South Africa will not propose ending the ban on the international rhino horn trade at the next major meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the body that regulates the worldwide wildlife trade. Jeff Radebe, the minister of planning, monitoring and evaluation, said the government has […]
Tag: south africa
South Africa bans leopard hunts due to uncertainty on numbers
For the first time in decades, hunters with deep pockets will not be able to shoot all of the “big five” game animals in South Africa after the government banned leopard hunts for the 2016 season. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) recommended the temporary ban because it said leopard numbers could not be […]
POLL: Should ‘canned’ lion hunting be banned?
The documentary Blood Lions exposes South Africa’s controversial “canned” lion hunting industry. In canned hunts, captive-bred, often hand-reared lions are confined in enclosed spaces on private hunting reserves, guaranteeing marksmen easy trophy heads in exchange for fees of up to $50,000. With approximately 8,000 “ranch” lions to draw on, South Africa’s hunt operators can make […]
Lion Man Love
It was a crisp winter’s morning. Francolins were calling, announcing the unavoidable dawn that was breaking. The Land Rover engine was chugging along as we slowly crawled out of the lodge grounds of Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand (South Africa). Then the roaring of lions brought us on high alert. We […]
My 2015 in imperfect hindsight
As is customary for many photographers of all genres during this time of year, I started glancing over my portfolio of work captured during the year in hopes of posting a “best of” collection. I have done so since 2010. Last year I took a very specific approach, only showing photos taken at a focal […]
POLL: Should the ban on South Africa’s horn trade be lifted?
Amid mixed responses from conservationists and animal activists, a group of rhino breeders and game reserve owners in South Africa is taking legal action to overturn a domestic ban on the trade of rhino horn. Arguing that horns are a renewable resource, the group has filed a case in a civil court claiming that selling […]
Video: Racing baby elephants understimate the muddiness of mud
Apparently “slow and steady wins the race” isn’t part of the baby elephant curriculum. This playful trio was far too busy racing to a watering hole in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve to remember that mud is … well, muddy. While their mothers had no trouble traversing the sticky pit, the little ellies got a […]
Amid rhinoceros poaching frenzy, dark days for South African society
Two adult rhinos and a calf lie under a tree 50 meters off the road. It’s a nice sighting for me in the midday heat of Kruger National Park in South Africa — my second of rhinos in two days. On the eastern horizon behind their sleeping forms lies a dark blue line; the Lembobo […]