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Conservation Matters - Issue 9: The Winter Wonderland Edition 1

Issue 9The Winter Wonderland Edition

July - August 2018

Wild Dog conservation in action

Crowned Eagle returns home

Orange River Mouth closes for first time in two decades

A need for community involvement in curbing poaching with dogs

Join the EcoBrick challenge

Conservation Matters - Issue 9: The Winter Wonderland Edition1

Physical Address: Building K2, Ardeer Road, Pinelands Office Park,Modderfontein 1609, Gauteng, South Africa, Postal Address: Private Bag X 11, Modderfontein 1645, Gauteng, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 372 3600 Fax: +27 (0) 11 608 4682 NPO

A WORD FROM THE CEO

NOTICEBOARD• We’re improving your membership benefits• Events

GUEST CONTRIBUTION• Protecting the Pepper-bark Tree

Showcasing our supporters: Bravo Barloworld

FEATURES• In pursuit of sustainable land management – Notes

from the field: Planning fieldwork around rainy days during a drought

• A winter’s “tail”• County governments’ climate change adaptation

preparedness in Kenya • Surviving winter: Species that hibernate

Ways to give: Leaving a legacy

TAILS FROM THE FIELD• Wild Dog conservation in action• Crowned Eagle returns home• Taking stock• Orange River Mouth closes for first time in two

decades• A need for community involvement in curbing

poaching with dogs

Showcasing our supporters: Goldwagen raises funds to help save our carnivores

GREEN HEROES• Playing for keeps

Ways to give: Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… or your phone!

WALKING THE TALK• Join the EcoBrick challenge

SCIENCE SNIPPETS• Poisoning problem persists• Sharing really is caring

WILDLIFE FACT FILE• African Lion• Honey Badger• Pel’s Fishing Owl

Showcasing our supporters: The Heartbeat of Africa

MEET THE PACK• Cath Vise• Rugare Nyumhunga

PUPS’ PLACE

IN CLOSING: Mwitu’s missive

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A word from the CEO

In South Africa, we are all too familiar with the discourse around equality. Or inequality. When living in one of the most unequal nations on Earth, the concept of equality is a standard feature in most political grandstanding, philosophical introspection, socio-economic debate and the discourse of civil rights movements. And yet the MOST staggering facts around the REAL inequality that is shaping our world, ruining millions of lives every day, and which may potentially destroy us all, appear to go unnoticed – and unaddressed - by politicians, academics and rights campaigners globally.

The Weizmann Institute of Science recently published research that shows that the world’s 7.6 billion human beings, whilst being by far the most prolific species on the planet, only comprise around 0.01% of the biomass of the planet on which all live, meaning that we represent only 0.01% of all life on our planet! Furthermore, this 0.01% has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of the plants that once occurred naturally on Earth, while we have massively and disproportionately increased the numbers of livestock – simply to feed the voracious appetites of the most abundant species on the planet!

The research goes on to indicate that humans are displacing wild animals and plants with those that are cheaper and easier for us to eat, at alarming rates. Today, farmed poultry comprises 70% of all birds on the planet, with only 30% of birds being wild. A staggering 60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock, (cattle and pigs), and wild animals form only 4% of mammalian life on Earth. Despite human beings making up only 0.01% of the planet’s biomass, in terms of sheer numbers, we make up around 36% of all mammals found on Earth.

We are by far the most successful species on the planet and we keep finding ways to become more successful – if species proliferation is the key measure of success. Yet tragically, this is coming at the expense of most other forms of life on Earth. If inequality between humans is a major source of societal instability then how can the disproportionate ongoing growth of the human population and our staggering distortion and destruction of the planet’s natural resources not be recognised as the greatest threat to our own survival? Ironically, it is almost a

political imperative these days to highlight and demands redress for the inequality between people; yet likewise, it is politically taboo to contemplate that the unequal use and abuse of almost all other species by our own species, is just as serious. Serious, not for the sake of those species who get driven to extinction every day in the name of ‘development’ or ‘utilisation’, but serious because of what it may mean for all humans on a day not too far into the future. Homo sapiens may in fact, become the one species that is able to breed itself into extinction.

The EWT works to save those 4% of the wild mammals that are left, and the 30% of our wild birds that remain. We do this for the wild ones and we do this for you. We do this because we know that only balance can keep us all flourishing and because we know that we need them, more than they need us. Support the EWT today. Visit www.ewt.org.za for more.

Yolan FriedmannEWT [email protected]


10 August: World Lion Day

12 August: World Elephant Day

1 September: International

Vulture Awareness Day

7 August: Country Club Johannesburg Talk – The great wildlife trade and hunting debate (Colin Bell)

4 September: Country Club Johannesburg Talk – Killing me softly: Captive lions in SA (Dr Kelly Marnewick)

19 October: EWTea and Talk, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens – Protecting the Protected: what we are doing to make roads safer for wildlife in parks (Wendy Collinson)

NOTICEBOARD

EWT EvEnTs

WE’rE improving your mEmbErship bEnEfiTs

Are you an EWT member? As a valued part of the EWT family, we want to make sure that you’re getting the maximum reward for your wonderful loyalty and generosity! Previously, your full membership fee was taxable, as benefits are subject to VAT, and did not qualify for a Section 18A certificate under SARS regulations. We’d like to change the structure of your benefits, so that you can receive this tax relief in future.

This means that the amount you pay can now be split into the cost of the printed magazine subscription (R180 per year, for five issues, including VAT and postage in South Africa), as well as a donation, which will be eligible for tax relief. Alternatively, you can opt to not receive the magazine and donate the full amount.

We have sent out further details of this change, and a form to enable you to make your selection, to all our members. Should you not have received this communication, please email [email protected] to let us know.

27 September: World Tourism Day

22 September: World Rhino Day

7 September: Arbour Day

26 September: World Environmental

Health Day


GUEST CONTRIBUTIONProTEcTIng ThE PEPPEr-bArk TrEE

Tim Neary, CSI and Enviro-conservation [email protected]

Warburgia salutaris, the Pepper-bark Tree, was once widespread in South and southern Africa. In 1926, it was documented that due to, high utilisation this tree could become extinct. Wild populations of Pepper-bark Trees have been found in Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (www.iucnredlist.org). However, the current status of the plant in these countries is relatively unknown, and it is suspected that it has gone extinct in the wild in most cases due to unsustainable harvesting. In Zimbabwe, an investigation showed that there were less than three mature specimens left in the wild, with a few individuals existing in the protected environment of the Harare Botanical Gardens. However, these protected specimens also showed signs of bark damage (www.zimbabweflora.co.zw). A recent publication by Diederichs (2006) indicates that in South Africa, the species is now found only in protected areas and as ornamental trees in domestic gardens. All its home range countries depict a similar status and story as to its scarcity.

The IUCN Red List (2007) lists Pepper-bark Trees as Endangered both globally and nationally. It is believed that some 27 million people in South Africa rely on traditional medicine. It is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild due to the increase in human population creating the need for a natural increase in traditional healers. The economic value also leads to unsustainable utilisation and poaching of the components that make up the traditional medicine trade. Losing this species would have severe consequences in the traditional medicine trade where the bark, stems, roots and leaves are used to treat colds and respiratory complaints. It is also used as a tonic for all health conditions including fever, malaria, influenza, and coughs, and as a natural antibiotic for chest infections. It is also used for the treatment of venereal diseases, abdominal pain and constipation, cancer, rheumatism and stomach ulcers. It is applied topically to cuts, on the temples for headaches and has been used as an aphrodisiac (Diederichs 2006). More recently, it has been used in the treatment of HIV (Lumbe pers.comm).

In the past, only traditional healers would harvest the bark of the tree. Thin strips would be taken, which allowed for the plant to regenerate with relative ease. However, in recent times, commercial gatherers who cross the fence into the Kruger National Park are practicing destructive harvesting of the Pepper-bark Tree and sending the bark to the muthi markets in Johannesburg and Durban, with little regard for the consequences. Even the thinnest branches are stripped and the whole tree is debarked, resulting in destruction of the tree. Through working with the traditional healers, acceptability for nursery grown seedlings has been achieved. It is worth noting that many of the medicinal claims of this tree have been scientifically confirmed, and that the medicinal properties are sought after by western homeopathy for a number of ailments.

In 1996, the tree gained prominence as “Tree of the Year” and regretfully the focus was soon lost on building the tree numbers for use by traditional healers. In 2014, Sappi became involved in a project with the Kruger National Park where seedlings were to be grown and given to traditional healers on the borders of the park. This project has enjoyed immense success with over 30,000 seedlings grown to date. Through the project, it has become acceptable to use leaves and twigs harvested from trees as young as four years old and thus not having to wait some 15 years to harvest the bark.

The tree is a challenge to grow from both seed and cuttings, and in the wild under stress holds back on seed production. Through the formation of a working group of both scientists and naturalists, these challenges have been resolved to a greater degree. Gene banks and seed orchards have been created within the working group partnership.

Interest in the project has resulted in assistance being given to Zimbabwe and Swaziland in their attempts to raise the numbers of their trees to a state of sustainability, as well as the extension of the project to areas in South Africa where Pepper-bark Trees once occurred in the natural vegetation.


