Page 21 | Endangered Wildlife Trust

CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Emile Honiball

Al is the protected areas co-ordinator for Waterberg and Wolkberg. Here is a little bit about Emile’s journey to a career in conservation.

Job title I am the protected areas co-ordinator for Waterberg and Wolkberg.

Location I am located in Mokopane, Limpopo province.

Where did you grow up? I was born and grew up in Mokopane, Limpopo province.

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time? I love anything in the outdoors, sport, fishing, horse-riding, hunting, reading, travelling, history.

Any pets? Yes our family has 5 dogs and 6 horses.

Favourite animal and why? The African Buffalo is my favourite animal. I grew up on a farm loving cattle. Buffalo have similar behaviour and social structure as cattle.

Favourite food? Mediterranean food.

Pet peeve? Dogs on the furniture and beds.

Why did you want to work for the EWT? I decided to work for the EWT to hopefully be able to make some kind of contribution to conservation.

What are you passionate about? I am passionate about our country and people.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from? Best advice is from my wife to always smile.

What is your go-to feel-good song? Brave Heart by Johnny Clegg

CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Catherine Kuhn

Catherine is the Biodiversity Disclosure Project Manager with the EWT’s National Business and Biodiversity Network. Here is a little bit about Catherine’s journey to a career in conservation.

Job title: NBBN Biodiversity Disclosure Project Manager.

What do you do in your day-day work? A lot of my role involves the administrative and project management side of the work we do with businesses and corporates – guiding them in their quest to align with the global sustainability targets and providing capacity building and awareness around the various projects that we do.

Location: Cape Town.

Where did you grow up? Call me a Southern Suburbs girl, I grew up under the foothills of Table Mountain, Kenilworth, Cape Town.

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time? Spending as much time as I can in the mountains! On a typical weekend I will be rock climbing with my husband, or hiking, kloofing, trail running, and / or walking the dogs!

Any pets? Yes, my two crazy Jack Russells, Hansel and Lappies! They make me mad on a daily basis, but I love them to absolute bits.

Favourite animal and why: A Cape Dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion pumulim). I grew up with them in my garden and used to always search for them. They are misunderstood, fascinating and beautiful creatures!

Favourite food? Any Indian food, and then of course – Chocolate!

Pet peeve? People who throw their cigarette butts on the ground or out of their car window. Any littering in general!

Why did you want to work for the EWT? EWT has been doing amazing work for many, many years, and has grown so much as an organisation. The diversity in the different projects, the passion that the individuals have to make a positive difference in the world and the potential to grow in this organisation is quite a drawcard.

What excites you about this new position? What excites me the most is the potential for positive environmental change and influence in the business sphere and facilitating the move towards businesses having a positive influence over the protection of biodiversity. And of course, all the learning that will come with that, and the potential for growth for myself in such an important sector.

What are you passionate about? My conservation passions lie in mind-set change and capacity building for communities and corporates. I am also passionate about awareness building when it comes to habitat and species protection. My conservation interests also lie in human-wildlife conflict as well as carnivore conservation efforts.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from? The best advice I have received is that they key to success is simple: Show up and be willing! The advice came from my husband, and I think Jordan Peterson said it.

What is your go-to feel-good song? ‘Crazy’ by Lost Frequencies and Zonderling.

World Migratory Bird Day 2024: Protecting Insects to Safeguard Bird Migration

To mark World Migratory Bird Day 2024 on 11 May 2024 attention was focused on the importance of insects and their impact on migratory birds.

The theme: Protect Insects, Protect Birds highlighted the importance of insects for insectivorous migratory birds which rely on a variety of insects for their energy as they migrate north in winter. A reduction in insect populations threatens the survival of these species.

The decline in insects worldwide is being caused by not only habitat loss, but also the use of pesticides, which have the knock-on effect of increasing bird and other insectivore mortalities.

Although no official figures have been released yet, early indications are that there have been fewer Lesser Kestrels and Amur Falcons visiting South Africa this year. While insect declines may be a contributing factor, it may also be attributed to the fact that there was exceptional rainfall further north in East Africa resulting in migratory birds remaining in areas of abundant resources instead of travelling further south for food — to South Africa, for example. That is why there may have been lower numbers of migratory falcons and other species such as White Stork in southern Africa this past summer.

Counts conducted across South Africa by Endangered Wildlife Trust field officers, particularly in the Northern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal in January and February 2024 range from thousands of Falcons and Kestrels in the Hanover area on 20 January 2024 to only a few hundred at a roost in Standerton, Klerksdorp, in Underberg, Victoria West and Beaufort West Areas. Between 160 and 180 of the raptors were counted at De Aar in February this year. These figures are still being collated for official publication.

