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Medike Nature Reserve has a new radio communication system

In the field

Medike Nature Reserve has a new radio communication system

Radio repeater installed at Medike Nature Reserve to improve communication coverage across the Soutpansberg

The EWTs Conservation Campus Manager, Werner Pretorius last month visited the Medike Nature Reserve in the Soutpansberg to conduct communication tests and assess possible locations for the installation of additional repeaters. These repeaters, both analogue and digital, will improve the coverage and reliability of radio communication across the reserve.

Radio communication is a vital tool for operations within the Medike Nature Reserve. It enhances coordination, improves response times, and increases overall safety for both staff and guests. Radios also play a crucial role in communicating with neighbouring reserves during emergencies, including responding to poaching incidents and coordinating fire response. This saves time and reduces fuel wastage through more efficient communication.

During his visit, Werner inspected the existing repeater system. He rewired the box, replaced old cables, and properly insulated them to protect against Sun damage. The installation and upgrading of the communications infrastructure at the reserve is to happen in phases. These include upgrading communication within the Medike Nature Reserve and expanding the network to connect with neighbouring reserves and the broader Soutpansberg area.

learn more about medike

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First Conservation Servitude Wholly Initiated by the EWT Registered in the Northern Cape

By Zanne Brink, Drylands Strategic Conservation Landscape Manager

Northern Cape biodiversity conservation through Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

The first Conservation Servitude initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust has been registered in the Northern Cape.

The registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude is to ensure the long-term protection of, particularly the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise, its habitat and the associated biodiversity on a farm that has been occupied by the same family for six generations.

The protection of dwarf tortoises is critical, especially because they occur in very specific habitat types along the West Coast of South Africa, inland to Namakwaland, and while this is a large area, they actually only occur in a few tiny remnant patches of critical habitat.

Lokenburg is situated in the district of Nieuwoudtville, widely known for its unique vegetation and springtime floral splendour. The farm is unique in two respects. It was the first farm in the area to receive Title Deeds in 1774, and it is the only farm to host a dwelling built by each one of the six generations that have lived on the property. Situated in the Bokkeveld, an area previously known for its large Springbok population, the working farm boasts a large variety of plant species. The owners, Nelmarie and Herman Nel, farm sheep, cattle, and rooibos tea.

It is a farm with a rich history, with numerous explorers traversing the area and documenting the rich soils and the associated fauna and flora since the mid-1700s. The late Francois Jacobus van der Merwe (the owners’ great-grandfather) was the only one of the four van der Merwe children whose land has remained intact for his descendants. This favoured the family and ensured that the land has been occupied by the same family for six generations, all of whom have always prioritised the conservation and preservation of their area because of their love of the land.

Lokenburg is situated in the winter rainfall region and lies in the transition zone between the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes. This makes the farm remarkable from a botanical point of view as it is also straddled by no less than four Bioregions: the North-West Fynbos Bioregion, the Western Fynbos-Renosterveld Bioregion, the Karoo Renosterveld Bioregion and the Trans-escarpment Succulent Bioregion.

Succulent Karoo Biome biodiversity at Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

The Succulent Karoo Biome, which boasts the richest abundance of succulent flora on earth, is one of only two arid zones that have been declared Biodiversity Hotspots. The biome is home to over 6,000 plant species, 40% of which are endemic, and another 936 (17%) are listed as Threatened. This biodiversity is due to massive speciation of an arid-adapted biota in response to unique climatic conditions and high environmental heterogeneity. Lokenburg lies on the eastern edge of the Succulent Karoo Biome, within the Hantam-Tankwa-Roggeveld Subregion.

A working farm, it boasts a variety of plant species, including Iris and Ixia, as well as five springs that support the owners, Nelmarie and Herman Nel and their son, Eduard, who farm sustainably with sheep, cattle, and rooibos tea. A more recent addition to their farming practices has been an entrance to the essential oil industry as a result of their great passion for the medicinal value of our indigenous flora. In 2023, the owners became members of the South African Essential Oil Producers and offer products in support of indigenous essential oils, some of which are produced on the farm, such as Lavandin. Their vision is to further expand the essential oil enterprise to make it sustainable and economically viable for the benefit of the community and environment.

