Page 27 | Endangered Wildlife Trust

A fond farewell from the Editor

Emily Taylor, Communications Manager

I have had the pleasure of compiling and editing the remarkable stories the EWT’s staff members have written over the last three years and reading and contributing to them for eight years before that. It’s a little late to introduce myself, but I am sadly leaving the EWT and wanted to say a few words about my EWT story and acknowledge those who have walked beside me.

I stumbled into conservation after being on a very different track, and the second I did, it was like the clouds were parting. The sun was shining on the vast and exciting paths I could take that would make my life meaningful and allow me to make a difference.

Despite growing up in Joburg with little first-hand experience of the bush, I have wanted to work with animals since I was old enough to want anything. Back then, it was to be a vet. Unfortunately, I was not (to put it mildly) very strong in the maths and sciences at school, and I felt like this was a hurdle too high to scale. And so, not knowing my true path, I ended up with many others in a lecture hall for Psychology 101 – where hundreds of other first-year students with the same difficulty often find themselves. While it was fascinating, and if I didn’t encounter the same obstacle I faced in school (Statistics), I might have followed that path to Post-grad, but I didn’t. However, I found myself at least somewhat taken with Media Studies and Sociology, which I ultimately completed my honours in. The one thing that must be said is that one writes their way through Sociology, with endless weekly essays and assignments for four years. You’d think I’d have grown tired of writing, but it’s the one thing I do that has always helped me make sense of the world and express myself much more articulately than when I speak. It has also led me to the career I have had, even if I took the back roads and arrived later than I ever imagined.

When I was almost halfway through my Sociology Honours, two parallel events changed – you could say corrected – my route and my destination. I was doing my Honours through coursework, and I chose and was enthralled by Environmental Sociology. The course was led by Jacklyn Cock, who authored “The war against ourselves” –worth a read! The course was intended to broaden our thinking of the natural world and how we relate to it – how it has been affected by the deep injustices of South Africa’s past – not only the social, political, and economic, but also environmental injustices that disproportionately affect the disadvantaged. It cracked my city-girl mind wide open and showed me the many paths leading back to nature – that didn’t require too many encounters with maths! I could still do something worthwhile that married my deep-seated yearning for nature and the skills and critical thinking I had developed in my study of social sciences. The other event was a trip to Limpopo a few months into that year. My sister was doing community service in Tintswalo Hospital, and my mother and I drove up to see her one weekend. While there, I visited Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. I saw the path not taken and was hooked after a tour, during which Stoffels the Honeybadger decided he would join while wrapped around my legs. There was no going back.

And after a few more pitstops, I found myself in my first year of varsity again in 2010 – this time, in the Nature Conservation Department at the Tshwane University of Technology. One of my first courses was called “Conservation Development” by Mr Andrew Lowry, who was one of the first students to work on Cheetahs in Etosha with the EWT in its early years. Most of the coursework was based on the EWT’s Vision Annual. I loved the course, and after learning about the work the EWT was doing, I decided it was my next destination!

As the pattern seems to follow, my career in the EWT has also been a bouncy and zigzagging (but exciting) road. After volunteering for the EWT for nine months, there was an opening for a Conservation Science Intern. I thought it would be a hard sell until the then Head of Conservation, Harriet Davies-Mostert, gave me a writing assignment as part of the application process. And that, as they say, was that. 11 Years later, I have played many roles in the EWT – volunteer Assistant Reserve Manager of the Modderfontein Reserve, Science Intern, Project Coordinator for the former Urban Conservation and the People in Conservation programmes, Head Writer, and last but not least, the Communications Manager.

I am honoured and grateful to have been a member of the EWT pack for more than a quarter of my life, and I am humbled every day by the passion and dedication of the EWT team. I am sad to leave the organisation I have grown to love and respect. However, due to health concerns, it is necessary for me to bow out and hope that this is not the last you see of me and my EWT journey. Thank you to all the past and present staff members who have become friends and colleagues. You are all truly inspiring, and I will follow your careers in anticipation of the remarkable achievements I know are still coming your way!

Conscious Conservation

Conscious Conservation: why knowing where species are is crucial for protecting them

Oliver Cowan, the EWT’s Conservation Planning and Science Unit

How can we protect what we do not fully understand?