The report on the Status of the World’s Migratory Species and the review of the Mid-Term Implementation Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) released at the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species in March 2024 shows that over the past 30 years, 70 CMS-listed migratory species – including the Egyptian vulture– have become more endangered. The report highlights habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, as well as over-exploitation alongside climate change, pollution and invasive species as having profound impacts on migratory species.

It recognises that the widespread use of pesticides in intensive agriculture is a key factor in the reported declines in insect populations. Many of these substances also have a secondary poisoning effect on birds that may feed on insects killed by the pesticides.

The decline in insect numbers can result in food shortage for a wide range of species, not least the many insectivorous migratory birds heading north from South Africa to Europe, the Middle East and Asia for the winter.

Birds play an important role in the natural environment, especially in pest control. Besides a shortage of insects, an over-population of insects in some areas due to, for example locust plagues, can also affect migratory birds as plant health is compromised and agriculture is harmed. Extensive use of certain pesticides in locust and quelea control in Africa also has a substantial impact on non-target species, including a wide range of migratory raptors that make use of these species as a food source.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) plays an important role in securing natural environments for migratory birds through collaboration within the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and projects being undertaken to restore wetlands and other habitats along migratory routes across Africa, including a focus on cranes through the EWT/International Crane Foundation partnership.

In line with the report’s call for greater action, the EWT joins countries and communities around the world to support the need to expand efforts to not only tackle the illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory species, but also to increase efforts to tackle climate change, habitat loss for both migratory birds and insects and to address issued such as noise, chemical and plastic pollution which affects all migratory species.

EWT Vulture Safe Zone field officer teaches herself Xhosa to better communicate with local communities

By Danielle du Toit

I am of the strong opinion that ‘we only fear that which we do not know’.

Take spiders for example, I’m sure they give most people the heebie-jeebies, but read more about them and you’ll learn that South Africa has over 2,000 species of spiders, but only three of these species can cause major health issues from a bite (that piece of information didn’t help me either, but it did give me a small comfort knowing that the likelihood of a spider trying to kill me in my sleep is next to zero). My point is that if we approach situations in which we allow fear to blind us then we miss out on, at the very least, a learning experience, and at the most, a chance to be more than what we thought we were capable of.

Since joining the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Program, I have worked extensively in remote areas, often on my own. In a country where safety is often a concern about a woman working alone in the field, I’m often told to avoid being in areas with no network coverage (what if I get a flat tyre and can’t call someone?), places where I’m the only woman (what if there’s only men and they threaten me?) and where I’m far off the beaten track (how can anyone help me if I’m in the world’s armpit?).

I am quite aware of the threats to my safety, especially at a time when gender-based violence is a concern. But, these concerns are not going to stop me from doing my job. The day I let fear stop me from doing it, is the day I hang up my khakis. So, for those who are scared, I urge you to read further, because these are my experiences; encounters I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Among the extreme remote areas I have visited and experienced include parts of the former Transkei region of the Eastern Cape, the Lesotho highlands and small towns in the Northern Cape.

When I travelled to the Transkei for community outreach and vulture conservation awareness about birds of prey last year, I challenged myself to learn how to speak basic Xhosa so that I could better communicate with the local community.

Luckily, I have a friend that has kept me in line since Grade 6 and she taught me some ground rules about Xhosa. Most importantly is that Xhosa is a language of clicks. The ‘c’ sound is a click pronounced when the tip of the tongue is pressed against one’s teeth. The ‘x’ click is pronounced by pulling one’s tongue down from the back of your palate. The ‘q’ sound is pronounced with the tongue pulling down from middle of the palate and should make an echo sound in your skull, deafen you even, if you’re doing it right. After weeks of practicing and Hlumela sending me voice notes mostly consisting of her laughing at my ‘whiteness’ and coaching me, I was finally able to, with confidence, introduce myself to people: “Molweni. Igama lam nguDanielle. Niyawundi xolela ndyizama uthetha isiXhosa” (Hello, my name is Danielle. I must apologise to everyone; I’m trying to learn to speak Xhosa.)

Hlumela said I should add: “Ayihambi kakuhle”. It’s not going well.

When the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey team visited a local community and their chief in the former Transkei in July 2023, I was instructed to firstly, wear a skirt to the chief’s place, secondly, to listen intently while the chief or elders speak. Thirdly, I was told to NEVER say no to the bread. This was more of a private notation by one of our colleagues, Nosi, who was actually just telling me that the bread is so delicious you can’t possibly turn it down.

We were in the area to do community outreach and awareness raising about vulture conservation with the CEET (Conservation Exposure Education and Training) and Meat Naturally.

