A new paper confirms what ecologists have long feared: hunting birds and mammals drastically raises the risk of extinction for tropical trees. Following the long-lifespan of a single canopy tree, Miliusa horsfieldii, researchers discovered that overhunting of animals could increase the chances of extinction for the species fourteen times over a century, from 0.5 percent […]
Tag: Elephant
Madikwe: May 2010 (Part 1)
Hey everyone! I am carrying on my huge backlog of trip reports as and when I find the time to do so – so herewith the start of another belated adventure for you to enjoy. Back in May 2010 my wife and I were fortunate to be invited by my friend Gerry van der Walt […]
Watch: How Did a Young Elephant Drive Off 14 Lions?
“Hercules” the elephant is the new king of the jungle after the youngster drove off 14 lions earlier this month in Zambia. Visitors to South Luangwa National Park came upon a pride of female lions attacking the elephant near the Norman Carr Safaris Chinzombo Camp, and they caught the attack on camera. “Never have I […]
Africa’s Lions May Be Deemed Threatened in U.S. – Will It Help?
The African lion—thousands of miles away but beloved by Americans—might become protected under U.S. law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday. The proposed new rule would list lions as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. If approved, the law would make it illegal to kill or hunt captive lions in the U.S. without […]
The Handshake
Secret societies have it. Mob bosses have it. Elephants have it. Secret Handshakes. My time spent in this research bunker at a very remote waterhole in Etosha National Park will always bring back fond memories of really seeing and experiencing the daily lives of elephants up close and personal. Elephants are highly social creatures, and even […]
Elephants worth much, much more alive than dead, says new report
Elephants are worth 76 times more when they’re alive than dead, according to a new analysis released this past weekend. The report follows on the heels of findings by WWF that the world has lost 50 percent of its wildlife over the past 40 years, with more than half of African elephants killed for ivory […]
Zambia ends trophy hunting ban, elephants fair game
After 20 months, Zambia has lifted its ban on hunting, allowing trophy hunters to target numerous species in the wildlife-rich country including elephants. The announcement was made by the country’s Tourism and Art’s Minister, Jean Kapata, who stated that the ban had resulted in a loss of revenue to the Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA). […]
20 percent of Africa’s elephants killed in three years
Around 100,000 elephants were killed by poachers for their ivory on the African continent in just three years, according to a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Between 2010 and 2012 an average of 6.8 percent of the elephant population was killed annually, equaling just over 20 percent of the […]