Welcome to the first issue of This Wild Earth. In this inaugural edition, we spotlight the inspiring return of the Spix’s Macaw—a species once declared extinct in the wild. Through captivating stories and stunning visuals, we uncover the extraordinary conservation efforts that have brought this rare bird back to its natural habitat. At This Wild Earth, our mission is to celebrate and protect wildlife by sharing powerful narratives that inspire action. Join us as we embark on this journey to reconnect with nature and champion the resilience of our planet’s most extraordinary creatures.
THISWILDEARTH INTRODUCTION
Do you wonder about the United for Wildlife connection? ThisWildEarth is a cog in a bigger wheel. Environmental crime is a threat to us all: it undermines security; fuels corruption and serious organised crime; increases the risk of disease transmission; and degrades the planet on which we all depend. Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2013, United for Wildlife is an unprecedented global alliance of private sector, law enforcement, governments and not-for-profit organisations, working together at pace to raise awareness, target, disrupt and prevent cases of illegal wildlife trade. By highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation for people and our planet, and the efforts of United for Wildlife members and other coalitions, we hope to raise awareness to inspire teamwork. Conservation is a collaborative duty and we hope to grow this publication with you, our new partners. Enjoy our first issue...
VISION STATEMENT: Drawing from our heritage established by SANParks Times and SAFARI News, This Wild EARTH envisions a future. As a free publication, we are dedicated to providing insightful coverage of conservation news, immersive travel experiences, and the ongoing fight against illegal wildlife trade. Our vision is to serve as a beacon of knowledge and inspiration in wildlife conservation. We aspire to reach a diverse audience, igniting a passion for protecting our planet’s precious ecosystems and wildlife through our quality publication.
MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to combat the scourge of illegal wildlife trafficking, raise awareness of global nature conservation efforts, and spark wanderlust in the hearts of our readers. At the core of our ethos lies a commitment to education and action. Through captivating storytelling and compelling visuals, we aim to inform and inspire our readers to become stewards of the natural world which is why we are so proud to partner with United for Wildlife and its members who support us each month to tell the stories from UFW network around the world.
Editor, René Laing
EDITOR’S LETTER As the adage goes, we achieve more together. This is especially true in protecting nature against threats to our wildlife and environment. No single entity can tackle this alone, making partnerships vital and the foundation of this publication. We magnify nature conservation efforts through alliances across different sectors, borders, and disciplines. We overcome obstacles only when industry leaders, scientists, NGOs, and others unite behind shared goals. Solutions become possible as partners leverage strengths.
COVER PIECE THE RETURN OF THE SPIX’S MACAW page 6 CONTENTS
WILDLIFE SHORT NEWS FROM THE CONSERVATION WORLD page 5-30 8
CAPTURING LIFE’S ESSENCE THE HYPER-REALISM OF GRAHAM KEARNEY
UNITED FOR WILDLIFE
17
Future of captive lion breeding in South Africa
3
United For Wildlife
4
Illegal wildlife trafficking hot spots
22
Walk with ancients at Thulamela
23
24
The secret zebra migration
Loved the sketch on the front cover? Graham is the artist behind it.
27
A Day In The Life: Joan Banda
WILDLIFE
5
New bullfrog discovery
Born and raised in South Africa, Graham discovered his passion for art at an early age. With no formal training, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and mastery, honing his skills through dedication and relentless practice. Currently living in the United Arab Emirates, Graham brings a unique touch of African inspiration to his hyper-realistic artwork. Specialising in portraying the intricate details of animals, particularly K9 companions, wildlife, and majestic equines, his pieces breathe life into the canvas, capturing the very essence of his subjects. Despite being self-taught, Graham has garnered international recognition, with a clientele spanning across the globe. From private collectors to large corporations, his work resonates with audiences worldwide, evoking emotions and sparking conversations about the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Through his art, Graham invites viewers to pause and appreciate the intricate beauty that surrounds us, offering a glimpse into the soul of each creature and scene he portrays. With every stroke of the brush, he invites us on a journey of discovery, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of preserving our planet’s biodiversity.