That is the key question driving our work on ‘uplisting’ species considered Data Deficient according to the IUCN Red List Assessment Criteria (See Box 1). The Conservation Planning and Science Unit has been working with experts across different taxonomic groups (Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals) to identify Data Deficient species most likely to need protection and enhanced conservation efforts (See Box 2). If a species is ‘uplisted’ to a threat category, then it is afforded some form of protection by law, and its presence must be taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment process (See Box 3).

One species identified early on as requiring urgent work was the Orange Sandveld Lizard (Nucras aurantiaca). Sometimes referred to as Lambert’s Bay Sandveld Lizard, the species had only been captured once when farm workers caught two individuals from a location just outside of Lambert’s Bay on the West Coast of South Africa in 2005. Having never seen an animal like it, the farmer sent the specimens to the provincial conservation body, whereafter they arrived at Stellenbosch University, after which it was formally described. Since then, it has only been recorded once – by a camera trap set up by researchers looking for something else entirely – in 2011 on a farm 20 km northeast of the original locality.

Its apparent scarcity has made it an almost revered species among the Southern African herpetological community. However, the need for more records has more important implications than merely ticking it off one’s ‘lifer’ list. The habitat in which the species is known to occur has undergone substantial historical transformations, much due to agriculture, and in more recent years, a slew of mining developments have occurred along the West Coast. Indeed, in 2022, a right to prospect for phosphate ore was granted that encompassed both known localities. The need to gather the data to uplist the species is thus crucial to ensure it is safeguarded against irresponsible development.

With this in mind, a team of some of the country’s top herpetologists from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and Bayworld Museum joined the EWT for two weeks of intensive surveys in November 2022. Braving the summer heat, storms, and deep sand roads, they employed a combination of pitfall traps, drift fences and active searching to find additional records and information that may shed light on the lizard’s ecology, habitat requirements, and population dynamics. Their hard work was rewarded with three more occurrence records, all from a single site adjacent to the camera trap site where the species was recorded. The data gathered from this survey will be used to conduct an updated Red List assessment later this year, with the likely outcome that the species will be placed in the Vulnerable or Endangered category. Once the assessment has been reviewed, the species will be incorporated into the Environmental Screening Tool and accounted for during subsequent development proposals.

In total, 37 amphibian and reptile species were recorded on this highly successful trip, including species of conservation concern such as the Endangered Kasner’s Dwarf Burrowing Skink (Scelotes kasneri) and the Near Threatened Armadillo Girdled Lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus), as well as a potential range expansion for the Cape Long-tailed Seps (Tetradactylus tetradactylus).

Box 1 IUCN Threat Categories

The different Red List categories as defined by the IUCN

Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal and plant species. Species experts assess species according to set criteria considering population dynamics, ecological and habitat requirements, and past, current and future threats to ultimately assign a species into an extinction risk category.

Box 2: Data Deficient Animals in South Africa

The Data Deficient Orange Sandveld Lizard (Nucras aurantiaca) – photo credit: Chad Keates

“Data Deficient” is an IUCN Red List Category assigned to species where there is not enough information to conduct an extinction risk assessment. Listing of species in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. In South Africa, there are currently seven Mammal, five Amphibian, seven Reptile, and one Butterfly species listed as Data Deficient.

Box 3: Environmental Screening Tool

An example of a species distribution model – Brown Hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) – which informs the Environmental Screening Tool Animal Layer

The National Environmental Screening Tool is an online tool which contains, amongst other things, spatial information on the distribution of plant and animal species of conservation concern, that is regionally listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered according to the IUCN criteria. By law, the tool must be used in the screening process for any proposed development in the scoping phase of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. The EWT collaborated with SANBI and Birdlife South Africa to create and collate the animal and plant layers used in the tool.

Armadillo Girdled Lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus) – photo credit: Chad Keates
Kasner’s Dwarf Burrowing Skink (Scelotes kasneri) – photo credit: Chad Keates
Cape Long-tailed Seps (Tetradactylus tetradactylus) – photo credit: Chad Keates

The EWT would like to thank the Anglo-American Foundation for funding this project, our expert collaborators (particularly Dr Krystal Tolley at SANBI and Werner Conradie from Bayworld Museum), and of course, the landowners for kindly allowing access to their properties, supporting our work, and being at the forefront of protecting the biodiversity of the region.

