By Navanwita Sachdev, The Sociable Faced with the ever-present threat of poaching, conservancies, game reserves, and national parks in Africa are gearing themselves up with technology to protect their diverse animals. Africa is home to some of the most sought-after...
Education official caught with ivory at Katima (Namibia)
By Aron Mushaukwa, New Era KATIMA MULILO: An administrator from the Zambezi Regional Council’s education directorate was caught red-handed with 16 pieces of ivory in the wee hours of yesterday, conservation authorities said. A vehicle belonging to the education...
Horrifying drone pic shows mutilated elephant lying dead after being hacked apart with a chainsaw by ivory poachers in Botswana
By Nika Shakhnazarova - The Sun A HORRIFYING drone picture shows a mutilated elephant lying dead after being a hacked apart with a chainsaw by poachers. The gruesome image, taken by filmmaker Justin Sullivan in northern Botswana, reveals how the majestic beast's head...
Treat wildlife trafficking like drugs trade
By Simon Marsh - The Star The recent arrest of Liberian wildlife trafficker Moazu Kromah in Uganda made only modest international headlines. But it was one of the most significant events in the history of illegal wildlife trade investigations in sub-Saharan Africa. I...
Revisiting history and the fate of the elephant: Excerpts from a 1992 book
By Katarzyna Nowak, Safina Center Fellow The Fate of the Elephant, a book by Douglas Chadwick, reads like it was written today. “History can be a study in irony,” Chadwick wrote. His book—commissioned by National Geographic—was published in 1992 by The...
Four suspected poachers released on R5000 bail (South Africa)
By The Independent Online CAPE TOWN: Two people were released on R5 000 bail each after appearing in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges related to four elephant tusks found in the trunk of the vehicle they were travelling in last week. In a...
Permafrost thaw sparks fear of ‘gold rush’ for mammoth ivory (Russia)
By Andrew Roth, The Guardian Activists and officials in northern Russia have warned of a “gold rush” for mammoth ivory as prospectors dig up tusks and other woolly mammoth remains that can net a small fortune on the rapacious Chinese market. Melting permafrost from...
Hungry elephants fight climate change one mouthful at a time
By Eva Frederick - ScienceMag African forest elephants can eat up to 450 kilograms of vegetation a day as they plow through the rainforests of West Africa and the Congo Basin. But all this munching actually leads to forests with more plant mass, according to a new...
Decisions on jumbos must factor in communities
By Tinashe Farawo - The Herald ZIMPARKS is the only wildlife management authority in the world which does not receive funding from central government, but despite lack of financial support, the management led by Mr Fulton Mangwanya has managed to turn the corner as...
Extinction a harder case than climate change?
By Christine Rose - The Daily Blog His name was Voortrekker. He was the last giant bull elephant of a unique herd adapted to the Namib desert. The survival of African elephants is already perilous. But the loss of key bull elephants to a herd can destroy the...