9
Africa’s raptors on the brink
TRAVEL
30
Exploring Norway’s Fjords
10
Penguins in trouble
32
Journey on an old steam train
11
Online ivory trade is still ongoing
34
28
Exploring historical Cradock
15
Northern right whale entanglements
36
The magical Matusadona National Park
THIS WILD EARTH
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED FOR WILDLIFE PLEASE CONTACT Ellie Chatterton info@unitedforwildlife.org
EDITING CHIEF Ilse Steenkamp +27 84 488 4634 ilse@thiswildearth.com EDITOR René Laing +27 78 275 5978 rene@thiswildearth.com ADVERTISING Carl Bennett +27 79 395 9004 carl@thiswildearth.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: this wild earth X (Twitter): @thiswildearth_
Instagram: this.wild.earth_ LinkedIn: thiswildearth
PRINTING
The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is organised crime on a global scale, devastating wildlife and pushing some of the world’s most iconic species like elephants and rhinos towards extinction.
T his criminal trade is estimated to be worth up to $20 billion annually as poachers and traffickers illegally trade wildlife and wildlife body parts, such as rhino horn, ivory, pangolin scales or tiger parts, among many others. This illegal trade is a major threat to global biodiversity and human health, and is linked to money laundering, corruption and extreme violence, as well as the trafficking of drugs and weapons. Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2013, United for Wildlife is an unprecedented global alliance of private sector, law enforcement, governments and not-for-profit organisations, working together at pace to raise awareness, target, disrupt and prevent cases of illegal wildlife trade. United for Wildlife has convened private sector through two Taskforces: a Financial Taskforce and a Transport
Taskforce. These Taskforces bring together some of the world’s largest businesses in the transport and financial sectors to break the chains of the illegal wildlife trade. The Transport Taskforce works with businesses throughout the transport chain to improve processes, detect illegal wildlife and develop countermeasures within the transport supply chain. While the Transport Taskforce works to stop traffickers from using transport infrastructure, the detection of illegal wildlife is not considered a success but rather the beginning of a process to uncover global networks. The Financial Taskforce are experts at using information to uncover illegal flows of illicit profits made from exploiting wildlife and other crimes. When an illegal shipment is discovered in the transport
chain, the Financial Taskforce determines exactly where the money to pay for the crime came from, where it was going to, who was involved and what other crimes this may be linked to. Financial institutions have a critical role to play in society by reporting money laundering and casting light onto criminal transactions that try to hide money flows. By sharing knowledge and information across sectors and between countries, United for Wildlife is transforming illegal wildlife trade prevention and the prosecution of those who profit from these crimes. United for Wildlife is only possible thanks to the global partnerships it has set up. These represent large proportions of the shipping, airline, and financial industries as well as government agencies, the private sector, law enforcement,
conservation NGOs and foundations.
With special thanks to Deloitte, DP World, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Qatar Airways. Wildlife crime poses an international threat to our nature, health and security. The members of United for Wildlife are offering a global solution to end this global problem.
3
FOLLOW THE MONEY TO FIGHT ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING THROUGH HOT SPOTS LIKE MIAMI,
Credit: Lina, Pexels
F ifty million passengers pass through Miami International Airport each year, some with a dark secret. Concealed in the confines of their hair curlers, medicine bottles, and baby formula are thousands of illegally smuggled live birds, reptiles and amphibians.
United for Wildlife, a programme created by Prince William, seeks to do just that by bringing together governments, the private sector, academics, and conservation organisations around the world. We have increased awareness and understanding of the crime, changing perceptions and showing how transnational organised crime syndicates control it. These syndicates are commodity agnostic, meaning they also traffic in other contraband, including arms, narcotics and humans. The convergence between these illicit trades means that critical transport hubs, like Miami, are hotspots for wildlife trafficking.