I was on my best behaviour until a fight broke out between the chief’s wife and one of her chickens. The angry woman had proceeded to line that chicken up in her sights and kick it a good ten metres in a perfect arch off her stoep (verandah), her slipper following suite. I don’t know where the Springboks are recruiting their next flyhalf, but I could point them in the direction of her house. The chief, telling us to ‘hleka, hleka’ (laugh, laugh), followed this incident with an opening prayer before mentioning something about the presence of Mlungus (white people). My Xhosa is not advanced enough as yet to understand every word, but as it turned out, the chief was happy about our work in the area. In fact, he wanted us back as soon as possible.

The Northern Cape is a far cry from the highlands of Lesotho, or the rolling green hills of the Transkei. It is vast area known for its red sand and Camel Thorn trees. The roads are straight, cutting through an arid landscape, and the people are not to be trifled with.

My first trip to the Kalahari was with the EWT’s Ronelle ‘make a plan’ Visagie, who has been doing raptor conservation and extension work since long before I was born. We’d been monitoring White-Backed Vulture nests along the Molopo River and had time to pop in to see a local landowner she’d known for years. My first impression of Kallie had a lot more to do with the .38 revolver on his hip than anything else. He welcomed us into his kitchen for a cup of strong coffee. There I was greeted by a black cat with half an ear and scars on his face; a CV of sorts. Funny, I thought, how our animals so reflect their human owners. Kallie had a tough exterior. His face had been brutalised by the sun, giving it the look of weathered leather, but his eyes were laser focused. Although not a tall man, he carried himself in a manner that made him appear larger than life and, if I’m being perfectly honest, a little intimidating.

The reason we had gone to see Kallie was because he had threatened to shoot the vultures as they were a threat to his lambs. Ronelle simply said: “Ag Kallie, moenie die aasvoëls dood maak nie, asseblief” (“Oh Kallie, please don’t kill the vultures.”). With those simple words, that man melted like butter and it occurred to me then that as tough as someone may seem and as difficult as they may try to be, when Ronelle spoke to them in the way that she did, he felt heard and seen, and gave up the fight right there. I guess that’s what we all want.

Culturally speaking, I am a white woman who works in rural South Africa. In my line of work, I have met so many people, ranging from Xhosa Chiefs and Basotho shepherds to Kalahari boers. The people I have met have one thing in common: we all love nature and have a passion for its conservation and protection. South Africa is a rare place where diversity is the norm. We have 12 official languages, including sign language. This excludes the dialects, cultures and subcultures. We have a rich history that can fill libraries with tales from the lush Bushveld to the dry Kalahari, from the Cape of Good Hope to Egoli (Johannesburg). South Africa is not just one thing. Nor are South Africans. If we are so surrounded by differences in our everyday lives, why do we fear them?

My daunting first Vulture poisoning as a new EWT field officer

By Kyle Walker, field officer in the Birds of Prey Programme and Carnivore Conservation Programme

It’s my first week working for the Endangered Wildlife Trust in April 2023 and I’ve just moved to the Lowveld from the Cape. The temperature in the Mopani veld is beyond uncomfortable and much to my surprise, I’m missing the Cape winds.

Having just secured a field officer position with the EWT, I am aware that it is only a matter of time before a vulture poisoning event occurs. It will be my job to respond to these events in future, although, up to this point I have only ever seen photos and videos posted on social media. My days of being an arm-chair warrior are about to change.

Mid-way through my morning meeting I’m told that the rangers in Kruger National Park’s, Mooiplaas section (or Beautiful Farm in English), have discovered a poisoning scene with an unknown number of dead vultures. The information trickles in throughout the next hour as we race up north with our mobile veterinary trailer, the EWT’s Vulture Ambulance, in tow. It sounds as if only a couple birds are still alive, but we are prepared to treat as many survivors as possible. It’s a long drive and I have time to reflect upon what I’m about to see. Thoughts like – how am I going to hold the vulture? Will I get bitten? What happens if I come in to contact with the poison? Will I cope with seeing a lot of dead animals? Will I get there in time to save a few survivors? All these thoughts consume my mind, but I sit back and concentrate on the drive ahead. After all, what’s the use if I don’t arrive at the scene in one piece.

We drive through the Phalaborwa gate with a quick wave to the guards. This is not the first time they’ve seen this vehicle. John Davies, our Raptor Conservation and Research Project coordinator, as well as my predecessors, have been attending vulture poisonings in this area since 2014 and there are not many people better equipped to handle the situation ahead.

Unlike the slow-moving cars filled with eager-eyed tourists, ours darts past with little time spared to view the herds of Elephant and Buffalo. It’s a strange feeling knowing that I’m no longer on a tourist permit and that the lives of a few animals now hang in the balance of our arrival. Up the H14 road towards Mopani, hook right towards Letaba and a further 15 km along the dirt road to the scene.

