THE ROLE OF FOLKLORE IN PRESERVING WILDLIFE AND HERITAGE – A STORY ABOUT FROGS AND SWEET WATER
Samson Phakathi, Field Officer, EWT’s People in Conservation Programme, samsonp@ewt.org.za
As in most cultures, folklore has played an essential role in influencing social norms and values in most African communities. Folklore is oral history attached to a particular place, group, or activity, communicated through tales, proverbs, riddles, songs, etc.
Folklore is typically passed down by word of mouth, although sometimes people write down collections of folklore to preserve the stories of a particular community. The fundamental premise is that folklore has no author – it slowly emerges and evolves from within a culture, and is carried forward through constant retelling. Some folklore is a product of indigenous knowledge about species and natural ecosystems. In Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, many of the folklore legends relate to the environment and specific species. Folklore has both positive and negative effects on the environment and species, determined by how much species are valued in a specific tribe. For example, if a species is deemed harmful and of no use to man, folklore will prescribe that it be persecuted, whereas if it is useful to man, folklore projects a glorified image of the subject, motivating for people to care for and conserve it. Folklore sparks the imagination of children, strengthens bonds between generations, and helps to shape people’s cultural views on biotic utilisation and preservation.
Folklore has always played an important role in preserving heritage in KwaZulu-Natal. Legends have it, for example, that upon discovery of signs of damage to Itshe LikaNtunjambili, the cliff head above the Tugela Valley, a narrative was spread warning that anyone who tampers with the cliff will develop misshapen legs, and to this day the cliff head is intact for all to see and enjoy. Older women are traditionally the narrators of folklore, and young people would sit around an open fire and enjoy stories in the dark. As we celebrate Heritage Month, we recognise the role of folklore in preserving our cultural and natural heritage. A story about the role of folklore in preserving wildlife and heritage
Once upon a time when people’s existence could be directly affected by how well they understood and respected their environment, Indlovukazi-the Queen Mother once embarked on a long trip from the Zululand to the South Coast in KwaZulu-Natal. She was accompanied by six warriors who were instructed by the King to ensure her safety, not only from physical dangers but also against unseen nature-related obstacles that might come to the fore. They walked gracefully for days using species like Honey Badgers, starlings, and weavers to provide signs of what lied ahead. Honey Badger would lead them to honey, starlings and weavers warned them about the presence of slippery friends (snakes). They walk for days until their supplies were beginning to run out. They had to find a suitable spring to collect water, but unfortunately, they walked for days without much luck because springs in their midst did not fit the description of a water source that is suitable for Indlovukazi.
An instruction from Indlovukazi was clear, croaking frogs and running water signalled a sign of water suitable for Indlovukazi. None of the springs they found showed signs of life, and the wise Indlovukazi decided that they would take a well-deserved break and brainstorm strategies to ensure that there is life in every stream the next time they travelled this way. They sat under a tree of great cultural significance, and as they deliberated on what to do to bring back the frogs, they heard the loud croaking sound of a frog in the distance. The Indlovukazi immediately instructed two warriors to search for the stream where the croaking was coming from, and if there was a sign of frogs, they dare not touch the water as the Indlovukazi should be the first to enjoy the sweet waters, or Amanzimtoti (of the spring). They found the stream, inundated with frogs of all species, shapes, sizes, and colours, and returned to inform the Indlovukazi about their finding. The thirsty Indlovukazi walked to the stream and scooped a cup full of the water and, instead of quenching her thirst, insisted that before they enjoy the water, they come up with a plan to bring life back to the other streams that they had passed. The men thought long and hard and soon realised the association of frogs to the sweet water the wise Queen had described earlier.
As the sun was setting, Mpeku, one of the lead warriors, began to put the pieces together and remembered how, as young boys, they used to go to play in the streams, throwing stones at the frogs and throwing their rubbish into the streams, until there were fewer signs of life in the area. He relayed what he thought was a contributing factor in the decline in frog numbers, and the Indlovukazi felt that what he shared was genuine. They all felt that there was a need to educate young boys about the importance of frogs in streams and folklore stories were an essential method of reinforcing a particular narrative in communities.