Peru, including at least 15 internationally protected species. Seizures like these are a testament to the hard work of those working on the frontline to disrupt wildlife trafficking, but the networks behind these crimes extend far beyond any one smuggler or even hub. Mexican drug cartels are increasingly involved in the harvest, transport, and sale of wildlife, including protected and endangered species. Almost 20% of illegal wildlife shipments intercepted at US ports between 2005 and 2014 were from Mexico. Control of the licit and illicit supply chains provides criminals with massive opportunities for revenue generation and money laundering. The close ties between the legal and illegal trade in exotic pets fuel the trafficking of live birds and reptiles from Latin America into North America, threatening biodiversity in source countries and increasing risks of zoonotic disease transfer and invasive species in demand locations. When it comes to disrupting this trade, most seizures happen in the air transport sector at hub airports in both biodiverse regions and demand markets. Our United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce members support enforcement efforts by countries, such as the US, where the Departments of Justice and Treasury have focused on this crime. The US is a founding signatory to the Illegal Wildlife Trade Statement of Principles – a world-first multinational proclamation signed by the financial intelligence units of seven countries at the United for Wildlife Global Summit last year. Leading law enforcement agencies in the US, including the DEA, the FBI, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Homeland Security, work closely with international partners to apprehend
Although the concept of wildlife trafficking may feel like a faraway
problem, it is closer than many think. The United States of America (US), Canada, and Mexico are crucial destinations, transit and source hubs for wildlife trafficking. The leading cause is the demand for exotic pets in North America, making it the primary destination for wildlife trafficked from Latin America. Wildlife trafficking is the fourth most profitable criminal enterprise globally. Estimated to be worth $20 billion a year, it threatens biodiversity, fuels corruption, and endangers local communities and public health. As a federal prosecutor, I investigated and brought to justice international drug and human trafficking syndicates. This has led me to ask why, when it comes to illegal wildlife trafficking, we rarely do what we do with other serious crimes: follow the money to apprehend the criminal networks behind the smugglers. There is a general lack of understanding of the pervasiveness and scale of the illegal wildlife trade and its devastating impacts. This needs to change.
Plane flies over Miami. Credit: Franck Charles, Unsplash
In December 2023, they found around 160 exotic animals in the luggage of just one passenger
wildlife traffickers. Regional collaboration between North America and Latin America has proven particularly successful. In 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colombian Police jointly delivered Operation Leopard, dismantling two alleged criminal structures dedicated to wildlife trafficking. The operation enabled the rescue of over 1 000 specimens of wild and exotic fauna valued at more than one million dollars. Only through cross-border and sector collaboration can we dismantle the vast criminal networks behind this heinous crime and prevent them from driving our most precious species to extinction and endangering our planet and our citizens.
In December 2023, they found around 160 exotic animals in the luggage of just one passenger travelling from Miami to
This opinion piece was written by David Fein, Co-Chair of United for Wildlife, and published in the Miami Herald, shared by United for Wildlife.
4
MOVING UP THE RANKS NEW AFRICAN BULLFROG FINALLY DESCRIBED
New bullfrog. Credit: Louis du Preez
F or over a century, a massive bullfrog has evaded detection. This comes as no surprise due to the remoteness of the Nyae Nyae-Khaudum landscape on the Namibia-Botswana border. When researchers finally discovered it, it did not match Africa’s existing bullfrog species, leading to further work and the description of a brand new species.
bullfrog to warrant classification as a new species, but we needed more specimens and tissue to be collected for a molecular study to confirm our suspicions,” explained prof Louis Du Preez of North-West University in South Africa. He led the team that collected and studied the new bullfrog. He works in the department of Environmental Sciences and Management, under the African Amphibian Conservation Research Group. This was only the start. Then, another opportunity arrived in 2021. Dr Francois Jacobs from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) invited Du Preez to a frog and reptile survey in the Khaudum-Nyae Nyae ecosystem as part of a larger collaborative project between Dr Ed Netherlands from Free-State University, MFMR, MEFT, Dr Francois Becker and his team from the National Museum of Namibia, and the Kwando Carnivore Project. Beytell’s son, Piet also participated in the expedition. The bullfrogs found in the Namibian pans were identical to the specimen previously found in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. While closely matching that lone sample, the analysis showed these bullfrogs differed significantly from all other African bullfrogs. They could provide conclusive molecular proof that this bullfrog represented an entirely new species.
“At the moment, we do not think it is threatened. It occurs in a very wide area, it is just a remote area. That is why it is not discovered before,” said Du Preez. The Nyae Nyae-Khaudum pans, where they found the bullfrog, were officially declared Namibia’s sixth Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in February 2024, which could lead to further scientific expeditions and research. The bullfrog, measuring 210mm, is the largest specimen of bullfrogs. They prey on birds, small mammals, and frogs. Males also battle it out in powerful and sometimes deadly wrestling matches for mating rights. The species occurs in parts of northeastern Namibia, southern Angola, southwestern Zambia, and northwestern Botswana.