Protect what you love

Lawren Lotter

Under a blanket of southern stars, sitting around a crackling fire, one of the Jocks kept watch whilst the rest of the group slept soundly in the Shikomu river bed. A silent giant approached, the only sound was his padded feet and knobbly toes gently separating the soft thick sand. Their eyes locked, a midnight moment lasting a few minutes. Should he wake the others? How close is too close? A male white rhino can grow up to 1.8 m tall and weigh up to 2,500 kg. There was no getaway car or tree to climb, so he spared the others and sat still, stiff, staring ahead. They shared that space for a while, until the Rhino turned around and made his way back to the trail, a trail his ancestors had carved out for him, the one the Jocks were grateful to borrow and follow and just like that, he disappeared into the thick of the night, never to be seen again.

It was a humble beginning for the Jocks of the Bushveld, a group of young men living with their heads in Johannesburg and their hearts in the bush. Ten years ago, they swopped their work shoes for vellies and took to those footpaths on a quest to walk each section of the Kruger National Park. Each year they set aside a few days to pick up where they left off, taking in each zone, the shifting eco-systems and varying vegetation along with an array of wildlife they met along the way. During these trips, they had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with some of the EWT fieldworkers and were inspired by their dedication and passion on the front line.

One evening on the Wolhuter trail, gunfire started ringing through their surroundings. The fight against rhino poaching was taking place a few kilometers away while they sat feeling helpless and hopeless. As the years went on, rhinos in the park became few and far between. Many trips left them with only sightings of scattered bones, smoothened rhino posts or derelict middens. A stark reminder of the wildlife war hidden within the hills.

A conservation conversation came alongside an evening of Amarula on ice around a bustling fire. The rumbling roar of a lion was broken by the sharp short call of a spotted hyena. The bush was alive, its beating heart battered and needing help.

One of the Jocks spoke, his tone serious and sincere. “Gents, we need to start protecting what we love. We need to connect our community with the conservationists, or only in our future will we face the consequences.” The connection was there, and each time the group left the Lowveld, they became deeply invested and inspired by who they had met along the way and the causes they were fighting for. From this day forward, a valued connection with the EWT was born.

The group started their fundraising efforts, linking their love for all things wild alongside the expertise of the EWT. Each year since 2020, the Jocks have arranged events, working closely with the EWT, and sending the funds raised to areas that need it the most.

As fate would have it, in 2023, the Jocks were celebrating their 10th year anniversary alongside the EWT celebrating their 50^th year. It was time for the biggest collaboration yet.

The bush legends ball.

It’s not a common occurrence to see the legends of the bush suited up in the heart of Johannesburg. Alongside a local jazz band, the black-tie event bought with it smart appearances with snippets of Khaki that filled the room. The night was 180 strong, and each table honoured a bush legend. The teams shared their stories and strategies of how they are shaping the future of conservation. Moving presentations by some of our senior field officers, Grant Beverley and Marnus Roodbol, were a few highlights from the evening.

The concept was built around networking and sharing ideas of conservation. The connection was integral for those working in the field and the city dwellers who were motivated and moved to get involved. The night was a memorable milestone, alongside a generous auction, the evening managed to raise over R800 000 for conservation.

Wilderness areas and big game wildlife are some of Southern Africa’s greatest natural resources. It is not just about the animals, these areas provide more than most realise – the air we breathe and the water we drink – it’s the butterfly effect of the natural world. The one we are all a part of. It is up to us to step up as the protectors of what is left. What other incentive is needed than being able to give the gift of the wild to the next generation? That is why we will continue to connect and collaborate so we can all move forward in protecting what we love.

Science Snippets: Can farming actually save threatened species?

Christie Craig, the ICF/EWT African Crane Conservation Programme

As human development and global change accelerate, natural ecosystems are under immense and ever-growing pressure. In some cases, ecosystems are altered to such an extent that they can be considered novel. Intensively farmed areas are an example, and these novel ecosystems affect biodiversity. As conservation biologists, we anticipate this would spell disaster for wildlife, particularly threatened species, but this isn’t always true.

We have seen this in the case of South Africa’s National Bird, the Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus). In the 1990s, alarms were raised as this species was declining rapidly in their natural range, the eastern grasslands and the Karoo, due to grasslands being degraded and transformed for agriculture and forestry and other threats such as poisoning and powerline collisions. Interestingly, however, on the other side of the country, in the Western Cape wheatlands, Blue Cranes responded to agricultural transformation in a remarkably different way. In the early 1900s, when people began clearing fynbos (generally unsuitable habitat for Blue Cranes), Blue Cranes started to move into the Western Cape. Since then, the population has boomed in this area. Today, 50% of all Blue Cranes in the world are found in this novel ecosystem.

