Page 25 | Endangered Wildlife Trust

Getting fired up for frogs

A novel approach to conserving a Critically Endangered frog

Alouise Lynch, Bionerds PTY Ltd.

Amidst a field of agricultural development, the Klein Swartberg Mountain towers above the town of Caledon in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. This lone mountain is home to the only known populations of the Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List 2016) Rough Moss Frog (Arthroleptella rugosa), an amphibian species restricted to this mountain. For this reason, the mountain was deemed an Alliance for Zero Extinction Site in 2017.

The Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) is a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organisations from around the world working to prevent extinctions by promoting the identification and ensuring the safeguard and effective conservation of key sites that are the last remaining refuges of one or more Endangered or Critically Endangered species.

Alliance for Zero Extinction website, July 2023

Bionerds have been implementing this project for the Endangered Wildlife Trust since 2019. The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Threatened Amphibian Programme (TAP) Conserving Threatened Frogs of the Western Cape Project includes the Rough Moss Frog as a species of conservation concern given its restricted range. Furthermore, it still faces grave threats within this range, including habitat loss caused by alien invasive plants and frequent unplanned fires, which have led to a severe population decline (IUCN Red List 2016). Long-term acoustic monitoring by Cape Nature and Stellenbosch University documented this decline categorically, showing how the type (original) population had all but disappeared completely.

During our surveys in May 2020, a marching forest of alien vegetation, mostly Pine, was observed engulfing the then-only known populations of Rough Moss Frogs. It became evident that rapid intervention was needed to save and secure these populations. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 epidemic halted all efforts to implement interventions in 2020.

In 2021, the project was awarded a Rapid Action Grant from the IUCN Save Our Species fund and the European Union. This grant enabled us to create a firebreak around the Rough Moss Frog populations. We had limited time to implement this burn because the pine trees were starting to cone, and we had to act hastily to prevent another season for them to set seed. In March 2022, we worked with the local conservancy and landowners to implement a controlled ecological fire – the first time globally that prescribed fire was used as a management tool to reduce alien invasive vegetation threatening a frog species from extinction.

The Overberg District Municipality Fire Department and the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association oversaw the burn and did a sterling job of ensuring all possible precautions were taken for the implementation of the burn, all permits were issued, and on the day, all hands were on deck to start, maintain, and close off the burn. Unfortunately, unforeseen windy conditions developed late in the day and the fire managed to break through several points and burnt a larger section of the mountain than was planned. Over 4,000 hectares were burnt, which is good news for pine eradication efforts but requires carefully planned follow-up management over a larger area. Bionerds have assisted with this through drone-mapping of priority areas.

Photo credit Bionerds PTY Ltd
Photo credit Bionerds PTY Ltd

A site visit following the fire in April 2022 confirmed the presence of Rough Moss Frogs, and in July 2022, we were relieved to hear the species calling at the sites of all known populations. In May 2023, multiple individuals were heard in an area where none were heard or recorded before the fire. During subsequent surveys, we discovered numerous additional populations of this species across the mountain – a big win for the project and the species!

This year, between July to September- the coldest and wettest months– when these frogs breed, we will implement acoustic surveys to determine the presence or absence of Rough Moss frogs in all previously recorded sites. These surveys use three audio devices called Song Meters – a six-microphone array deployed at each population site for roughly an hour per site. The arrays record all frog calls during that period, and we can then use the audio file to estimate density and determine how many Rough Moss Frogs are present in each specific population at that specific time. We will be doing this for five years, each breeding season, to determine the effectiveness of the fire on the preservation of the sites, as well as capturing the rate of recovery of the frog populations at each site.

The landowners that are part of the Klein Swartberg Conservancy all support the protection of this species – and Bionerds and the Fynbos Trust have developed an alien clearing plan to guide the clearing of alien invasive vegetation from the mountain over the next decade. This alien vegetation clearing operation across the mountain creates jobs for local people from the Caledon area. This project is challenging, but we are positive and excited about the future of this tiny frog due to multiple partners working together towards protecting the species and its important fynbos habitat.

This project is funded by the IUCN Save Our Species and the European Union. The IUCN Save Our Species aims to improve the long-term survival prospects of threatened species. It also focuses on supporting the species’ habitats and working with the communities sharing this habitat. It achieves success by funding and coordinating conservation projects across the globe. The Member States of the European Union have decided to combine their know-how, resources, and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

Poisoned vultures take to the sky

Emily Taylor, the EWT’s Communications Manager

While we endeavour to bring our audiences positive conservation news, it is important that we also bring attention to conservation challenges and grave news. As the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Communications Manager, I hear the good and the bad, and it’s my job to pass on the information to our supporters and to ensure that we increase awareness around the challenges our threatened species face and how we can all overcome them. The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Support Service staff don’t get to go out into the field as often as we would like, but this time, my colleagues Sizie Modise (Head of Marketing) and Lesego Moloko (Governance Manager) and I did, and I could write the story first-hand. While I was not present at the events leading up to the moments I witnessed, they were devastating and in need of urgent attention, so I will give some background before I tell my tale.