The Indlovukazi and her combatants manufactured a folklore narrative that those who kill frogs and pollute water will have an unpleasant period in their lives, and this narrative has played a role in the conservation of frogs and streams in Natal. Mpeku was rewarded and entrusted with a responsibility to develop folklores intended to preserve local natural heritage, associating certain species with good luck and positive experiences.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT, THANKS TO MACSTEEL!
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This beautiful coffee table book is a collection of wildlife photography and stories by Paddy Hagelthorn, aptly titled “Never a dull moment”.
Not only has this book been signed by the author, but full proceeds go to the EWT as they have been generously donated to the EWT by Macsteel.
Selling for R450. To purchase this book, please go to our online shop or email Tammy Baker on tammyb@ewt.org.za
AT LEAST 28 EXTINCTIONS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY CONSERVATION ACTION IN RECENT DECADES
Lizanne Roxburgh, Senior Scientist, EWT Conservation Science Unit, lizanner@ewt.org.za
Reference: Bolam, F.C, Mair, L., Angelico, M., Brooks, T.M, Burgman, M., McGowan, P. J. K & Hermes, C. et al. 2020. How many bird and mammal extinctions has recent conservation action prevented? Conservation Letters, e12762. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12762
A study led by Newcastle University, UK and BirdLife International has found that conservation action has prevented the global extinction of at least 28 bird and mammal species since 1993. The species include Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittate), Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus), Alagoas Antwren (Myrmotherula snowi), Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) and Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae), among others.
The international team of scientists, including the EWT and other co-authors from South Africa, has estimated the number of bird and mammal species that would have disappeared forever without the efforts of conservationists in recent decades. The researchers found that 21–32 bird and 7-16 mammal species extinctions have been prevented since 1993, with the ranges reflecting the uncertainty inherent in estimating what might have happened under hypothetical circumstances.
The research team compiled information from 137 experts on the population sizes, trends, threats, and actions implemented for the most threatened birds and mammals, to estimate the likelihood that each species would have gone extinct without action. Their findings show that without conservation actions, extinction rates would have been around 3–4 times greater. Sadly, within the same period, 15 bird and mammal species went extinct (or are strongly suspected to have gone extinct).
The study has highlighted the most frequent actions taken to prevent extinctions in these bird and mammal species. Twenty-one bird species benefited from invasive species control, 20 from conservation in zoos and collections, and 19 from site protection. Fourteen mammal species benefited from legislation changes and nine from species reintroductions and conservation in zoos and collections. 
The findings are highly relevant to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which came into force in 1993. Over its lifetime, at least 28–48 bird and mammal species extinctions have been prevented. Through the Convention, governments adopted the ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’ in 2010, which committed countries to tackle the loss of nature. It is widely expected that the CBD’s next official report will show that most targets have not been met.
However, the results of our study show that despite the overall failure to meet the targets for conserving nature set through the UN a decade ago, we have achieved significant success in preventing extinctions. This success should encourage governments to reaffirm their commitment to stop extinctions and recover populations of threatened species in the coming decade. Such a commitment is both achievable and essential to sustain a healthy planet. In many ways, this is a call to action: it shows what we can achieve if we act now to support conservation and prevent extinction.
MYSCHOOL CARD BENEFICIARY
Thank you to the team at MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet and to Woolworths, Engen, Bidvest Waltons, Flight Centre, Loot.co.za, and newest partner store Builders Warehouse for their ongoing support. By adding the Endangered Wildlife Trust as a beneficiary on your MySchool card, you are raising much-needed conservation funds every time you swipe.
TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
The EWT’s 2021 wildlife wall calendar, Walk on the Wild Side, once again showcases Richard du Toit’s stunning photography. Richard, an internationally acclaimed photographer, never fails to capture a stunning image. The calendar is in portrait and comes individually boxed ready for distribution. Proceeds from the sale of the calendars are donated to the EWT.
