Page 2 | Endangered Wildlife Trust

Lion Population Survey in Kruger National Park shows continued species decline

By Eleanor Momberg

The Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, spanning South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe is one of the few remaining strongholds for Lions (Panthera leo) in southern Africa.

Central to the cross-border conservation area is the Kruger National Park which serves as a key source population of Lion for neighbouring reserves. However, in the past decade, poaching has started taking a toll on the species, either through bushmeat snaring or the deliberate poisoning of carnivores, in certain areas.

In the first park-wide survey in 2005 the lion population was estimated at 1,803 individuals. With that survey now a decade old and reports of increased poaching—particularly in the northern Kruger National Park— the report states that concerns about the present status of Lions in the region are justified.

Partnering with South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Lion Recovery Fund, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in 2024 undertook a Lion population survey in the northern half of the Kruger National Park to obtain robust estimates of Lion populations to inform future Lion management policies and practices.

During a similar Lion population survey in the Nxanatseni north region of the Kruger National Park over three months in 2023, the population was estimated at 105 individuals. Two field protocols had been used to collect the 2023 data – search encounters and camera traps.

In 2024, a three-month Lion population survey was conducted in the Nxanatseni south region of the Park using spatial capture-recapture models to obtain more reliable and comparable estimates of the abundance and density of lions. Spatial capture-recapture entails taking photographs of a Lion’s whisker spots to identify individuals. Some are seen more than once, thus the recapture of their information and avoiding counting the same lion twice.

Between July and September 2024, the members of the EWT’s Carnivore Conservation team drove 10,446 km in search of Lions, resulting in 182 detections of 74 individuals—22 males and 52 females. Because of the high mortality among Lions less than a year old, these were excluded from the survey.

Using this dataset, it is estimated that there are 144 lions in Nxanatseni South; a density of 3.5 lions per 100 km². Besides the higher number of Lion in the southern Nxanatseni area, the survey again found that Lion density decreased the further the carnivores were away from water. Out of the 247 lions detected, 182 could be positively identified, while 65 could not. Identifying more individuals would have improved precision without necessarily changing the estimated

The report states that Lion densities varied across the study area, with the highest estimates in sections, which support large herds of herbivores due to productive soils and grazing grounds. It adds that lower densities were found in the western sections, where mopane woodland, proximity to communities, and conflict with poaching may limit Lion populations. In another area, which had an intermediate density, poor soils, low rainfall and the hilly terrain were found to be constrains on the species.

Although poaching was not directly assessed during the study, poached Lion were found within the research area, on the western boundary of the Park, and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

The report concludes that the observations are concerning given the conservation importance of the Kruger Lion population, adding additional research needs to be done to determine what effect water management and increasing human pressures may have on the species.

** The EWT would like to thank SA National Parks for permission to carry out the survey, AHA Hotels and Lodges and Singita for their logistical support, LexEDA Infra Bharat Pvt. Ltd. for advanced computing support and the Lion Recovery Fund for their generous support.

Newsletter sign up

Follow our carnivore conservation unit

Raptors in Decline: What One Researcher’s Roadside Observations Revealed

By Ronelle Visagie, Birds of Prey Unit

Left: Jackal Buzzards in Middelburg district. Right: Data tracking

A study of long-term road surveys undertaken by Ronelle Visagie, field officer in the Birds of Prey Unit, has been referenced in a new research report revealing widespread declines in South Africa’s raptors and other large birds. Ronelle co-authored the report published by the University of Cape Town.

How did the survey come about? Here is Ronelle’s story:

I was recently asked to share the story behind a study I co-authored that revealed widespread declines in raptor numbers across South Africa. The data behind the research came from an unexpected source: the many kilometres I’ve driven while working for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).

My work involves a lot of time on the road. I regularly travel long distances to investigate power line incidents involving birds, and in 2019 I began monitoring 400 vulture nests in the Kalahari. From my home to Askam—where that fieldwork begins—is about 600 km. Much of the monitoring takes place along the Kuruman and Molopo Rivers and near Van Zylsrus. I’ve also spent years travelling through the region for the Vulture Safe Zone project.