100 YEARS The bullfrog is the largest frog discovered in over 100 years
210MM The length of the largest individual
FOUR The number of bullfrog species currently in Southern Africa
Credit: Louis du Preez
The newly described Beytell’s bullfrog highlights the ecological importance of the region, something that the late conservation leader Ben Beytell recognised. As former director of Parks and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MFET) in Namibia, he motivated the area’s protection, first as a game reserve in 1989 and then as Khaudum National Park in 2008. Fittingly, the newly described bullfrog was named Beytell’s bullfrog ( Pyxicephalus beytelli ) in his honour. “I was intrigued when one of my former students, Marleen le Roux (now Marleen Byron), showed me a bullfrog specimen she had collected from the Okavango Delta in 2010. It looked different enough from the existing three species of African
173 The amount of frog species in Southern Africa
Credit: Louis du Preez
5
FROM CAGE TO FREEDOM UNEXPECTED ALLIES HELP ENDANGERED BIRD René Laing follows the journey of the Spix's macaw, also known as the little blue macaw, one of the world's most endangered parrot species. Once declared extinct in the wild in Brazil, conservation efforts may provide new hope for this iconic bird.
P icture a bird so breathtakingly beautiful that every collector feels compelled to own one - or several - in their collection. This scenario often unfolds with rare birds, where those with the means acquire them from regions lacking conservation measures. The iconic Spix’s macaw ( Cyanopsitta spixii ) is a prime example.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF A SHEIKH They were scarce, even when Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix encountered the first individual. Reports suggest it took another 84 years before the next sighting. It was not until the 1970s that serious studies of the species began, but The species persisted in captivity, even as Spix’s macaws vanished from the wild. One influential player in their reintroduction efforts was the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar, founded by the late Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed Al Thani. Originally renowned as an art collector, Sheikh Saud shifted his focus to wildlife conservation in the 1990s. In a 2009 interview with Mongabay, Dr Sven Hammer, Al Wabra’s director of Wildlife and Veterinary Services, revealed a widespread practice among wealthy This iconic bird once inhabited the dry forests of the Curaca region in Bahia in northeastern Brazil, but conservationists declared it extinct in the wild in 2000.
Gulf sheikhs of keeping illegally sourced wild animals. Determined to change this, as he no longer found it acceptable, Sheikh Saud shifted from collector to protector, transforming Al Wabra into a world-class wildlife preserve committed to ethical care and conservation. The Sheikh grew interested in Spix’s macaw conservation, and upon realising the dire situation, Al Wabra then played a pivotal role in consolidating the remaining population under managed care. They acquired birds from private collectors and several birds from Birds International in the Philippines, the largest commercial parrot breeding facility in the world, to establish another breeding population. by then, habitat degradation and illegal trade had decimated their numbers and continued to do so. Yet, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, wild populations are returning. A significant contributor to this resurgence was an unexpected ally - a former wildlife collector turned conservationist.
CRITICALLY ENDAGERED The Spix’s macaw’s conservation status 1819
Consolidating the Spix’s macaws under the intensive management of Al Wabra was crucial to the species’ survival. Al Wabra’s expert veterinary team and encouragement of natural breeding behaviours led to increased fertility and survival rates of the Spix’s macaws. Since 2000, Al Wabra has successfully bred and raised more than 50 chicks. The preservation also maintains detailed studbooks to monitor genetic diversity and guide selective breeding decisions. Meanwhile, Al Wabra also became involved in Brazil, paving the way for reintroduction. In 2008, Al Wabra purchased the 2 200-hectare property in the historical range of the Spix’s macaw.
The year German naturalist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix collected the first specimen in the wild, already rare at the time. The species was described in 1832. 2000 The year the bird was officially declared extinct in the wild. HABITAT LOSS
The Spix’s natural habitat shrank due to agricultural expansion and grazing. COLOURFUL PETS
The Spix’s macaw was captured from the wild for the pet trade. 2022 The year of the first releases back into the wild. More reintroductions will follow in the coming years.