We arrive at what looks to be a very peaceful dam. An Elephant bull is slowly wading through the water and a Marabou Stork is perched atop a Leadwood tree. Our vehicle pulls up to the ranger’s vehicle and we jump out to greet everyone and get the lowdown. The area adjacent to the dam is completely open and as I get my bearings I start seeing the aftermath of the poison.

Strewn around the area are small, feathered carcasses. A Tawny Eagle below the giant Green Thorn tree, three White-backed Vultures below another tree, a Lappet-faced Vulture facedown in the open.

But, first things first, there are two very weak White-backed Vultures lying in the shade in front of us. John sets about mixing an activated charcoal mixture while instructing me on how to hold the vultures safely. Holding birds is not new to me, but never have I held one this size. With the vulture cradled in my arm and its head firmly in my hand, we begin administering fluids. The fluids are used to flush the remaining poison from the bird’s system. It is not the final solution, but it does allow us time to transport them back to a veterinary facility where they will receive the necessary care and attention. With both birds safely stowed in travel boxes, we move on to the cleanup, intermittently checking in to keep the survivors hydrated.

The scene was worse than expected. A 500 metre radius around the poisoned Buffalo carcass was searched and the field rangers are now unloading carcasses by the wing-load. We line the birds up and group them by species. It’s a hammer blow to the senses. Everything smells rancid. Some carcasses are fresh, and others are a few days old. One by one we photograph each of the 80 dead birds before pilling them up to dispose of everything. Wood, diesel and carcasses make for one big bonfire, but its not the type I enjoy watching.

With the area cleaned up we head home with the two rescued vultures. I’m burnt, dehydrated and emotionally drained. The only thing keeping my spirits intact is the hope that these two vultures make a recovery and return to the African sky.

One month later and I’m standing in Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center with our two vultures looking fit and healthy. They have made a full recovery and it’s finally time to release them. We fit each bird with a GPS satellite tracking device which we will monitor to help locate future poisoning events in the Greater Kruger National Park region.

Scenes like these have become an all-too-common feature of conservation throughout Africa. Although there have been significant inroads made regarding the treatment of poisoned wildlife, the locating of poison sources, and the management of poisoning scenes, there is still significant work to do. One positive is that, should the severity of these poisonings be controlled, and their frequency reduced, we can still maintain viable populations of avian scavengers throughout these vast landscapes.

Conservation Canines in their twilight years

Wildlife crime continues to plague South Africa and the need for diverse approaches to effectively combat these crimes is clear. Rhino poaching (being the illegal killing of rhino and the harvesting of their horn) has been particularly devasting, with thousands of rhinos having been brutally killed in South Africa. A recent assessment of various antipoaching interventions in the Greater Kruger area highlights this, as well as the resources and capacity needed to effectively respond to syndicated wildlife crime.

This assessment considered eleven anti-poaching interventions, including the value and impact of both detection and tracking dogs. Detection dogs are placed at points of entry and exist in a certain area and are specifically trained to sniff out specimens like rhino horn or arms and ammunition. Tracking dogs are specifically trained to follow scent trails and are used to track poachers. This assessment found that “tracking dogs were very successful at performing their function of following tracks and leading to significant arrests.”

Puk was tracking dog, working in this landscape until his retirement last year. Working with his handler Morris, Puk had an incredible career in anti-poaching. After years of hard (but important) work, Puk is now enjoying the benefits of retirement. Adopted last year by Paul and Barbara Dore, Puk is settling into retirement as a pampered pet and recently had his first beach holiday!

Photo credit: Ashleigh Dore

Watching Puk transition from working dog to pet has been wonderful, we are very grateful to Paul and Barbara for opening their home and hearts to him and giving him the retirement he deserves!

If you would like more information on how you can support conservation canines or give a home to another one of our retired conservation canines, please contact Shadi at shadih@ewt.org.za.

You can access the report detailing the assessment here.

For more information on Puk and Morris watch this video.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Livestock Guardian Dogs protect farmed animals from predation.

In South Africa, poor livestock husbandry practices negatively impact livestock farmers through predation and threatened carnivores through persecution.

In 2008, the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) created a Livestock Guardian Dog Project in its Carnivore Conservation Programme (CCP) to provide non-lethal solutions to livestock farmers who had experienced unsustainable losses due to predation by free roaming carnivores. This includes Jackals, Caracals, Cheetah, African Wild Dogs, Leopards and other small carnivores.

