Page 7 | Endangered Wildlife Trust

EWT Conservation Canines show their worth during police operations

By Eleanor Momberg

K9 unit dogs supporting police operations in Western Cape

Reaper and Shadi (left) and Mufasa and Cat (right) searching vehicles at Roadblocks

The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Canine Conservation Unit recently showed their worth during a joint security operation in the Western and Northern Cape to address the illegal plant trade.

Between 24 June and 12 July, EWT dog handlers Shadi Henrico, Cliantha (known as Cat) Kay and Esther Mathew, accompanied by five working dogs—Ike, Reaper, Kisha, Mufasa and Delta—supported the SA Police Service, the Border Management Agency, provincial environmental departments and Green Scorpions in operations.

This involved travelling more than 7,000 kms in travel over the three-week period, during which they provided support at two vehicle checkpoints, five roadblocks and six vehicle patrols, searching more than 150 vehicles in areas such as Ashton, Touwsrivier, Kamieskroom and Garies. During these roadblocks, they detected licensed firearms being transported by their owners, and a number of other plant species being transported across the provinces. They also search eight Courier Guy parcel depots and kiosks in Worcester, Swellendam, Robertson, Vredendal and Springbok.

The importance of efforts by the police, the Green Scorpions and provincial conservation bodies, supported by the EWT, cannot be overemphasised at a time when succulent and bulb plant poaching is on the increase in the Northern and Western Cape. Saving succulent species from extinction is becoming more difficult, especially since many of the Conophytum species are hard to grow.

Information published by Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring organisation, indicates that more than one million succulents have been illegally harvested in South Africa since 2019. This represents “650 different species” which have been seized by authorities.

The Succulent Karoo, spanning the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, is the most diverse succulent hotspot in the world, and it is under significant threat from escalating poaching of endemic succulent plants that are prized by collectors in Asia and Europe. It is home to more than 6,000 succulent species, of which around 40% are endemic.

These plants are small and inconspicuous and can be easily hidden in parcels and transported by road and air. Poachers are known to rely on existing postal networks, including private courier companies, to move poached plants across the country to ports of exit.

The EWT presently has five dogs trained and able to detect four of the 10 succulent plant species. But, they are able to indicate the presence of other Conophytum species targeted by poachers.

Plant poaching is often associated with other types of crime, including stock theft. By remaining flexible and responsive, we were able to assist the SAPS with a variety of operations throughout the region, acting on the intel they received. Logistically, this meant a lot of packing up and settling dogs into new environments, something which our handlers did very well.

It must be mentioned that not all activity was linked to finding criminals. During the first week in the Western Cape, the K9s received additional and refresher training to keep their noses primed for the detection of plant and animal species that are being illegally traded.

Besides a demonstration of their skills to detect tortoises and conophytums in McGregor, Ike, Kisha, Mufasa, Reaper, and Delta refreshed their scent detection of conophytums, the succulent species most illegally traded in South Africa at present, during training at the Worcester Botanical Gardens. The following day, the canines visited Exotic Animal World in the Western Cape to receive training on live Armadillo Girdled Lizards. This was the first time Mufasa’s detection skills on a live Armadillo Girdled Lizard were tested, impressing Cliantha, his handler.

At the Namaqua National Park, Shadi, with Reaper and Ike, and Cat, with Mufasa and Kisha, assisted at roadblocks along routes regularly used by plant and reptile poachers, and supported in vehicle searches inside the Park.

The EWT K9 Unit will continue working our dogs on the most relevant illegally harvested plant species to support the authorities in the best way possible. We aim to reduce poaching activities through the interception of illegally harvested plants, thereby disrupting the supply chain, assisting law enforcement agencies in their duties and ultimately bringing criminals to justice.

EWT Canine Conservation Unit assisting law enforcement in South Africa

Right: Kisha doing parcel searches

The EWT’s Canine Conservation Unit (CCU) is a special project established to support the conservation efforts of the EWT through scent detection and tracking dog services. The unit is also available as a service provider to our conservation partners, private landowners and other stakeholders, where dogs can perform a variety of priority conservation-focused tasks. This is further supported by the EWT through handler training and certification. There are two types of work done by the EWT’s K9 unit. Anti-poaching dogs are trained to track people, locate snares, find arms and ammunition, and help with the detection of evidence at crime scenes. Our detection dogs are capable of detecting various plant and animal samples, and thus have a wide range of possible conservation benefits and applications. In addition to working to detect the illegal export of particularly wildlife products at O R Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), we are continuously exploring new roles for our conservation canines to ensure that the EWT remains recognised as an industry leader in the field of working dogs.

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Rugezi Marsh Report shows importance of scaling up transformational conservation Interventions

By Eleanor Momberg

Sustainable agriculture practices at Rugezi Marsh to support conservation

Avocado plants to promote Sustainable Livelihoods

Efforts by the International Crane Foundation, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (ICF/EWT) and Rwanda Polytechnic – Kitabi College (former IPRC Kitabi) to ensure the conservation integrity of the Rugezi marsh in Rwanda have shown the importance of transformational conservation interventions.

The 12-year Report Rugezi Marsh, published by the ICF, has concluded that its future focus will be scaling up transformational conservation interventions to reduce threats to Grey Crowned Cranes, wetlands and catchments, while increasing the resilience of communities and landscapes.