Background

It can be bad out there, and our field officers are on the frontline of a critical battle we are fighting against the indiscriminate poisoning of our wildlife. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTCA), which includes the Kruger National Park and surrounding reserves, is a landscape rich in biodiversity, and vultures play an integral role in the functioning of its ecosystems. It is also a high-risk area for wildlife poisoning, with at least 796 vultures across five threatened species killed in the area since January 2019. In the GLTFCA, vultures are often poisoned and harvested for their body parts for use in traditional medicine. They also regularly fall as the unintended victims for poisons left out for other wildlife such as lions, hyaenas and leopards, which are also targeted and slaughtered for their body parts, or because they threaten local livestock.

At 14:50, on Youth Day (16 June), the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Birds of Prey Programme Lowveld team, John Davies and Dr Lindy Thomson, responded to a call regarding a wildlife poisoning incident on a reserve in the Greater Kruger area. They were on the road in ten minutes and arrived just before sunset at a dismal scene with one dead and two live White-backed Vultures in grave condition. The team loaded the two surviving birds into crates in the EWT’s custom-made Vulture Ambulance and rushed them to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre near Hoedspruit – arriving at 11 pm.

The rescue

Determined that there were more lives to save, John and Lindy returned with the ambulance at 4 am the following day and, joined by SANParks rangers, Honorary Rangers, and Dr Joel Alves and Isabella Grünberger from WildScapes Veterinary and Conservation Services, they scoured the area for six hours, discovering and bringing more survivors back to the ambulance for treatment as they were found.

The main poisoning scene was deep in the bush, and after the vet, Dr Joel Alves and the EWT’s John Davies treated each bird on site, a team member then carried the birds 3 km to where the Vulture Ambulance was parked. Another six vultures (one Hooded, one Lappet-faced, and four White-backed vultures) were critical but still alive. Sadly 45 vultures, a Bateleur Eagle, a lion, and three lion cubs did not survive the poisoning. The surviving birds were safely delivered to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for treatment and rehabilitation in the capable hands of Dr Jess Briner and the Moholoholo Clinic team.

The release

The eight rescued vultures that survived a mass poisoning incident in June, including six White-backed Vultures, one Lappet-faced Vulture, and one Hooded Vulture, were released back into the wild on 1 July 2023 after being successfully treated and rehabilitated over two weeks. I was honoured to be at the release of these rehabilitated birds in person on Saturday, 1 July 2023. It is humbling to see not only the resilience and grace of these magnificent birds but also the passion, determination, and care the EWT and the Moholoholo Clinic team show while saving their lives. We got there at around 10 am and were shown to the clinic where the vultures were being prepared for their return to the skies. We all got stuck in – immersing ourselves in as much of the process as possible to truly understand and appreciate it. It’s not easy work, and we got to see the easiest part.

One after the other, the birds were brought through to the clinic, fitted with leg rings for identification purposes and their tracking devices – lightweight, solar-powered devices that have been custom-made for the EWT to ensure they are long-lasting, do not cause the birds any discomfort, and are able to transmit accurate location and flight path data of the birds post-release. This data will allow the EWT to monitor their movements and safety once they are released.

EWT staff assisting to fit the tracking collars
The EWT's Lesego Moloko, Emily Taylor, Sizie Modise, and Lindy Thompson
Sizie holding on to the vulture's feet so that Lindy is able to fit leg rings on the bird
A peek at one of the vultures in the clinic

When all of the birds were prepared and loaded into the vulture ambulance, we headed to the Moholoholo Vulture Restaurant nearby, where we would send the birds on their way. These events are important opportunities for education and awareness raising, and so there were invited guests to witness the release. John Davies from the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme gave a talk on the essential role vultures play in ecosystems, the threats they face, and the necessary role of organisations like the EWT and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Centre in the long-term survival of our wildlife.

We then put meat out nearby to attract wild birds before unloading the crates and lining them up in sight of the food. One by one, we opened the crates, and in the blink of an eye, they were out. I opened one of the crates, and I could feel the wind from their powerful wings as they took to the sky.