The working group believes that it would be arrogant to claim that we are saving the tree and returning it to the wild. These are nursery grown trees that are supplied at no cost to appropriate communities to protect the few remaining known wild populations (it is the only known tree under armed guard in a protected area in South Africa) and it is hoped that the wild populations will regenerate themselves naturally once not under direct threat and stress.

One of the successes of the project is passion and commitment and that every cent goes to the pure project costs and not human costs. The project is funded by Sappi and the working group consists of Karin Hanwegg from the Agricultural Research Council Nelspruit, Willem Froneman from SANBI Nelspruit, Dr David Everard from Sappi, Michele Hofmeyr, and Tim Neary.

The project has allowed for an easy working template for Endangered trees that are a challenge to grow and as such, the team will commence on the next project in 2019 with the African Cherry (Prunis Africana).

showcasing our supporters

brAvo bArloWorld

Barloworld is a distributor of leading global brands with head offices in Johannesburg and Maidenhead (United Kingdom), providing integrated rental, fleet management, product support and logistics solutions. The company was established in 1902 in South Africa, making it one of the country’s oldest companies. Inspiring leadership, a reputation for ethical conduct, innovation and a commitment to giving back has ensured Barloworld’s longevity.

Barloworld is also one of the longest standing Patron supporters of the EWT, having supported the organisation since 2005. This is an encouraging commitment given the current corporate donation climate and shows their understanding of the imperative of a healthy environment in underpinning a thriving economy.

In September 2015, 193 countries around the globe adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. The Barloworld group is a corporate partner that has considered its alignment with the SDGs and the opportunities and responsibilities they represent for the business. The group’s Purpose: Inspiring a world of difference, enabling growth and progress in society, its strategic framework including indicators and aspirational goals; as well as its responsible citizenship programme is reflected in its alignment with the SDGs, whereby the group is either directly or indirectly working towards all 17 SDGs. This is further demonstrated through their support of the EWT as we actively work towards achieving the SDGs through our conservation programmes.

The environment competes with a number of other causes for funding and support and we appreciate that Barloworld shares our understanding that our conservation work saves not just species and their habitats, but also supports ecosystems goods and services that are essential for human survival and wellbeing.

The EWT would like to thank Barloworld for their ongoing support and their commitment to helping us to achieve our vision of a healthy planet and an equitable world that values and sustains the diversity of all life.


FeaturesIn PursuIT of susTAInAblE lAnd mAnAgEmEnT – noTEs from ThE fIEld: PlAnnIng fIEldWork Around rAIny dAys durIng A droughT

Bonnie Schumann, Senior Field Officer, Drylands Conservation [email protected]

Autumn in the Nama Karoo is a bit like a second spring as many of the hardy Karoo shrubs make a final attempt at reproduction before the cold winter sets in. At this time of the year, temperatures start turning as the brutal summer sun eases its grip on the landscape. Fortunately, in 2018 this time of year also coincided with welcome rains.

The Karoo biome, covering more than 27% of South Africa, contains concerning levels of land degradation (Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands, 2012). Climate change will exacerbate existing droughts and natural disasters. This will place further stress on water resources, thus further limiting this natural resource upon which all biological, cultural and economic activity depends.

The riparian habitat, with its unique vegetation, is home to the Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit. In addition, these highly productive catchment areas are a valuable resource to agriculture in the area, in terms of grazing for livestock and for the cultivation of livestock

feed and cropping purposes. Thus, healthy riparian systems are key resource areas in the landscape. Given the national importance of water catchments, the role of riparian areas, and the impact of climate change, the need to restore these critical areas to a resilient state is imperative.

With this in mind, and based on the fact that degradation in this landscape poses threats not only to biodiversity but also to livelihoods, The EWT’s Drylands Conservation Programme (DCP) launched its Riparian Habitat Restoration Project in 2007. The objective was to look at different techniques to restore degraded riparian habitat along the seasonal rivers in the Nama Karoo.

The first step was to establish a Karoo Indigenous Plant Nursery to support restoration efforts by providing seedlings for planting. In 2009, three restorations sites were established. Since then, several additional sites have been established along the Sak- and Brak rivers, and one site along the Maanhaarspruit. Various different methodologies and techniques were trialled, and a Master’s student-produced a dissertation looking at the effectiveness of micro-catchments in this particular habitat to promote seedling survival.

Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and heavy downpours are very much a natural part of this drylands landscape. These factors do however, make habitat restoration a particularly challenging undertaking. To compound matters, the nature of the riparian areas, with their deep, fine soil, which has a high clay content, make them particularly vulnerable to erosion, capping and compacting.

The prospect of further droughts has halted the establishment of any new sites for the near future. Establishing new plants on restoration sites in these drought conditions is simply not feasible. The drought has also had an impact on grazing systems, placing increasing pressure


on the productive riparian zones, as natural fodder continues to decrease as the current drought progresses.

This year the autumn rains were particularly soothing and welcome, boosting both veld- and livestock condition somewhat, following the failed spring and summer rains. We were patiently holding out for some rain to stimulate plant activity since spring last year, as we had an ecologist on standby to carry out evaluations of restoration techniques and associated veld.

Simon Todd, a drylands ecologist, finally got the “green light” to visit the Loxton area in mid-April. The veld was looking great following the rain.

Our first day out in the field literally started out with a “bang” as we were severely hampered by yet more rain in the form of a dramatic storm, with thunder, lightning and cloudbursts throughout the day.

These evaluations are the culmination of eight years of habitat restoration work carried out by the DCP team. We decided to have the restoration efforts evaluated externally to assess the effectiveness of the methodologies employed. We use the term restoration to describe our activities. Although damaged sites can never be completely restored it is possible to restore some functionality to the landscape.

This will help us to identify best practices in terms of restoration methodologies. It will also give us an objective opinion on progress on these sites. Once we understand the appropriateness and challenges associated with each technique, we will train farmers and other stakeholders and promote the use of highly effective techniques.

In addition, riparian habitat, as well as the veld adjacent to the riparian zones were evaluated on five farms, by carrying out cover and diversity assessments every 20m along 1km transects. This work, both the restoration and the veld condition forms part of our work to promote sustainable land management in the Karoo, by identifying both best practice restoration, as well as veld management techniques. There are various grazing systems farmers can choose to apply, how they apply these systems varies greatly from farmer to farmer, depending on how local environmental and topographical

conditions, as well as size of farm etc.

The resilience of a farmer’s management system to adverse conditions is tested to its utmost during a drought such as the one we are experiencing. Addressing resilience and reducing negative impacts on the veld, which can take years to remedy following a drought, needs to be addressed well in advance so that a farms ability to bounce back after a drought is not impaired.

Access to early warning systems, as well as having a sound strategy for adapting the farming system to adverse conditions are critical components of any farm management plan.

Often the response to adverse conditions is a reactionary one and not pro-active one. Biodiversity conservation is inexorably linked to agriculture in the Nama Karoo, given that extensive farming of livestock in a largely intact landscape is the primary activity. Aligning agricultural and conservation priorities to achieve the common goal of sustainable land management in this vast landscape is the ultimate prize.

The DCP recently embarked on a five-year project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Environmental Affairs to promote sustainable land management (SLM) in the Nama Karoo. The project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

The project, entitled “Securing multiple ecosystems benefits through Sustainable Land Management in the productive but degraded landscapes of South Africa” also known as the Sustainable Land Management Project will be rolled out in three different geographic regions by three partners. The EWT will implement the project in the Northern Cape’s Nama Karoo.


A WInTEr’s “TAIl”

Bradley Gibbons, Field Officer, Threatened Grassland Species [email protected]

Winter has arrived in the Highveld Grasslands. The green colours are slowly changing, and although the characteristics of the landscape change with it, the Grassland biome offers a different type of beauty in our coldest season. In the pristine areas, some hillsides display a red colour due to the grass species very aptly called Red Grass (Themeda triandra). The winter winds blow the grasses like waves over a lake. Frost very often occurs on the cold winter mornings, but the snow on the high-lying majestic Drakensberg is a must see, and sometimes, the sandstone mountains also become snow-capped. Very often one may see a layer of ice on the tops of water bodies, such as on the edges of dams... that confirms it’s a cold morning!

Winter can also change the behaviour of our Threatened Grassland Species Programme’s flagship creatures. A Sungazer’s (Smaug giganteus) brown and spiky tail is not often seen in winter, but you should see an Oribi’s (Ourebia ourebi) black tipped tail within their distribution area. The Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris) may be hard to see in their normal summer areas, as well as the Botha’s Lark (Spizocorys fringillaris).

For the threatened grassland species in this biome, winter is certainly a different season compared to summer. Sungazer lizards generally stay in their burrows (where they live) for the majority of the winter period. Although one would like to say that they hibernate, they sometimes surprise us when a Sungazer’s head appears in the grasslands on a winter’s day, but this obviously only happens when the weather is warm and sunny.

Oribi often come together in small groups because the breeding season is over, and their territories are no longer functional.

The Botha’s Lark also shows a local migration pattern. The birds move from their breeding areas, but their colour remains brown, hence they remain “little brown jobs”. Yellow-breasted Pipits lose their yellow colour, and can easily be mistaken for an African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus). However, they also move to lower areas, sometimes to other different habitats, and even fallow lands.

The grasslands are full of surprises, so don’t forget that they are still worth a visit at this time of the year. Remember to be on the lookout for threatened species, but most importantly to explore the beauty that is still evident, even when there is a chill in the air.

