poaching work which limits damage to wildlife in the greater Kafue Ecosystem.

We are very happy to report positive results from our SWW patrols towards the end of May 2017. During a routine patrol on SWW one morning, our Scouts detected a group of poachers near a dambo and surprised the party, who were unaware of the approach of our staff. The poachers, upon seeing our SWW Scouts, moved off immediately, leaving all their belongings behind.

Items found at the newly-established camp, included two firearms and three bicycles. It was pleasing to note that the poaching gang had not yet begun hunting in the area and it appears that our anti-poaching unit were able to thwart the poaching efforts of the gang in a very timely manner, thereby preventing illegal hunting and avoiding any damage to wildlife in the area. The matter has been followed up with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, with the hope of tracing the culprits involved.

We are proud of our front-line staff operating in a remote and hostile environment. Congratulations to our SWW Scouts on a great effort and a job well done!!

That is all the news for now folks, and we hope to continue bringing you good news later in the year.

For our Zambian friends, to reach Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness, you drive either through Kaoma or Kasempa and find Kantanta Camp in tranquil settings about halfway between these two towns, to the north of the D301 main road.

For more information on Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness: See our video: https://vimeo.com/199764776

Contact: Neil MacDonald on +260964433096 / [email protected] or Liz MacDonald on +260978585360 / [email protected].

Shinganda Wildlife Wilderness

1 July 2017

19 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 June News Headlines

New wildlife law tough as nails Namibian Sun | 29 June 2017 | Ellanie Smit | The National Assembly has passed the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Amendment Bill. This brings the barring of foreigners in Namibia should they be convicted of a wildlife crime, one step closer. The bill will now be looked over by the National Council which has the right to make amendments and then send it back to the National Assembly. If not, it can be signed by President and gazetted into law. The bill, amongst others, proposes that foreigners who are found guilty of wildlife crimes will not be allowed back in Namibia after completing their jail terms. This will apply to foreigners who are found guilty of possession of, and dealing in, elephant and rhino products.

FULL STORY >>>

Trophy hunting generates millions, says environment ministry New Era | July 3, 2017 | Albertina Nakale |

Windhoek-The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has revealed that conservancies on average generate about N$100 million a year through trophy hunting.

MET spokesperson Romeo Muyunda recently told New Era that revenue generated through trophy hunting in conservancies goes directly to the communities and noted that revenue generated through trophy hunting in national parks and on other state land goes to the Game Product Trust Fund, which is then re-invested into conservation efforts.

FULL STORY >>>

Game ranger arrested for possession of ivory Namibian Sun | 6 July 2017 | Ellanie Smit |

An assistant game ranger at the Susuwe Game Reserve Post in the Zambezi Region has been arrested for being in possession of two elephant tusks.

Kebby Livuo (40) was arrested after a tip-off from the public that he had hidden elephant tusks in the bush at Kayuo village. According to the police, the informant went to the scene to verify that it was indeed ivory hidden there and upon confirming that, the police were called.

When the police arrived at the scene the tusks had been removed. The suspect was found at Bwabwata Game Reserve Post and questioned. He admitted that he had hidden and then removed the two elephant tusks. He also took the police to where he had stashed the ivory at Singalamwe village. FULL STORY >>>

20 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

Photo: National Geographic

Tullamore was poisoned Namibian Sun | 6 July, 2017 | Ellanie Smit |

Several months after the last of the famous lion brothers dubbed the 'Five Musketeers' was killed, it has officially been confirmed that he was poisoned.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday confirmed that Tullamore (XPL-93) was poisoned alongside a lioness and three cubs in April in northern Namibia.

Tullamore was the last surviving member of the group of five desert lions made famous by the movie 'The Vanishing Kings'. He was moved to the Okongue area after three of his brothers were poisoned by farmers and the other shot in August last year.