I think that it must be quite stressful being in a cage for a few weeks when you’ve been a wild bird all your life. So I think they do get a little bit stressed, but with this release, what we did today at the Moholoholo Vulture Restaurant, we put food down and waited for the wild birds to come down and then opened the crates so that the released birds can see their buddies flying in the sky dropping down towards the food, and they join them.

Dr Lindy Thompson, the EWT Birds of Prey Programme

It is not only the release of the vultures that is critical. It is also important to monitor their movements using their tracking devices. The GPS data allows us to see where the birds are travelling and respond to any indication of unusual behaviours, such as immobility, for longer than normal periods, particularly in areas we know are at high risk for wildlife poisoning.

We have to evolve with the threats to vultures and with the situation around us, and technology and innovation are absolutely critical to this. From tracking birds across vast expanses using GPS telemetry to ensuring more poisoned birds make it to the rehabilitation centre in time using the vulture ambulance, which in the past has just not been available to people in severe situations dealing with many birds.

John Davies, the EWT Birds of Prey Programme

John Davies talking about the threats to vultures, such as poisoning, and how we address these threats. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
John showing an example of the collars we use to track the released birds. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
The EWT Vulture Ambulance. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
Crates lined up for vultures to be released together. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
The first vulture takes tentative steps to freedom. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
The first bird takes flight. Photo credit Sarah Goodman
And they're off! Photo credit Sarah Goodman
The released birds join the others at the meat laid out for them. Photo credit Emily Taylor

The tracking devices fitted to these vultures started transmitting immediately, and when we downloaded the data just a few days after the birds were released, we were astounded. It’s incredible to see the distance the vultures can travel in such a short time, especially when these birds were gravely ill from poisoning just three weeks ago! You can see a video showing these movements here.

From seeing the passion and dedication on the faces of our colleagues to feeling the wind from their wings as birds take flight – these experiences are what inspire us, give us hope, and keep us going in the fight against threats to our wildlife.

Science Snippets: Cape Vultures blowing in the wind

Modelling the threat of wind energy production plants for the vulnerable Cape Vulture

Erin Adams and Lizanne Roxburgh, the EWT Conservation Planning and Science Unit

Across Africa, wind energy offers opportunities to reduce national dependency on fossil fuels, increase energy security, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But what happens when these clean energy production sites cut through the distribution of a threatened species? In South Africa, wind energy farms overlap significantly with the flying patterns of Cape Vultures, and a recent publication* co-authored by EWT scientists quantified the risks posed by wind energy development facilities to Cape Vultures.

Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing forms of renewable energy, but it can result in the direct mortality of birds by collision with turbine blades. Large soaring species like vultures are particularly vulnerable to collisions. Cape Vultures are classified as Vulnerable on the ICUN Red List and are endemic to southern Africa. Using GPS tracking data collected from 68 Cape Vultures over twenty years, and the location of 167 core colonies and five roost sites, scientists could determine how at risk the Cape Vultures were to collisions with wind turbines. Complex modelling was done to see how the birds are likely to travel around their environment and determine the potential for collisions. Within this, they could measure how much the vultures overlapped with current wind farms and aimed to expand this to be used when planning future wind energy sites.

The scientists found that the models could accurately predict Cape Vulture movement patterns. The resulting maps produced were also able to quantify how much of a threat wind energy production plants posed to Cape Vulture colonies in South Africa. The results of this work can assist wind energy stakeholders in identifying high-risk areas and planning new developments accordingly. In future, the scientists recommend expanding this work into other regions of Africa to include other threatened vulture species, such as Rüppell’s Vulture in East Africa.

*Cervantes, F., Murgatroyd, M., Allan, D. G., Farwig, N., Kemp, R., Krüger, S., Maude, G., Mendelsohn, J., Rösner, S., Schabo, D.G., Tate, G., Wolter, K., & Amar, A. (2023). A utilisation distribution for the global population of Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) to guide wind energy development. Ecological Applications, e2809. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2809

Careers in Conservation – Jo Bert

CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Jo Bert

Jo Bert has joined the EWT’s Communications and Marketing Department as Graphic Designer. Here is a little bit about Jo’s journey to a career in conservation with the EWT.

Job title: Graphic Designer

What do you do in your day-day work? Assist with any graphic needs for the EWT as well as each of the programmes.

Location: Sandton

Where did you grow up? JHB born and bred.

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time?

I have so many hobbies I lose track. At the moment, I’m pretty into rock climbing (indoor and outdoor). I have also been self-studying ethnobotany for the last couple of years, so I love growing plants as well as seeing what I can make with them (so far, I’ve tried fabric dyes, cordages, bath bombs, teas…). I also love to read (currently rereading the Lord Of The Rings). I could go on forever, so I’ll stop there (:

Any pets? My horse Cerberus, my cat Strawberry, and a stray ginger cat that is trying to convince Strawberry to let me adopt him. I’ve named him Onion.