Cost R400
To purchase this beautiful calendar, please go to our online shop or email Tammy Baker on tammyb@ewt.org.za
COMING UP IN OCTOBER – NATIONAL TRANSPORT MONTH
Millions of animals are killed on the roads every year, and these incidents often cause injury or death to humans, as well as significant and costly damage to vehicles. By collecting information, we are better able to identify hot-spots, common species involved, and other variables that may come into play, such as weather and time of day. This information better equips us to develop strategies to mitigate the threats that transport infrastructure and vehicles pose to wildlife and humans. One of the ways of counting the number of animals killed on the road is through training route patrol staff to collect the data while on patrol, but we can all do more. October is National Transport Month, and we would like to encourage everyone to get involved by collecting animal road mortality data from all over South Africa. It is super easy!
You can submit your data can be submitted via email: roads@ewt.org.za
OR you can download the smartphone app (EWT Road Watch) and start reporting
• Go to Google Play on your smartphone https://play.google.com/store
• Type in ‘EWT Road Watch’
• Click on ‘INSTALL’, and it will download to your phone
• Once installed, you will need to enter your user details, either your email address or phone number. You will only need to do this once, and we will never share your information
• You can then begin reporting roadkill sightings
• It doesn’t matter if your phone does not have signal, the app will log your location and submit records once you are back in network range.
rated annually on 10 August!
Your support will no doubt help us to protect our wildlife, but please don’t put your own life at risk to collect information. Always consider your safety, and please do not use your phone while driving. When reporting roadkill, please provide the following information:
• Location of roadkill (GPS coordinates)
• Identification of species (as best as possible)
• Date and time seen
• Notes on the local habitat type (e.g. riverine, grassland, rocky, wetland, etc.) are also be useful.
Good identification photos (particularly if the carcass is very squashed) are very helpful BUT only stop and take a photo if it is safe to do so, then try and record the following:
• BIRDS: Tail and wing feathers/beak and feet (if the whole bird is no longer there) and eye
• REPTILES: Scales/head shape/foot shape (if applicable)
• AMPHIBIANS: Foot shape (webbed)/presence of warts/colouration around head and eye
• MAMMALS: Fur/hair colour/body size/teeth type (carnivore or herbivore)
A WORD FROM THE CEO: AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR LEADING LADY, YOLAN FRIEDMANN
Yolan Friedmann, EWT CEO
yolanf@ewt.org.za
With all the challenges facing our country, and our environment, which ones keep you awake at night and why?
South Africa is faced with massive challenges generally and despite some of those not emanating from the environmental sector, they do spill over. So the issue of corruption means that there is less money to be spent on environmental issues and so our planet suffers; with escalating crime, our staff and colleagues are exposed to risk whilst they do their work in remote areas, or the travel, or even in their personal lives. I have seen first-hand the stress that this puts them under and the costs associated with paying for increased safety and protection. The loss of critical skills with young people emigrating also effects our sector severely and we have lost too many talented people to other countries as a result of crime in South Africa. Our future as a stable, thriving society and economy keeps me awake at night.
What unique strengths and characteristics do you believe women have, that add value to being a person of influence in the environmental sector?
By nature, women tend to be more consultative and like to work in teams. We can lead, and we can also follow, and we generally know when to do either or both. We are able and willing to ask for help and to admit when we don’t know the answers, and to show strength and leadership in finding them, together. I think that this creates a more dialogue-based approach to finding solutions, which is vital in the highly complex world of conservation. Nothing in the conservation sector can be solved with linear thinking, and one must integrate social, economic, environmental, political, cultural and ecological imperatives with science and compassion and sensitivity, and this requires continual juggling and consultation. Women tend to be better jugglers, in my opinion, and understand the need to balance shifting priorities – we tend to be able to lead from the front as well as the back. Our sector has also required massive skills and capacity development over the past years, with the need for human development being at the core of increasing environmental awareness and action. Women have thrived in this environment which is evident by the increasing number of civil society action groups caring for the earth, in almost all neighbourhoods these days, which are mostly lead by women.