Conservationists were concerned because it is challenging to conserve wildlife in highly transformed landscapes like this. We have seen Blue Crane numbers decline rapidly once before, and we were concerned that this could happen again if something shifted in the Western Cape wheatlands. Intensively farmed landscapes are dynamic and influenced by social factors such as farmers’ decisions, politics, economics, and climate change. In modern conservation, many are moving away from crisis management and taking a ‘fighting fires’ approach by being more proactive and foreseeing risks to prevent species declines before they happen and to maintain conservation success. With this in mind, the African Crane Conservation Programme set up a PhD project to investigate the Blue Crane’s conservation status, specifically focusing on understanding threats in the Western Cape wheatlands.

PhD candidate & Western Cape Field Officer Christie Craig has spent the last four years conducting this research and is in the process of wrapping up her thesis. Bringing all these data together, we now have a clearer picture of the state of the Blue Crane population. Over the last 30 years, we have seen an overall recovery in Blue Crane numbers, with the current national estimate obtained from aerial surveys at 44,500 Blue Cranes, which is 44% higher than the last estimate in 2002. This recovery was largely due to increases in the Western Cape wheatlands in the 1990s and early 2000s, as shown by citizen science data, i.e. Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts. Aerial surveys have also shown increased numbers in KZN, thanks to continued conservation action. However, the Blue Crane numbers in the grasslands are still a small remnant of what they used to be. Looking at the South African Bird Atlas Project data, we see changes in Blue Crane reporting rates, which tell us how many cranes there are. These data show that several areas of the eastern grasslands no longer have cranes, compared to the 1980s (in red, Figure 1). We hope Blue Crane numbers will recover to their full potential in the grasslands with continued conservation.

The Blue Crane’s adaptation to wheat and pasture agriculture in the Western Cape has been their saving grace and aided their recovery. However, we have some concerns that this population is no longer thriving. Analysis of citizen science data shows that the population trend changed from positive to negative in 2010, and since then, Blue Crane counts have declined by 22% in the Overberg. If this decline is sustained, we could see the national population decline by an estimated 53% over the next 37 years. We do not know whether these declines will continue at this stage, and we are monitoring the population carefully. We cannot pinpoint a single reason for this decline, but we know from research that Western Cape breeding success is lower than it used to be and lower than the Blue Cranes in the Karoo and grasslands. In the Karoo and grasslands, EWT field workers have documented an average fledgling rate of 1.01 chicks/pair (95% confidence intervals = 0.82-1.24) in the grasslands and 1.02 chicks/pair (95% CI = 0.76-1.35) in the Karoo. Western Cape Blue Cranes only fledge an average of 0.64 (95% CI 0.42-0.95) in the Swartland and 0.81 fledglings/pair (95% CI 0.57-1.12) in the Overberg. The agricultural landscape can be challenging for breeding Blue Cranes as they attempt to breed in the dry season, when wheat is being harvested, and there is a lot of disturbance in fields. Other threats to Blue Cranes, once they fledge, include powerline collisions and poisoning.

Map showing Blue Crane reporting rates in SABAP1 vs SABAP2

Figure: Comparison of Blue Crane reporting rates in SABAP1 vs SABAP2, indicating Quarter Degree Grid Cells (QDGCs) where cranes have never been recorded (never), where they were recorded in SABAP1 but weren’t in SABAP2 (absent) and vice versa (new), and where they were recorded in both projects, the direction of reporting rates from SABAP1 to SABAP2 (down, level or up). QDGCs with fewer than four cards in either project are indicated in blue.

Now that we have data on the population trends and threats, we will feed this directly into conservation action. The first step is to develop a conservation plan. We will host a workshop in the coming months, bringing together all the stakeholders and experts to develop a conservation planning document and implementation strategy.

This work is kindly sponsored by Neuwied Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, Safari West, Nashville Zoo, and the Leiden Conservation Foundation. The PhD research was funded by the Leiden Conservation Foundation, Eskom & the Hall-Johnson Fellowship.

Careers in Conservation – Danielle du Toit

CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Danielle du Toit

Danielle is a Field Officer with the EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme. Here is a little bit about Danielle’s journey to a career in conservation with the EWT.