Beginning

In 2012, the ICF/EWT Partnership entered into a hosting agreement with Kitabi College of Conservation and Environment Management (KCCEM)—today known as the Rwanda Polytechnic – Kitabi College (RP Kitabi)—to implement a project titled “Securing and improving the ecological integrity of Rugezi Marsh and other key wetlands under threat in Rwanda, for people, cranes and biodiversity”.

The project stemmed from the realisation that the remaining wetlands in the Central African country were under severe threat of degradation, or being lost, as a result of encroaching agriculture and unsustainable resource use driven by climate change and declining agricultural productivity on hillslopes close by.

The value of the ecosystem services that wetlands provide in this water- and wetland-rich country needed to be understood and managed sustainably by both local communities and national decision makers.

The project had initially covered Rugezi Marsh, Nyabarongo Wetland, and Akanyaru Wetland. The work at Nyabarongo and Akanyaru wetlands was limited to community awareness, youth environmental education, crane monitoring, and generating baseline information through wetland assessments and socio-economic surveys.

In 2017, there was a scaling down in project activities with more targeted attention being turned to Rugezi as a hotbed of biodiversity supporting more than 40 resident bird species, including 20% of the country’s population of the Endangered Grey Crowned Cranes and 60% of the global population of the Endangered Grauer’s Swamp Warbler.

Moreover, more than 300,000 people depend on the 6,735-hectare wetland for their livelihoods by providing water, fodder for livestock, and plant materials for crafts and construction. In addition, Rugezi Marsh is a water source for three downstream hydropower stations, which generate 10% of the country’s energy, making it an integral component of the electricity supply to a developing country.

Despite its biodiversity and socioeconomic importance, Rugezi Marsh had been threatened with both widespread land degradation and loss of natural forest cover due to extensive hillslope cultivation and associated erosion and siltation. Chronic poverty and population growth forced the local communities to utilise wetland resources in an unsound manner, including unsustainable harvesting of wetland products, clearing and drainage for crop production, overgrazing of livestock, and excessive wildlife poaching, among others.

As a result, approximately 56% of the wetland was degraded to some degree with no monitoring system or plan for equitable harvesting of wetland products, despite the wetland’s role in sustaining the livelihoods of local communities.

International Crane Foundation and EWT collaboration at Rugezi Marsh

Education & Awareness spreading for World Wetlands Day

Our work

The International Crane Foundation, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Rwanda Polytechnic – Kitabi College delivered very successful conservation outputs at Rugezi Marsh, contributing directly to numerous national priorities and global conservation agendas.

Nationally, the project responded to Rwanda’s 2016 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which recognises the connection between wetland biodiversity loss and poverty alleviation. Internationally, the work aligns with that of, amongst others, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), the Ramsar Convention, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Generating Scientific data to inform conservation practice and policy

A cornerstone of our work at Rugezi Marsh was to document the plant and animal species inhabiting the wetland and its immediate catchments. This provided information on how best to manage and conserve the area and provided valuable data that could inform future ecotourism projects.

To this end, we conducted rapid biodiversity surveys (bioblitzes) to develop species lists. These revealed a total of 123 bird species, including two species listed as Endangered – Grauer’s Rush Warbler (Bradypterus graueri) and Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) – and three Near-Threatened species – Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) and Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris). The 13 mammals recorded included the Vulnerable Delany’s Swamp Mouse (Delanymys brooksi), the Near Threatened African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) and Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys rahmi). A total of 13 amphibian and four reptile species were also recorded, as were 91 plant species from 50 families.

Based on its biodiversity value and contribution to hydropower, Rugezi Marsh was declared a RAMSAR Site (or a Wetland of International Importance) in 2005. However, the more than 120,000 people dwelling within its steep catchment historically relied on intensive subsistence agriculture to survive.

Following a series of studies to understand the extent of the human-induced and environmental problems faced by the wetland, a management plan for the area was devised and implemented.

Alternative cooking stoves provided to communities to promote sustainable livelihoods

Among these are:

Awareness and education in surrounding communities, focusing on the Grey Crowned Cranes and wetlands conservation nationally.
The Crane Ambassador Programme, where 40 volunteer community members have been trained on how to effectively deliver the crane conservation message in their communities through different platforms, including community meetings, church services, or at schools.
The development of protocols for monitoring crane population trends, breeding site status, crane sightings, crane incidents and breeding success enabling us to collect long-term data and establish a database from which we can understand these aspects of crane ecology.

Among the most important initiatives has been the work to secure sustainable and resilient livelihoods. These promote alternative livelihood options to those relying on unsustainable resources, and resources and contribute to the improved health and well-being of children and adults.

These include:

A Beekeeping (Apicilture) project now boasts a beekeeping cooperative of 189 members each with a further 352 extended family members benefiting from the initiative. This addresses youth unemployment and reduces poaching.
Avocado production, which addresses malnutrition among children and meets the ever-increasing market demand for avocados locally.
Napier Grass cutting is being supplied to the community to plant on their private land to limit grass harvesting in the marsh for cattle fodder and other uses.
Supplying 600 mattresses to two women’s groups to limit grass harvesting to make traditional sleeping mats, which poses a key threat to the Grey Crowned Cranes breeding at Rugezi Marsh. This has also contributed to improved hygiene in beneficiaries’ homes and increased school attendance by children, and contributed to a reduction in gender-based violence
Energy-Saving Cooking Stoves have been provided to 40 families to reduce the amount of firewood used
Ecotourism initiatives are being investigated, given the fact that Rugezi Marsh is only 25 km from the Volcanoes National Park, a primary tourist attraction in Rwanda, renowned for its gorilla viewing.
Climate-Smart Agriculture practices are being promoted to help farmers increase their productivity and incomes sustainably while enhancing their resilience to and protecting against climate-related shocks.