Over the years, the family has aimed to preserve their land for future generations through sustainable farming practices alongside the preservation of the rich biodiversity found on their land. This has been enabled through the implementation of a Biodiversity Servitude, which ensures that the owners are not just farmers but also stewards of conservation. Through this, they can make a positive contribution to the community, economy, and environment through this step.

Sustainable farming and biodiversity protection at Lokenburg farm

Left: Lokenburg Lavender Harvest.

This Servitude has been registered across the Lokenburg farm. Specific conservation management areas have been designated within this area—a collaboration between the landowners and the EWT—and where targeted management actions and development restrictions will be in place. Additional, species-focused, conservation actions will also take place across the broader landscape and include management of the Pied Crow (Corvus albus) populations in the area, which are unnaturally high and, through excessive predation, are driving the tortoise populations to extinction.

The primary strategic management taken for the Servitude has been encapsulated in the Lokenburg Biodiversity Management Plan (LBMP). This plan also informs the need for specific conservation actions and operational procedures, providing for capacity building, future thinking, and continuity of management, enabling the management of the Servitude in a manner that values the purpose for which it has been established. Additionally, it ensures, through collaboration, that no detrimental forms of development or agricultural activities, will take place within the designated focal areas. Key to the management plan is the conservation and protection of Chelonians (includes all tortoise and terrapin species). These are one of the most imperilled vertebrate groups, with over 60% of the world’s 357 known species threatened with extinction. Nine of the 13 southern African tortoise species are found in the arid Karoo region where they face multiple threats, including habitat loss and degradation, predation, illegal collection and in fire-prone habits, uncontrolled fires.

This farms rich biodiversity sustains numerous other Species of Conservation Concern (SoCC) including numerous classified as Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among these are a number of bird and plant species, such as the Non-Threatened Tent Tortoise (Psammobates tentorius) and Karoo Korhaan (Eupodotis vigorsii), and Vulnerable Species such as the Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Southern Black Korhaan (Afrotis afra) and Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), as well as the Endangered Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) and Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus).

As stewards of our land, we work together to ensure long term sustainable agricultural conservation to the benefit of humans and species. We look forward to our path together to conserve ecosystems and landscapes.

EWT and Nel family collaboration for Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

Top left: Lokenburg Family

** The EWT’s work to secure the registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude was made possible by IUCN NL, the Ford Wildlife Foundation and the Nel family.

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The Endangered Wildlife Trust mourns two former colleagues

In memorium

The Endangered Wildlife Trust mourns two former colleagues

Endangered Wildlife Trust staff this month mourned the passing of two former colleagues who had played an important role not only in their personal development as conservationists, but also within their respective fields of expertise.

Dr Paul Bartels was considered a leader in the use of assisted reproductive technology for wildlife conservation. He was a pioneer in this cutting-edge field which merges science and conservation by aiming to futureproof the genetic composition of captive and wild gene pools when wildlife populations may not be able to do this naturally.

His vision led to the establishment of the first wildlife biobank in Africa—the Wildlife Biological Resource Centre (wBRC), was established in 1996 as a working group within the EWT. The wBRC was dedicated to the collection, processing, banking, use, and distribution of wildlife biomaterials for biodiversity conservation and biotechnology development.

In 1998, the wBRC made global history with the birth of the world’s first artificially inseminated wildlife baby, an eland female called Graca, after South Africa’s then First Lady. The birth of Graca showed the world that the genetics from wild species can still play a role in maintaining genetic diversity, even after the donor animal has died before collection.

Paul’s work was considered of strategic importance, resulting in the wBRC moving from the Endangered Wildlife Trust to the National Zoological Gardens under the National Research Foundation, and later became the National Wildlife Biobank under the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

Paul worked for the EWT for more than a decade, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of this visionary leader in biotech and wildlife conservation. We are, however, eternally grateful for the legacy he leaves in the form of cutting-edge science, dozens of empowered and highly trained scientists, an African wildlife biobank and leading science that can be used to save wildlife, support ethically and sustainably food security and secure the genetic diversity and future of dozens of threatened African wildlife species.

Glenn Ramke was not only instrumental in the conceptualisation of community engagement facilitation on issues that affected cranes, but also considered the matriarch and a loved and valuable member of the African Crane Conservation (ACCP) team. Her career at the EWT is outlined in her book My Crane Years.

Announcing her passing, ACCP manager Kerryn Morrison said that Glenn, who was a member of the South African crane team for more than 20 years, left a legacy and is now at peace.