FULL STORY >>>

Rhino death toll rises Seven more rhinos have been killed by poachers in Etosha, driving the species ever closer to extinction. Namibian Sun | 29 June 2017 | Ellanie Smit |

Seven rhino carcasses discovered during aerial patrols in the Etosha National Park at the weekend have been confirmed to have been poached. This brings the total of poached rhinos to 16 this year, while there have also been 16 elephants poached this year. Altogether 59 rhinos were poached in the country last year and 95 rhinos in 2015, 56 in 2014 and 9 in 2013. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday confirmed in a press release that eight rhino carcasses had been discovered over the weekend, and not seven as it had told Namibian Sun on Tuesday.

FULL STORY >>>

21 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

No clearance for Zambezi timber harvesting The Namibian | 2017-07-03 | Lugeretzia Kooper |

The company cutting down protected trees in the Zambezi region to pave the way for a Green Scheme project was not given the green light by the environment ministry to clear that particular portion of the farm. Although the environment ministry's spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, confirmed that a clearance certificate was awarded, he said that was for a portion of the farm where there are no trees.

FULL STORY >>>

Mafwe authority supports timber harvest New Era | July 11, 2017 | Aron Mushaukwa |

Katima Mulilo-The Mafwe Traditional Authority under the chieftainship of George Simasiku Mamili says they see nothing wrong with the ongoing cutting down of trees at Katima Farm in the Zambezi Region to clear an area earmarked for a green scheme irrigation project. This follows a newspaper article published early this month which said no clearance was given to the Chinese company by the environment ministry to cut down protected trees at Katima Farm.

FULL STORY >>>

Pregnant rhino poached near Omaruru

The Namibian | 2017-07-03 | Adam Hartman |

ERONGO police are hunting for suspected poachers who killed a pregnant rhino cow on a game lodge near Omaruru over the weekend. The owner of the farm declined to comment, and requested this newspaper not to mention the name of the lodge for fear that it may attract more illegal activity for the rest of the game on the farm.

FULL STORY >>>

Erongo police bust stock thieves, poachers The Namibian | 2017-06-16 | Adam Hartman |

FOUR stock theft and poaching suspects linked to two separate cases at Otjimbingwe and Uis were arrested this week. Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu said two men were arrested in connection with poaching at farm Wilsonfontein in the Otjimbingwe area on Wednesday. FULL STORY >>>

22 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Two fined for transporting exotic game The Namibian | 2017-07-11 | Luqman Cloete

A KEETMANSHOOP magistrate yesterday fined two men N$50 000 each or five months in jail for transporting exotic game (16 copper springbok) without a valid permit. Magistrate Sunsley Zisengwe also ruled that Ferdie Engelbrecht (46) and Petrus Johannes Wessel (49) should each pay N$250 or spend three months in jail for the illegal importation of exotic game.

FULL STORY >>>

Leeu geskiet ná aanval op boer

Die Republikein | 10 Julie 2017 | Francoise Steynberg |

'n Man sterk in die Opuwo-staatshospitaal aan nadat 'n leeu hom Woensdag aangeval het. Dit volg ná nog 'n voorval van mens-dier-konflik toe leeus Woensdag in die vroeë oggendure beeste op 'n plaas in die Kunenestreek gevang het. Volgens die Namibiese polisie se misdaadverslag is drie leeus omstreeks 02:00 op die plaas Onguta in die omgewing van die Omtjokavare-nedersetting naby Werda gesien. Die leeus het 'n bees gevang wat buite 'n kraal gelê het.

FULL STORY >>>

Fisheries ministry owe workers N$7m . . . the oceans are open to plunder by poachers The Villager | 30 June 2017| Linekela Halwoodi |

Namibia’s seas could be at the mercy of fish poachers following the docking of two patrol vessels and the grounding of a helicopter because the fisheries ministry has no money for fuel. Fisheries ministry owns the Anna Kakurukaze and Nathaniel Maxwilili vessels that have been in the dock since late last year. In addition, the fisheries ministry has not paid workers overtime that amounts to more than N$7 million since January this year. The Anna Kakurukaze Mungunda patrol vessel which is worth N$100 million was launched by Former President Sam Nujoma on 22 March of 2004 at Walvis Bay and was built in 2003.