Favourite animal and why: Uloborus plumipes – As a lover of teeny tiny things, this spider is my best! Maximum 8 mm, looks like a tiny leaf, non-venomous, so easy to find, just super cute overall.

Favourite food? Spicy veg soup with some good toast.

Pet peeve? Small minded people

Why did you want to work for the EWT?

I want to be a part of something bigger than myself, and working at the EWT is a step towards that. We owe everything to this planet we live on, so it makes sense to give back in any way possible.

What excites you about this new position?

The idea that I can use my skills to make a difference in this world is what gets me up in the morning.

What are you passionate about?

This is a hard question; I am passionate about so much. The first things that come to mind are:

Equality
Conservation
Going back to roots

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from?

A hard question because advice is situation-specific and often says more about the giver than the receiver. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien: “Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.”

Though a good friend of mine once said, “You can’t reason with the heart” (Khanya Peacock), and I think about that all the time.

What is your go-to feel-good song? Toaster – Cat Clyde

Earthly Eating: Red wine braised Mushrooms

EARTHLY EATING

Each month, we bring you delicious, nutritious, and eco-friendly recipes that our staff members or followers love! This month’s recipe is Red wine braised Mushrooms from our People in Conservation Specialist, Jenny Botha.

Red Wine Braised Mushrooms

Braising is an easy, quick and approachable way of creating layers of flavour and texture – by searing (and therefore slightly caramelising) the exterior of a vegetable before cooking it through in a flavourful liquid. The easy process results in tender and deeply savoury vegetables that become buttery and silky in texture in under an hour. This recipe uses mushrooms which, once crisped and cooked in tomato, red wine and vegetable stock, mimic the richness and depth of meat-based ragout. I like to use a combination of portobello and oyster mushrooms, as I find they add texture and complexity to the dish, but you can also use shiitake or king oyster – make sure you shred (if using kind oyster) or slice them (if using shiitake) thinly.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 45 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients

200 g portobello mushrooms
200 g oyster mushrooms
2 tbsp + 1 tbsp olive oil, separated
½ tsp salt
2 shallots, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed
50 g tomato paste
60 g red wine
200 ml vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper

To serve:

10 g chives, finely sliced
Plant-based parmesan optional
Mashed potatoes, polenta, or crusty bread

Instructions

Start by preparing the mushrooms. Finely slice the portobello mushrooms and set them aside. Next, use your hands to pull the oyster mushrooms apart into shreds.
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large, heavy-set pot over medium heat. Add the mushrooms to the pot and stir to coat them in the oil. Let the mushrooms cook undisturbed, for 6-7 minutes, until golden brown on the heat-facing side.
Stir the mushrooms, then let them cook for 5-6 more minutes, undisturbed, until crisp and golden brown in most places. Stir in ¼ tsp salt, then transfer the mushrooms into a bowl. Set them aside.
Add the remaining tbsp oil to the pot and heat over medium heat. Add the finely sliced shallots, and sauté them for 7-8 minutes, until soft. Add the smashed cloves of garlic and continue sautéeing for 4-5 more minutes.
Add the cooked mushrooms back into the pot, and stir to coat them in the shallots. Stir in the tomato paste and cook it for 2-3 minutes – until it darkens in colour and starts sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Add the wine and stir to deglaze the pot. Cook the wine down for 2-3 minutes, then add the vegetable stock, ¼ tsp salt and the bay leaf.
Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer the mushrooms in the stock for 12-15 minutes – until the liquid has reduced and created a thick sauce.
Add the black pepper, then taste for seasoning and adjust to taste. Cover the pot and let the braised mushrooms sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Remove the bay leaf and the cloves of garlic.
Serve the mushrooms with mashed potatoes, polenta or toasted bread, and top them with chopped chives and parmesan.

Period Poverty is real. Period equity should be too

Dr Jenny Botha, the EWT’s People in Conservation Programme Manager

Despite the progress made in making menstrual products available to school-going girls, approximately seven million girls in South Africa still suffer from what has been coined “period poverty”, as they don’t have access to enough menstrual products each month, according to Candice Chirwa, a prominent South African gender advisor.

Sanitary pads are expensive and can be difficult to access, particularly in remote rural areas. Under these circumstances, girls often have to make do with pads made from material or cloth, tissues or toilet paper, and other materials, many of which are not hygienic and cause the girls embarrassment and a loss of dignity and confidence. Some girls may avoid attending school on days they have their periods, hampering their education and limiting future economic prospects¹. In addition, despite efforts by educators and the Dept of Basic Education to address this, many girls still also lack access to crucial information about their bodies and women’s hygiene and health, including the types of menstrual products that they could potentially choose from. Ending period poverty and ensuring girls have access to the information they need is an important step towards achieving gender equity.