Rugezi Marsh conservation protecting Grey Crowned Cranes in Rwanda

Providing community members with mattresses to promote Sustainable Livelihood

What we have learned

Throughout our projects, we have learned that the success of any livelihood enterprise depends on the degree to which local communities understand, own, and manage that enterprise and incorporate it into their community planning and vision. This has enabled us to focus strongly on strengthening local capacity to develop and manage livelihood options in a sustainable manner through training and mentorship.

Through interaction with community groups, we have learned that gender training and self-esteem training should be essential components of the early stages of any community livelihood intervention. Gender training enhances women’s participation and induces equal contribution from both women and men. We have also learned that integrating extension services in livelihood programs is paramount. It creates a strong link between communities and local governments that provide extension services.

The Future

Both the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority, the current custodian of the marsh as a Ramsar Site, and the Rwanda Development Board, under whom it would fall once declared a national park, have expressed full commitment to having the Rugezi Marsh declared a national park. Most of the community members around the marsh and catchment also support elevating its status to a protected area. The motivation for this is the anticipated benefits from increased tourism and livelihood opportunities that they believe will result from protecting the marsh and its wildlife.

Community members participating in Rugezi Marsh wetland conservation initiatives

Climate Smart Agriculture around Rugezi Marsh

** The International Crane Foundation and Endangered Wildlife Trust partnership would like to thank the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Burera and Gicumbi local governments, as well as the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association to work with Ecorangers, aerial surveys and trade. We also had additional collaborations with Conservation

International for Conservation Agreements and with the ARCOS Network. The ICF/EWT/RP-Kitabi College acknowledges

the support from Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, Rainforest Trust, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Leiden Conservation Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation, among others.

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An African Wild Dog rescue mission that ignited Wild Dog Conservation in Namibia.

By Cole du Plessis, Project Manager: Carnivore Range Expansion Project

Wild Dog conservation mission in Namibia with veterinarians and volunteers

Relocating (left) and Collaring (right)

Working in the world of conservation is not easy. Almost on a daily basis, we deal with animal welfare, multiple stakeholders, wide-ranging philosophies (and sometimes egos), legal requirements, decision-making processes, and the continuous urgency to fundraise in order to achieve high-impact results. The admin and emails slot in between these demands.

When we were travelling back from Botswana following a 24-hour African Wild Dog capture and relocation, we passed through the Martin’s Drift border post. It had been an intensive stint that involved hours of driving. We were relieved to be back in South Africa and looking forward to some time to rest and recover, but the world of Wild Dog conservation had other plans.

In the weeks leading up to the Botswana mission, I had been in touch with the Kalahari Wild Dog Project—a new and emerging organisation working in Namibia. They had informed me of a Wild Dog that had been captured in a gin trap  set out by a farmer. Having been alerted to the situation, the team had immediately travelled to the farm where this Wild Dog had been captured, fully expecting to have to euthanise it on arrival. But it wasn’t that simple.

Upon investigation, the team learned that the Wild Dog had, for three days, been contained in a cage outside a workshop area where there was a continuous flow of trucks and people. For a wild animal, this is nothing short of agonising.

To end the suffering, the veterinarian quickly immobilised the Wild Dog. A closer inspection revealed that the captured animal was a female—and she was lactating! This drastically changed the whole scenario, requiring not only the immediate treatment and relocation of the female to a clinic a few hours away, but also finding her pups.

Nadja le Roux, the founder of the Kalahari Wild Dog Project, phoned me and provided me with an update. In my time working with Wild Dogs, I have experienced some horrific physical injuries. However, my findings have shown that it is often emotional stress that takes the greatest toll on a Wild Dog. Physically, they are tough, but separate the individual from its pack, and it becomes weak.

This socially complex species suffers from ‘broken heart syndrome’. All our conservation efforts in dealing with Wild Dogs factor in this crucial detail. This is the reason that their emotional sensitivity has been incorporated into our Standard Operating Procedures, and the findings have been documented.

The gin trap had gripped the Wild Dog on her back leg. Her cold foot and zero sensitivity between the pads indicated that she had lost the use of her leg, and infection was already setting in. The leg needed to be amputated. She also had a cracked rib.

When Nadja called me for advice, I was less concerned about the physical injuries than the dehydration and stress she was suffering. Every effort and available physical aid would be required to save this Wild Dog—fluids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and warmth. It was touch-and-go, and if she did survive, the next steps would be complex. At this point, this female needed her pack to survive as much as they needed her to ensure their own survival.

Tracking and releasing African Wild Dog pack in Namibia sanctuary

Image credit: Be Wild

Though it had by then been four days without Mom, there was a chance that the pups were still alive. Returning her to where she had been captured was also not considered wise. It was then decided that the only way forward was to release her with a tracking collar and convince the farmer that this would provide us enough intelligence so the whole pack could be captured and removed to the safety of a suitable habitat. This would be done on condition that the farmer would remove his gin traps and potential poison. He obliged and agreed to allow the Wild Dogs the freedom to roam, but only for a short period.

Following surgery, the Wild Dog was released running around two kilometres before settling down. Everyone waited in anticipation, wondering whether she was going to die or whether she had been reunited with her pack.