This work is made possible by People’s Trust for Endangered Species, WWF Nedbank Green Trust, Rand Merchant Bank, and N3TC.


counTy govErnmEnTs’ clImATE chAngE AdAPTATIon PrEPArEdnEss In kEnyA

Rudolf Makhanu, Kenya Country Coordinator, ICF EWT [email protected]

The majority of Kenya’s counties are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. This is because production systems and livelihoods in most counties are highly dependent on natural resources, meaning that climate change, as manifested through increasing temperatures, recurring droughts, erratic rainfall patterns and floods, amongst others, will continue to negatively impact livelihoods, general health of the population, and community assets. This is threatening the sustainability of development both at county and national level.

Climate change is defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” (GOK, 2013). Current data demonstrates that the climate in Kenya, and globally, is changing at an unprecedented rate and that unparalleled levels of human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG), especially carbon dioxide, emissions are causing an increase in global temperatures that creates changes in the earth’s weather. It is now clear that climate change has become an impediment to the sustainable development of Kenya, and urgent action is required (GOK, 2016).

The evidence of climate change in Kenya is unmistakable. Temperatures have risen throughout the country. Rainfalls have become irregular and unpredictable, and when it rains, downpour is more intense. Extreme and harsh weather is now a norm in Kenya. More specifically, since the early 1960s, both minimum (night time) and maximum (daytime) temperatures have been on an increasing (warming) trend. The minimum temperature has risen generally by 0.7 - 2.0°C and the maximum by 0.2 - 1.3°C, depending on the season and the region. In areas near large water bodies, the maximum temperatures have risen much like in other areas but the minimum temperatures have either not changed or become slightly lower (GOK, 2010).

Some of the negative impacts include reduced agricultural output, high incidence of malaria and destruction of infrastructure (such as roads) by runoff associated with flash floods. Additionally, biodiversity has also been affected as rare species of birds and animals, which could otherwise boost tourism, have migrated to other areas. This calls for urgent coordinated response to effectively adapt and mitigate climate change.

Human-related actions aggravating climate change include high population growth rate that has exerted pressure on existing land leading to unsustainable agricultural practices. This trend has caused people to live in environmentally fragile places such as hilltops, swamps and water catchments areas and in the process they accelerate degradation of the environment as manifested in deforestation, wetland reclamation, poor waste management, water and soil pollution, and unplanned settlements and developments. Majority of forests and wetlands have been encroached contributing to water insecurity. Destroying forests and wetlands increases the community’s vulnerability to negative impacts of climate change

Preparedness of county governments to effectively adapt to negative impacts of climate change is dependent on their ability to integrate and mainstream climate change in the county’s development planning, budgeting and implementation process. This implies that the top of any county government’s agenda is the need to strengthen adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change, and promote sustainable development as a strategy for the enhancing wellbeing of human and ecological systems.

At national level, towards tacking the challenge of climate change, the country has enacted legislation, policy frameworks and plans. The Climate Change Act 2016, require county governments to integrate and mainstream climate change actions, interventions and duties into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), budgeting and implementation.

Developed in July 2016, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015-2013 is another planning tool aimed at enhancing climate resilience towards the attainment of vision 2030 and beyond. It builds on the foundation laid by the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) and the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NCCAP). Additionally, the NAP is the basis for the adaptation component of Kenya’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) that was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. The aim of NAP is to consolidate the country’s vision on adaptation supported by macro-level adaptation actions that relate with the economic sectors and county level vulnerabilities to enhance long-term resilience and adaptive capacity.

This implies that at county level CIDP, County Climate Change Adaptation Plans, Budgets, and Annual sector development plans are critical spaces for integration of climate change.

Most county governments are in the process of developing CIDPs as well as climate change action/adaptation plans. Nandi and Nakuru are among the first counties to draft county climate change action plans. Impacts of particular concern to the two counties are related to food production, water resources, human health, ecosystem health and damage to infrastructure.

The following is recommended to ensure effective integration of climate change in county planning, budgeting and implementation processes:

1. Undertake climate change vulnerability assessments, targeting critical ecosystems such as wetlands and forests to inform evidence based adaptation and mitigation interventions.

2. Adopt ecosystem-based adaptation in realisation of the critical role healthy ecosystems play towards attaining adaptation and mitigation objectives to negative impacts of climate change. Conserving wetlands enhances water security.


3. Strengthen the county government’s capacity in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and promote integration of DRR in all sectors.

4. Promote technologies that enhance water resource efficiency.

5. Provide tools to assist the county government to mainstream climate change in their CIDP – including information about climate change, and a framework or guidance document for mainstreaming climate change in CIDPs and county budgets.

6. Prioritise climate proofing of infrastructure by integrating climate change risks and opportunities in the design, operation and management of infrastructure.

7. Build the capacity of county officials and planners – to enable them to apply a climate change lens across sectors. This could also help officials to better understand climate change and correctly address adaptation and mitigation.

8. Develop common indicators to be used by counties to track climate change action – to improve understanding of the implementation of actions and climate change results, and provide the basis for reporting on climate change, which is required under the Climate Change Act, 2016.

9. Invest in a resilient energy system through an energy generation mix for sustainable development.

10. Promote innovative application of technology and science matched to local needs and risks.

11. Develop county climate financing mechanisms for adaptation that should entail appropriate climate adaptation financing tracking systems.

12. Put in place supportive climate change governance infrastructure that should include establishment of a County Climate Change Desk/Secretariat, enacting appropriate county laws for climate change actions, and establishment of an enabling institutional framework for climate change action.

survIvIng WInTEr: sPEcIEs ThAT hIbErnATE

Innocent Buthelezi, Field Officer, Wildlife and Roads [email protected]

When the environment becomes unfavourable for an animal, they have to find a way to survive the unfavourable situation. Some animals take the long journey to more hospitable climates, while others enter an inactive state without leaving their habitat, which they stay in until conditions suit them better. Winter is usually the season that brings harsh conditions like cold weather and food is also lot harder to find, to name just a few reasons.

The behaviour in an animal when it enters state of inactivity is known as hibernation. This is the condition or period of an animal or plant spending winter in a dormant state, remaining inactive or indoors. During this period of deep sleep that helps save energy and survive the winter without eating much. The animal’s body temperature drops, and its heartbeat and its breathing slowing down. Several animals, such as reptiles, mammals, insects, amphibians and even one bird practice some form of hibernation during the winter.

In reptiles, instead of being called hibernation, it is known as brumation. During this period of dormancy, snakes and tortoises may not eat, drink, defecate, or move for several weeks. They bury themselves underground or enclose themselves in the darkest and coolest part of their enclosure.

In mammals, also known as endotherms, prior to hibernation they store energy to last through the entire winter. They eat a large amount of food and store the energy in fat deposits. It is this fat accumulation prior to hibernation in mammals that enables them to survive the state of dormancy.

Birds typically do not hibernate but are commonly known for their behaviours of migrating from one place to another during unfavourable conditions. One known exception is the Common Poorwill. This is a nocturnal bird of the family Caprimulgidae, the nightjars. It is found from British Columbia and south-eastern Alberta, through the western United States to northern Mexico.

Amphibians have developed strategies to deal with the most severe conditions. Hibernation and estivation are the two strategies that amphibians have developed for extreme cold and extreme hot conditions. Amphibians either make or find a living space during winter, depending on its type of habitat. This living space known as a hibernaculum, which protects it from winter and predation.

The hibernating habits of insects are more similar to those of plants, than to many other animals, such as mammals and birds. Insects are ectothermic meaning they rely on external sources to provide them with heat. To avoid freezing up in winter, insects should be tolerant of the cold conditions.


Ways to givelEAvIng A lEgAcy

Tammy Baker, Business Development [email protected]

It’s the kind of subject we don’t always like to dwell on, but none of us can avoid the need to have an up-to-date will, ensuring that our last wishes are carried out and our legacy is continued in the way that we would choose.

Including a bequest to an organisation that you have supported in your lifetime, or that you would have liked to support, had you been able to, is a way to bring dignity, meaning and purpose to a life well-lived. You, and your values, beliefs and generous philanthropic role modelling, will live on in the memories of those you support.

Should you choose to remember the EWT in your will, you are not only ensuring that the vital work that the organisation does carries on and benefits generations for years to come, you could also be providing tax benefits to your loved ones.

Section 4(h) of the Estate Duty Act determines that bequests made to public benefit organisations such as the EWT should first be deducted from the nett value of your estate before estate duty is determined. This means that remembering the EWT in your will could exempt your estate from estate duty. A deduction for estate duty purposes is allowed in respect of the value of property bequeathed to a public benefit organisation.

The EWT relies on bequests both large and small to ensure that we continue fulfilling our vision of a healthy planet and an equitable world that values and sustains the diversity of all life.

We would like to thank you if you have already decided to leave a bequest and invite you to consider doing so if you have not. We assure you that your legacy will make a lasting impact for the benefit of all people who inhabit our beautiful land.

There are different types of bequests that you can select from, namely:

• Residue of your estate

• A percentage of your estate

• A specific sum of money

• A life insurance policy

• Property

We recommend that you use the below wording:

“I bequeath to the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) registered NPO number 015-502 of K2 Pinelands Office Park, Ardeer Road, Modderfontein, Gauteng, (insert bequest details of your choice), and I express the that such estate be used for the purpose of conserving threatened species and habitats for future generations”.