FULL STORY >>>

EU calls for proposals to enhance conservation The Namibian | 2017-07-06 | MATTHEW DLAMINI |

THE Kavango-Zambezi and the Iona-Skeleton Coast trans-frontier conservation areas are among 10 in Africa that are set to benefit from the recently launched European Union regional open call for proposals. EU ambassador to Namibia Jana Hybaskova said in an interview the union is seeking proposals for actions to increase and improve community involvement in livelihood development, benefit sharing and wildlife law enforcement in trans- boundary conservation areas (TFCAs) with financial assistance from the Cross-Regional Wildlife Conservation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

FULL STORY >>>

23 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Lack of access to finance hampers tourism – Shifeta New Era | 6 July 2017 | Clemans Miyanicwe |

Khorixas-The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, says one of the main barriers to enter the Namibian tourism sector is lack of access to financial resources. Speaking at the belated celebration of Environment Day recently, Pohamba noted: “There are opportunities for small and medium enterprises to engage in tourism- related activities such as craft production, running campsites, guest houses, bed-and-breakfasts, cultural villages, joint venture lodges, trophy hunting and tour guides. However, my ministry is aware of many challenges faced by emerging tourism entrepreneurs.

FULL STORY >>>

Hage sê diens is 'vrot' Die Republikein | 11 July 2017|

President Hage Geingob het tydens die amptelike opening van die Namibiese Toerismeraad se nuwe kantore in Windhoek die land se dienskultuur as "swak" beskryf. Hy het werknemers in die toerismebedryf versoek om gaste altyd vriendelik te behandel - veral toeriste en beleggers wat Namibië vir die eerste keer besoek. “Verbeel jou die persoon kom ná 'n lang vlug in die land aan . . . daar word van jou verwag om vriendelik te wees en die mense in ons land te verwelkom," het Geingob gesê. Volgens die president is dienslewering oral in die land "vrot" - in die staatsdiens én die private sektor.

FULL STORY >>>

Tourism levy under spotlight Namibian Sun | 11 July 2017| Ellanie Smit |

At conference under way at the coast focusing on tourism funding and levy regimes, while environment minister Pohamba Shifeta speaks of optimising the NTB's mandate. The environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has proposed that the Receiver of Revenue should in the future, collect tourism levies in the country earn a 10% commission from this. Shifeta was speaking during the opening of the workshop on tourism funding and levy regimes in southern Africa held in Swakopmund, where several SADC countries were represented.

FULL STORY >>>

24 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 Men rewarded for reporting rhinos to RCB rhinoconservationbotswana.com | June 15, 2017 |

Thanks to the honesty of three men working on a remote cattle outpost, two of ’s rare black rhinos are safely back where they belong. Map Ives went to thank them…

This week, Rhino Conservation Botswana’s director Map Ives and Regional Wildlife Officer Tim Blackbeard visited a remote cattle post in Makgadikgadi Pans to personally thank three men for helping to protect two black rhinos.

The men encountered the rhinos – a mother and her calf – while they were out following cattle and reported their presence to the authorities.

FULL STORY >>>

Angelina Jolie and Shiloh open wildlife sanctuary in Namibia Channel 24 | 2017-07-13

Cape Town – Angelina Jolie and Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt travelled to Namibia for the opening of a new wildlife sanctuary named after the 11-year-old. Angie has always had a special relationship with the southwest African country as Shiloh was born in Swakopmund, Namibia in 2006. In honour of Shiloh’s relation to the country Angelina along with Shiloh and the rest of her siblings visited Namibia to open the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary. FULL STORY >>>

Prince's close friend is tossed and gored by charging beast as they worked on a wildlife conservation project in Africa The Mail on Sunday | 2 July 2017 | Barbara Jones |