When Nadja returned to the area a few days later to survey the area using a drone, she found the female alive, with two other adults and what appeared at the time to be six pups. It was a miracle.

After two weeks, the farmer was losing patience and one of the adult Wild Dogs had disappeared. This raised concerns that the female would have to leave her pups to go hunting with the pack. This was when Nadja called me for assistance.

Less than 24 hours later, I was on a flight to Windhoek. A three-hour drive later, Nadja introduced me to the team comprising Namibian Government Officials, members of the Kalahari Wild Dog Project and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, veterinarians, a wildlife helicopter pilot and several volunteers. After a briefing, we prepared to capture and move the adults and retrieve the pups the next day.

The aim was to move this pack to safety, away from threats such as gin traps, poisoning and snaring in a cattle farming area where conflict with people was inevitable.

This particular pack had had very little exposure to humans, and their den site was inaccessible. Because of their fear of vehicles, we opted to build a hide near the den and attempt to lure them in with ‘hoo’ calls and a carcass. But, this didn’t work. So, we decided to dart them from a helicopter. Within an hour, the Alpha male and female had been darted and secured, loaded into crates, and taken to the selected sanctuary. We then needed to focus on the pups, which appeared to be between six and eight weeks old.

Locating the pups proved to be a challenge. After hours of excavating at the site where we had spotted the Alpha pair the night before, we realised that the pack may have moved during the night to a spot where we had earlier darted the Alpha female.

That was when we stumbled upon several pups lying outside their new den. Frightened by our presence, they disappeared into a nearby hole. Careful excavation was once again underway. It was a slow, tiring and gruelling task which became ever more difficult and dangerous as the tunnels deepened, and darkness fell. But by 11 pm, we had retrieved all the pups, eight in total, and had immediately taken them to the boma four hours away.

When we arrived at the sanctuary, we found that the two adults were doing well. But, given how cold it was, it was decided that the pups’ crate needed to be taken to my room until sunrise. At daybreak, we loaded the pups and the adults and took them to the boma, where the pups were placed into an artificial den (with sand from their old den and grass from their crates) before releasing the adults. The two adults and all the pups survived the mission. A live camera at the den has confirmed that the adults are feeding and bringing food back to the pups.

A hearty development during the rescue has been the change in the farmer’s outlook about Wild Dog after he voluntarily came to help the team locate and capture the pups.

Thank you to the wonderful Kalahari Wild Dog Project team, who never gave up on that little pack. Just this one critical experience has given rise to multiple major wins for conservation. These include:

The survival of a heroic female Wild Dog and the rescue of her pack, which were saved from certain death.
This was the first capture of its kind in Namibia. The operational team, initially quite sceptical of whether the capture would work, were left feeling very excited, and we all learned and gained from this shared experience.
This was a collaborative operation with multiple Namibian partners eager to learn and contribute.
The Namibian government has indicated that it wants to do more for Wild Dog conservation and has promised representation at the Wild Dog Advisory Group.

A workshop is being held with numerous stakeholders to discuss the conservation and management of Namibia’s Wild Dogs, with some exciting initiatives on the table.

The team sent the farmer photos of the release, and he has asked for the final video so that he can showcase it to his farming community. This is possibly the biggest win of all, as knowledge and understanding of our wildlife and the critical role that they play in our world is essential to their survival through the generations.

African Wild Dog rescue Namibia female and pups

** Thank You to the Painted Wolf Foundation for your support

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Medike Nature Reserve has a new radio communication system

In the field

Medike Nature Reserve has a new radio communication system

Radio repeater installed at Medike Nature Reserve to improve communication coverage across the Soutpansberg

The EWTs Conservation Campus Manager, Werner Pretorius last month visited the Medike Nature Reserve in the Soutpansberg to conduct communication tests and assess possible locations for the installation of additional repeaters. These repeaters, both analogue and digital, will improve the coverage and reliability of radio communication across the reserve.

Radio communication is a vital tool for operations within the Medike Nature Reserve. It enhances coordination, improves response times, and increases overall safety for both staff and guests. Radios also play a crucial role in communicating with neighbouring reserves during emergencies, including responding to poaching incidents and coordinating fire response. This saves time and reduces fuel wastage through more efficient communication.

During his visit, Werner inspected the existing repeater system. He rewired the box, replaced old cables, and properly insulated them to protect against Sun damage. The installation and upgrading of the communications infrastructure at the reserve is to happen in phases. These include upgrading communication within the Medike Nature Reserve and expanding the network to connect with neighbouring reserves and the broader Soutpansberg area.

learn more about medike

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First Conservation Servitude Wholly Initiated by the EWT Registered in the Northern Cape

By Zanne Brink, Drylands Strategic Conservation Landscape Manager

Northern Cape biodiversity conservation through Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

The first Conservation Servitude initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust has been registered in the Northern Cape.

The registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude is to ensure the long-term protection of, particularly the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise, its habitat and the associated biodiversity on a farm that has been occupied by the same family for six generations.

The protection of dwarf tortoises is critical, especially because they occur in very specific habitat types along the West Coast of South Africa, inland to Namakwaland, and while this is a large area, they actually only occur in a few tiny remnant patches of critical habitat.