Are there any women in conservation who inspire you?
They all do! Every one of them is drawn to our sector because they are passionate, want to make a difference, are willing to work long hours and sacrifice a lot personally, and care for the earth and all its inhabitants so yes, they ALL inspire me!
Do you have a female role model?
These change all the time as one learns from different people as you develop and events in your life require adaptation and growth. But I always admire my female friends that are entrepreneurs, who create jobs, who create beautiful things and change the lives of their employees and friends; who are selfless and caring and never falter; who are strong and compassionate and honest and flawed and always wonderful! They know who they are 😊
What advice would you give to young women of today?
Be willing to do anything that is required of you to make your first job really count. Don’t be stuck on what role you believe you should play and what your qualifications have prepared you to do. In today’s competitive market employers are looking for team members who are willing and able to dive in and do anything that is required and who add value to the organisation as a whole. If you add value, you will have a thriving career. Today I see too many young people asking what is in it for them, and this puts employers off. Post-COVID, we are also going to see the end of the silo employment position and the emergence of more circular, integrated roles that continually shift and form part of different teams. You must, therefore be willing to be flexible, and you must add value as a person before you can rely on your skills set alone. Other people have the same qualifications as you do so you need to offer a lot more than just your degree. In an interview, how about asking the employer what THEY need and how YOU can add value to them?
What has your time working with the EWT taught you?
Way too much to write here… I have worked in every role in the EWT – from volunteer to CEO, so every position has taught me different things. But from where I sit today I would say that I have learned to work with (and not hide) many female traits that I often used to think would work against me as a female leader in a very male-dominated sector (at the time). These traits include compassion, humility,; consultation, teamwork, the ability to lead from behind and not be ego-driven, being just as happy, if not more so, when your staff are in the limelight and get all the accolades, admitting when you are wrong, and owning up when you don’t have all the answers. I have surrounded myself with people who all know more than I do and my greatest lessons have come from working with them, listening to them, seeing things through their eyes, making them better at their jobs and serving them, and knowing that as their leader, that is my role.
Can you share a bit about what you do? What does a typical workday look like for you?
These days it’s 12 hours on a laptop, like everyone else I suppose. Under ‘normal’ conditions, I still spend a lot of time on emails and in meetings, writing documents and approving things like marketing and fundraising material, budgets, contracts etc. My role is mostly on corporate governance and strategic development, but I do get to interact with my conservation teams every day, which is good for my soul! I get into the field a few times a year, but it is never enough, but again, my role is to facilitate my staff getting to do the fieldwork as they are the experts. I come from a strong field and technical background, so I miss getting my hands dirty! I also spend a lot of time liaising with the media, our partners, stakeholders and supporters. I like to be creative, so I work closely with my fundraising and communications teams. I work closely with my Board of Trustees and am ultimately responsible for ensuring that our strategy is sound, meaningful, and implemented as planned. My role is to find the resources to get the work done, establish the partnerships that make us effective and empower the team to make the magic happen.
GRIET’S GHOST AND THE LONG LOST RABBIT: THE LETTAS KRAAL CONSERVATION STORY
Bonnie Schumann, Nama Karoo Coordinator, Drylands Conservation Programme, bonnies@ewt.org.za
The Lettas Kraal story began a long, long time ago, with the folding of the Cape Fold Mountains that formed the spectacular landscape we see in much of the southern and western Succulent Karoo today. The ancient history of the geology of the region is written in stone, manifesting itself as the diverse, often tortured-looking, rugged topography of the Karoo.
Lettas Kraal, located in the Little Karoo near Touwsriver, has its own story to tell, not all of which has been heard. We don’t know much about Griet, the Lettas Kraal farm ghost and her little dog, who allegedly walk the road to the ruin of her old cottage regularly. Her chapter may well be lost in time. We do know that long before Griet called Lettas Kraal her home, San hunter-gatherers left their artistic legacy in the form of beautiful paintings in secret places on Lettas Kraal. Alongside the various human footprints left over time, small padded tracks, barely visible, were also being left on Lettas Kraal by one of the rarest and most historically interesting of southern Africa’s mammals. The hide-and seek-champion of the Karoo, the Critically Endangered Riverine Rabbit, remained undetected on Lettas kraal until its presence was revealed two years ago with the discovery of a Riverine Rabbit roadkill near the Lettas Kraal homestead. This elusive species has been lost and found several times since it was first discovered in the Karoo in 1901, but that’s a story for another day.