Mwape Sishilongo said Glenn was not only gentle, funny, friendly and knowledgeable, and had showed him his first Blue Crane at Wakkestroom when he visited the area with colleagues Adalbert Aineo-mucunguzi and Bradley Gibbons.

“It was a spiritual experience for me – to have my first Blue Crane fly a full circle around us!,” he said.

Bradley Gibson said Glenn’s death had marked a sad day for him and Samson Phakathi as she had been such a big part of their lives for the best part of 25 years.

“She taught us a lot. She knew all the Wakkerstroom crane pairs and could tell us many stories about each pair. She would spend hours watching them and could monitor the growth of the chicks and the behaviour of the parents,” said Bradley adding the most valuable lesson she taught him was that believing you could do something only became possible when you put your mind to it.

Samson said it was after volunteering for the EWT for two years at Wakkerstroom that it was Glenn who reached out to Kerryn Morrison and Kevin McCann to employ him full-time, marking the start of a relationship characterised by adventures, learnings and above all the love and appreciation for cranes, habitats, and people.

“Glenn honestly believed in me, and she would go out of her way to see to it that I receive all the opportunities and support I needed to make it into the conservation field,” he said.

It was because of their work in Wakkerstroom that an education and awareness initiative was developed in the EWT, with the two running a successful farm worker education and awareness programme, which assisted them to discover new breeding pairs of cranes.

Samson’s words echo those of his colleagues: Glenn was a mentor, teacher, friend, mother figure and a resolute conservationist who taught the EWT’s craniacs to be critical and independent thinkers.

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Unsustainable anthropogenic mortality threatens the long-term viability of lion populations in Mozambique

By Dr Samantha Nicholson, Senior Carnivore Scientist & Manager of the African Lion Database

Mozambique, home to Africa’s seventh largest lion population with an estimated 1,500 mature individuals, faces a critical challenge: its lions are being pushed towards an unsustainable future.

A recent study by Almeida et al. (2025) highlighted the escalating threat of human-induced mortality to lion populations across Mozambique. Still recovering from decades of warfare, these populations contend with ongoing conflicts, widespread socio-economic fragility, and the alarming reality of being a regional hotspot for the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), particularly for targeted lion poaching.

The study, in which the Endangered Wildlife Trust participated, set out to quantify the devastating impact of human-caused deaths – or anthropogenic mortality – on Mozambique’s lion populations between 2010 and 2023, and to project their future viability under varying detection rates of these mortalities. The researchers compiled extensive monitoring records and national population estimates to analyse these trends and predict future scenarios for these vulnerable populations.

Alarming Findings: The Rising Threat of Anthropogenic Pressures

The study alarming key findings show that between 2010 and 2023, a staggering 326 incidents of human-caused mortality, involving 426 individual lions, were recorded. This represents an average of about 30 lion deaths annually, with a concerning surge over the 13-year period, from 9 to 49 annual mortalities. Demographically, male lions were disproportionately affected, accounting for 68% of known mortalities compared to 32% for females, with adults making up the vast majority (83%) of the victims.

Illegal activities were the most common cause of unnatural mortality; responsible for 65% of all lion mortalities. These included lions caught as bycatch in snares (27%), targeted poaching for their body parts (25%), and retaliatory killings (13%). Legal trophy hunting accounted for the remaining 33% of incidents. Over time, there was a significant increase in bushmeat bycatch and targeted poaching, while legal trophy hunting incidents decreased.

The methods used for killing also shifted, with an increase in poisoning and snaring, and a decrease in shooting.

Regional differences in motives were stark: targeted poaching and retaliatory killings were most prevalent in the southern region, bushmeat bycatch dominated the central region, and the northern region primarily faced threats from trophy hunting and targeted poaching. Specifically, targeted poaching of lions for their body parts saw a dramatic rise, jumping from an average of one lion per year between 2010 and 2017 to a shocking seven lions per year between 2018 and 2023.

The study also delved into perceived threats and management capacity.

The Perceived Anthropogenic Threat Index (ATI) indicated the highest threat levels in Coutada 13 and Niassa Special Reserve (SR). Conversely, the Perceived Resource and Capacity Index (RCI), which gauges the availability of resources and management capability to reduce lion mortality, was lowest for Niassa SR, Coutadas 9/13, and the Tchuma Tchato Community Programme, indicating a significant lack of resources in these areas – Niassa having the largest lion population in the country and a known stronghold for the species.