Because I often drove the same long routes, I started looking for something productive to do while travelling. I realised that I could record the raptors I saw along the roads. Using the CyberTracker app on my phone, I began logging every bird of prey I encountered. The system is simple and effective: it allows you to record the species, age class and behaviour of each bird, while automatically storing the GPS coordinates.

From that point on, every work trip became an opportunity to collect data. Whenever I drove anywhere, I recorded the raptors I saw along the way. I also noted roadkills, which can provide insight into wildlife populations and threats. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that roadkills seem to have decreased over time, possibly because people increasingly collect them for food.

Over the years, the kilometres added up. Between 2009 and 2025, I drove over 500,000 km for my work with the EWT. Along the way, I built up a large dataset of roadside raptor observations.

A few years ago, I presented this dataset at the EWT’s Birds of Prey Conference in Swadini, Limpopo. In the audience was Assistant Professor Arjun Amar from the University of Cape Town. After the talk, he approached me and asked whether one of his students, Santiago Zuluaga, could analyse the data and develop it into a scientific paper.

Red-necked Falcon in KNP and Secretary birds drinking water in the road

Left: Red-necked Falcon in KNP. Right: Secretary birds drinking water in the road

The results were sobering. The analysis showed that half of the raptor species I recorded had declined over the study period.

This matters because raptors play a critical role in ecosystems. They help regulate populations of animals such as rodents and dassies, preventing these species from becoming overly abundant. Vultures perform an equally essential service by removing carcasses from the landscape, helping to limit the spread of disease.

Some of the declines we observed are likely linked to human activities. In parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, certain raptors are persecuted because they occasionally catch chickens or lambs. Poisoning is also a growing threat, and unfortunately poisons are often easy to obtain. Owls appear to be particularly affected by this.

Addressing these challenges requires working with the people who share the landscape with these birds. When I travel through farming areas, I spend time talking with farmers to understand their concerns and look for ways to help reduce conflict. I also visit schools to talk to children about why raptors are important and the threats they face.

Studies like this help highlight the scale of the problem. Raptors are declining, and yet they provide vital services that keep ecosystems functioning. The more we understand these trends, the better we can work together to protect these remarkable birds.

The article can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111764.

Left: Gabar Goshawk in KNP. Right: Pygmy Falcon in KNP

Newsletter sign up

Follow our Birds of Prey unit

Breeding of Blue Cranes lower in intensive agricultural landscapes

By Eleanor Momberg

Blue Cranes breed less successfully in the Western Cape Wheatlands than in their traditional range, highlighting a potential ecological trap for South Africa’s national bird.

This is concerning for this stronghold of the Blue Crane (Grus paradisea) population, and might explain why numbers have been declining for the last decade, a paper entitled Reduced Blue Crane Grus paradisea breeding productivity in intensive agricultural landscapes, states.

The research, published in the Journal of African Ornithology, Ostrich, compared the breeding of Blue Cranes in the Western Cape wheatlands in the Overberg and Swartland, Karoo and eastern grasslands of South Africa. It found that the birds bred more frequently in the grasslands and the Karoo than in the Overberg or Swartland.

The Swartland pairs were found to fledge chicks half as often as Overberg, grasslands and Karoo pairs indicating that low breeding productivity and recruitment could explain the declining Blue Crane population in the Western Cape wheatlands and that the region has become “an ecological trap for the species”.

By engaging with landowners to reduce nest disturbances, promoting chick-safe water troughs to prevent drownings and reducing fence entanglements by improving fence designs could result in more efficient and successful breeding, the report states.

The findings, the report states, highlight the challenges and complexities with conserving the remaining biodiversity in transformed or novel landscapes where species, such as the Blue Crane, require sustained and intensive management to maintain their population.

In 2025, the Blue Crane was uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable in the Red Data Book of Birds reflecting growing concern about the future of the species, and underscoring the critical role of the Overberg region in renewed efforts to protect the birds.