Tails from the fieldWIld dog consErvATIon In AcTIon

Cole du Plessis, KZN Regional Carnivore Coordinator, Carnivore Conservation [email protected]

Cole du Plessis, the EWT’s KZN Regional Carnivore Coordinator, takes us inside the historic recent translocation of a pack of Wild Dogs to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, with this personal account of a unique conservation experience.

“While a Wild Dog might look like a domestic dog in many ways, the genetic lineage is far removed, making the species incredibly unique and invaluable in biodiversity conservation – especially with only 600 left in South Africa.


A key means of encouragement for landowners to have these special animals on their properties should be tourist demand: if lodge bookings and guest experiences are hindered by non-existent Wild Dog sightings, then reserves will surely be willing to introduce a pack of Wild Dogs. Be it for conservation value or tourism, the trick is to encourage perfectly good areas to be opened up to this species, thus enabling them to thrive in their natural environment. Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique) has done just this.

National Geographic has declared Gorongosa National Park as one of Africa’s last wild places, and with the accomplished staff, the amount of available safe space, and the prey numbers, it could be termed a Wild Dog’s paradise. What is even more special, however, is that Wild Dogs were wiped out from this area during the 16-year civil war. So, these newly introduced African Wild Dogs are the first to make an appearance in decades. I feel so fortunate to have had the privilege of coordinating this relocation, and even more blessed to have Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Dr Rowan Leeming (aka my partner in crime) alongside me to successfully complete the mission.


What makes this story quite interesting is that the independent groups of male Wild Dogs and female Wild Dogs that were eventually brought together to become Gorongosa’s first introduced pack had been under threat by local farmers in two completely different areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) at two different times.

In 2016, the male uMkhuze Wild Dogs had on occasion taken to leaving the reserve with the rest of their pack. In the early stages, they would return to the reserve, but as time went on they began to deviate further and further from home. Eventually, they made their way to a hunting farm where their presence was not tolerated. The day before Christmas of that year conflict arose which resulted in our capture of these Wild Dogs in order to take them to safety. The only solution we had was to immobilise them and place them in a holding facility, which would become their new home for the next year. Sadly, there were no other reserves in the country willing to take these Wild Dogs.

The females share a similar story. Toward the end of 2017, a free roaming pack (a pack outside a protected area) emerged in KZN. The pack was made up of one adult male, one adult female and eight pups. Again, this pack was under threat…and at times it feels as if we are too, as we are often the target of anger and rage when this Endangered species settles on land where they are ‘not meant to be’. In this case, after a month of intense effort, helicopters, capture nets, you name it… the whole pack was captured.

Because of the population structure, however, we had to separate the males and the females. If we had placed this pack on another reserve and something had happened to one of the parents, it would instantly have become unstable. Inbreeding or breaking out of the reserve would likely have been the result. Sad, I know, but necessary for the long-term best interests of the Wild Dogs. The males were sent up to a reserve called Maremani Nature Reserve in Limpopo and have


since been introduced to four females from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve; while the females were moved to a boma adjoining the one that the uMkhuze males had been held in for the better part of 2016.After months and months of planning, meetings, paperwork, vaccine and collar orders, D-Day eventually arrived. On 16 April 2018, it was time to move these two groups of Wild Dogs to their new home: Gorongosa National Park. To get things underway, our team met up on 15 April to strategise and finalise our action plan. This was followed by a merry braai with great excitement brewing the night before the big move. That night I had only two hours sleep. When the alarm eventually rang, we packed our bags and headed to the holding facility where the Wild Dogs were lodged. It was feeding day for them so they were eager to see us, but they had no idea about the cross-border trip that awaited them!

Just before sunrise, we downed a cup of coffee, then began to mix the drugs and prep the darts. As the sun peeped over the horizon, the game was on! Our strategy was to dart the females first as they were significantly more skittish (being a free roaming pack that had only recently been captured). We had hoped for a speedy start, but they didn’t make it easy. It took three-and-a-half hours to immobilise the six females! At that point I was told by the Mozambican crew that if we didn’t leave the holding facility by 9:30, we wouldn’t make Mozambican customs in time. Imagine that! A pack of Wild Dogs sedated on a plane and you are held up at customs?

All I could do was try to maintain a calm working atmosphere and passively push the team to keep up the tempo. Once we got around to darting the uMkhuze males, Rowan didn’t miss. He darted seven Wild Dogs in seven minutes! With just a few to go, I could update the Mozambican crew on our progress.

As soon as all the Wild Dogs had been immobilised, we loaded them into the crates and rapidly moved them to the uMkhuze airstrip where the very experienced Raymond Steyn (from The Bateleurs) was waiting with a prepped Pilatus PC 12. Each Wild Dog was removed from its crate, had a nametag fitted, was topped up with the sedative, and loaded onto the plane. Every inch of floor space was utilised!

I didn’t want to create stress but I had to subtly tell the pilots that we were behind schedule and the deadline was approaching! We took off soon after that and within a half hour touched down at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. This is where we had to clear South African customs. After being faced with some paperwork hitches that cost us one-and-a-half hours, we were free to move on.

We were en route to Beira (Mozambique) for our next customs check and were further behind schedule by then, but there was no going back. The next stretch was about two hours and working on the Wild Dogs was a full-time job. There was literally no place to stand in the plane but we were somehow having to hover above each of the Wild Dogs to apply their sedative top-ups and vaccines.

To help matters and to try to catch up some time, some of the Gorongosa crew had chartered a helicopter to Beira International Airport ahead of our arrival. They had also delivered all the paperwork to the Mozambican customs officials so that by the time we got there, we were basically cleared for an immediate turnaround. We were on our final stretch: Beira to Gorongosa National Park.

It was only a 20-minute convoy to Mozambique’s flagship national park. I recall looking out of the plane window and I couldn’t help but grin. This was Wild Dog paradise… and it never ended! It wasn’t long before Raymond circled the airstrip and I got goose bumps. After months of work,

we had done it! These Wild Dogs had escaped persecution and were now at their new home with new beginnings… and they were being welcomed with love!

To date, that moment has been the highlight of my career in conservation!

We touched down and Raymond pulled the plane around to the friendly Mozambicans eagerly waiting to meet their new pack of Wild Dogs. The plane door opened and what a reception we were given! But the job wasn’t over. We needed to load the Wild Dogs into the back of the Land Cruisers and get them to the boma. I was on the back of the Land Cruiser with Tonecas (one of the vets at Gorongosa National Park) and Rowan accompanied the other half of the Wild Dogs in the other Land Cruiser.

I couldn’t stop telling Tonecas how the much the Wild Dogs were going to love it here! On behalf of the Wild Dogs, I was in awe! After 20 minutes of driving, we made it to the boma, fitted the Wild Dogs with their collars, completed the vaccinations and rubbed the male Wild Dogs and the female Wild Dogs together (artificial bonding). We do this to kickstart the bonding process in a newly formed pack. Through physical interaction and social activity, this would happen naturally, but the rubbing together speeds up the process. In addition, they are placed in a boma to give them time to adapt to their new environment and to concentrate the social interaction thereby intensifying the pack cohesion.

Once this process was complete, we administered the drug reversals. All that was left for us to do was to watch and wait for the Wild Dogs to wake up. The team stayed at the boma for the next eight hours until all the Wild Dogs had come around and were fully awake. But it wasn’t until the following morning that I felt completely satisfied. The Wild Dogs had recovered well and were already bonding. The young females had instantly developed crushes on the older males and were literally chasing them around the boma as though playing a game of ‘kissing catchers’. The males didn’t seem to mind all that much. In fact, it only took about three days for one of the males to begin mating with the alpha female.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful story, where many collaborations had come together in pursuit of Wild Dog conservation and now hopefully, we might be expecting some new Wild Dog Mozambican citizens in a few months’ time!”

The Wild Dogs were released from their holding boma on 16 June 2018, and Beira, the alpha female, is indeed in the early stages of pregnancy!


croWnEd EAglE rETurns homE

Dr Gareth Tate, Manager, Birds of Prey [email protected]

In late April, Dr Gareth Tate, manager of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Programme, received a report of an African Crowned Eagle that had been struck by a car near the farming town of Hazyview, Mpumalanga. Gareth was on assignment in the area and drove to where the bird had last been seen. After a tip off from a helpful local farm worker, Gareth managed to locate the eagle in a ditch below a busy highway, not far from where it had been hit.

As Gareth approached the bird, it spooked and, although dazed and clearly wounded, scurried off and disappeared into a dark thicket in a nearby ravine. It took nearly two hours to re-locate the distressed eagle, which had hidden itself tightly beneath the thick undergrowth. Gareth, assisted by some of his SANParks colleagues, managed to pick up the bird with caution, and immediately set off to the local vet, Dr Bennie Pienaar from the White River Animal Hospital. Here the bird was examined and x-rayed, and despite its run in with a large 4x4 vehicle, astonishingly had no broken bones.

After Bennie stitched up her left wing, the large female Crowned Eagle was collected by the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre, where she recovered and underwent two weeks of rehabilitation. The hard work and commitment from the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre team paid off, and after picking up a substantial amount of weight, the eagle was ready to be taken back home for release.