Palesa Pads Menstruation Kit containing three reusable sanitary pads, a bucket, washing powder, and other cleaning materials

In May 2023, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) held awareness sessions on women’s health together with educators from two secondary schools in Kutama, Limpopo Province and, through the generous support of the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Ford Wildlife Fund, provided 635 girls with sanitary health kits. Each kit included three reusable sanitary pads, a bucket, washing powder, and other cleaning materials. In addition, thanks to generous sponsors like EMLife and Palesa Pads, we gave twenty women working at the schools packs of three reusable sanitary pads each.

Apart from the emotional and psychological difficulties experienced by girls unable to cope with their periods, the environmental impacts of single-use sanitary products are high. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 3.3 billion single-use sanitary products (pads or tampons) are used each year, resulting in 28,114 tonnes of waste², most of which is disposed of in landfills, with the remainder being flushed into sewage systems, often causing blockages. Although there is a move towards more sustainable multi-use, organic products, most still contain plastic or rayon and use harsh chemicals during manufacturing.

In South Africa, girls often have difficulties disposing of single-use pads, and resource-poor schools frequently struggle with a lack of facilities, particularly in rural areas. If incinerators are provided, learners may be reluctant to use them, or they may not work, particularly during power outages. Disposing of sanitary products such as one-use pads and nappies in the environment has become a major cause for concern in under-served communities across South Africa, potentially increasing risks to human health and undermining the environment and biodiversity. Although the latter risk may appear relatively unimportant in light of the other substantial challenges facing South Africa and the world, the severity and impacts of biodiversity loss and potential ecosystem collapse are high and thankfully becoming increasingly recognised as a global threat. In the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risk Assessment, biodiversity and ecosystem loss was ranked as the fourth most severe risk facing society over the next ten years.

Specific impacts of our recent Women’s Health project

The average woman who uses single-use sanitary products will go through between 11,000 and 17,000 sanitary pads or other disposable sanitary products in their lifetime at a cost of between R27,500 and R42,500 at current prices in South Africa. In contrast, reusable sanitary pads last 3-5 years and cost R50 each, depending on the make. The reusable sanitary pads we provided the girls in Kutama can be used up to 200 times if adequately cared for³. This means that the three pads given to each girl replace 600 single-use disposable pads that would otherwise have been disposed of in toilets, domestic waste, or the environment, equating to 471,000 single-use pads (if each of the 785 girls uses them). In addition, the girls from both schools also received two reusable pads in 2021, meaning that the majority received five pads each. In the 2021 women’s health project, over 90% of the 71 girls who gave us feedback through an anonymous and voluntary survey reported using the pads.

In August 2023, we will be providing an additional 150 girls from a third Kutama school with reusable sanitary pads, and we are going to expand the project to different areas in South Africa, including some of the most remote and under-served communities the EWT works with through our different programmes. More exciting activities are planned for the project, so keep an eye on our platforms for more on how we hope to contribute to period equity.

Thank you to the Ford Motor Company Fund, the Ford Wildlife Foundation, EMLife, and Palesa Pads for supporting the project.

[1] Crankshaw T.L., Strauss M. and Gumede B. 2020. Menstrual health management and schooling experience amongst female learners in Gauteng, South Africa: a mixed method study. Reproductive Health 17:48 p.15.

[2] Panell A.G. Blair, Y. Bajón -fernández, R. Villa. 2022. An exploratory study of the impact and potential of menstrual hygiene management waste in the U.K. Cleaner Engineering and Technology 7: p7.

[3] https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/entrepreneurs/washable-reusable-pads-keep-thousands-of-girls-in-school-14fecafb-fdc3-4ca1-937e-d72e1fcef9d4

Science Snippets: Half a Century of scientific discovery

How we know where we are needed.

Erin Adams and Lizanne Roxburgh, the EWT Conservation Planning and Science Unit

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and we are reflecting on our contributions to scientific discovery over this period. Formed in 1973, the EWT was made up of species-focused working groups. These groups included the Vulture Study Group, the Carnivore Working Group, and the Elephant Survey and Conservation Programme (ESCP).

In the early 1980s, the EWT focused on elephant translocation into new reserves. The ESCP played a key role in relocating elephants from conflict areas in Namibia to the Pilanesberg National Park. Another study focused on the distribution and numbers of desert elephants in north-western Namibia. Towards the end of the 1980s, the EWT started working on cranes under the Highveld Crane Group. During the 90s, the EWT’s crane work expanded throughout South Africa’s important crane strongholds.