The uplisting states that the reasons behind the dramatic decline in the Overberg over the past 14 years included disturbance during the breeding season, collisions with power lines, entanglement in farm fencing and baling twine and poisoning – often from substances intended for other species. In addition, shifts in agricultural practices over the past decade, including minimum till and increased canola production, altered the landscape, reducing the availability of suitable feeding and breeding areas for cranes.

As a result of the uplisting, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), through its partnership with the International Crane Foundation (ICF), has increased its efforts to conserve the Blue Crane, with a strong focus on the Western Cape and Karoo.

Decades of successful conservation interventions yielded positive results in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape, thus the shift in attention to populations in the Western Cape.

Blue Cranes are endemic to South Africa, with a small population found in Namibia, making these the world’s most range-restricted crane. There are less than 30,000 of these birds left in the world.

Efforts to safeguard the Blue Crane in the Western Cape include intensifying work with communities and farmers to restore habitats, and addressing threats posed by energy infrastructure.

This research in the Western Cape was made possible by support from Leiden Conservation Foundation & Hall Johnson Fellowship

Link to article: https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2025.2604223

** Christie A Craig, , Bradley K Gibbons, Tanya Smith, Glenn I Ramke and Peter G Ryan

Newsletter sign up

Celebrating Africa’s Medicinal Plant Heritage

By Jenny Botha, People in Conservation unit manager

Africa’s landscapes are home to some of the world’s most powerful medicinal plants. The Pepper‑bark Tree, Wild Ginger, Fever Tree, and African Potato are just some of the many species within a rich African pharmacopeia that has evolved over thousands of years of accumulated knowledge and wisdom and shared across generations to support Traditional Health Practitioners to heal their patients.

Today, human activities threaten the survival of hundreds of medicinal plant species worldwide. Plants are often lost in the wild through high harvesting levels and the transformation of habitats through agriculture, mining and other human activities. The slower, less visible impacts of climate change are also increasingly affecting wildlife.

The good news is that there is a resurgence of support to conserve medicinal plants with people across sectors contributing to their improved protection and long-term survival. To succeed, these efforts need to be embedded not only in the conservation of biodiversity but also in culture, sustainability, and community empowerment. We also need to recognise that meaningful change requires sustained effort over time.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s contribution

To protect this biocultural heritage, the Endangered Wildlife Trust is working alongside Traditional Health Practitioners, communities, traders, and harvesters to develop sustainable, legal sources of medicinal plants. Our starting point is to explore the challenges we all face through biodiversity loss and by sharing ideas and potential strategies to address them, in this case focusing on medicinal plants.

Cultivation has the potential to reduce the volumes of plants that are harvested from the wild if we can achieve scale and minimise production costs. In collaboration with the South African Biodiversity Institute and regional conservation agencies, the EWT has hosted seven training courses since March 2025, reaching nearly 350 participants in both rural and urban areas. Because medicinal plants hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning, cultivation needs to be carried out with care, recognising and honouring the cultural and spiritual protocols that are traditionally carried out when these plants are handled and used.

We also need to ensure that we adhere to both international and national legislation. Many medicinal plant species are protected by law due to the significant threats to their long‑term survival. Since regulations governing medicinal plants can be complex, we work with national and regional conservation authorities to support Traditional Health Practitioners and other stakeholders understand legislation and navigate legal compliance.

We are also supporting communities and Traditional Health Practitioners to monitor wild medicinal plant populations growing in their areas and, over time, exploring approaches to strengthen controls. This includes working with South African police officials and local leaders, as well as engaging with communities to raise awareness of wildlife legislation and explore options to address the underlying drivers of illegal wildlife activities where possible.

While the challenges are significant, we are encouraged by the growing support and renewed collaboration between conservation organisations, Traditional Health Practitioners, and other stakeholders. By working together to protect medicinal plants while ensuring they remain accessible for traditional medicine, we can help secure a thriving African pharmacopeia for the health and well‑being of people now and for generations to come.