On Sunday the 13th of May, the Dullstroom Bird of Prey Centre drove a very anxious eagle back to the place where the incident occurred. Here, they were met by Gareth and Bennie, and some very excited spectators. The EWT fitted the bird with a GPS tracking device. She was then released in a nearby indigenous forest in a pristine valley near to where she was originally found. The EWT is currently monitoring her recovery with the help of the tracker, and has received information from the local farmer that another Crowned Eagle has been seen perched near to her – we are hoping this is her original mate. This bird will form part of a monitoring study headed up by Dr Garth Bachelor, who monitors the Crowned Eagle population in and around the Nelspruit region of the Lowveld. Her data will also feed into Dr Shane McPherson’s post-doctoral research on the species, which he is conducting through the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

This work is made possible by support from Rand Merchant Bank.


TAkIng sTock

Phetole Peter Ramollo, Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature [email protected]

The Oorlogskloof River is an important river for conservation of freshwater fish. This is mainly because it supports a presence of several endemic and Endangered indigenous fish species, including Clanwilliam Sandfish (Labeo seeberi), Clanwilliam Sawfin (Pseudobarbus serra), Clanwilliam Yellowfish (Labeobarbus capensis), and one locally invasive species, the Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii). The dedicated staff of Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve staff in Niewoudtville, members of the public and EWT team members recently conducted the annual fish survey to assess 36 sites in the Oorlogskloof-Koebee River system. The fish surveys are aimed at assessing fish distribution and abundance, and establishing whether the alien invasive species have a negative impact on the indigenous species. The Banded Tilapia does not eat the indigenous fish and does not pose a serious threat as opposed to species such as bass(Micropterus sp.) and Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus).

Due to the current drought some of the pools were too low, while a few were completely dry, making it difficult to net. Regardless of the drought conditions, there are deep permanent pools providing refuge for the fish species in the Oorlogskloof River. These deep pools are supplied through seepage from the mountains, and even the severe drought being experienced in the region did not have a negative impact in drying up the pools.

There is a natural barrier of huge boulders, located in the lower reaches of the Oorlogskloof River that prevents the Bluegill Sunfish and bass from moving upstream in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve. Currently the sites below the natural barrier are green because there are no indigenous fish species like Clanwilliam Sawfin to eat the algae. Overall, indigenous fish are very scarce below the natural barrier because they are eaten by alien fish species and that results poor water quality in the pools. During this survey, only one large yellowfish that had come from the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve was found below the natural barrier, primarily because fish that are too large are difficult for the

bass and Bluegill Sunfish to eat. Smaller fish do not stand a chance and are unable to establish themselves or survive in pools below the barrier were alien species live. This stresses the importance of the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve as a sanctuary for the indigenous species and a fish nursery and refuge area into the Koebee, Doring and Olifants rivers. Overall the sawfin was the most dominating fish species caught in the Oorlogskloof River, and some with black spots, an indication of parasitic infestation.

The fish surveys are conducted every year in autumn before the winter rainfall in the area, and only last for a week. Volunteers are welcome and must ensure a reasonable level of fitness, and willingness to hike in and out of the Oorlogskloof Canyon every day. The survey entails hiking, walking in rough terrain and swimming in order to cast the net in various pools to catch fish, so quick dry clothes and good hiking shoes are essential. The caught fish are measured with a ruler for standard length and fork length and returned into the water alive.


orAngE rIvEr mouTh closEs for fIrsT TImE In TWo dEcAdEs

Grant Smith, Estuaries Project Coordinator, and Bridget Jonker, Manager, Source to Sea [email protected] and [email protected]

The Orange River basin covers a massive area of southern Africa and supports a significant agricultural and industrial economy along its length. It is our biggest transboundary river, traversing South Africa,

Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia. Where this mighty river enters the Atlantic Ocean at the South Africa/Namibia border, it constitutes the second most important estuary in South Africa. This is because it forms a fish nursery, with nutrients that wash out into the ocean and support many of the west coast fisheries. It is also a key habitat for birds, with thousands of flamingos regularly using its salt marsh.

On 12 April 2018, as a result of extended periods of low river flows and high seas off the coast of Alexander Bay, marine sand built up to close the mouth of the Orange River for the first time in 20 years. This historic event could prove pivotal in the recovery of this critical


ecosystem, which the Endangered Wildlife Trust, in collaboration with government departments, research institutions and other NGOs, has been working towards since 2014.

From 2014 to 2017, the EWT partnered with the IUCN to improve integrated water resources management at the Orange River Mouth (ORM) with funding from USAID. The EWT supported the work of government departments through water quality monitoring, animal data collection and high resolution mapping so that the estuary boundaries could be properly delineated and, from there, the mouth proclaimed a Protected Environment.

For South Africans, one of the most important services provided by this system is critical nursery habitat for fish. The Orange Estuary comprises 15-20% of available estuarine nursery area on the West Coast. Growth and survival of the young of many coastal estuary-associated fish species is limited without the relatively warmer, murky waters, abundant food and sheltered habitat provided by the Orange Estuary. Its role as a refuge area is emphasised by the frequent 10-15 °C difference between cold upwelling in the ocean and estuarine waters during the summer months. The Orange Estuary is a transboundary system shared between Namibia and South Africa and there are very few predominantly open estuaries of this nature on southern


Africa’s West Coast, making the ORM not only locally important, but internationally as well, from an ecological perspective. This makes recovery of this ecosystem essential.

The ORM Ramsar Site is South Africa’s second most important estuary for biodiversity conservation. Human activities, dating back to the early 1900s, have placed the ecosystem under increased pressure. An observable symptom of ill-health presented itself in 1988 when the estuary salt marsh, once home to over 25,000 birds, collapsed.

While many factors led to this event, it is thought that constructions, in the form of a causeway and a beach access road, ostensibly flood-control measures contributed significantly. These structures effectively split the estuary into segments and prevent the free flow of water needed to flush excess salts from the salt marsh. During the last mouth closure in 1998, high river waters were able to flow over these structures but were then prevented from draining, which lead to the pooling and evaporation of standing water which in turn left an environment too salty even for salt tolerant plants to survive. Exacerbating the problem was the continuous “mouth management” of the estuary to prevent back-flooding in which the respective mining concerns in Namibia and South Africa took turns in keeping the mouth open by breaching the berm as soon as any closure was set to occur. If too little water escapes and water is trapped for too long, then salinities may increase further compounding this threat to the already 90% degraded salt marsh. However, should the estuary drain effectively these salts should, for the most part, be flushed out into the ocean reducing the overall salt levels in the marsh to provide a natural platform from which the ecosystem is able to recover.

Unfortunately, the mouth was breached manually by Namibian recreational fishermen, only a few days later, who, in contravention of the environmental legislation of both countries, hired manual labor to dig a trench with spades. What started as a trickle soon turned into a raging torrent as the 1-2m head of backed up river water found a way to escape out to the ocean. The reason they provided for their action was that they wanted to have ample beach to drive upon on the Namibian side of the estuary. The system was also breached with absolutely no regard for the safety of South African Branch Fisheries, DEA Oceans & Coasts as well as Namibian Ministry of Fisheries research staff who were working on the estuary at the time.

Grant Smith, EWT Estuary Projects Coordinator, says, “It’s very disappointing that nature wasn’t allowed to take its course. The flood posed no threat to life or infrastructure and because of the potential ecological benefits, the parties involved should have waited for the rising river to breach the mouth naturally. Either way, this is an historical moment in the recent history of the Orange River Mouth and its response to this environmental event will provide scientists and environmentalists with critical information needed in the struggle to nurse the system back to health.”

Stephen Lamberth and a collaborative DAFF, DEA fisheries research team took the opportunity to survey the fish assemblage during the mouth closure event for comparison with standard sampling that has been undertaken regularly since 2003. Although river inflow was fairly low, the water level was rising at about 30 cm per day and the estuary had back-flooded from the mouth to about 15 km upstream and 7 km above average tidal influence. Without exception, fish at all the usual sites had moved out of the main channels and into the back-flooded saltmarsh area and there was very high activity of birds and fish. Contrary to claims by those that breached the estuary that these animals were trapped, there were a number of fur seals making merry of the concentrations of fish in the system. In the past, fur seals have been reported more than 100 km inland of the Orange Estuary. Unfortunately, the estuary was breached on the second day of work so all the inundated area was not as intensively sampled as was initially planned. On the plus side it, allowed a good appraisal of the draining of the saltmarsh and fish stranding. As predicted, all stranding was behind road, fences, causeways and old mining infrastructure. Some of these areas continued draining after most of the estuary had emptied with birds concentrated at these outlets. Salinity of outflowing water was 0-5 parts per thousand (seawater 35) indicating some dilution of the hypersaline soil and possible benefits to saltmarsh plants and the animals that live amongst this habitat. ,

The next step is to develop a sophisticated water flow model that will inform managers on the optimal places to breach the impeding berm structures to improve water flow and allow the sufficient flushing of salts. However, valuable insights may be gained if regular aerial monitoring of the estuary could take place from now until the salt marsh drains once more.

Find out more about this fascinating ecosystem by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETExdjjUQv0


A nEEd for communITy InvolvEmEnT In curbIng PoAchIng WITh dogsSamson Phakathi, Field Officer, Threatened Grassland Species [email protected]

Poaching (hunting without a permit) in KwaZulu-Natal continues to be a major issue which has widespread financial implications.