Population viability modelling revealed wide variations in the detection rates of human-caused lion deaths across different conservation areas. Gorongosa National Park (NP), Coutadas 9/13, and the Zambezi Delta demonstrated nearly complete detection (around 100%), which instils high confidence in their population projections. This high detection rate is largely attributed to these areas having sufficient resources for monitoring and effective management strategies, such as intensive lion-specific monitoring and robust anti-poaching coverage.

However, for Niassa SR in the northern region, the detection rate was estimated to be a worryingly low 20%. This implies that its reported annual human-caused mortality rate of 3.2% is likely a severe underestimation, with the true rate potentially around 16%. Similarly, Limpopo NP had a low detection rate (20-40%), suggesting a much higher actual mortality rate, ranging from 19.8% (without the buffering effect of connectivity to Kruger NP) to approximately 40% (with Kruger NP connectivity).

Future Projections: A Bleak Outlook Without Intervention

Future projections extending to 2040 paint a stark picture: without significant interventions, most lion populations in Mozambique are predicted to either remain suppressed or face further decline. Gorongosa NP offers a glimmer of hope, showing the highest projected annual growth rate of 6.5% and expected to reach its ecological carrying capacity by 2040, thanks to its low mortality rates and effective management. In contrast, Niassa SR’s population is projected to stagnate at roughly half its ecological carrying capacity, showing a concerning tendency towards decline, a direct consequence of its high mortality and low detection rates. Most alarmingly, Limpopo NP is projected to face functional extirpation by as early as 2030 if it loses the crucial buffering effect of its neighboring Kruger National Park. This dire forecast is a result of its small population size coupled with unsustainable levels of human-caused deaths.

Recommendations: Paving the Way to Reduce the Threat

This study powerfully underscores the urgent need for national-scale action to safeguard Mozambique’s lions. To counter these critical threats, the researchers put forth several vital recommendations: it is essential to improve monitoring of lion populations and human-caused mortalities by establishing standardized systems, which will provide more accurate data for assessing trends, evaluating interventions, and establishing evidence-based quota setting. Furthermore, enhanced site security and more effectively coordinated anti-poaching operations, including the development of integrated inter-agency task forces, are crucial for bolstering regional security and alleviating pressure on local lion populations. Addressing the illegal wildlife trade necessitates targeted investigations to disrupt IWT networks and direct intervention with judiciary systems to sensitise magistrates, ensuring a robust understanding and consistent application of wildlife laws.

While acknowledging legal trophy hunting’s vital role in funding, especially in Niassa where it covers about 30% of operational costs, the authors cautiously suggest compensating for illegal human-caused mortalities within quota setting to temporarily aid local population recovery. To bridge financial shortfalls, it is recommended to develop alternative wildlife-related investment opportunities and foster tripartite partnerships among government, hunting operators, and NGOs.

Attracting greater inward investment into the conservation sector is paramount, requiring local government to create a long-term enabling environment through clear policies on public-private partnerships, simplifying bureaucracy, and streamlining engagement processes. Crucially, all conservation actions and funding models must be designed around the needs and opportunities of local communities, ensuring they become enfranchised stakeholders in lion conservation with clear incentives to coexist with these magnificent animals.

Almeida, J., Briers-Louw, W.D., Jorge, A., Begg, C., Roodbol, M., Bauer, H., Loveridge, A., Wijers, M., Slotow, R., Lindsey, P. and Everatt, K., 2025. Unsustainable anthropogenic mortality threatens the long-term viability of lion populations in Mozambique. PLoS One, 20(6), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325745

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Where roads and wildlife collide: a study from south-central Uganda

By Erin Adams and Lizanne Roxburgh, Conservation Planning and Science Unit

Road networks have made it much easier for people to reach places that used to be difficult to access. However, as more roads are built, the risk of vehicles colliding with wildlife increases. One of the main ways humans and animals interact on roads is through animal and vehicle collisions. Although this happens often, it is not well-studied, especially in developing countries.

In a recent study, co-authored by EWT scientists*, road networks in south-central Uganda were examined to understand how many species were affected by collisions, and whether these incidents happened more frequently at certain times of the year or in specific locations.

