Flippered Journey from North Island

Unlike the hawksbill turtle, numbers of green turtle females coming on land to nest differ substantially from year to year. Hence, after 2010 having been a fantastic green turtle season at North Island, with a spectacular 156 tracks, it was a pleasant surprise that 2011 continued with relatively high numbers (66 tracks). Hence more exciting turtle activities to share with guests and colleagues!

Our general "watch-but-do-not-touch" policy on North Island means that we interfere only when turtle nests are in danger. This was the case with one nest that was laid too low on the beach on the 23rd of July. Elliott Mokhobo (Environment Assistant) had therefore been keeping a close eye on the marked nest during his daily early morning patrols. On the 3rd of September, it was found in grave danger of being washing away. Together with Linda Vanherck (Resident Biologist), they decided to intervene. Enthusiastic guests joined forces to save the nest that contained 162 eggs (on average a turtle lays between 150-200 eggs). The eggs were put in a foam box, covered with sand and taken to the environmental office.

On the 16th of September, a little earlier than expected (as normally green turtle nests hatch between 55 to 60 days after laying), we were overjoyed to see our first hatchling break the surface. Subsequently, the foam box was inundated with turtles and over the next five days we released a total of 140 hatchlings that had successfully hatched out of their eggs. 

Nests in the office in the past have shown a lot of variation in synchronicity of hatching, with some hatchlings all emerging simultaneously and therewith allowing for a release in bigger batches, making it safer for them to reach the deeper waters where predation is less. This nest's hatchlings emerged in smaller batches, ecologically not good, but giving us more opportunities to share the excitement of witnessing babies begin their amazing journey to the great unknown. 

The statistic that only 1 in 1 000 or even 1 in 10 000 (when poaching occurs) turtles will reach a reproductive age sure left guests and staff convinced of the continued need for conservation of this endangered species.

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African wild dog tracked travelling 250 miles!

One of the longest dispersal distances recorded for this critically endangered species.

A male African wild dog, recently photographed in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, has been identified by scientists and was last seen in April 2010 in the Save Valley in eastern Zimbabwe, some 250 miles (400km) away. This is among the longest distances recorded for dispersal for wild dogs and underscores the need for large expanses of habitat to safeguard this critically endangered species.

The dog is one of two males in the same group that travelled this long distance.

The discovery is the work of four projects: The Carnivore Conservation Group, The Painted Dog Project, Northern Tuli Predator Project, and Lowveld Wild Dog Project, as part of the regional network for sharing information that has been set up under the Range Wide Program for cheetah and wild dog conservation hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society.



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Sad News: Another two rhino shot dead in Kruger.

Two white rhinos - one cow and her calf - have been found shot dead in Kruger National Park. The two animals were both shot on the head and only one front horn was removed, the rest still intact.


‘This is truly a despicable act and would like to encourage everybody to come forward and report any suspicious movements because criminals who conduct this evil assault on our wildlife must be put away,' said William Mabasa of SANParks.

The poachers were not arrested.


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UPDATE: Security Situation in Kenya

Following recent incursions across the border into Kenya by Somali bandits, resulting in the murder of one tourist and the kidnapping of four other foreign nationals in isolated beach resorts and a refugee camp near the Somali border, the government of Kenya gave assurances that serious efforts would be made to enhance security along the border with Somalia to counteract the threat from Somali terrorists and to protect visitors and Kenyans from further attacks.

The government has now taken action, as promised, to have a stronger military presence along the land border with Somalia in the remote north-eastern region of Kenya to stop any further incursions into Kenya by Somali bandits or by the Al Shabab terrorist group. The Kenya Army has deployed troops along the border and has crossed into Somalia to ensure that the area all along the border is cleared of any bandits or suspected terrorists. Kenya is also giving air and ground support to the Somali government, which is carrying out its own offensive against Al Shabab. At the coast, the Kenya Navy is co-operating with the international navies present in the Indian Ocean for counter-piracy exercises, and has naval patrol boats in the Lamu area to intercept and inspect any boats coming towards Kenya from the Somali coastal waters.

As expected, the Al Shabab terrorist organisation has retaliated by issuing threats which have been publicised by the international media but security analysts have pointed out that they appear to lack the capacity for any effective military response. Western diplomats in Nairobi have praised Kenya for taking prompt and effective action to enhance security along the land border.

The wildlife parks and reserves in Kenya are all located far away from the border with Somalia and have never been considered to be under any threat, while the beach resorts south of Lamu are also considered to be safe in view of their location being at a greater distance from the border with Somalia.

Visitors can be assured that they will continue to receive the normal friendly welcome and hospitality for which Kenyans are renowned and that they can travel to Kenya for safaris and beach holidays in the knowledge that their safety and security remains a high priority for the Kenyan government and for all of us in Kenya's tourism sector.


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New species of antelope discovered in West Africa.

Scientists from The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Erik Verheyen, Gontran Sonet and Zoltán T. Nagy, have, with a team of international researchers, discovered a new species of antelope that is found in Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

It is a very small antelope, measuring no more than around 40 cm at the shoulder and weighing four to six kilograms. It belongs to the duiker subfamily of antelopes. The Afrikaans name, 'duiker', meaning 'diver', comes from the habit these timid animals have of diving into the vegetation at the slightest sign of danger.


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Joining forces to beat the rhino poachers.

In the face of South Africa's escalating rhino poaching problem, conservation agencies have joined forces to fast-track urgently needed anti-poaching initiatives.

Fifteen separate conservation organisations are signing up to create Project Rhino, allowing for the co-ordination of conservation efforts to eliminate poaching in KwaZulu-Natal.

The members of Project Rhino also recognise that the work in conserving and protecting rhinos from poaching is symbolic of the threat faced by all wildlife and that the poaching of rhino is indicative of the larger environmental crisis that South Africa is facing.

This initiative has been endorsed by Dr Ian Player, one of the world's foremost conservationists, founder of the Wilderness Foundation and co-founder of the Magqubu Ntombela Trust, and widely credited with saving the white rhino from extinction in the 1960s.

Project Rhino also sees highly credible and long standing organisations speaking unanimously, as a way to ensure that the public and government are consistently informed of where their support is going.

The agreement between the founders is due to be signed at the beginning of next month.

The founding members of Project Rhino are: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Wildlands Conservation Trust (WCT), Wildlife ACT, Wilderness Foundation, Thanda Private Game Reserve, African Conservation Trust (ACT), Phinda Private Game Reserve (& Beyond), Zululand Rhino Reserve, Zululand Wildlife Security Initiative, Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, Wildlife & Environment Society of SA (WESSA), Space for Elephants Foundation (SEF), Magqubu Ntombela Foundation and the Thanda Foundation.

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The Migration Movement Update!

The big herds of wildebeest have started crossing the Mara River to Northern Serengeti. There has been a lot of rain, which we are very pleased about, around Kogatende and Nyamalumbwa which is providing the herds with good grazing. Our clients have been lucky to spot numerous crossings as well as rhino with calves and few cheetah and lions enjoying the return of the wildebeest and zebra in bigger numbers into the Serengeti. If the rains continue we do think that the herds will be arriving down to central Serengeti quite quickly this year.

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