We believe that it is very important to encourage communities to fully participate in finding solutions to environmental issues, particularly because some of our stakeholders hold the view that hunting with dogs is an authentic traditional practice, which must be recognised. A change in a community’s ability to sustain their livelihoods for any reason can also result in a change in the way they use natural resources. Therefore, providing viable alternatives to environmental destruction is a crucial intervention measure.

About a year ago, the EWT’s Threatened Grassland Species Programme initiated a pilot project which aimed to encourage community members to play an active role in curbing poaching with dogs in the Howick area of KwaZulu-Natal. Members of the community who form part of a group of former poachers now encourage other community members to pursue competitive but environmentally responsible fishing as an alternative to poaching with dogs. This team has taken it upon themselves to raise funds for a mobile phone, which will be used for reporting poaching and suspicious activities within the pilot project site using the SA CAN crime response app, Trackbox. SA CAN was launched in 2003 with the goal of uniting all emergency services role players into “South Africa’s 911 emergency system.” In 2013 it was established as a non-profit company with the primary function of facilitating response to emergencies anywhere in South Africa.

The team recently organised a soccer game against a team from Marujwa community in Bulwer, with the aim of raising funds. In a drive to highlight the poaching issue, EWT field officer, Samson Phakathi, also entered and completed a 59.8 km mountain bike race. Earlier in the month, Blue Security helped raise awareness for this initiative and assisted with sourcing a mountain bike for the race. Blue Security had this to say about Samson: “His determination to raise awareness in communities about the plight of species due to poaching with dogs

was his focus. We at Blue Security Community TV heeded his call, and networked our social media network for help. Thanks to sponsors, Santo Kahn from Kia Durban, Carl Dornbrack from Recoveri Microdot, Blue Security Community TV Durban, and patron sponsor Sonya Melissa Ferreira.”

The newly formed community cycling club in Howick encourages members to participate in cycling over weekends, when poaching with dogs tends to be rife. We are encouraged to see that some members of the community-based angling club are also taking part in cycling training on weekends.

The ultimate goal for any community engagement facilitation process should be to encourage a self-sustaining community, which is less reliant on an individual or champion. Working with community members to develop solutions is therefore an important step toward achieving this. The TGSP has found that gambling and recreation seem to be some of the drivers for poaching with dogs. Therefore, the more we encourage people to adopt or engage in other recreational sports like fishing and cycling, the stronger the likelihood of curbing poaching, and protecting our grassland biodiversity.

Thanks to NCT for their ongoing support of this work.


Showcasing our supportersgoldWAgEn rAIsEs funds To hElP sAvE our cArnIvorEs

The relationship between the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Programme (CCP) and Goldwagen began in 2017, when Wild Dogs were being lost to canine distemper. Shawn Gilbert, Goldwagen Marketing Manager, felt that his company and its partners could use their existing annual golf event to raise awareness for the plight of this iconic, yet Endangered species, while also raising funds towards the conservation of these special animals. The funds raised at this initial event were used to support the EWT’s work in vaccinating Wild Dog packs to protect them from potential future distemper outbreaks.

Goldwagen continues to support the EWT in 2018, and to date has raised R85,000 for the CCP. They will also be providing additional

support this year, with the offer of free billboard space, valued at R64,000, later in 2018 intended to help raise awareness for the plight of carnivores, and the supply of service kits for all CCP vehicles, which will help to keep the team safely on the road.


Green heroesPlAyIng for kEEPsJoe Pietersen has been a rugby professional for the past 13 years, playing for South African teams such as Western Province, the Stormers, the Free State Cheetahs, the Sharks, and the Blitzbokke, as well as teams in France and Japan. This has afforded him many opportunities to travel the world, meet a diverse range of people and see amazing countries. Being exposed to so many other countries made him realise how special South Africa and Africa are. His interest in tourism and conservation in South Africa naturally progressed into him wanting to take a more active role in contributing to conservation. With this in mind, he co-founded Nkombe Rhino, an organisation that sponsors, supports, trains and motivates the members of an Anti-Poaching Unit (APU). Their team is deployed to protect, track and set up advanced search patrols to intercept the pandemic of poaching incursions in the Greater Kruger National Park Biosphere.

How did you make the transition from rugby player to conservationist?I am still actively playing professional rugby in Japan, and conservation gives me a great topic to get people interested in South Africa.

Is there anything you learned on the rugby field that you can take into the work you currently do?Yes, definitely. Being hands-on and willing to get dirty adds to your credibility as a hard worker. It quickly shows people your intentions.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?As a rugby player, it was great winning the Currie Cup with Western Province and playing in the Super Rugby final for the Stormers. Conservation wise, it is such a privilege to meet and be actively involved with people and organisations that are truly focused on ethical conservation.

What would you do if you won R100 million in the lottery?I’d pack up my Landy and head to the bush to be a full time conservationist!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?My 5 year old boy, who probably loves the outdoors more than me.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?I have always been a boy who wants to be outside. If I didn’t play rugby, I would probably have been a tour operator.

What inspires you?I get inspired by risk – starting something without knowing what the outcome will be, and then making a success of it.

What’s one thing about you that would surprise people to know?My favourite sport is surfing, not rugby!

Do you have any advice for young conservationists?Take the time to educate yourself on the matters that are important to you, then form an opinion. If you ever think you can’t make an impact, spend a night with a mosquito.

Find out more about Joe’s work at www.nkomberhino.org


Conservation Matters is the bi-monthly printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current conservation hot topics, and fun activities for the kids. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and includes something for read-ers of all ages!

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WAys To gIvE

Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… or your phone! Supporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan. All you need to do is:

1. Download the SnapScan application on your smartphone

2. Register with your details – this should take no more than a few minutes

3. Scan our EWT barcode to make your donation in the amount of your choice (be sure to choose donation rather than e-shop from the dropdown menu) – you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so you know the transaction is secure

It’s as easy as one-two-three! Once you’ve made your donation via SnapScan, you’ll get an SMS confirming the transaction, and the EWT will be notified via SMS too. Supporting Conservation in Action couldn’t be simpler.

No SnapScan? No problem! Simply SMS ‘SAVE’ to 31913 to donate R15, once-off, or SMS ‘EWT’ to 31913 to make a monthly donation of R15. Protecting forever, together.

Walking the talkIn this new feature, we’ll be sharing tips on how we can all make a difference to the environment in our daily lives. We’d love you to share some of your tips too! Please tell us how you make a difference by emailing your tips to [email protected] and we could feature them in a future issue of the magazine.

The EWT is working toward developing communities and reducing our plastic waste with our EcoBrick initiative. We are challenging you to help us by building your very own EcoBricks this Mandela Day and beyond! An EcoBrick is a plastic bottle packed tightly with non-biodegradable waste that is then used to build sustainable homes, schools and furniture.

Making your own EcoBricks is so easy! Just follow these steps and challenge your friends to do the same:

Step 1: Get an empty plastic bottleStep 2: Walk around and pick some up non-biodegradable wasteStep 3: Pack the waste tightly into the bottleStep 4: Drop it off at a convenient EWT collection point! These include:

• EWT Head Office – Building K2, Pinelands Office Park, Ardeer Road, Modderfontein

• Modderfontein Reserve – Arden Road, Modderfontein• Friends of Free Wildlife – 193, 1 Maple Road, Kyalami• Eden College Lyndhurst – 48 Johannesburg Road, Lyndhurst• From 1 August 2018, you will also be able to drop your Eco-

Bricks off at Pick n Pay Hypermarket stores nationwide

Our EcoBrick challenge is designed to benefit a number of communities but we are starting with two schools: Itireleng Primary School and Lefofa Primary School in Hammanskraal. Hammanskraal is a very dry area which means there’s no grass for the children to sit on at break and the ground is too hard and dry to grow vegetables in.

At Itireleng Primary School, we will be using EcoBricks to build boundary walls to demarcate vegetable gardens, play areas, out of bounds zones and so on, while at Lefofa Primary School, the bricks will be used for benches for children to sit on and areas to contain topsoil for the vegetable gardens.

Our EWTers have been working on their EcoBricks throughout the year, and spent their 67 minutes on Mandela Day to build more bricks too. Watch this space as we share more news on this exciting project!


Science snippetsDr Lizanne Roxburgh, Senior Scientist, Conservation Science [email protected]

The Endangered Wildlife Trust regularly publishes the results of our conservation science research in scientific journals, so that our work can contribute to a growing body of knowledge on conservation science. Here we highlight our most recent scientific publications and other important science-related news.

PoIsonIng ProblEm PErsIsTs

Vultures, which are obligate scavengers, provide critical ecosystem services, by removing rotting carcasses from the landscape, thereby limiting the spread of disease. Poisoning is a major threat to vultures in Africa; for example, African White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) are Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, they are at risk from poisoning, and they range widely across sub-Saharan Africa. Their risk of being poisoned varies between different regions, yet the impact on their populations of where poisoned carcasses are positioned geographically is not known. Considering how widely vultures range, can this species still survive if it is being poisoned in one region and not in another? In a ground-breaking study, researchers compared two important regions for African White-backed Vultures in South Africa – KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN) and the Kruger National Park (KNP). These regions are only 200 km apart, a distance easily covered by a vulture, but they differ in their rates of poisoning, which are higher in KZN.