Through the project, guarding dogs are placed with livestock as puppies and grow up with the herd. This enables them to bond with the herd animals and thus protect them from carnivores that may try to predate on them. The provision of guardian dogs to farmers ultimately reduces and prevents the retaliatory killing of carnivores.

To achieve the goal of non-lethal intervention, we work together with farmers to, as far as possible, integrate this conflict mitigation methods with their farming practices.

Working with local farmers it had become clear that many lack the skills, knowledge or capacity to employ best-practice livestock husbandry methods to protect their livestock from naturally occurring large carnivores. Instead, they use lethal mitigation methods, such as snaring, shooting, gin-trapping, poisoning and hunting predators with dogs. Most lethal methods used are non-specific which means that any number of other species, and not the target species, are killed. This includes Critically Endangered White-backed Vultures, Hooded Vultures and other wildlife, such as Jackal, Caracal, Cheetah, Leopard and African Wild Dogs.

Since the inception of the project by the EWT in 2008, it became clear that among the farming practices implemented, and which increasingly put livestock at risk of predation, included letting calves that are too young into the fields with the rest of the herd, not kraaling livestock at night and even using inadequate basic livestock husbandry practices.

We have, therefore, been educating farmers and communities about the ecological and economic benefits of co-existing with carnivores. Through workshops hosted by the CCP, communities and farmers are informed about the impacts of killing key species, such as Leopard and Cheetah, and how the use of non-lethal mitigation methods prevent conflict. In the case of livestock husbandry, we reach out to our network of vets and animal technicians to advise and teach farmers how to take care of their livestock.

In order to receive a Livestock Guardian Dog, a farmer must be able to show that unsustainable losses have been suffered and that there is potential conflict between the farmer and wild species predating on his or her livestock.

Our field staff will then conduct a site visit to confirm predation issues and assess the suitability of the farm to host a guardian dog to ensure that the dog’s welfare is prioritised. Once the farmer enters into an agreement with the EWT, a Livestock Guardian Dog is provided to protect his or her animals for 12 months. Within this time, we will, on a monthly basis, provide the farmer with high quality dog food, ensure the dog is treated for both ectoparasites and endoparasites. Any veterinary needs are taken care of by the EWT, at no cost to the farmer.

A field officer visits the guardian dog once a month to check on its well-being and its effectiveness. This provides us with an opportunity to address any issues that may have arisen during the month. Once the farmer and the field officer are happy that the dog is effectively doing its job and that it is well taken care of, the EWT signs the dog over to the farmer and it becomes his or her responsibility.

Although the Livestock Guardian Dog is then no longer our responsibility, farmers are encouraged to continue keeping contact with us for any help regarding any conflict-related issues that may arise, such as conflict between the dog and carnivores. Additional free support is provided to communities to ensure that their dogs are spayed and vaccinated. This reduces the spread of disease and stops the overpopulation of dogs.

Since the inception of the Livestock Guardian Dog project, we have placed 241 guard dogs with over 200 commercial and community farms throughout South Africa, dramatically reducing the level of predation and human-wildlife conflict. The dogs placed as puppies on farms are mostly Anatolian Shepherds and Maluti Shepherds.More than Eighty percent of dogs placed develop into successful Livestock Guardian Dogs. These dogs have reduced predation on farms by up to 90 percent in most cases. This makes this project the most successful mitigation method that we have to deal with livestock predation.

How is South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, doing?

By Christie Craig of the Endangered Wildlife Trust/International Crane Foundation, Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology

In an ever-changing world, conservation scientists face the daunting task of keeping pace with the shifting dynamics of threatened species and adapting conservation action accordingly. This is especially true for South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane.

Historically, the Blue Crane’s population in its natural core range, the eastern grasslands and Karoo, suffered significant declines due to agricultural expansion and poisoning, leading to it being classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

In contrast to the eastern side of the country, the Western Cape conversion of natural land (fynbos) to cereal agriculture and pasture was favourable for Blue Cranes and a new core population established and thrived there. Today, more than half of all Blue Cranes in South Africa are found in this intensively farmed landscape.

Despite this, there were major concerns about the sustainability of this population amidst the myriad threats posed by intensive agricultural practices. These are the questions I aimed to answer when completing my PhD. Between 2018 and 2023 we conducted field work to assess the distribution of the birds, their breeding success and predominant threats to the species. We also used citizen science data to determine population trends over the last 30 years.

Population estimates reveal a promising recovery of Blue Crane numbers since 2002. This is attributed to the recovery of grasslands due to ongoing conservation action, and Blue Cranes establishing a stronghold in the Western Cape.

However, this scenario changed in 2010 when Blue Crane numbers declined. Summer Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts showed that Blue Crane numbers dropped by 19% nationally between 2011 and 2019, particularly in the Overberg region where counts declined by 22%.