Job title: Field Officer

What do you do in your day-day work?

I meet with farmers and other landowners to sign them on and assist them in making their land safe for vultures. I also work to mitigate threats to vultures and address the reasons behind the threats so we can ensure the longevity of the threat-free landscape. These include addressing livestock loss to predation through implementing non-lethal ways of predation management (mobile kraaling, livestock guardian dogs etc.), minimising potential lead poisoning from lead ammunition used by hunters, awareness campaigns, and working with ammunition industry professionals to promote a reliable and affordable alternative to lead ammunition.

Location: I’m based in Graaff-Reinet (in the Eastern Cape) but work across the broader Eastern Cape and in the Beaufort West area.

Where did you grow up? I grew up on a farm outside Graaff-Reinet

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time? Anything that gets me outside and busy with my hands. I love to try my hand at gardening, woodwork and super basic home renovation projects – none of which I’ve quite mastered yet!

Any pets? One precious dog and three cats.

Favourite animal and why: This changes all the time. Although I’m supposed to say vultures, I think I’ll go with Meerkats (Suricates). They’re feisty things for their size. I just love their attitude.

Favourite food? I love a good hearty meal – rys, vleis and aartappels, as my Ouma used to say.

Pet peeve? Jeans with fake pockets. Please, can the fashion industry stop selling me dreams?

Why did you want to work for the EWT? The EWT is a forward-thinking organisation with plenty of room to grow personally and professionally.

What are you passionate about? Changing the perception of the relationship between farming and conservation. I think that in the past, a few bad apples ruined it for many conservation-orientated farmers who manage their land in a way that is super beneficial to biodiversity and food security. I also really love finding different ways to approach and overcome challenges and seeing how we, as an organisation, can leave a positive and lasting impact on our environment and its people.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from? “There’s no such thing as can’t. You either don’t want to or don’t know how to. Either way, it’s your decision.”

My parents and grandparents taught me that, and I still live by it. I always remind myself that I’m capable of anything I put my mind to, so long as I’m open to learning (and probably failing a few times) along the way!

What is your go-to feel-good song? Feel it Still – Portugal, the Man.

Earthly Eating: Ultimate Nachos

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 Ultimate Nachos from Shadi Henrico, our Conservation K9 expert.

Ultimate Nachos

For the vegetarians: Mexican favourites! Swap the ground beef for soya mince, or add spoon-fulls of fruity salsa for a refreshing twist. Treat this tray of nachos as a blank canvas and let your creative juices flow!

There’s nothing quite like a tray overflowing with nachos for an entertaining and playful appetiser. The base starts with everyone’s favourite – crunchy tortilla chips. The chips then get layered with all the savoury toppings you can imagine – spiced mince, cheese, beans, pickled jalapenos, avocado chunks, salsa – you name it!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15-20 mins

Ingredients

This recipe is a basic formula for a solid tray of loaded nachos – tortilla chips, meat, cheese, beans, and simple, fresh taco toppings. It may seem like a lot, but once you start adding everything onto the sheet pan, it’s a cinch. Here’s what you’ll need.

Mince: Beef is my default for a classic nachos recipe. But you can also use chicken or soya if you’re not big on beef.
Cheese: The key here is to use grated cheese for the perfect melted, gooey texture. But the type of cheese is up to you. I personally like a mix of cheddar and mozzarella.
Pickled Jalapenos: This is completely optional, but I do find that pickled jalapenos add a deliciously tart and moderately spicy contrast.
Fresh Toppings: I’m using a combination of diced tomatoes, red onion, avocados, and sour cream.

Instructions

Some of the best appetisers don’t require a lot of effort. And this ultimate nachos is one of them. The only cooking you need to do is to saute the mince and refried beans. Then everything else goes into the oven for baking as you prep the fresh toppings. But first, get your oven preheated to 200°C.
Cook the mince. Add the mince to a skillet over medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add the taco seasoning and cook for five extra minutes until it’s browned.
Cook the refried beans. Add the refried beans and water to the skillet and stir everything until combined.
Layer on a sheet pan. First, spread the tortillas on a rimmed sheet pan and layer on the mince mixture, cheese, and jalapenos. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges of the tortilla chips are golden.
Add the toppings. Immediately add the diced tomatoes, onion, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. Your nachos recipe is ready to serve!

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

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