Because of a “love at first sight” encounter more than 20 years ago, this spectacular landscape with its incredible biodiversity, Griet’s story, and the survival of the Riverine Rabbit on Lettas Kraal, will be protected into perpetuity. Lettas Kraal, which has been carefully conserved and nurtured for over two decades, is at long last in the process of obtaining formal recognition as a Private Nature Reserve. This part of the story started 24 years ago.
Johan Roodt, owner of Lettas Kraal, visited a neighbouring farm in 1996 and, in his own words, fell in love with the area at first sight. As fate would have it, just two weeks later, Lettas Kraal came up for sale. It was a match made in heaven. The property was heavily utilised as a commercial small stock farm in the past. However, from the start, Johan’s vision was to dedicate the property to the conservation of this region’s unique and highly threatened biodiversity. As such the veld has been rested from livestock grazing for the past 24 years. Although game, including eland and gemsbok move freely over the property, which is not game fenced, they occur at a low density. The removal of livestock and the prevailing low game numbers has allowed the vegetation to recover. Very little trampling of the veld is evident, and the healthy living soil crust comprised of tiny plants and lichens and moss is testimony to the recovery that has taken place, despite the severe drought that has plagued the region for several years. Skeletons of Karoo are proof that Lettas Kraal was not spared from the severe drought. However, following good rains this year, seedlings can be seen germinating all over, and life is rapidly returning to the veld.
The topography of the property is diverse, ranging in altitude from about 670 m above sea-level in the valleys to mountain peaks over 1,200 m high. The varied topography yields a wide variety of habitat types, in turn supporting a fascinating range of plant and animal species. The main vegetation types that occur on the property include Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos, Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld, and Western Little Karoo. Only a small portion of the farm (less than 50 ha), is used for farming operations, including some irrigated grazing, horse paddocks, and an olive tree orchard. The farm has its own artisanal olive oil press, which produces highly sought-after olive oil for the boutique market under the Lettas Kraal label. Lettas Kraal is also the location of an approved African Horse Sickness Quarantine Station for horses moving into the horse sickness controlled area in the Western Cape, and the horse sickness free area in Cape Town. Johan also stables his dressage competition horses, which compete in the top rankings in South Africa, on Lettas Kraal. The rest of the 7,000 ha property is dedicated to conservation, and Johan approached the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and CapeNature to formally secure the protection of this unique piece of land.
Lettas Kraal lies within the Succulent Karoo Biome, recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot. In addition to the biodiversity value of the property, Lettas Kraal also borders the spectacular Anysberg Nature Reserve, and when declared, will expand the existing protected area considerably. The EWT carried out a small targeted camera trap survey in 2019 and confirmed the presence of Riverine Rabbits on Lettas Kraal. After consideration, the provincial conservation authority has given the green light to proceed with the declaration. The Endangered Wildlife Trust is partnering with Lettas Kraal to complete the declaration process, and carry out surveys to develop comprehensive species lists for the property.
The first step to developing an inventory of all things great and small on Lettas Kraal took place in July. An intrepid group of very determined conservationists went head-on with a mammoth cold front, racing the weather to place 98 camera traps on Lettas Kraal to survey biodiversity. EWT’s Bonnie Schumann and Esther Matthew headed the expedition. Johan and his wife Tessa (who also hiked with teams), and good friends Renier Balt and his wife Millene, managed travel logistics on the farm, to ensure teams could access all the camera stations by the fastest routes possible.