It was difficult to determine the exact cause of the decrease, and equally difficult to know whether it would continue. But, some clues as to where the problem may lie was sourced from survival and breeding data. Between 2016 and 2021 we fitted 31 satellite trackers to flighted Blue Cranes in the Western Cape.

From this data collected I was able to determine their survival rate, finding that 95% of breeding Cranes survive a given year, compared to 85% of non-breeding cranes. From the trackers we found that non-breeding cranes move significantly more (on average 9.5km per day) than breeding cranes (5.8km). This puts them at greater risk of dying as a result of collisions with powerlines and fences.

We also conducted extensive powerline surveys in the Western Cape and Karoo, walking or slowly driving 1,994km of powerlines to record collisions by Blue Cranes and other birds. We found that Blue Cranes were the most commonly recorded species, and collisions were particularly likely to occur if a powerline was within 2.5km of a seasonal waterbody. This is because Blues Cranes use shallow seasonal waterbodies to roost, and at low light they find it particularly difficult to circumvent powerlines. This knowledge will help us to, in future, better route powerlines and to proactively mark them to improve visibility. While there are significant casualties on powerlines, Blue Crane survival rates in the Western Cape are quite good compared to those found in regions such as the Karoo, and to other crane species outside South Africa.

This indicates that poor survival is not the primary reason for the population declining in this region. Rather, an alarm bell rang when I compared the breeding success of Western Cape cranes to past rates, and to rates in the Karoo and grasslands.

Recruitment of juveniles into the population is half of what it was in the Overberg 30 years ago. Swartland and Overberg Blue Crane breeding pairs successfully produce fledglings 43% and 40% of the time, compared to 68% of grasslands pairs and 67% of Karoo pairs. A caveat is that our data from the grasslands and Karoo is now over 10 years old, whereas the Western Cape data is recent, reiterating the need for continued monitoring.

Following a recent study showing that high temperatures and nest disturbance are risk factors for nest failure, we will need to actively work with land users to reduce disturbance at nests and give cranes their best chance at successfully raising young. The success of our long-term datasets for Blue Crane within South Africa is largely due to inputs by citizen scientists. Without this information we would not be aware of the decline in the Blue Crane population.

In 2023 we held a successful first Conservation Planning Workshop, facilitated by the Conservation Planning Specialist Group, to kickstart a process that will result in a finalised conservation plan when stakeholders meet again in October this year.

** A big thank you to Peter Ryan and Tanya Smith who supervised the PhD, and to Leiden Conservation Foundation, Eskom, Dave Myers, Hall-Johnson Fellowship and Bateleurs for supporting the research. We are grateful to the Leiden Conservation Foundation, Neuwied Zoo, Safari West and Jacksonville Zoo for sponsoring the conservation planning process.

TORTOISE CONSERVATION – A RACE AGAINST TIME

Bonnie Schumann, Nama Karoo Coordinator

Note: Chelonians includes all tortoise, turtle, and terrapin species. For the purposes of this article, we will use the term “tortoises”.

South Africa is one of the most biodiversity-rich countries in the world and is home to no less than two of the world’s most well-known botanical biodiversity hotspots, the Succulent Karoo and Fynbos Biomes. However, few people are aware that South Africa also holds the title as the tortoise capital of the world. The country is home to no less than 13 tortoise species, most of which are endemic.

Tortoises in one form or another have been around pretty much forever if you consider that the earliest known turtle lived 260 million years ago. This little lizard-like creature had a unique characteristic: its ribs curved backwards and were exceptionally thick, forming an armoured dome under its skin. Eunotosaurus was to become the ancestor of all tortoises, turtles and terrapins. Scientists put their secret to outliving even the dinosaurs, which disappeared approximately 65 million years ago, to their conservative morphology and time-tested adaptations.

Incredibly, despite their over 200-million-year track-record of survival, globally tortoises are struggling to persist in the modern world under mankind’s relatively short but deadly reign. The statistics are damning, showing that over 60% of the 357 recognised species have either become extinct or are threatened. Approximately 52% of all assessed tortoise taxa have been classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Extinct.

What is driving this global spiral to extinction? Here there are no surprises. The litany of causes is familiar: habitat loss and importantly the degradation of remaining habitat, the impacts of climate change, illegal trade, and a few more locally specific ones, such as uncontrolled fires and electric fencing. However, a relatively new threat that has emerged globally is that of hyperpredation by airborne predators, primarily crows and ravens (part of a group collectively known as corvids).

A recent article by Patrick Moldowan, published in Herpetological Monographs (2023), chronicles the impact of corvid hyperpredation on tortoises globally. Unfortunately, this impact has been poorly documented in many countries, but the evidence is mounting rapidly to demonstrate that without interventions, we will see the extinction of many more tortoise species within our lifetime.