Miss Namibia 2017 declares war against poaching NBC TV |

25 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017

This abandoned chimp was chained to a tree for two years. The risky escape to get her to safety in Africa

Los Angeles Times | 10 July 2017 |

Robyn Dixon |

The young chimpanzee with thinning hair and sad eyes stood begging, holding out her plastic bottle while chained to a tree in a desolate urban park in central Angola. She had been there about two years. Apparently, it had not occurred to anyone to set her free. Local residents said a man known as Morais had bought her from an animal trader for what had been his mini-zoo in the Granja Por Do Sol park in the town of Huambo and called her Leila. But the zoo went broke, and the man hadn’t been seen in the area for at least 18 months. No one could afford to feed or care for Leila, so she began begging.

Locals gave her leftovers, sometimes rice gone too sour to eat themselves. For a laugh, some even bought her beer to see her drunk. When John Grobler passed through town in late April, Leila lay huddled, half-starved in a smudge of shade, with a dirty red rag as a collar and eyes as empty as the abandoned cages.

PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS TO HOST AUCTION AND DINNER FOR ANTI-POACHER ACTION Namibian Economist | Jul 18, 2017 |

The Namibia Professional Hunting Association announced this week it will host another fundraising dinner and auction for the Hunters United Against Poaching Trust. The dinner is scheduled for 31 August 2017 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort. The auction, launched a week prior at the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, offers various hunts, works of art, exquisite jewellery specifically designed for the dinner evening, selected wines, nature excursions and similar recreational activities. The auction and fundraising dinner are supported by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The minister, Hon Pohamba Shifeta will launch the auction followed by a live performance by Namibian legend Elemotho.

FULL STORY >>>

Anti-poaching group to raise funds for the rhino The Namibian | 25 July 2017 | Tutaleni Pinehas

26 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 LAST-MINUTE HEADLINES

More than 240 elephants poached since 2014 New Era | 24 July 2017 |Albertina Nakale

Windhoek-Namibia has since 2014 lost 245 elephants to poaching, out of which 17 were illegally hunted this year alone. The country has also lost 241 rhino since 2012 through poaching, while this year 18 rhino were poached.

FULL STORY >>>

US gives N$23m to fight wildlife trafficking The Namibian | 26 July 2017 | Tutaleni Pinehas

UNITED States ambassador to Namibia Thomas Daughton today handed over N$23,4 million to minister of environment and tourism Pohamba Shifeta to assist in combatting wildlife trafficking in Namibia. The International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs' grant is meant to help cut down poaching of the rhino in Namibia and the trafficking of its horn by building up local, domestic administrations, and undertaking to fight rhino- related crime through enlarged investigative and enforcement functions.

FULL STORY >>>

N$10 000 reward for reporting poaching The Namibian | 12 July 2017 | PETRUS MURONGA |

27 GRAA Namibia Chapter Newsletter Winter 2017 UNDP Namibia supports Concentrated Solar Power Project The Southern Times |10 July 2017 |

25 lions killed in recent human-wildlife conflict in Namibia Xinhua| 2017-07-18 |

Stringent visa requirements adverse to tourism New Era | 17 July 2017 | Eveline de Klerk |

Five suspected rhino poachers denied bail New Era | July 19, 2017 | Eveline de Klerk |

Namibia ratifies ban on import of toxic waste New Era | July 20 2017 | Albertina Nakale |

PG to decide on Kambwa’s fate for killing lions New Era | 20 July 2017 |Albertina Nekale |

Rodney Landela case to continue in September The Lowvelder | July 22, 2017 |

Namibia Recreational Fishing Permits N$1500 / month 4x4community.co.za |

Zambezi fishermen warned against overfishing The Namibian | 23 June 2017 | Lugeretzia Kooper |

Dr Chris Brown of the Namibia Chamber of Environment has compiled a PowerPoint presentation on The Important Link between Hunting and Tourism in Namibia - both working for Conservation.

To access the presentation in Dropbox, CLICK HERE! Note: its a large file and may take some time to download!

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