Lokenburg is situated in the district of Nieuwoudtville, widely known for its unique vegetation and springtime floral splendour. The farm is unique in two respects. It was the first farm in the area to receive Title Deeds in 1774, and it is the only farm to host a dwelling built by each one of the six generations that have lived on the property. Situated in the Bokkeveld, an area previously known for its large Springbok population, the working farm boasts a large variety of plant species. The owners, Nelmarie and Herman Nel, farm sheep, cattle, and rooibos tea.

It is a farm with a rich history, with numerous explorers traversing the area and documenting the rich soils and the associated fauna and flora since the mid-1700s. The late Francois Jacobus van der Merwe (the owners’ great-grandfather) was the only one of the four van der Merwe children whose land has remained intact for his descendants. This favoured the family and ensured that the land has been occupied by the same family for six generations, all of whom have always prioritised the conservation and preservation of their area because of their love of the land.

Lokenburg is situated in the winter rainfall region and lies in the transition zone between the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes. This makes the farm remarkable from a botanical point of view as it is also straddled by no less than four Bioregions: the North-West Fynbos Bioregion, the Western Fynbos-Renosterveld Bioregion, the Karoo Renosterveld Bioregion and the Trans-escarpment Succulent Bioregion.

Succulent Karoo Biome biodiversity at Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

The Succulent Karoo Biome, which boasts the richest abundance of succulent flora on earth, is one of only two arid zones that have been declared Biodiversity Hotspots. The biome is home to over 6,000 plant species, 40% of which are endemic, and another 936 (17%) are listed as Threatened. This biodiversity is due to massive speciation of an arid-adapted biota in response to unique climatic conditions and high environmental heterogeneity. Lokenburg lies on the eastern edge of the Succulent Karoo Biome, within the Hantam-Tankwa-Roggeveld Subregion.

A working farm, it boasts a variety of plant species, including Iris and Ixia, as well as five springs that support the owners, Nelmarie and Herman Nel and their son, Eduard, who farm sustainably with sheep, cattle, and rooibos tea. A more recent addition to their farming practices has been an entrance to the essential oil industry as a result of their great passion for the medicinal value of our indigenous flora. In 2023, the owners became members of the South African Essential Oil Producers and offer products in support of indigenous essential oils, some of which are produced on the farm, such as Lavandin. Their vision is to further expand the essential oil enterprise to make it sustainable and economically viable for the benefit of the community and environment.

Over the years, the family has aimed to preserve their land for future generations through sustainable farming practices alongside the preservation of the rich biodiversity found on their land. This has been enabled through the implementation of a Biodiversity Servitude, which ensures that the owners are not just farmers but also stewards of conservation. Through this, they can make a positive contribution to the community, economy, and environment through this step.

Sustainable farming and biodiversity protection at Lokenburg farm

Left: Lokenburg Lavender Harvest.

This Servitude has been registered across the Lokenburg farm. Specific conservation management areas have been designated within this area—a collaboration between the landowners and the EWT—and where targeted management actions and development restrictions will be in place. Additional, species-focused, conservation actions will also take place across the broader landscape and include management of the Pied Crow (Corvus albus) populations in the area, which are unnaturally high and, through excessive predation, are driving the tortoise populations to extinction.

The primary strategic management taken for the Servitude has been encapsulated in the Lokenburg Biodiversity Management Plan (LBMP). This plan also informs the need for specific conservation actions and operational procedures, providing for capacity building, future thinking, and continuity of management, enabling the management of the Servitude in a manner that values the purpose for which it has been established. Additionally, it ensures, through collaboration, that no detrimental forms of development or agricultural activities, will take place within the designated focal areas. Key to the management plan is the conservation and protection of Chelonians (includes all tortoise and terrapin species). These are one of the most imperilled vertebrate groups, with over 60% of the world’s 357 known species threatened with extinction. Nine of the 13 southern African tortoise species are found in the arid Karoo region where they face multiple threats, including habitat loss and degradation, predation, illegal collection and in fire-prone habits, uncontrolled fires.

This farms rich biodiversity sustains numerous other Species of Conservation Concern (SoCC) including numerous classified as Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among these are a number of bird and plant species, such as the Non-Threatened Tent Tortoise (Psammobates tentorius) and Karoo Korhaan (Eupodotis vigorsii), and Vulnerable Species such as the Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), Southern Black Korhaan (Afrotis afra) and Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), as well as the Endangered Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) and Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus).

As stewards of our land, we work together to ensure long term sustainable agricultural conservation to the benefit of humans and species. We look forward to our path together to conserve ecosystems and landscapes.

EWT and Nel family collaboration for Lokenburg Conservation Servitude

Top left: Lokenburg Family

** The EWT’s work to secure the registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude was made possible by IUCN NL, the Ford Wildlife Foundation and the Nel family.

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The Endangered Wildlife Trust mourns two former colleagues

In memorium

The Endangered Wildlife Trust mourns two former colleagues

Endangered Wildlife Trust staff this month mourned the passing of two former colleagues who had played an important role not only in their personal development as conservationists, but also within their respective fields of expertise.

Dr Paul Bartels was considered a leader in the use of assisted reproductive technology for wildlife conservation. He was a pioneer in this cutting-edge field which merges science and conservation by aiming to futureproof the genetic composition of captive and wild gene pools when wildlife populations may not be able to do this naturally.

His vision led to the establishment of the first wildlife biobank in Africa—the Wildlife Biological Resource Centre (wBRC), was established in 1996 as a working group within the EWT. The wBRC was dedicated to the collection, processing, banking, use, and distribution of wildlife biomaterials for biodiversity conservation and biotechnology development.

