Botswana denies plans to evict Bushmen
Botswana denied claims by Survival International that it plans to evict hundreds of Bushmen from their land to make way for a wildlife park. Click here to read the story from SA’s Times Live
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#PHOTO TIP – Taking Photos on a Wildlife Safari 5 – Perspective
The majority of photographs taken in game parks are – naturally enough, taken from game vehicles. With larger mammals, like elephants, this is not a problem as you are at an ideal height to photograph them, but with smaller animals, and especially with cats that are lying around on the ground, you will frequently find yourself looking down on them.[…]
Read moreAfrica quiz – test your knowledge, just for fun
To celebrate Africa day on the anniversary of the birth of the Organisation of African Unity, 25 May 1963, The Guardian newspaper has put together this quiz. No Googling now:
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 4 – Use your surroundings
Don’t waste your time being jealous of the long telephoto lenses you see poking out of other vehicles, learn to make the best use of of the equipment you have, familiarity with your equipment will pay dividends time and time again. A close up is not always the best shot. While some close up shots work really well, even more[…]
Read moreDon’t buy Kenya’s ivory, MPs tell China
Kenya’s National Assembly has urged the Chinese government to demonstrate its true friendship by not buying ivory from the country. click here to read David Mwere’s article in The Star.
Read moreSouth Africa Calls on Neighbours to Assist in the Fight Against Rhino Poaching
Here’s a transcript of the SA Government press release. In a bid to curb the ongoing rhino poaching, Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe has called on authorities from neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Swaziland to help in this regard. Shongwe was addressing members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature during an oral reply session on Tuesday,[…]
Read moreHarsh penalties for wildlife poaching coming – Ruto
Some encouragingf news from Kenya. Deputy President William Ruto has said that the government will fast-track the Wildlife Bill to make the killing of the Big Five to a capital offence. Click here to read the story from Captial FM News
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 3 – Choosing the right time of day.
There’s a reason why most game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon – and it’s nothing to do with photography. It is the heat. Africa gets pretty hot during the middle of the day so most predators are either active during the night or in the early hours of morning and just as the sun is[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 2 – An understanding of animal behaviour.
It is something that cannot be over stressed. If you know a bit about the animals you are trying to photograph you can significantly improve your chances of getting great photographs. It’s not just knowing where to look but also what to expect. Often their movements or attitude will give clues as to what they are going to do next.[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 1 – Why don’t my photos look like THAT?
This series of blogs looks at the art of taking wildlife photos and some of the things you can do to ensure that your safari photographs are out of the ordinary. Expectations Running wildlife safaris throws up all sorts of challenges but one of the toughest to deal with is client expectations. With so much top quality wildlife photography[…]
Read moreKenya: Bill seeks to raise poaching penalties
Come on Kenya, let’s make it happen. Kenya MPs will today be requested to approve an emergency amendment to the Wildlife Act. The ammendement proposes raising penalties for killing elephants to up to 15 years in jail and/or a fine of Sh10 million (USD1.1m). These penalties are equivalent to those under the Economic Crimes Act, the Organised Crime Act and[…]
Read moreLRA poaching elephants in Central Africa
According to the UN, armed groups in central Africa are using powerful weapons, some of which may be left over from the civil war in Libya, to kill elephants for their ivory, the United Nations said on Monday. In a report to the U.N. Security Council, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said elephant poaching was a growing security concern, particularly in[…]
Read moreSA. Adverts target rhino horn consumers
“Rhino horn is made of the same stuff as human nails. Still want some?” Conservation organisations WWF and TRAFFIC are running a series of myth-busting adverts aimed at encouraging Vietnamese citizens to stop buying or consuming rhino horn. Click here to read the story from SouthAfrica.info
Read moreSaving the Rhino’s Skin? Calls for Rhino Horn Legalisation Grow
With the number of rhinos poached increasing despite government efforts, could legalising the trade in rhino horn solve the problem? It’s controversial and the main impetus for legalisation is coming from South Africa but is it a viable solution? We don’t know the answer but one thing is certain; if we are going to save this magnificent mammal we need[…]
Read moreChinese police seize ivory, rhino horn and live animals in illegal wildlife trade clampdown
Some good news at last. Although it would be foolish to believe that the amount of illegal wildlife products seized represents anything more than a fraction of the total trade, the investigations and seizures in Beijing and elsewhere in the country are a positive demonstration of the seriousness of China’s strengthened commitment to fighting illegal wildlife trade. Click here to[…]
Read moreHow to Save a Fish … a Lake and a People
Fish stocks in Lake Malawi have declined by more than 90% in the last two decades because of a drop in water levels, over-fishing and rapid population growth. Local environmentalists are working to turn the situation around. Click here to read the IPS article
Read moreBest Bird Books for Africa
With nearly 2,300 species to be seen – of which about 1,500 are found nowhere else, Africa offers a lifetime of birding opportunities. So which books should you use? In this article, Keith Betton presents his views. Click here to read Keith Betton’s recommendations
Read moreEight countries submit action plans to combat illegal trade in elephant ivory
CITES received plans from China, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania and Viet Nam – identified as primary source, transit and import countries affected by the illegal trade in ivory. Click here to read the story from UN News Centre
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