6
Home
BRAZIL
Bahia
The Spix’s Macaw is native to the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, where it thrives in the expansive semi-arid region known as the Caatinga, a biome found nowhere else in the world. Within this diverse landscape, the macaws primarily inhabit microhabitats, such as the riparian woodlands. The woodlands along the São Francisco River are especially crucial for the Spix’s macaw. The Melancia Creek, a tributary feeding into the San Francisco River, winds through this area, marking the former habitat of the Spix’s Macaw. The dominant tree species along the banks of Melancia Creek is the caraibeira ( Tabebuia caraiba ), which plays a vital role in the macaw's survival by providing nesting sites, shelter, and a source of food.
ONGOING REINTRODUCTIONS AND MONITORING EFFORTS Conservation efforts established a captive population that now numbers over 200 individuals. Two protected areas safeguard historical habitat, with a state-of-the-art breeding and release facility established nearby. A recent study published in the MDPI Journal highlights progress with captive-bred macaws successfully raising chicks in the wild. Mentorship from blue-winged macaws helped them adapt. Having spent decades in confined aviary conditions, the Spix’s macaws lacked access to important cultural knowledge typically passed down from generation to generation. Spix’s macaws would normally spend their first year under the watchful care and guidance of their parents and flockmates in the wild, learning essential skills for survival. They
continued until the breeding season when some individuals formed pairs. Predators such as hawks killed some birds, and just over 58% of the initially introduced birds survived. All Spix’s macaws, except one, established home ranges within 5km of the release site.
Future releases will assess whether Spix’s macaws continue returning to the area where they were released. Plans also include improving habitat corridors through restoration to connect the population to additional forest patches. A crucial method to conserve a species is to get the community on board and create a sense of ownership. The local communities monitor nest sites and help create awareness through environmental education programmes to help foster appreciation for the iconic blue parrot. All these efforts, combined with land use policy changes, have created a more hospitable environment in Brazil for Spix’s macaw to make a comeback. This pilot reintroduction demonstrated the viability of re-establishing the critically endangered Spix’s macaw in protected habitat within its historic range using captive-bred birds. Continued releases combined with habitat and population management offer hope that achieving a self-sustaining wild flock is possible, preventing the extinction of this iconic parrot and engaging locals as conservation stewards.
were, therefore, selected as a “mentor species” to help guide the reintroduced Spix’s Macaws. For the initial pilot releases, the team selected 20 captive-bred Spix’s macaws based on their behaviour, health, and flight skills. At the same time, 15 blue- winged macaws, a sympatric (related or existing in the same geographic area), were also included in the releases. Two trial releases took place in 2022 - the first in June during the dry season with 10 Spix’s macaws and seven blue- winged macaws. The second in October in the wet season included 10 Spix’s macaws and eight blue-winged macaws. The birds were fitted with radio tags to monitor
One nest successfully hatched and fledged chicks, representing the first Spix’s macaws born in the wild in over 20 years.
post-release survival, home range establishment, and interactions between species.
One week after release, researchers saw Spix’s macaws in catingueira trees, and 25 days after release, all the Spix’s macaws foraged together in catingueira and pereiro trees. After the first weeks of release, the released birds started roosting in trees near the enclosure or on the roof of the release enclosure together with the blue-winged macaws. This pattern
The great news is that several pairs of Spix’s macaws engaged in breeding behaviour like nest cavity inspection. Three females laid eggs, with one nest successfully hatching and fledging chicks, representing the first Spix’s macaws born in the wild in over 20 years.
7
PAWS FOR CELEBRATION AS BIG CATS MAKE A COMEBACK
Moulik Sarkar, project associate from the Wildlife Institute of India and Bart Balli from the Cheetah Conservation Foundation track cheetah.