The researchers used data on re-sightings of 183 vultures captured and tagged in one of these two regions. These birds were resighted across the region 1001 times, and were seen as far as Namibia and Zambia. The researchers calculated whether there were spatial differences in survival rates between KZN and KNP, across the vultures’ different life stages. Survival rates of juveniles were similar in the two regions, whilst sub-adult and adult survival rates differed significantly, despite the proximity of the two regions. Sub-adult and adult survival rates were much lower in KZN than in KNP. They linked this to the higher rates of poisoning in KZN. Evidence from unpublished data also supports this finding – vulture populations in Mkhuze Game Reserve in KZN have declined by 58 % over a 10-year period between 2005 and 2015.

The results of this study may have important consequences for vulture conservation, and decisions about where to target conservation effort. “Vulture safe zones” around vulture breeding populations have been proposed as a potential conservation measure to ensure that vulture

populations persist into the future, and this study provides supporting evidence that these could be effective, even at relatively small scales in relation to the vast distances that vultures can travel.

Ara Monadjem, Adam Kane, André Botha*, Chris Kelly and Campbell Murn. 2018. Spatially explicit poisoning risk affects survival rates of an obligate scavenger. Scientific Reports.

shArIng rEAlly Is cArIng African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) are cooperative breeders, meaning that a dominant breeding pair in the pack produces offspring, and the rest of the subordinate pack members help them to raise these pups. It is thought that pack members help because they are related to the pups, and because, if they successfully raise the pups, their pack size increases, which is beneficial to all pack members. However, how the work of providing for the pups is shared among pack members is poor-ly understood.

In this study, the authors analysed a long-term dataset from nine Afri-can Wild Dog packs collected over a period of nine years. These data comprised 22 denning events, where packs remain at a breeding den for about three months following the birth of a new litter of pups. Al-though pups are weaned within three months, they are dependent on older pack members to provide them with regurgitated meat from kills, and to lead them to fresh kills until they are approximately 12 months old. Providing for the pups is costly to adults, and the authors investigated which adults were doing most of the provisioning of re-gurgitated meat, in relation to their sex, age, social status and the total size of the pack.

They found that, in smaller packs that consisted of less than 15 dogs, dominant pack members were more likely to regurgitate food for the pups, than subordinate pack members. This switched when packs were large (> 15 dogs), with dominant individuals providing food less often than subordinate pack members. The same pattern occurred for dogs of different ages, where older dogs in smaller packs provided more food for pups, while younger dogs provided more for pups in larger packs. There were no differences in male or female provisioning for pups.

These interesting results, the authors explain, are related to the costs of reproduction for the dominant breeding pair, as well as how la-bour is divided among the pack members in different pack sizes. As the packs get larger, there are more individuals available to share the work of raising pups, so the costs per individual dog go down. Larg-er packs are generally more successful – they are able to hunt larger prey; they have greater hunting success, are able to choose the best den sites, and have greater breeding success, meaning that more pups are raised to independence. Reduced costs of provisioning for pups in larger packs may allow pack members to devote more energy to other essential pack tasks, such as pup guarding and territory defence. The dominant breeding pair, in particular the female, carries the costs of producing the young, as well as providing them with milk. When packs are small, the dominant dogs also carry a large share of the burden of providing food for the pups, which leads to less time and energy to devote to other tasks, including producing future litters of pups. Thus smaller packs of Wild Dogs are at higher risk of going extinct. This study provides key insights into the factors that influence provisioning of food for pups, and how large packs outcompete small packs. African Wild Dogs are Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and understanding factors that limit and promote the population is of key importance to researchers and managers alike.

Katherine Forssman*, Courtney Marneweck*, Justin O’Riain, Harriet Davies-Mostert* and Gus Mills*. 2018. Pup provisioning in the cooper-atively breeding African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, is driven by pack size, social status and age. African Journal of Wildlife Research.

* EWT-affiliated authors, now or in the past


Wildlife fact fileAfrIcAn lIonPanthera leo

A lion’s roar is one of the most iconic sounds of the African bush and can be heard up to 8 km away. Lions originally roamed freely across most of South Africa, but hunting and changes in land use decimated lion populations between the late 1800s and early 1900s. This restricted them to large national parks by the middle of the twentieth century. Did you know that lions became regionally extinct in the Eastern Cape by 1879? Since then, they have been successfully reintroduced into many large reserves in the province. Sadly, lion numbers have been dropping dramatically across the African continent but, in South Africa, our lion population is stable or increasing in major reserves. Threats to the species include incidental snaring and the deliberate poisoning for body parts for the muthi market, and for the production of lion bone wine in Asia. Although lions are listed as Least Concern, they are strongly conservation dependent, as they do not occur outside of formally protected areas in South Africa. [Info bubble]Did you know that World Lion Day is celebrated on 10 August, annually? This relatively new celebration, started only in 2013, is aimed at raising awareness of the conservation issues facing these majestic big cats.

PEl’s fIshIng oWl Scotopelia peli

As its name suggests, the Pel’s Fishing Owl is almost entirely piscivorous (fish eating), depending on healthy waterways for its survival. Did you know that due to their prey being almost exclusively aquatic, the ‘Fish-Owls’ are unique in not having silent flight? They can be heard flapping quite clearly when taking off from a tree. They also have a deep booming call, well adapted to forested and dense vegetation, and this call can be heard for up to 3km on quiet evenings. Over the last two decades, reliable indicators suggest a significant decrease in the population numbers of this locally Endangered owl along certain river systems in eastern South Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need to better understand the species’ demographics along these rivers, and, to develop from these, an action plan to guide the long-term conservation of this threatened species. Given that the Pel’s Fishing Owl is revered by many local communities, this makes it even more surprising we have such limited information available for this enigmatic species, with even the most basic aspects of its biology poorly understood.

The EWT intends to understand the breeding success, recruitment rates and the role of diet – or a potential change in diet due to various anthropogenic influences – may impact breeding success. We also aim to understand the full extent of riparian habitat this species favours in eastern-South Africa. Our research will provide valuable insights into the general biology of this threatened owl in order to better guide long-term conservation actions for it, as well as other species that will benefit from its protection.

honEy bAdgErMellivora capensis

Despite its name, the Honey Badger is omnivorous, feeding primarily on rodents and small reptiles. Honey Badgers are known for being fearless, hardy and tenacious – often fending off lions (Panthera leo) and predating on snakes and scorpions. These special mammals are often killed by people in retaliation for beehive damage and livestock and poultry losses. This resulted in population declines and the species was listed as Near Threatened in 2004. However, with successful


Showcasing our supportersThE hEArTbEAT of AfrIcA – sAvE our WIldlIfE

Sere-med is committed to promoting the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s work, contributing financially for each PAD/AED sold, as it is obvious that when the heartbeat of Africa stops, then life in Africa will certainly also stop.

In the same way, when your heartbeat stops, your life will stop, especially in the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, unless we are aware and prepared to deal with and prevent the death.

The four main causes of death in South Africa are:• HIV/AIDS• Cardiac Disease• TB• Trauma

Most organisations are aware of HIV/AIDS, TB and trauma, and very often have awareness programmes and processes in place, with which all stakeholders are familiar. They are therefore more likely to prevent a fatality should someone suffer any of these events.

Very few people in South Africa are aware of the difference between a heart attack, stroke and Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). This confusion contributes towards many unnecessary fatalities. Over 100,000 people die annually in South Africa from SCA. More than 80% of these incidents will occur outside of a medical facility, in places like gyms, schools, shopping centres, businesses, sports clubs and so on.

SCA can happen to anyone anywhere at any time. Unlike a heart attack or stroke, when one suffers cardiac arrest, the victim has between 4 and 6 minutes to be treated with the correct emergency protocols if there is likely to be a chance of survival.

The basic difference is TIME, and knowing the symptoms and emergency protocols can save lives:

• Heart attack – 12 hours to get the victim into advanced med-ical care.

• Stroke – 3 to 4 hours to get the victim to a stroke unit. There are only 37 stroke units in South Africa.

conservation actions and a range expansion in its distribution, the Honey Badger is now listed as Least Concern. Persecution levels have dropped dramatically since successful mitigation measures have been implemented by beekeepers. This conservation success is largely due to the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation Programme, supported by WESSA and WWF, and the beekeepers themselves. Without this monumental effort, this species would be facing continuous and drastic declines. For this, we thank the beekeepers for their effort in protecting South African Honey Badgers. You can do your part for Honey Badger conservation by only buying “Honey Badger Friendly Honey” found at Woolworths, which is produced by bee-keepers that do not kill Honey Badgers but rather aid in their conservation.

In support of

preserve the heartbeats of Africa

Partnershipin Wildlife


• SCA – 4 to 6 minutes to apply the emergency protocols, and await advanced medical assistance.

According to the American Heart Association, The Arrhythmia Alliance and The Resuscitation Council SA, the time between collapse and defibrillation is one of the most important factors for survival from cardiac arrest. Early defibrillation is critical for patients with SCA because:

• In witnessed cardiac arrest a common rhythm is ventricular fibrillation (VF), pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) deteriorates rapidly to VF. When in VF, the heart muscle quivers and is unable to pump blood, which interrupts oxygen delivery to vital organs such as the brain, lungs and heart.

• The most effective way to treat VF is with electrical defibrillation (delivering a shock to stop the VF).

• The opportunity for successful defibrillation decreases rapidly with time.