Crows are extremely intelligent, highly adaptable and will eat virtually anything. Crows and ravens have joined the ranks of what are known as subsidised species. Simply put, they are thriving globally on the wide selection of resources human activity has inadvertently provided for them. Their populations are increasing exponentially and expanding into new areas, where they become native invaders.

Hyperpredation occurs when subsidised species exert excessive pressure on prey populations. This effect has been particularly catastrophic for tortoises for several reasons. They are very long-lived but grow and mature slowly and reproduce at a slow rate. Smaller species, like the dwarf tortoises, produce only 1 – 3 eggs a year from the age of around twelve. For a population to remain stable, mature individuals need to reproduce for decades to produce enough offspring that survive to adulthood.

When it comes to crow predation, size matters, as in the case of dwarf tortoises where even adult tortoises are highly vulnerable to crow predation. Crows use their powerful bills to peck through the shells of young tortoises and can fly up with adult dwarf tortoises and drop them onto rocks to break their shells open. The loss of adult tortoises makes the recovery efforts of dwindling populations that much more challenging.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), in partnership with Dwarf Tortoise Conservation (DTC) and the Turtle Conservancy (TC) launched a dwarf tortoise project two years ago to locate viable populations and implement conservation action for two species of dwarf tortoises in the Karoo.

The Karoo is home to nine of the 13 tortoise species found in South Africa. There are five species of dwarf tortoise globally, four of which occur in the South African Karoo and one in Namibia. As their name implies, dwarf tortoises rank amongst the smallest of the tortoise species. In fact, the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise (Chersobius signatus), endemic to Namaqualand, is the world’s smallest tortoise species, reaching a maximum length of about 10cm. Dwarf tortoise conservation champion and researcher Victor Loehr has spent most of his life unravelling the secret life of these diminutive reptiles, contributing much of what is known about them to the scientific world. Up to 20 years ago scientists regularly surveyed tortoise populations and during Victor’s early work on Speckled Dwarf Tortoises, they were abundant. However, follow-up work at his study sites 10 years later and his most recent research on the Karoo Dwarf Tortoise (Chersobius boulengeri) has demonstrated an alarming decline in population numbers for both species.

Certainly, the EWT team has struggled to find a single viable population of the Karoo or the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise over the last two years of extensive surveys; these two species are the focus of the initial conservation project. Over 20 surveys have yielded depressingly few live animals; in most cases only shell fragments are to be found. During the most recent survey near Calvinia in April this year, the EWT team recorded the largest number of dead Speckled Dwarf Tortoises at a single location. A total of 45 carcasses were documented under and around a crow’s nest in a dead tree, with another 10 carcasses recorded on the adjacent slope. Five more were recorded elsewhere on the property, bringing the total to 60 dead Speckled Dwarf Tortoises on one property, many of which were mature tortoises. In stark contrast the team found only two live tortoises. It is important to understand that although tortoises occur in some of South Africa’s protected areas, this does not mean we can pack up and go home. If the causes of decline, including hyperpredation by crows, are not clearly understood and addressed, their survival in protected areas is not guaranteed and may have already been compromised.

Currently the only species of tortoise in South Africa with a dedicated conservation project is the Critically Endangered Geometric Tortoise (Psammobates geometricus). We urgently need to implement concerted conservation efforts for the other tortoise species, including all the dwarf tortoise species and other relatively small species such as the tent tortoises. The outlook for all these species is grim without specific conservation interventions. The EWT is collaborating closely with local and international tortoise experts, landowners, and provincial conservation authorities, in a race against time to come up with a strategy to protect South Africa’s remaining dwarf tortoise populations. 20 Years of research in the Mohave Desert, aimed at understanding the raven-tortoise conflict, and to come up with innovative solutions, is helping inform the way forward in South Africa. What is clear though, is that time is running out fast and we cannot afford to be timid in our approach. Tough decisions are going to need to be made when it comes to protecting tortoises from crow predation and any further loss of habitat.

The EWT tortoise conservation work is supported by Turtle Conservancy, Dwarf Tortoise Conservation, Rainforest Trust and the IUCN NL. A special word of thanks to the tortoise survey volunteers, especially the Conservation Biology students from the University of Western Cape and UNISA, and the Ford Wildlife Foundation.

How you can help:

Manage grazing responsibly.
Include the ecology of sensitive species in your fire management plan.
Deter crows; remove unused windmills and telephone poles.
Raise electric strands at least 25cm above ground, switch power off during the day and install offset wire for larger tortoise spp.
Drive with care, especially when in the veld.
Combat wildlife crime by reporting suspicious persons.
Verify people claiming to do research with the organization the claim to be from.
Support local conservation initiatives.