Cape Vulture-chick. Photo credit: P Richardson, P Mundy and I. Plug, 1986 (left), Desert Elephants. Photo credit: Clive Walker (center), and Gus Mills and Clive Walker conducting filed work in Kalahari National Park (right).

From the early 2000s, the EWT shifted its focus to carnivores, including Lions, Honey Badgers, Cheetahs, and Wild Dogs. Research on these species took place across southern Africa, including the Kalahari and Kruger National Parks. The EWT’s crane work has also expanded through a formal partnership with the International Crane Foundation, and the South African Crane Working Group became known as the African Crane Conservation Programme.

In the 2010s, research and publication of our results became vital for the EWT, resulting in approximately 130 publications. The species of interest expanded to include frogs, oxpeckers, Riverine Rabbits, and Ground Hornbills. The Threatened Grasslands Programme, which studied grassland ecosystems and species such as the Critically Endangered Blue Swallow and the Endangered Oribi, was also prominent during this time. Other important topics investigated were the threats to species, including road mortalities, livestock predation, wildlife poisoning, and animal-powerline collisions.

Even though it is only three years into the 2020s, the EWT has already recorded 99 publications since the start of 2020, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to conducting valuable research and ensuring the dissemination of information to our stakeholders. The focus remains on employing robust sampling techniques to benefit the survival of threatened species. The EWT provides biodiversity data for scientific research and action and reviews environmental impact assessments in South Africa. We have also studied ranchlands to understand their biodiversity and ability to sequester carbon. Furthermore, the organisation now places greater emphasis on addressing the illegal wildlife trade, the laws that protect wildlife and the environment, and the relationship between business and biodiversity. We are also expanding our focus into more cryptic but equally threatened species, such as Golden Moles, Dwarf Tortoises, Colophyton (succulents) and Colophon Beetles. Throughout its history, the EWT has consistently prioritised the conservation of vultures. These birds remain a primary focus through the Birds of Prey and the Vultures for Africa programmes.

Umgavusa Protected Environment

The Heart of Community-Based Conservation

Cherise Acker, the EWT’s Threatened Amphibian Programme

Umgavusa Protected Environment lies in the area surrounding the small town of Gingindlovu. Although small, Gingindlovu has a rich cultural heritage attributed to the Battle of Ndonkakusuka, in which King Cetshwayo won the struggle over his brother Mbulazi for the Zulu throne in 1856. Gingindlovu, meaning “The place of he who swallowed the elephant”, was named by King Cetshwayo in honour of his victory. In 1879, King Cetshwayo faced another battle against the British troops. This time, however, King Cetshwayo’s army did not claim victory and was defeated by the British, after which Ginginglovu was placed under colonial rule.

Today, the now peaceful community of Gingindlovu farms extensively in the area where generations of farming families have forged a close-knit community with a passionate appreciation for their community and environment, knowingly safeguarding future generations. One local farmer, Ian Johnson, tracked the EWT’s Cherise Acker-Cooper to a parking lot in Nyoni, where she was working with local teams clearing invasive alien plants. Ian’s curiosity to identify a ‘Mystery Frog’ he had recently photographed in a reedbed on his farm spurred his eager pursuit. From a picture on Ian’s phone, the ‘Mystery Frog’ was confirmed to be the Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, known to occur exclusively along a narrow band along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Ian’s excitement of knowing that his farm was home to this KZN endemic frog led him to report the record to the local Environmental Committee. Subsequently, the chair of this committee, Mr Ashton Musgrave, invited Cherise to present at their November 2019 committee meeting so they could learn not only of Pickersgill’s Reed Frog but the importance of amphibians and their conservation.

It was during this presentation and the resulting acknowledgement of the plight for amphibian conservation in South Africa that four local farmers (Mr Ashton Musgrave, Mr Jonathan Saville, Mr Bret Arde and Mr Jonu Louw) banded together and asked Cherise to visit their farms to determine if the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog was present on their farms. Song meters were rotated among the farms, followed by careful listening to hours of recordings until the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog’s quiet but distinctive call was confirmed by the EWT’s Threatened Amphibian Programme Manager, Dr Jeanne Tarrant.

Confirming their presence was enough for these enthusiastic farmers, who were keen to ‘do the right thing’ and protect them to ensure their continued presence. In this spirit, the farmers keenly agreed to pursue formally declaring the habitat of the Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog as a Protected Environment through the Biodiversity Stewardship Process in 2020. However, the journey of declaration, led by Cherise, was not an easy route. Despite the numerous bends along the way, including COVID-19, the social unrest in July 2021, and the April 2022 floods, KZN MEC formally declared the Umgavusa Protected Environment from the Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Honorable Mr Siboniso Armstrong Duma, on 25 May 2023. It is the first protected area we have declared to conserve the Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog and its habitat, but it won’t be the last!