The scientists studied three stretches of road, each 40km long, passing through three districts in south-central Uganda. These areas include two important wildlife habitats: the Kiyanja-Kaku wetland and Lake Mburo National Park. They surveyed these roads in the morning and afternoon once a month, focusing on both rainy (March – May) and dry (June – August) seasons. Their research took place from November 2019 to April 2024.

Each month, the scientists drove these routes at a steady speed of 15 km/h and stopped whenever they found roadkill. They recorded details like GPS location, date, time, species involved, weather conditions, season, road conditions, nearby vegetation, and how far the roadkill was from the nearest natural landscape. If they found animals that were still alive, they immediately reported them to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, who responded quickly to help.

Over the study period, the scientists recorded 161 wildlife collisions involving 178 animals. The animals belonged to different groups, including 12 mammal, five reptile, two amphibian, and 32 bird families. Some areas stood out as roadkill hotspots, where most collisions happened, and these were particularly places near wetlands and farmlands.

When researchers looked at the distance between roadkill incidents and natural landscapes, reptiles were found closest to these areas, followed by birds and amphibians. Bird and mammal collisions were more common during the rainy season than the dry season. They also noticed that animals active during the day (diurnal) were involved in collisions more often than those active at night (nocturnal). Fortunately, most of the affected animals were not considered threatened according to the IUCN Red List. However, they did record some collisions involving Near Threatened and Threatened species, and even one species listed as “Data Deficient,” meaning there isn’t enough information about it to assign a Red List Status.

The scientists emphasised that speed limits should be strictly enforced in areas with a lot of wildlife, such as wetlands and farmlands. They also suggested running driver awareness campaigns, especially during the rainy season, and installing speed bumps and warning signs on roads.

The EWT has a roadkill app called “EWT Road Watch” that can be downloaded from your phone’s app store. This can be used by the general public to submit any roadkill sightings along with the GPS co-ordinates. This will help us to figure out where the hotspots are for future interventions.

*Tayebwa, G., Nyadoi, P., Turyasingura, B., Engoru, P., & Aine-Omucunguzi, A. (2025). Wildlife–Vehicle Collisions in South-Central Uganda: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation. Conservation, 5(2), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation5020026

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Green roads and highways protect biodiversity

By Dr Thabo Hlatshwayo, Wildlife and Transport Project, Senior Field Officer

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to address around 700 delegates to the South African Transport Conference about the importance of green transport and steps that can be taken to mitigate the impact of national highways on habitat use and movement by wildlife.

This is the longest running transport conference in southern Africa serving as a forum to debate transport-related issues, including the provision of transport infrastructure, learn more about research in this field, new technological developments, and to build capacity.

During my presentation, I highlighted the fact that although transport infrastructure is critical to sustainable human economic development and society, poorly designed and built roads and highways may have negative ecological impacts.

Establishing green transport infrastructure has become an important element of sustainable development frameworks, and maintaining ecological connectivity between road-fragmented landscapes plays a significant role in conserving wildlife populations. Poorly planned transport infrastructure development can have severe impacts on ecological connectivity and species survival.

Roads can create barriers to wildlife movement, limiting the ability of terrestrial wildlife to find water, food, and mates. Furthermore, road fragmented landscapes accelerate incidents of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Whilst these incidents almost always result in wildlife mortality, they also impact populations of threatened and endangered species and pose road safety concerns for other road users (people).

These impacts are particularly relevant in South Africa, which has diverse and robust wildlife populations and is still transitioning to a greener economy.

My recently-completed PhD studies in ecological science expand on previous research by emphasising the urgent need for adopting road development projects that optimise social and economic benefits while safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems through the consideration and inclusion of ecological connectivity through wildlife crossing corridors. This study explored wildlife roadkill patterns and animal movement on South Africa’s national highways that intersect landscapes that are critical for biodiversity. We also evaluated the usefulness of existing road drainage underpasses not purposely built for wildlife by using camera traps at bridges, culverts and tunnels to determine whether these help animals to move across highways safely, contributing to a reduction in roadkill incidents and improving landscape ecological functionality.

The findings have been helpful in the following ways:

Guiding monitoring and modifying existing under-road culverts for reducing road-related biodiversity effects in South Africa and
Offering insights into the constraining variables that influence crossing structure index by wildlife.
Promoting the consideration and inclusion of ecological connectivity and biodiversity needs in road transport development sustainability frameworks in South Africa.

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