All tortoises are protected species and listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as well as provincial legislation, such as the CapeNature Conservation ordinance of 1974 and National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004. It is illegal to collect any tortoise species in South Africa, and they may not be kept as pets without a permit.

Speckled dwarf tortoise Picture: JP le Roux
Karoo Padloper
A rare find: A Greater Padloper

Speckled Dwarf Tortoise graveyard
UWC and Unisa students on a field trip to research tortoises in the Karoo

Lions remain listed as Vulnerable in the 2023 Red List Assessment

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

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (hereafter the Red List), established in 1964, offers a comprehensive overview of global conservation status, covering plants, animals, and habitats.

With 150,300 species assessed globally, 28% are threatened with extinction, including notable percentages in various taxa. These assessments serve as vital tools for conservation efforts, employing standardised criteria to evaluate extinction risk based on factors such as threats, habitat loss, and population trends. This approach, guided by rigorous standards, provides a clear understanding of species vulnerability and aids in prioritising conservation actions.

The Red List’s systematic approach helps identify species at high risk of extinction, guiding global, regional, and local conservation priorities. While appeals are possible, listings are generally accepted by range states, conservation bodies, and international conventions. Red List assessments inform targeted conservation strategies and resource allocation, guiding conservation action for species and habitats. They foster global commitment and unity among range states in addressing conservation challenges. Additionally, the Red List Index tracks overall trends in extinction risk, serving as a crucial indicator for measuring progress towards reducing biodiversity loss on an international scale.

Determining a species’ listing involves a systematic process conducted by expert assessors following IUCN Red List criteria. Assessments consider factors like population decline, current population size and trends, distribution, and population fragmentation. They also incorporate the probability of extinction over a specified timeframe, often utilising modelling techniques. Data from various sources, including scientific studies and expert assessments, inform these evaluations. Assessors apply strict criteria to determine the species’ conservation status accurately.

Data on the Lion, an omnipresent symbol for Africa, was recently updated by several lion experts led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Dr Sam Nicholson.

The Lion, once widespread in Africa, has suffered significant declines in population and range in recent decades. These declines, more severe for lions compared to other large carnivores, have led to consistent Vulnerable listings in IUCN assessments since 1996. The team of assessors found that the extant Lion range in 2023 is estimated to be only 6% of its historical range, highlighting the severity of the decline. The current population of adult and subadult Lions in Africa is estimated to be between 22,000 and 25,000, with an additional ~670 Lions in India. These figures represent a decline from previous estimates and underscore the urgency of conservation efforts.

Various factors contribute to the decline of Lion populations. Habitat loss, primarily driven by human activities such as deforestation and land conversion, is identified as the most significant threat. Depletion of prey bases, exacerbated by poaching and the bushmeat trade, further exacerbates the problem.

Human-Lion conflict, often resulting in the killing of Lions to protect human life and livestock, adds to the pressure on populations. Additionally, the trade in Lion body parts for traditional medicine poses a growing threat, as does poorly regulated trophy hunting, which can lead to population declines if not managed effectively. The impact of violent extremism in certain Lion ranges in Africa is also a concern, as it further jeopardises conservation efforts. Instances of poaching for Lion body parts, particularly in Mozambique, highlight the need for increased vigilance and enforcement measures to combat illegal trade.

Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to mitigate threats and conserve Lion populations. Reintroduction programs in certain areas have shown promise (e.g. Zembeze Delta in Mozambique, Akagera National Park in Rwanda), and recommendations for improved management practices in activities such as trophy hunting have been made. However, more comprehensive monitoring and enforcement are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of the species.

Given the ongoing and increasing threats faced by Lions across their fragmented range, it is recommended that the species be closely monitored, with a reassessment of its threat status after a minimum three-year period, or as soon as new information emerges. The decline in both population and range, coupled with the continuation of known threats, justifies its classification as Vulnerable according to the specified criteria. Urgent action is needed to address the complex challenges facing Lion conservation and secure a future for this iconic species.

The Lion’s Vulnerable status reflects a critical need for long-term survival efforts. The dwindling lion population not only raises ecological concerns, but also has economic and cultural repercussions. As apex predators, lions regulate ecosystems, affecting biodiversity. Economically, reduced lion numbers may impact tourism revenue in countries reliant on lion-based tourism. Culturally, lions hold symbolic importance, and their decline could affect traditions and spiritual beliefs.

The latest Red List assessment provides enhanced knowledge on the status of the species including data gaps, threats, geographic distribution and changes in range. The full assessment is on the IUCN website and can be accessed here