Another major challenge encountered in India was the ‘winter coat’ issue. African cheetahs develop a winter coat between May and August to help them deal with colder conditions. India is located in the northern hemisphere, and these winter coats appeared just in time for the hot and humid monsoon rains. A combination of moisture on the thicker coats and high parasite loads resulted in skin infections (dermatitis), followed by fly strike (myiasis) which compromised the integrity of the skin. These infections spread across the backs of the founder cheetahs, leading to blood poisoning and four mortalities due to septicaemia. “It was a massive blow to the project, but we believe that cheetahs will adapt to the photoperiod of the northern hemisphere with time. In the interim, we will monitor them closely and treat the infection where required,” said van der Merwe. The project has faced scrutiny regarding the decision to introduce African cheetahs to India instead of focusing on the native Asiatic cheetah, which many argue would have been more suitable. However, the stark reality is that only 20 wild Asiatic cheetahs remain, all in Iran. “Any removal from this critically endangered population could be detrimental to its long-term persistence,” explained van der Merwe. Political challenges also make such moves difficult. Van der Merwe says previous efforts to swap Indian lions for Iranian cheetahs in the 1970s failed.
residing in Kuno include seven adult females and six males among the original founders from Namibia and South Africa. Three litters were born to two Namibian females, adding eight more cubs to the population. The cubs will not stay in the reserve once they can hunt. Van der Merwe says cubs born at Kuno are likely to go to other protected areas to prevent inbreeding. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, India’s first fully fenced protected area, will be a second reintroduction site. “Other protected areas are also being prepared for cheetah reintroduction in the state of Gujarat,” he explained. Further genetic supplementation from South Africa will also be necessary over the long term. “Ultimately, many decades from now, a place like Kuno National Park will constitute a special wildlife destination when they reintroduce all the historically occurring predators,” says van der Merwe. As part of the reintroduction process, hotels and lodges are emerging on the fringes of the reintroduction sites, as private individuals identify tourism opportunities associated with the return of an iconic predator. With patience and coordinated efforts, Project Cheetah continues running wild with the vision of vibrant Indian forests teeming once more with all their former majestic inhabitants.
Mom and one of her cheetah cubs. Credit: Kuno National Park
I ndia recently celebrated an important milestone in its cheetah reintroduction efforts with the birth of five cubs to South African female cheetah Gamini in March at Kuno National Park. This litter increases the number of cheetah cubs born on Indian soil to 13. The birth of these five cubs marks the fourth successful cheetah birth since Project Cheetah began relocating the big cats from Africa to India as part of reintroduction efforts. Once an integral part of India’s ecosystem, the cheetah faced local extinction approximately 70 years ago, succumbing to the pressures of habitat degradation, removal of cubs from the wild for use as pets and hunting by the Indian elite, and relentless hunting driven by the demand for their coveted coats. Situated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, the unfenced Kuno covers a core conservation area of 748 square kilometres, similar to
South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve. Complementing this is an expansive buffer zone spanning 487 square kilometres, expanding Kuno’s protected territory to over 1 235 square kilometres. Within this buffer zone, livestock are free to graze and browse, which has led to challenges. “Never in recorded history have wild cheetahs been successfully reintroduced into an unfenced protected area. The reintroduced cheetahs have perpetually escaped the boundaries of Kuno, moving away from potential breeding partners and natural prey populations within the park,” said Vincent van der Merwe, director of the Cheetah Metapopulation Initiative who formed part of Project Cheetah. The escapees also led to incidents where the cheetah killed livestock, but authorities responded quickly, recaptured the escaping cheetahs, and reimbursed the affected farmers for their losses.