In 1998, the wBRC made global history with the birth of the world’s first artificially inseminated wildlife baby, an eland female called Graca, after South Africa’s then First Lady. The birth of Graca showed the world that the genetics from wild species can still play a role in maintaining genetic diversity, even after the donor animal has died before collection.

Paul’s work was considered of strategic importance, resulting in the wBRC moving from the Endangered Wildlife Trust to the National Zoological Gardens under the National Research Foundation, and later became the National Wildlife Biobank under the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

Paul worked for the EWT for more than a decade, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of this visionary leader in biotech and wildlife conservation. We are, however, eternally grateful for the legacy he leaves in the form of cutting-edge science, dozens of empowered and highly trained scientists, an African wildlife biobank and leading science that can be used to save wildlife, support ethically and sustainably food security and secure the genetic diversity and future of dozens of threatened African wildlife species.

Glenn Ramke was not only instrumental in the conceptualisation of community engagement facilitation on issues that affected cranes, but also considered the matriarch and a loved and valuable member of the African Crane Conservation (ACCP) team. Her career at the EWT is outlined in her book My Crane Years.

Announcing her passing, ACCP manager Kerryn Morrison said that Glenn, who was a member of the South African crane team for more than 20 years, left a legacy and is now at peace.

Mwape Sishilongo said Glenn was not only gentle, funny, friendly and knowledgeable, and had showed him his first Blue Crane at Wakkestroom when he visited the area with colleagues Adalbert Aineo-mucunguzi and Bradley Gibbons.

“It was a spiritual experience for me – to have my first Blue Crane fly a full circle around us!,” he said.

Bradley Gibson said Glenn’s death had marked a sad day for him and Samson Phakathi as she had been such a big part of their lives for the best part of 25 years.

“She taught us a lot. She knew all the Wakkerstroom crane pairs and could tell us many stories about each pair. She would spend hours watching them and could monitor the growth of the chicks and the behaviour of the parents,” said Bradley adding the most valuable lesson she taught him was that believing you could do something only became possible when you put your mind to it.

Samson said it was after volunteering for the EWT for two years at Wakkerstroom that it was Glenn who reached out to Kerryn Morrison and Kevin McCann to employ him full-time, marking the start of a relationship characterised by adventures, learnings and above all the love and appreciation for cranes, habitats, and people.

“Glenn honestly believed in me, and she would go out of her way to see to it that I receive all the opportunities and support I needed to make it into the conservation field,” he said.

It was because of their work in Wakkerstroom that an education and awareness initiative was developed in the EWT, with the two running a successful farm worker education and awareness programme, which assisted them to discover new breeding pairs of cranes.

Samson’s words echo those of his colleagues: Glenn was a mentor, teacher, friend, mother figure and a resolute conservationist who taught the EWT’s craniacs to be critical and independent thinkers.

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Unsustainable anthropogenic mortality threatens the long-term viability of lion populations in Mozambique

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

Mozambique, home to Africa’s seventh largest lion population with an estimated 1,500 mature individuals, faces a critical challenge: its lions are being pushed towards an unsustainable future.

A recent study by Almeida et al. (2025) highlighted the escalating threat of human-induced mortality to lion populations across Mozambique. Still recovering from decades of warfare, these populations contend with ongoing conflicts, widespread socio-economic fragility, and the alarming reality of being a regional hotspot for the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), particularly for targeted lion poaching.

The study, in which the Endangered Wildlife Trust participated, set out to quantify the devastating impact of human-caused deaths – or anthropogenic mortality – on Mozambique’s lion populations between 2010 and 2023, and to project their future viability under varying detection rates of these mortalities. The researchers compiled extensive monitoring records and national population estimates to analyse these trends and predict future scenarios for these vulnerable populations.

Alarming Findings: The Rising Threat of Anthropogenic Pressures

The study alarming key findings show that between 2010 and 2023, a staggering 326 incidents of human-caused mortality, involving 426 individual lions, were recorded. This represents an average of about 30 lion deaths annually, with a concerning surge over the 13-year period, from 9 to 49 annual mortalities. Demographically, male lions were disproportionately affected, accounting for 68% of known mortalities compared to 32% for females, with adults making up the vast majority (83%) of the victims.

Illegal activities were the most common cause of unnatural mortality; responsible for 65% of all lion mortalities. These included lions caught as bycatch in snares (27%), targeted poaching for their body parts (25%), and retaliatory killings (13%). Legal trophy hunting accounted for the remaining 33% of incidents. Over time, there was a significant increase in bushmeat bycatch and targeted poaching, while legal trophy hunting incidents decreased.

The methods used for killing also shifted, with an increase in poisoning and snaring, and a decrease in shooting.

Regional differences in motives were stark: targeted poaching and retaliatory killings were most prevalent in the southern region, bushmeat bycatch dominated the central region, and the northern region primarily faced threats from trophy hunting and targeted poaching. Specifically, targeted poaching of lions for their body parts saw a dramatic rise, jumping from an average of one lion per year between 2010 and 2017 to a shocking seven lions per year between 2018 and 2023.

The study also delved into perceived threats and management capacity.

The Perceived Anthropogenic Threat Index (ATI) indicated the highest threat levels in Coutada 13 and Niassa Special Reserve (SR). Conversely, the Perceived Resource and Capacity Index (RCI), which gauges the availability of resources and management capability to reduce lion mortality, was lowest for Niassa SR, Coutadas 9/13, and the Tchuma Tchato Community Programme, indicating a significant lack of resources in these areas – Niassa having the largest lion population in the country and a known stronghold for the species.