** Funded by the UK Government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

Newsletter sign up

Camera Traps Reveal a Hidden Predator in Zinave

Science Snippets:

Camera Traps Reveal a Hidden Predator in Zinave

By: Erin Adams and Lizanne Roxburgh

Large carnivores have disappeared from much of their natural range around the world, and Mozambique has been no exception. Decades of civil conflict, drought, and limited management capacity led to the loss of many large mammals in several of the country’s national parks and wildlife areas. Zinave National Park is one such place, now undergoing an encouraging recovery thanks to strengthened management and dedicated restoration efforts.

Since 2015, more than 2,000 herbivores have been reintroduced to the park. Predator reintroductions followed: four Spotted Hyaenas were released in 2020, and two Leopards in 2021. In late 2021, a Lion was spotted that had not been reintroduced, signalling that carnivores might be returning naturally. By 2023, three more Lions and an additional Leopard were recorded in the park. As of 2025, an estimated seven Lions reside in Zinave.

Up until 2023, however, park staff and researchers did not know which other species might have dispersed into the area on their own. To answer this question, they established a long-term, permanent grid of camera traps across the park. Additional cameras were placed on carcasses to detect scavenging species. After a year, the findings were published in a study co‑authored by EWT scientists.*

When the images were analysed, the team documented 37 different species, including 11 scavenging mammals and five scavenging bird species. Among these observations was a particularly surprising discovery: a Brown Hyaena. This marks the first recorded sighting of a Brown Hyaena in Zinave National Park, an area previously thought to lie outside the species’ natural distribution range. Brown Hyaenas are classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, with a global population estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals. Their population size in Mozambique remains unknown.

Studies like this are vital for understanding how biodiversity shifts over time and for monitoring recovery or decline in populations. Permanent camera trap grids make it possible to detect elusive and rarely seen species, track changes in species’ ranges, and generate reliable, long-term data. This information helps park management make informed decisions and supports the development of effective conservation strategies.

brown hyaena camera trap image Mozambique

*Abrao, O. J., Sievert, O., Roodbol, M., Roxburgh, L., Van Lent, B., Abacar, A., da Conceição, A. G., Chinder, G., Nganhane, I. D. N., & Nicholson, S. K. (2025). A Novel Record of Brown Hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) in Zinave National Park, Mozambique. Ecology and Evolution, 15(11), e72473. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72473

Newsletter sign up

Attending the TNFD Africa Train the Trainer Programme brings new insights

In the field:

Attending the TNFD Africa Train the Trainer Programme brings new insights

By Luvuyo Kani, GIS Specialist, Business and Biodiversity Unit

Over the past few years, I have been steadily finding my way through the emerging and often complex biodiversity and business space. As someone rooted in biodiversity planning, I have been trying to understand how evolving frameworks natural capital accounting, nature‑related disclosures, spatial prioritisation, and sustainability reporting interconnect to support better decision‑making for the natural environment. Attending the TNFD Africa Train‑the‑Trainer Programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) earlier this year formed an important part of this ongoing journey.

Within the Biodiversity & Business Unit at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), our mandate is to strengthen the integration of nature into business strategies, governance processes, and operational decisions. We work to build the capacity, evidence base, and partnerships needed to ensure that the private sector understands its dependencies and impacts on nature—and is empowered to act. Against this backdrop, the TNFD training could not have been more relevant.

Coming into the programme with experience from the Natural Capital for Business Decision Making Train‑the‑Trainer course delivered by the Capitals Coalition and Social Value International, I was able to connect the dots between natural capital measurement and the disclosure‑oriented structure of TNFD’s LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare) approach. While natural capital thinking provides the “what” and “why,” TNFD offers a framework for operationalising these insights within business risk, strategy, and governance systems.

Still, I am navigating how these frameworks collectively advance truly nature‑positive outcomes. The Africa‑focused case studies and peer exchanges highlighted both the complexity of our socio‑ecological context and the urgent need for practical, localised solutions. As a GIS Specialist, I found the emphasis on spatially explicit risk and dependency assessment especially resonant.