Marius Brand and his team from the Anysberg Nature Reserve lent a much appreciated neighbourly hand, helping to carry the heavy stakes for the cameras, and sharing expertise placing cameras in this rugged terrain. Certain camera stations were placed to target leopards, with two cameras being placed opposite one another, to enable individual identification of any leopards photographed. The Cape Leopard Trust’s Anita Wilkinson and Jeannie Hayward joined the expedition to share their leopard (photo) capturing expertise. Sites needed to be carefully selected to increase the odds of capturing images of these elusive carnivores. Carina Becker, Manager of the Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy (which is supported by the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust from WWF-SA), also joined the expedition, both gaining and sharing experience in camera placement. Teams hiked up to 14 km a day, through rugged terrain and in freezing temperatures, managing to finish the placements in just two full days, proving the adage that “many hands make light work”.
And so begins a new chapter in the Lettas Kraal story. Partnerships between private individuals, provincial conservation authorities, and NGOs are critical to ensuring that South Africa’s biodiversity is adequately protected. The Biodiversity Stewardship Programme is the perfect tool to facilitate this vision of extending biodiversity protection outside of the state-owned National Parks and Nature Reserves. Private and communal landowners and users are the custodians of most of our biodiversity, and the biodiversity stewardship mechanism offers the opportunity to formally recognise their valuable role in ensuring ecosystem functionality and critically important biodiversity conservation across landscapes and biomes. The EWT Drylands Conservation Programme’s work is made possible through the support of, and partnerships with, landowners.
Our broader work in the Drylands landscape forms part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF5) funded Sustainable Land Management Project at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Projects are also supported by Rand Merchant Bank.
A TRIBUTE TO A TRUE CONSERVATION HERO
Tanya Smith, on behalf of the EWT family
“It is not length of life, but depth of life”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is no truer than for Thabo Madlala, a life too short but a life so deep.
We as the EWT family are incredibly saddened and heartbroken over the passing of Thabo Madlala, our Drakensberg Community Project Officer within the Crane Programme. Thabo joined the African Crane Conservation Programme, under the EWT/ICF Partnership in 2013 as an EcoRanger, bringing with him his unwavering love of nature, passion for people and an understanding that together we can make a difference. Thabo was a humble and thoughtful man, who listened attentively and spoke truthfully – his love of the Drakensberg mountains (his home) fuelled his commitment to ensure the youth of today nurtured a love of nature, the mountains, the flowing rivers, the wild flowers and our cranes. In 2016 he initiated the Mqatsheni Hiking and Environmental Solutions club, as a way of getting youth excited about the Southern Drakensberg mountains that surrounded their homes in Mqatsheni. Please see this video shared on Thabo’s Facebook to see the impact that hiking club has had on young men and women.
Thabo was passionate about so much, his wife and his five children being his first, his passion and love for running his second, and a more recent passion being bee-keeping. Thabo was a wonderfully talented bee-keeper and developed and mentored new bee-keepers in the Southern Drakensberg, establishing the small enterprise “Drakensberg Indigenous Honey”. Thabo touched the lives of so many and has left a legacy of compassion, conservation and conversation. We share our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and anyone who feels the loss of his life gone too soon.
WOMEN’S MONTH INTERVIEW WITH HONOURABLE MINISTER BARBARA CREECY
Megan Murison, EWT Communications Officer, meganm@ewt.org.za The EWT had the privilege of chatting to the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, for our Women’s Month campaign, highlighting strong female role models and the critical roles women play in building a resilient and equitable society. Honourable Minister Creecy spoke to EWT CEO Yolan Friedmann and Field Officer for the Wildlife and Energy Programme Ndzalama Chauke.
Minister Creecy was appointed to President Ramoposa’s cabinet approximately a year ago and has been working in the governmental space since 1994. Minister Creecy spoke to the impact of environmental degradation and how it is the most vulnerable communities who are most harshly impacted. Since becoming a mother, she is more conscious of and concerned by the threats facing the future of our planet.
Please see the full interview to hear the fascinating perspectives shared by one of our leading ladies.
It is necessary to highlight the profiles of women in positions of power as role models for the youth, particularly young women.