The infectious drive for amphibian conservation by these local frog conservation pioneers has awakened a love for frogs and frogging within the community, who have flocked to the Umgavusa Protected Environment to catch a glimpse of the diminutive Endangered Pickersgill’s Reed Frog.

It is not just frogs that these farmers are enthusiastic about. They work tirelessly to rehabilitate wetlands, clear and maintain watercourses from invasive alien plants, and support student research on the abundant wildlife that inhabits the area. These initiatives are driven by their innate love for their environment, and it is through this that the heart of community-based conservation offers enormous opportunities towards securing the biodiversity and cultural heritage of South Africa for all.

Mr Ashton Musgrave and his son enjoying their piece of the Umgavusa Protected Environment.

Thank you to our partners, Conservation Outcomes and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and to Rainforest Trust and Synchronicity Earth for supporting the project.

Following a stork named Fill

Dr Lindy Thompson and John Davies (EWT Birds of Prey Programme) and Jonah Gula (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

In January 2023, Lindy Thompson and John Davies (from the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme) joined UKZN PhD student Jonah Gula for fieldwork in the Lowveld. Jonah aimed to trap four Marabou Storks and fit them with tracking devices as part of his PhD project, but first, he needed to find a site with large numbers of Marabous. We suggested he try the vulture feeding site at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where many Marabous congregate daily. Moholoholo kindly permitted us to work on their land. We arrived early on the first morning and set our traps, with Jonah squeezed into John’s tiny hide and Lindy and John waiting nearby in a vehicle to assist when needed. And so, we waited. The Marabous proved to be much more wily birds than we initially gave them credit for. They were highly suspicious of our trap, approaching it cautiously, skirting it carefully, and rushing enthusiastically to the food on the other side. This happened repeatedly, and on one occasion, when it seemed like a Marabou might walk unwittingly into our trap, a family of warthogs would suddenly appear walking in the same direction. We could not risk catching a warthog piglet by mistake, so we would have to rush towards the trap to scare away the piglets and, in turn, the Marabous.

After a few unsuccessful days of trying to trap Marabous at Moholoholo, John suggested we try a different location. So we headed to Phalaborwa to check out a landfill site friends had told us about. We drove in and saw dozens of Marabous standing on the giant mounds of rubbish. The birds were slowly walking in amongst the garbage pickers, and everyone (people and birds alike) was bent over and slowly picking through pieces of trash. We felt the fact that these birds seemed much more tame might help us when trying to trap them. And so we set our trap, and again we waited at a respectful distance, sitting in the vehicle as the temperatures soared into the high thirties, waiting for some Marabous to walk towards our trap. After a few hours in the car, Jonah decided a little more encouragement was needed, and he hopped out of the bakkie and started trying to herd the Marabous towards our trap. Immediately these intelligent birds knew what he was up to, and most of the flock flew up, over the trap, and away. A few hours later, after more waiting and some more of Jonah’s persistent herding, a few birds flew towards the trap and landed there. I drove closer to Jonah so he could hop into the vehicle, and we edged closer to the trap. After a few minutes, Jonah leapt out and ran towards the trap. After 11 hours of waiting at the landfill that day, we had caught our first Marabou!

UKZN PhD student Jonah Gula is seen optimistically preparing his equipment for the morning’s trapping session at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. © L. Thompson
After we finally caught our first Marabou, workers kindly helped us to hold the bird, one holding the legs and the other holding the bill, while Jonah fitted the tracking device. The table from our Alu-Cab canopy came in very handy for this work. © L. Thompson

Jonah gently and firmly restrained the bird, and I asked two workers to please come and assist us as Marabous are large birds, and it takes many pairs of hands to hold them. With their help, Jonah calmly fitted the tracking device using a chest harness. A few minutes later, Jonah tucked the bird under his arm, walked a little way away from where we were working, and let the bird go. We were ecstatic to have caught our first Marabou, which Jonah named ‘Fill’ after the landfill site. We stayed at the landfill until dusk to ensure that Fill was looking comfortable and moving normally with his new tracking device, and when everything seemed fine, we finally headed off home.

Since Fill was tagged, we know he has used other waste sites, such as landfills and a slaughterhouse in Polokwane, but we hope to know more about his successes and failures rummaging in the rubbish. We look forward to following his movements and reading about Jonah’s results in the years to come.