Overall, the programme deepened my technical grounding, strengthened alignment with our EWT mandate, and reinforced my commitment to continue learning, piece by piece, toward more effective stewardship of our natural environment.

Newsletter sign up

EWT empowers Eskom staff in snake handling

In the field:

EWT empowers Eskom staff in snake handling

By Amos Letsoalo, senior field officer in the Wildlife and Infrastructure Unit

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is making a significant impact in South Africa by not only conserving species and their habitats, but also empowering people and communities to coexist with wildlife.

Our Wildlife and Infrastructure Unit (WIN) has had a long-standing partnership with South African power utility Eskom aimed at minimising negative interactions between wildlife and electrical infrastructure.

One aspect of this is empowering their staff through snake awareness and snake handling courses, whereby participants learn how to safely interact with snakes in their working environment when they encounter them, both in the field and on-site. These courses are particularly available for power utility staff who often encounter snakes during operations, of which can delay work, disrupt operation and may even pose risk to staff . The training enables them to humanely remove snakes from their operational areas and relocate them safely, without putting themselves or others at risk.

The courses cover essential topics such as identification of venomous and non-venomous species, snake bite treatment, and handling snakes safely to remove them from danger areas and relocate them safely.

Recently, the WIN conducted snake awareness and handling courses for power utility staff generation GX in Mpumalanga and the Western Cape respectively. Participants initially arrived with a healthy respect for snakes, having been misinformed about the species during their lifetime. Many had a deep-seated fear, viewing snakes as dangerous all the time and prone to attack.

However, after the training, there was a noticeable shift – smiles replaced apprehension, and participants began to appreciate the species, understanding their ecological function and the importance of conservation and coexistence. The opportunity to attend the course was met with enthusiasm, and the newfound appreciation for snakes was clear, with many expressing gratitude for the experience.

The EWT’s efforts have been widely appreciated by the power utility, which has seen a positive impact on their operations. By educating staff and communities about snakes, the EWT is helping to dispel myths and fears surrounding these often misunderstood creatures. This, in turn, promotes a culture of coexistence and conservation, where people can safely share their environment with wildlife.

The snake awareness and handling courses have been a long-standing part of the WIN’s outreach program, and their value is evident in the positive feedback received from participants. By empowering individuals with knowledge and skills, the EWT is making a tangible difference in promoting the protection and conservation of South Africa’s incredible wildlife.

EWT snake handling course field training South Africa

Newsletter sign up

New Cape Town office for the Endangered Wildlife Trust

In the field:

New Cape Town office for the Endangered Wildlife Trust

Carina Bruwer, Wildlife in Trade unit manager

The Endangered Wildlife Trust has recently moved into our new Cape Town satellite office. Powered by coffee, donuts and sunshine, our staff have been hard at work brainstorming design ideas, painting the walls and moving furniture. While moving out of our old office at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, we even stumbled upon a colleague’s previously-assumed–stolen scooter! After this magnificent find, our Head of Operations, Lourens Leeuwner, proclaimed: ‘Ja, this little beast will run again!’ See the video of the rescue here.

We are extremely grateful to Bowmans and the Peninsula Hotel, among others, for furniture donations, and to Paintsmiths for the generous donation of non-toxic, eco-friendly paint. We selected their beautiful green hues to make our office a tranquil, inspiring space where we can focus, converse and exchange ideas, and receive guests.

In a future edition of Conservation Matters, we will show you what our office looks like once complete.

However, we still need a few things, so if there are any potential donors out there who would like to help us with things like a water cooler, printer, décor, coffee machine, or kitchen utilities, please do reach out to me at carinab@ewt.org

Newsletter sign up

Children learn about water filters during exhibit at Joburg Zoo

By Eleanor Momberg, Communications Manager, and Jo Bert, Senior Graphic Designer, for the Endangered Wildlife Trust

On 19 February hundreds of school children visited the Johannesburg Zoo as part of a Water Day awareness campaign. The aim was to raise awareness about the importance of water in everyday life. This included speaking to children about removing waste and alien species from rivers, dams and wetlands. Some of the classes presented poems and showed off posters. Many called out Water is Life during the formal programme. The Endangered Wildlife Trust was among several exhibitors at the event. Our exhibition comprised two experiments to show the children to physically demonstrate how water collected from a river or dam can be cleaned for safe human use.

