Forests are often called the lungs of the planet, because they absorb harmful carbon dioxide and produce life-giving oxygen so it’s no exaggeration to equate healthy forests with healthy people, the theme of this year’s International Day of Forests. Covering 31 per cent of Earth’s land and providing a home to 80 per cent of […]
Tag: Wildlife
African Parks has purchased the world’s largest captive rhino breeding operation in a bid to rescue and rewild the rhino to safe and well-managed protected areas across Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa, 04 September 2023 African Parks, a conservation NGO that manages 22 protected areas in partnership with 12 governments across Africa, announced that it will […]
Africa is home to about 410,000 savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana), most of them living in southern Africa. Over 290,000 elephants (70%) are spread across 103 protected areas which vary in size, connectivity and protection. In a recent research paper we explored how elephant populations across southern Africa performed under different conservation approaches. This work formed […]
Nigeria is one of 37 African countries where elephants are found in the wild. Savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) can be found in the north and forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the south. It’s not clear how many elephants there are in Nigeria. Eighteen years ago, the African Elephant Study Report estimated that there were just […]
In a male-dominated world, an all-woman anti-poaching unit based in Zimbabwe is trying to save wildlife and empower the rangers The world is still accustomed to seeing men as wildlife rangers, however, the conservation landscape is changing. Wildlife conservation, once a sector dominated by men due to traditional gender hierarchies that prevail in societies, has […]
Kampala, Uganda — Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian and founder of non-governmental organisation, Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusooka, has unveiled her memoir ‘Walking with Gorillas’ detailing her childhood experience, dream job, marriage and sustainable conservation. The memoir launched at the Kampala Serena Hotel on July.05 consists of four parts each revealing a […]
He mentioned three states in Nigeria which he said are top consumers of dog meat. Nigerian women consume more dog meat than their male counterparts, says a wildlife expert in Nigeria, Edem Eniang. Mr Eniang, a professor of wildlife at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, told PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview on […]
Succulent poaching, fuelled by the illicit trade it sustains, is emerging as a pressing global concern, threatening the existence of these remarkable plants. The increasing demand fuels a lucrative illicit market, endangering their existence in the wild. The climate crisis and the destruction of natural habitats further exacerbate the challenges faced by these unique plants. […]
There are worrying signs that the illegal trade is becoming more organised, with professionals and government officials involved. When asked about his favourite pangolin story, Francois Meyer, a pangolin release specialist, tells the story of Ally. After being rescued from the illegal trade, Ally – an expectant female Temminck’s ground pangolin – was reintroduced into […]
Lwengo, Uganda — As its habitat disappears due to human encroachment on Uganda’s wetlands, the gray crowned crane has moved to farmland in search of food. That’s a problem. Looking at the gray crowned crane, it’s not difficult to see why it appears at the center of Uganda’s flag. Thin spikes that look like a […]
Seychelles’ Ministry for Environment is in the process of reviewing all its action plans to better conserve and protect endangered species, especially those under threat of extinction, such is the case of the Seychelles white-eye bird. The principal secretary for environment, Denis Matatiken, told SNA that the ministry has started to engage with local stakeholders […]
A tragedy is unfolding in South Africa’s Karoo region as succulents find themselves entangled in a web of greed and destruction. The resilient plants have seen a major surge in popularity over the last few years, captivating people with their unique shapes and ability to thrive in harsh conditions. These rare and endangered species with […]
There are several parallel projects running across the world to save the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), one of Africa’s captivating and iconic wildlife species. With the death of last male in 2018 and with only two females alive, the species is functionally extinct. The most famous of these projects is an international research […]
Chipata, Zambia — As we approach the forest in the village to appreciate Andrew Mbewe’s beekeeping enterprise, a bee from a hive close to the edge of the natural woodland stings him on the cheek. He steps back quickly, waving everyone away from danger, as he grimaces and grumbles in pain while trying to take […]
The world is losing animals at an alarming rate due to habitat degradation, climate change and illegal human activities in the wildlife protected areas. In fact, it is estimated that, by 2100, more than half of Africa’s bird and mammal species could be lost. Efforts to conserve biodiversity depend on information about which animals are […]
Giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals and an African icon, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. Giraffe populations have declined by 40% in the last 30 years, and there are now fewer than 70,000 mature individuals left in the wild. What are the causes of this alarming decline, and what can be done to […]
In a newly released book penned by Uganda’s first gorilla veterinarian Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, she hinted on the role that Rwanda had in her early days of getting into the profession. ALSO READ: Treating mountain gorillas: The story of Dr. Julius Nziza Kalema-Zikusoka, 53, is a celebrated gorilla vet who won the Whitley Gold Award in […]
Kampala, Uganda — It is about 6am on a cool early morning when Sam Mwandha, the executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority flags off 18 teams comprising four members each from the tail-end of the Pakuba Airstrip runway in the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. Each member of the team has a […]