A baby albino dolphin, part of the 250+ dolphins captured in Taiji, Japan has been taken from its mother and placed in the Taiji Whale Museum. According to Cove Guardian, Karla Sanjur the dolphin looks “like an angel with fins,” and Ric O’Barry, the director of the Dolphin Project has decided to call this poor little dolphin “Angel.” Angel represents a huge prize for the … [Read more...]
Brown hyaenas spotted in suburbia
In the past few weeks there have been several reports of Brown Hyaenas in and around Johannesburg. The vast majority of the time these reports have been welcomed by the public with awe and enthusiasm, but there have also been expressions of concern and fear, which are not unexpected as most people are not familiar with these animals. This week’s incident, where a Brown … [Read more...]
Crayfish under threat from poachers
The sale of West Coast rock lobster at certain restaurants and shops is under question as poaching contributes to a dwindling number of the crustacean. "We are sitting at the edge of a cliff. Our rock lobster stocks, the direction of our policy and... capacity to monitor and enforce the law is heading in a negative direction," World Wildlife Fund (WWF) marine manager John … [Read more...]
Addressing transport’s impact on wildlife
October is Transport Month in South Africa, and emphasis is placed on the safety of all road users – that includes the safety of you, your family and friends, and our wildlife. Together we can all make a difference on our country’s roads ….. will you? Transport Month is an annual feature on the calendar of the Department of Transport and is one of the platforms and vehicles … [Read more...]
41 SA beaches awarded Blue Flags
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) marked National Marine Week recently by celebrating the national launch of this year’s Blue Flag Programme at Ramsgate Beach in KZN, hosted by the Hibiscus Coast Municipality. Blue Flag is the prestigious, voluntary eco-label for beaches, marinas and boats that is recognised as a trusted symbol of quality and regarded … [Read more...]
Let’s hear it for the elephants
We have been incorporating elephants into our lives since humans first became…well…humans. The earliest known San rock paintings depict elephants, so do the cave paintings throughout Asia and Europe. There are some 75,000 prehistoric sites worldwide depicting elephants. The ‘primitives’ believed animals were people but that they represented the best and noblest of human … [Read more...]
Rhino losses could impact lucrative tourism industry
World Rhino Day in South Africa will see conservationists and concerned citizens reflecting on another tragic year, the fifth in a row, where a record number of rhinos poached will most certainly be reached. To put the current rhino poaching war into perspective, South Africa has lost a total of 2409 rhinos since 2000. However, 95% (or 2289) of these losses have been in the … [Read more...]
At least 635 rhinos down this year
To date, a staggering 635 Rhinos have been reported as poached in South Africa in 2013, with the real numbers possibly being higher. Rhino poaching is considered by some to be a low risk - high reward activity with an increasingly affluent market for rhino horn in the east, and this is responsible for driving the numbers of Rhinos poached ever higher. To date, a staggering … [Read more...]
Shopping bags collect R1.7 for rhino conservation
Since the launch of the first iconic rhino reusable shopping bag in 2010, over R1.7 million has been raised for rhino conservation through a number of initiatives. Woolworths’ new limited edition rhino bag has arrived in stores in time for World Rhino Day on 22 September. Through the sale of each bag (R29.95), R10 (Vat inclusive) will be donated to the Wildlife ACT Fund to … [Read more...]
Coastal Clean-up Day should encourage pollution consciousness
Each year on the third Saturday of September volunteers around the world take part in the world's biggest coastal clean-up day, where they head to the beaches to remove debris from shorelines, waterways and oceans. They join hands and collectively ‘get them dirty’ in an effort to address the pollution that is one of the greatest global threats to biodiversity. This year marks … [Read more...]
Campaign launched for threatened species
A campaign is being been launched this month in Bloemfontein to help saving endangered fauna and flora in the Free State and also nationwide. Called the Emoya Save the Species Campaign Free State and based at Emoya Estate outside Bloemfontein, the campaign is each year to focus on a selected endangered species, starting off with the rhino this year. The official launch of … [Read more...]
Rhino horn trade still putting prehistoric lives in danger
On World Rhino Day, individuals and organisations around the world come together to celebrate the five rhino species and raise awareness of rhino conservation. This year will be no different and on 22nd September Save the Rhino will be taking part in the celebrations! We plan to mark the occasion by attempting to send 5 of our famous rhino costumes to supporters across the … [Read more...]
Fukushima radiation devastates fishing industry
Third-generation fisherman Fumio Suzuki sets out into the Pacific Ocean every seven weeks, not to catch fish to sell, but to catch fish that can be tested for radiation. For the last 2½ years, fishermen from the port of Yotsukura near the stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant have been mostly stuck on land with little to do. There is no commercial fishing along most of … [Read more...]
