Green Options

Another human superstition driving a protected species closer to extinction: Vulture brains are believed to increase luck in the lottery and at the race track.

Africa’s protected vultures are becoming the victims of a growing trend: According to a popular superstition, smoking dried vulture brains will result in “visionary” powers.

Is Ross Perot Jr. taking legal action over the head of a rhino he shot and wounded during a trophy hunt?

The son of former American Presidential candidate Ross Perot - Henry Ross Perot Jr. - is reportedly engaged in a legal battle involving South African wildlife authorities over the head of rhino he wounded during a trophy hunt earlier this year.

Perot supposedly shot a bull rhino at Mkhuze game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, but the animal escaped. However, Perot believes he’s still entitled to his trophy - the rhino’s head.

Nine black rhino from Zululand game reserves are being airlifted to a new home as part of a range expansion project for the critically endangered species.

In an effort to ensure the survival of critically endangered black rhino, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) are partnering on a project designed to establish founder populations of black rhino throughout KwaZulu Natal and other parts of Africa.

Are poachers in KwaZulu Natal now targeting dogs - in addition to wildlife?

Shocked residents living near the Everton Conservancy in Kloof are fearing for the safety of their dogs. According to a disturbing report in The Times SA, authorities suspect that dogs are being stolen from families and being used as bait by poachers to lure wild animals into illegal snares.

The Greatest Shoal on Earth, less prosaically known at the Sardine Run, has been an annual event along the east coast of South Africa for decades. What was simply a natural resource that provided an easily accessible protein source for local inhabitants and an income for fisherman has become a tourist event, classified with the Serengeti Migration and Iceland Atlantic Puffins as “Must See Nature Sites“.

The Sardines

The sardines, which are more correctly known as the Southern African Pilchard (Sardinops sagaxis), are the most fished species in South African waters, although not the most valuable industry. The pilchards are harvested on the Agulhas Bank, a broad, shallow part of the continental shelf which extends 250 kilometres (160 miles) south of Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of Africa. The meeting of the warm Indian and cold Atlantic oceans fuels the nutrient cycle for marine life, resulting in one of the best fishing grounds in South Africa.

The slaughter of a white rhino named Heide from Thula Thula private game reserve brings the year’s total in KZN to 17. Just two days ago, another white rhino was killed at the Intaba Ingwe game ranch nearby.

Efforts to keep Heide safe from poachers were simply not enough. According to The Witness, the young rhino had even been assigned a tracker in hopes of keeping her safe from poachers.

Sadly, she vanished and her carcass was found yesterday, with her horn hacked out of her face.

Operators of Thula Thula Lawrence Anthony and Francoise Malby-Anthony said in the article that only two white rhino remain on their reserve. Heide was born on Thula Thula seven years ago.

The recent slaughter of rhinos in the province is being investigated by members of the police Organised Crime Units. They noted that the case appears similar to others in Opathe and Mfozolo.

Experts agree that the rising affluence in China is directly related to what can only be described as an organized, deliberate mass slaughter of rhinos. Evidence is emerging that poaching cartels are fulfilling “orders” for rhino horn (and elephant ivory) at the request of Chinese nationals - who reportedly pay a fee to smuggle the horns from Africa to Asia.

In the most comprehensive study on leopards ever conducted, researchers confirm that the leopard population at Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal bounced back after the launch of a major conservation program.

According to the results of a meticulous six-year field study led by researchers from Panthera, published this week in scientific journal Biological Conservation, strategic and science-based conservation can save big cats.

The Munyawana Leopard Research Project at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, guided by Dr. Luke Hunter and Guy Balme from Panthera, in collaboration with &Beyond, began in April 2002 and has been instrumental in the long-term conservation of local leopard populations.

The research is the most comprehensive study on leopards ever conducted, specifically in terms of:

• Length of study: Six years
• Number of leopards collared: 64 (the highest recorded in previous studies was 31)
• Outputs generated from the research: Over 13,000 locations logged and more than 1,600 direct leopard observations made.