Population viability modelling revealed wide variations in the detection rates of human-caused lion deaths across different conservation areas. Gorongosa National Park (NP), Coutadas 9/13, and the Zambezi Delta demonstrated nearly complete detection (around 100%), which instils high confidence in their population projections. This high detection rate is largely attributed to these areas having sufficient resources for monitoring and effective management strategies, such as intensive lion-specific monitoring and robust anti-poaching coverage.

However, for Niassa SR in the northern region, the detection rate was estimated to be a worryingly low 20%. This implies that its reported annual human-caused mortality rate of 3.2% is likely a severe underestimation, with the true rate potentially around 16%. Similarly, Limpopo NP had a low detection rate (20-40%), suggesting a much higher actual mortality rate, ranging from 19.8% (without the buffering effect of connectivity to Kruger NP) to approximately 40% (with Kruger NP connectivity).

Future Projections: A Bleak Outlook Without Intervention

Future projections extending to 2040 paint a stark picture: without significant interventions, most lion populations in Mozambique are predicted to either remain suppressed or face further decline. Gorongosa NP offers a glimmer of hope, showing the highest projected annual growth rate of 6.5% and expected to reach its ecological carrying capacity by 2040, thanks to its low mortality rates and effective management. In contrast, Niassa SR’s population is projected to stagnate at roughly half its ecological carrying capacity, showing a concerning tendency towards decline, a direct consequence of its high mortality and low detection rates. Most alarmingly, Limpopo NP is projected to face functional extirpation by as early as 2030 if it loses the crucial buffering effect of its neighboring Kruger National Park. This dire forecast is a result of its small population size coupled with unsustainable levels of human-caused deaths.

Recommendations: Paving the Way to Reduce the Threat

This study powerfully underscores the urgent need for national-scale action to safeguard Mozambique’s lions. To counter these critical threats, the researchers put forth several vital recommendations: it is essential to improve monitoring of lion populations and human-caused mortalities by establishing standardized systems, which will provide more accurate data for assessing trends, evaluating interventions, and establishing evidence-based quota setting. Furthermore, enhanced site security and more effectively coordinated anti-poaching operations, including the development of integrated inter-agency task forces, are crucial for bolstering regional security and alleviating pressure on local lion populations. Addressing the illegal wildlife trade necessitates targeted investigations to disrupt IWT networks and direct intervention with judiciary systems to sensitise magistrates, ensuring a robust understanding and consistent application of wildlife laws.

While acknowledging legal trophy hunting’s vital role in funding, especially in Niassa where it covers about 30% of operational costs, the authors cautiously suggest compensating for illegal human-caused mortalities within quota setting to temporarily aid local population recovery. To bridge financial shortfalls, it is recommended to develop alternative wildlife-related investment opportunities and foster tripartite partnerships among government, hunting operators, and NGOs.

Attracting greater inward investment into the conservation sector is paramount, requiring local government to create a long-term enabling environment through clear policies on public-private partnerships, simplifying bureaucracy, and streamlining engagement processes. Crucially, all conservation actions and funding models must be designed around the needs and opportunities of local communities, ensuring they become enfranchised stakeholders in lion conservation with clear incentives to coexist with these magnificent animals.

Almeida, J., Briers-Louw, W.D., Jorge, A., Begg, C., Roodbol, M., Bauer, H., Loveridge, A., Wijers, M., Slotow, R., Lindsey, P. and Everatt, K., 2025. Unsustainable anthropogenic mortality threatens the long-term viability of lion populations in Mozambique. PLoS One, 20(6), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325745

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Where roads and wildlife collide: a study from south-central Uganda

By Erin Adams and Lizanne Roxburgh, Conservation Planning and Science Unit

Road networks have made it much easier for people to reach places that used to be difficult to access. However, as more roads are built, the risk of vehicles colliding with wildlife increases. One of the main ways humans and animals interact on roads is through animal and vehicle collisions. Although this happens often, it is not well-studied, especially in developing countries.

In a recent study, co-authored by EWT scientists*, road networks in south-central Uganda were examined to understand how many species were affected by collisions, and whether these incidents happened more frequently at certain times of the year or in specific locations.

The scientists studied three stretches of road, each 40km long, passing through three districts in south-central Uganda. These areas include two important wildlife habitats: the Kiyanja-Kaku wetland and Lake Mburo National Park. They surveyed these roads in the morning and afternoon once a month, focusing on both rainy (March – May) and dry (June – August) seasons. Their research took place from November 2019 to April 2024.

Each month, the scientists drove these routes at a steady speed of 15 km/h and stopped whenever they found roadkill. They recorded details like GPS location, date, time, species involved, weather conditions, season, road conditions, nearby vegetation, and how far the roadkill was from the nearest natural landscape. If they found animals that were still alive, they immediately reported them to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, who responded quickly to help.

Over the study period, the scientists recorded 161 wildlife collisions involving 178 animals. The animals belonged to different groups, including 12 mammal, five reptile, two amphibian, and 32 bird families. Some areas stood out as roadkill hotspots, where most collisions happened, and these were particularly places near wetlands and farmlands.