We are extremely grateful to the staff and management of Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Phalaborwa Landfill Site for their kind support of Jonah’s work. We are thankful for our Ford Wildlife Foundation vehicle and Alu-Cab canopy, both essential to this fieldwork. This work was conducted with a Limpopo research permit from LEDET (permit no. ZA/LP/1156110).

Jonah has already published two papers on Marabou Storks, and you can find the details in the Reference List below. You can also find him on Twitter at @JonahGula. We wish him all the best with his studies.

Reference List:

Gula, J. and Barlow, C.R. 2022. Decline of the Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) in West Africa and the need for immediate conservation action. African Journal of Ecology 61:102-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13087

Gula, J., Clay Green, M., Fritts, S., Dean, W.R.J. and Gopi Sundar, K.S. 2022. Assessments of range-wide distribution of six African storks and their relationships with protected areas. Ostrich 93: 34-52. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2022.2045642

Cycads: Prehistoric plants in peril

CYCADS: PROTECTING PREHISTORIC PLANTS IN PERIL

Dr Kerushka Pillay, the EWT’s Wildlife in Trade Programme

Cycads are ancient seed plants (or gymnosperms) that date back to the Jurassic period. The illegal harvesting of wild plants and habitat destruction severely threaten these prehistoric plants. Worryingly, many cycads are Critically Endangered, and others are extinct in the wild, meaning none are left within their natural range. They only occur when planted in controlled environments like botanical and private gardens. Efforts are underway to protect and conserve these plants, and a significant component of this work focuses on reducing the illegal trade in wild cycads.

Cycads are considered long-lived and slow growing, and these traits make them vulnerable to the impacts of poaching, as adults are not quickly replaced. Cycads are characterised by being dioecious, meaning that different individual plants either have male or female reproductive parts (conspicuous large cones). Cycads are also considered prehistoric because they lack some advanced features modern plants possess, such as flowers and fruits. Cycads reproduce sexually, where a male cone produces pollen, leading to the pollination of fertile seeds produced by female cones. Cycads can also reproduce asexually without pollination by forming “suckers” on the “mother” plant. Cycads display characteristics that resemble palms, with a stout and woody trunk and a crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen, and usually pinnate leaves. If you are unsure whether you are looking at a cycad or a different plant, here is a poster that will help you identify cycads.

South Africa is a hotspot for cycad diversity with 38 indigenous species (37 species of Encephalartos and one species of Stangeria), which account for over 10% of the world’s cycads. Encephalartos species, each with distinct characteristics and unique appearances, are often used in landscaping and gardening. Many of these species are endemic to South Africa and play a crucial role in our ecosystems, providing habitat and food for various animals, including insects, birds, and mammals. Moreover, cycads hold cultural and historical value in South Africa, with some species used by indigenous communities for medicinal and spiritual purposes. In some South African cultures, the cycad is also considered a symbol of longevity and strength. One of the most well-known species is Encephalartos lehmannii, known for its large size and striking blue-green colour. Another species, Encephalartos natalensis, is found in the coastal regions of South Africa and is known for its ability to grow in sandy soils. Encephalartos horridus is found in the Eastern Cape and is known for its sharp, spiky leaves. These plants are a unique part of South Africa’s natural heritage, popular among collectors and enthusiasts. Overall, Encephalartos cycads are fascinating plants for anyone interested in botany or gardening.

Encephalartos horridus (top) and Encephalartos lehmannii (bottom)
Encephalartos natalensis

Sadly, many cycad species are threatened in South Africa, especially the Encephalartos group, with four being classified as extinct in the wild due to poaching. One such species, Heenan’s Cycad (Encephalartos heenanii), previously listed as Critically Endangered, was reassessed as extinct in the wild in 2022 due to “persistent pressure from plant collectors”. Criminal syndicates run a highly profitable trade, connecting impoverished and desperate poachers to wealthy private collectors who value cycads as collectables. It seems the rarer the cycad, the more sought after it is.

Because of their rarity and dwindling populations, the legal sale of Encephalartos cycads is regulated nationally and internationally. In South Africa, cycad permits are regulated under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). Each province also has conservation laws to further protect and regulate the cycad trade. However, there are legal methods of obtaining and keeping artificially propagated cycads. If you own an indigenous cycad or plan to purchase one, you must obtain a permit. You may not need a permit for exotic cycads, but it’s always best to make sure. To find out the requirements for your area, or if you have any other queries, please visit the EWT’s cycad page or contact the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife in Trade Programme at witinfo@ewt.org.za. It is crucial to ensure compliance with these regulations to avoid penalties and help to conserve these prehistoric plants in peril.

Thank you to US Fish and Wildlife Services for supporting this project.

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