The sooner defibrillation occurs, the higher the chances of survival. In the presence of VF, Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is able to return small amounts of blood flow to the heart, brain and lungs. CPR alone is not able to restore an organised rhythm to the heart. Every minute that passes between collapse and defibrillation decreases the chance of survival of witnessed VF SCA by 7–10% when no bystander CPR is provided.

Early CPR can improve survival rates significantly from witnessed cardiac arrest at most defibrillation intervals. In South Africa, it is highly unlikely that advanced medical response services will respond within the first 10 minutes.

Legal Ramifications

In South Africa, no one can be held liable for inflicting further injury or even death when trying to assist in an emergency (The Law of South Africa – Delict). The Law will consider the “Average Normal Person” rule.

For more information contactDoug SmitSere-medCARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNINGOffice: +27 11 262 2220 Mobile: +27 71 684 3888Email: [email protected]: www.seremed.com

Meet the packcATh vIsE - souTPAnsbErg ProTEcTEd ArEA (sPA) WATEr consErvATIon ProJEcT coordInATor

We caught up with Cath Vise, who recently joined the team as Project Coordinator for the EWT’s SPA Water Conservation Project. She was born and bred in the Soutpansberg, and feels lucky to live and work in the area again. She previously worked as a Yachtmaster, working on sailing yachts, in various places across the world, including the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands. Cath was based in the UK for quite some time, where she was very involved working with a sailing charity called the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. About five years ago, she decided to hang up her sailing boots to pursue a career in the environmental sector in London, where she worked with Futerra

Sustainability Communications as the company’s Environmental Manager and later as an Account Executive, with various clients working on sustainability issues. Following this, she moved to Scotland, where she did an MSc in Ecosystem Services at the University of Edinburgh. She moved back to the Soutpansberg two years ago, where she now lives on the family farm. This is in the heart of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, which she is also involved with. She has been working towards a PhD at the University of Venda, researching stakeholder engagement in invasive alien plant management in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.

Cath’s new role sees her working with colleagues and landowners in the Soutpansberg to ensure that this strategic water source area is conserved, through biodiversity stewardship and protected area expansion. Part of the job is also to restore wetlands and river systems, in particular through the removal of invasive alien plants such as Eucalyptus species. They are also looking to work with local communities, to improve livelihoods and in particular benefit from the biomass that is produced during clearing operations.

What excites you about this position?I am particularly excited that I get to work towards conserving the Soutpansberg Mountain, which is my home and my favourite place on earth (and I have seen some quite incredible places in my travels). Besides working in conservation, I am also particularly excited about the micro-enterprise development work we will be doing with local communities. The opportunity to work towards positive change in my homeland is a dream come true.

What are you passionate about?I am passionate about our mountain, the environment and conservation. I love spending time walking, horse riding or mountain biking, and exploring beautiful places.

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why?I would like to be stuck with our President, Cyril Ramaphosa. It would be an interesting conversation on environment and development issues, particularly with regards to National Special Economic Development Zones in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. This could be a fantastic opportunity to showcase and promote sustainable development initiatives.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from?“Go for it!” from Dame Ellen MacArthur. I have always respected her


as a brilliant sailor and a wonderful person. Her work, and her words, inspire me to always keep going for what I want to achieve.

rugArE nyAmhungA – InformATIon And comPlIAncE offIcEr

We also chatted to the EWT’s Information and Compliance Officer, Rugare Nyamhunga, who has had an interest in the environment since she was a little girl, growing up in Harare. Nothing made her angrier than people chopping down trees in her neighbourhood. She also liked to spend a lot of time outside, so this is probably where her desire to protect the environment came from. Rugare moved to South Africa almost a decade ago, and studied Law at Rhodes University. Environmental Law was one of her specialisations, and it turned out to be one of her favourite electives. She joined the EWT immediately after completing her degree.

Amongst other duties, she assists in reviewing and/or drafting the EWT’s legal agreements, being the Trustee and Board liaison, and safeguarding the personal information of EWT staff, Trustees and stakeholders.

What excites you about this position? Every agreement that lands on my desk is a glimpse into another world for me. Because I’m based at Head Office, I don’t go out into the field, except during Conservation Week (the EWT’s annual field-based training week for all staff). Therefore, reading up on the subject matter of an agreement helps me to live vicariously through our field staff! It’s also exciting to chat with the EWT’s Board members and Trustees, because their passion for the work of the EWT is energising.

What are you passionate about? I like conducting thought experiments (read: having robust arguments!) with my friends, and hearing what they have to say about various topics. This is because I like it when people think critically about the world around them. Contrary to what some may think, this doesn’t

necessary mean having an opinion about complex matters that only few understand. It just means taking the time to deconstruct everyday things in our lives, and having an opinion!

If you had to get stuck in a lift with anyone, who would it be and why? One of my favourite past-times is watching good films. My favourite kind of films are the ones where music isn’t just background ambience, but actually has themes that contribute to the development of a character. Therefore, I would not mind being stuck in an elevator with Hans Zimmer, and find out from him what goes into composing a good film score.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who did it come from? My mom is the best source of advice for me! She generally gives me a lot of good advice, but I feel like observing the way she’s lived her life, full of joy, is the best advice she could have ever given me. I sometimes tell her, if I ever end up being only half the mom she is, I’ll have done my job.

Ways to giveEvEry sWIPE counTs!

Did you know that you can support the EWT through the MyPlanet programme? The MyPlanet fundraising programme was launched as an extension of MySchool to provide community-minded people like yourself the opportunity to support a worthy cause, such as the EWT, that is focused on the improvement and protection of the environment and animals. And it doesn’t cost you a cent!

So get your free MyPlanet card (no monthly fees, no costs to you!) and nominate the EWT as the beneficiary you wish to support. Then swipe your card at partner stores when you shop, and they will donate a percentage of your purchases on your behalf.

• If you don’t have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card yet, simply apply for your free card now and select the EWT as your beneficiary. Once you start swiping your card, we’ll start receiving funds.

• If you already have a MySchool card, but would like to change your beneficiary or add a charity, simply call the Client Service Centre on 0860 100 445 or email [email protected] – there is no need to get a new card!

Find out more by visiting www.myschool.co.za/schools/myplanet


MEMORY STICK 32GB

R190

FLUFFY TOYS

RHINO COPPER BANGLE R110

WWW.EWTshoP.co.zAeShop

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WWW.EWTshoP.co.zA Pups’ place


In closing: Mwitu’s missiveDear Readers

By the time this reaches you, winter will be well underway! I hope you have enjoyed reading all our latest news, while snuggled up with a steaming cup of coffee (or even better, hot chocolate!). We are fortunate in South Africa to still enjoy beautiful days even during the coldest months, and I hope everyone is still getting out there and appreciating the amazing wildlife our country is blessed with – in natural environments, where our wild animals belong. Cold weather definitely doesn’t slow our pack down, and the team has been hard at work in the field to save species and habitats, and benefit communities. We continue to invite your feedback on the magazine, and you could win a hamper of EWT goodies, just by letting us know what you think.

We’d also like to make it as easy as possible for you to submit your answers to the below questions, so you can either email them to us at [email protected] (typed or a scanned/photographed copy of this page completed), post this page to us at Private Bag X11, Modderfontein, 1645, marked for Belinda Glenn’s attention, or drop it off at our offices at Building K2, Pinelands Office Park, Modderfontein, 1609. Please ensure your name is included with your submission if you’d like to be considered for the prize. Congratulations to Ivor Gerrard, our most recent winner, and thank you for your feedback! Ivor kindly declined his prize, preferring the goodies to remain with the EWT.

1. How would you rate the magazine, overall, on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is extremely poor and 5 is excellent?

1 2 3 4 5

2. Do you find the content enjoyable and easy to read?• Yes• No• SomewhatReasons (optional)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you find the magazine visually appealing?• Yes• No• SomewhatReasons (optional)

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4. How do you think we can improve on the magazine?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you like the fact that each issue has a theme?• Yes

• No• I didn’t notice the themes

6. Which is your favourite section (Features, Tails from the Field, Science Snippets, Meet the Pack, Members’ Corner, Pups’ Place)?• Guest contribution• Features• Tails from the field• Green heroes• Walking the talk• Science snippets• Wildlife fact file• Meet the pack• Supporters’ corner• Pups’ place• I love them all

Reasons (optional)

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7. Is there a section that you don’t find valuable?• Guest contribution• Features• Tails from the field• Green heroes• Walking the talk• Science snippets• Wildlife fact file• Meet the pack• Supporters’ corner• Pups’ place• No

Reasons (optional)

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8. Do you prefer printed or electronic publications, or enjoy receiving both?• Printed• Electronic• Both

‘Til next timeMwitu

P.S. If you don’t already receive our electronic newsletter, ChitterChatter, which goes out in alternate months from Conservation Matters, and you’d like to subscribe, please email me ([email protected]) and we’ll add you to the mailing list.


Advertising Rate CardConservation Matters is the printed magazine of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, bringing readers the latest news from the EWT, as well as thought-provoking insights into current conservation hot topics. It is a magazine for lovers of wildlife and nature, and include something for readers of all ages.

Five bi-monthly issues of the magazine are produced each year, with a distribution of 7,000 copies per issue. The magazine is distributed to EWT members and other stakeholders (primarily high LSM), as well as being made available at key locations such as check-in counters, departure lounges and car hires (list available on request) within OR Tambo and Lanseria international airports in Johannesburg.

For more information or to book your space, please contact Belinda Glenn on [email protected]

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