When researchers looked at the distance between roadkill incidents and natural landscapes, reptiles were found closest to these areas, followed by birds and amphibians. Bird and mammal collisions were more common during the rainy season than the dry season. They also noticed that animals active during the day (diurnal) were involved in collisions more often than those active at night (nocturnal). Fortunately, most of the affected animals were not considered threatened according to the IUCN Red List. However, they did record some collisions involving Near Threatened and Threatened species, and even one species listed as “Data Deficient,” meaning there isn’t enough information about it to assign a Red List Status.

The scientists emphasised that speed limits should be strictly enforced in areas with a lot of wildlife, such as wetlands and farmlands. They also suggested running driver awareness campaigns, especially during the rainy season, and installing speed bumps and warning signs on roads.

The EWT has a roadkill app called “EWT Road Watch” that can be downloaded from your phone’s app store. This can be used by the general public to submit any roadkill sightings along with the GPS co-ordinates. This will help us to figure out where the hotspots are for future interventions.

*Tayebwa, G., Nyadoi, P., Turyasingura, B., Engoru, P., & Aine-Omucunguzi, A. (2025). Wildlife–Vehicle Collisions in South-Central Uganda: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation. Conservation, 5(2), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation5020026

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Green roads and highways protect biodiversity

By Dr Thabo Hlatshwayo, Wildlife and Transport Project, Senior Field Officer

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to address around 700 delegates to the South African Transport Conference about the importance of green transport and steps that can be taken to mitigate the impact of national highways on habitat use and movement by wildlife.

This is the longest running transport conference in southern Africa serving as a forum to debate transport-related issues, including the provision of transport infrastructure, learn more about research in this field, new technological developments, and to build capacity.

During my presentation, I highlighted the fact that although transport infrastructure is critical to sustainable human economic development and society, poorly designed and built roads and highways may have negative ecological impacts.

Establishing green transport infrastructure has become an important element of sustainable development frameworks, and maintaining ecological connectivity between road-fragmented landscapes plays a significant role in conserving wildlife populations. Poorly planned transport infrastructure development can have severe impacts on ecological connectivity and species survival.

Roads can create barriers to wildlife movement, limiting the ability of terrestrial wildlife to find water, food, and mates. Furthermore, road fragmented landscapes accelerate incidents of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Whilst these incidents almost always result in wildlife mortality, they also impact populations of threatened and endangered species and pose road safety concerns for other road users (people).

These impacts are particularly relevant in South Africa, which has diverse and robust wildlife populations and is still transitioning to a greener economy.

My recently-completed PhD studies in ecological science expand on previous research by emphasising the urgent need for adopting road development projects that optimise social and economic benefits while safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems through the consideration and inclusion of ecological connectivity through wildlife crossing corridors. This study explored wildlife roadkill patterns and animal movement on South Africa’s national highways that intersect landscapes that are critical for biodiversity. We also evaluated the usefulness of existing road drainage underpasses not purposely built for wildlife by using camera traps at bridges, culverts and tunnels to determine whether these help animals to move across highways safely, contributing to a reduction in roadkill incidents and improving landscape ecological functionality.

The findings have been helpful in the following ways:

Guiding monitoring and modifying existing under-road culverts for reducing road-related biodiversity effects in South Africa and
Offering insights into the constraining variables that influence crossing structure index by wildlife.
Promoting the consideration and inclusion of ecological connectivity and biodiversity needs in road transport development sustainability frameworks in South Africa.

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Biodiversity and Business Unit contributes to development of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

By Catherine Kühn, Biodiversity Disclosure Project Manager

On the 2 July, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Biodiversity and Business Unit (BBU) team participated in continued discussions related to South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

This important focus group discussion with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the SA Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), business leaders, and sustainability partners helped to continue a collaborative co-development of national targets that align biodiversity and business priorities.

These discussions are not always easy, but they are a necessary step toward national cohesion and the integration of business imperatives into core operations. They are essential to ensure that the business plan of action is inclusive and achievable, with key outcomes helping to inform the update of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), due for submission in February 2026.

Brad Nelson, Acting Biodiversity and Business Unit Manager, presented our findings from our Biodiversity and Business Action Plan (BBAP) and Business Advisory Group insights on a strategic roadmap to 2030 and business indicators to help businesses embed biodiversity into their operations, reporting, and long-term strategies.

Key reflections included:

1. The importance of contextual and relevant targets and indicators, recognising that while reporting is already happening within frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), additional clarity and guidance are needed on the level of detail expected for biodiversity reporting.

2. There needs to be agreement on the materiality of biodiversity and the need to ensure it does not get buried within climate disclosures.

3. Strong consensus that reporting on biodiversity, including reporting around Target 15 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, should align with companies’ existing reporting processes rather than creating separate or duplicative mechanisms.

4. Recognition that more engagement is needed to develop shared guidance and clear expectations, especially on how private sector reporting will link to national targets once they are finalised.

The focus group meeting highlighted and reaffirmed the growing commitment from both government and the private sector to work collaboratively toward a nature-positive and economically resilient South Africa. As the deadline for the submission of South Africa’s revised NBSAP is almost upon us, it is important to continue these dialogue sessions and ensure that there is alignment between private sector and government.

The EWT remains committed to ensuring that business perspectives are considered and reflected in national biodiversity policy, and that companies are equipped with the tools, guidance, and support they need to adequately report and disclose. We look forward to the further outcomes from the additional sessions that were held with the other stakeholders that have also formed an important role in this whole-of-society process.

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