What were the experiments?

The first experiment demonstrated a simple filtration system using a two-litre plastic bottle. The bottle was cut in half, with the top section inverted and placed upside down into the bottom. Inside, several layers of material were added, starting with a layer of cloth and cotton wool at the base, followed by fine sand, charcoal, coarse sand, and finally small rocks at the top. When dirty water was poured through the system, these layers filtered out larger contaminants such as leaves, debris, and insects.

While the filtered water appeared significantly clearer, it was explained that it could still contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Learners were therefore taught that this water would still need to be boiled before it is safe to drink. It was also noted that the water may retain a brownish colour due to natural substances released by plant material, similar to how tea leaves stain water, and that this does not necessarily mean the water is unsafe once properly treated.

DIY water filtration experiment learners South Africa

The second experiment illustrated a simple method of extracting clean water through evaporation and condensation. This setup consisted of a large bowl containing dirty or salt water, with a smaller container placed inside it. The bowl was then covered with cling wrap, with a small weight placed in the centre of the covering. As the water in the bowl warmed, it evaporated and condensed on the cling wrap. The weight caused the condensed water to collect and drip into the smaller container below.

This process effectively separated clean water from impurities such as salt, mud, and other contaminants, demonstrating a miniature version of the natural water cycle. Learners were shown how this method could be used to obtain fresh water in challenging conditions, although it was again recommended that the collected water be boiled as an added precaution before drinking.

water cycle demonstration condensation experiment students

Newsletter sign up

Ringing Lesser Kestrels in the Karoo

In the field

Ringing Lesser Kestrels in the Karoo

By Ronelle Visagie, Field Officer in the Birds of Prey Unit

Lesser Kestrels in mist net at De Aar city hall

Above: Lesser Kestrels in the mist net.

During January a group of researchers from Italy, Spain and South Africa captured and ringed 90 Lesser Kestrels at the city hall in De Aar. Also captured and ringed were three juvenile Common Kestrels which breed on the roof of the city hall at De Aar.

The birds were captured by using a 12 m high system with mist nets that could be hoisted to reach the height of the trees where the kestrels were roosting. As it is quite a difficult system to put up, it took about 2 hours to get everything in place.

international research team ringing kestrels in Northern Cape

Left: The team busy testing the equipment before doing the real thing. The height of the poles is clearly visible. Right: A male Lesser Kestrel with a transmitter.

Once the nets were in place, we waited for the birds to return to their roosts. When there were 10 or 12 birds in the nets, they were lowered to extract the kestrels and start processing them. As more birds arrived, the nets were raised again and the process repeated.

It should be noted that using this method means the birds are secured in the net and are not injured. If they are not well entangled in the net, they escape. Kestrels are raptors with sharp claws and they are quick to bite. It is not easy to get them out of the net without being bitten or attacked with their claws. Because of this, they sometimes draw blood!

As can be seen in the photos, the work is done in the evening. Extracting and processing the kestrels took a few hours and we only left in the early mornings.

The 93 birds were measured, weighed and ringed with metal Safring leg rings. A total of 29 birds were fitted with transmitters to track their migration and movements. The very small transmitters weigh only 4 grams and are fitted to the birds with a small harness around the base of their wings.

Once processed, the kestrels were kept overnight to make sure that they are rested and less stressed so that they were able to fly properly the next morning.

map showing Lesser Kestrel migration routes from Karoo

Above: The map shows the migration routes of the birds that were fitted with transmitters in January 2025 at Richmond.

The Team: at the back: Andrea Romano and Maurizio Sará from Italy, Chris and Rina Pretorius from South Africa, Javier Bustamante from Spain, and Ronelle Visagie from South Africa. In front: Diego Rubolini and Michelangelo Morganti of Italy.

Newsletter sign up