Written by René Laing
While the newly born cubs’ sexes are still unknown, the 26 cheetahs currently
Cheetah at home in the Kuno National Park
Kuno National Park, Madya Pradesh INDIA
8
CRISIS IN THE SKIES AFRICA’S RAPTORS ON THE BRINK
A concerning reality looms over Africa’s iconic raptor species, including the secretarybird, Wahlberg’s eagle, African harrier-hawk, and the brown snake eagle. Recent findings by an international research team reveal a looming extinction crisis for these magnificent birds across the African savanna. Led by Dr Phil Shaw from the Centre for Biological Diversity at the University of St Andrews and Dr Darcy Ogada from The Peregrine Fund, the study analysed decades of road surveys across four African regions: West Africa (Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali), Central Africa (northern Cameroon), Kenya in East Africa, and Botswana in the south. Alarmingly, 90% of 42 raptor species studied showed significant declines, with more than two-thirds potentially facing global threats. Larger raptor species suffered the most, especially in unprotected areas vulnerable to human
activities. The data underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts, especially considering that only 14% of African land enjoys formal protection. At the same time, the region experiences severe land degradation. The conversion of extensive forest and savannah areas into farmland since the 1970s exacerbates threats to African raptors. With the projected doubling of the human population in the next 35 years, expanding Africa’s protected area network becomes imperative. Dr Ogada emphasises the multifaceted threats facing these birds, leading to what seems like a slow extinction. Even species categorised as ‘Least Concern’ previously, such as Wahlberg’s eagle and African harrier-hawk, now face becoming threatened. The study initially focusing on West Africa revealed the urgent need for habitat conservation. Efforts must align with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s
Secretarybird - Credit: Darcy Ogada
COP15 goal of expanding conservation areas to 30% by 2030. The call for action includes habitat restoration in unprotected areas, enhanced species protection legislation, and increased public involvement in conservation efforts. Despite the grim outlook, the study has prompted positive action through initiatives like the African Raptor Leadership Grant, supporting emerging African scientists like Joan Banda from
Zimbabwe. Her research on the illegal owl trade in Nigeria aims to understand its implications for local populations and ecosystems. Urgent and comprehensive conservation measures are imperative to secure the future of Africa’s raptors and the ecosystems they inhabit. The findings serve as a critical wake-up call, urging swift action to prevent the irreversible loss of these vital species.
SCOURING THE SANDS FOR MISSING BEETLE
A strandline beetle on one of the sandy beaches at Whiteford Point on Gower in 2019. Credit: Ben Sampson
A visit to the beach usually involves splashing about in the ocean or taking long walks along the shoreline. But researchers now want the public to stick their heads in the sand and help search for a rare critter playing hide and seek. The elusive strandline beetle ( Eurynebria complanata ), a visually striking ground beetle native to Great Britain, has been missing from the England shorelines for two decades. Last documented in 2002 at Braunton Burrows in North Devon, this species has since evaded detection, sparking concerns about its dwindling population. Named for its habitat preference along sandy beach strandlines, where it shelters under beach debris, the strandline beetle’s presence is limited primarily to a few sites on the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel. But hopes are
still alive to find the beetles along the beaches of North Devon, Cornwall, or Somerset. The beetle was formerly widespread in Kent and the West Country and Wales bordering the Severn River but is now restricted to a few sites in South Wales. There are also populations in southeast Ireland. Further afield, it is native to southern and western Europe, including various Mediterranean islands, where numbers have also declined. Buglife, an organisation dedicated to bug conservation in the UK, is currently busy with surveys in suitable habitats to determine if remnant populations persist on the English side of the Bristol Channel. They further hope to unravel the mystery behind the beetle’s disappearance from much of its historical range over the past few decades. There are, however, beliefs
that the decline is partly due to tourism and mechanical devices to clean beaches from debris. Adult beetles measure approximately 20mm, with distinctive black and sandy- coloured markings, blending seamlessly with their coastal surroundings. They spend daylight hours hidden beneath debris like driftwood and artificial items like plastic drums and fishing crates. At night, they emerge to forage on sand hoppers and other invertebrates found along the coast. The public are encouraged to support the project by reporting sightings (historic or new) of strandline beetles. If spotted, sharing photographs and observations with Buglife can help find these elusive critters and contribute valuable data to conservation efforts.
Scan the code to submit a photo and your details
9
BIRD FLU DANGER FOR ANTARCTIC PENGUINS
T he H5N1 strain of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has affected bird populations worldwide since emerging in 2022. The virus has reached even the most remote regions inhabited by wildlife, spreading to Antarctica and the Arctic. Scientists are trying to understand the full impact as it could threaten vulnerable populations. Since the virus first arrived in mainland Antarctica in February, researchers have been conducting monitoring expeditions across the continent. A team from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile returned from a sampling trip where they detected the virus in Antarctic wildlife no signs of illness. Nine Adélie penguins and one Antarctic shag tested positive for H5N1. The discovery of asymptomatic infections in Adélie penguins is a concern because these carrier birds can cause wider undetected spread of the virus. Colin Butter, an associate professor from the University of Lincoln who was not involved with the study, explained. “These asymptomatic cases may seem reassuring for the species in question, but they have implications for Antarctic wildlife, potentially leading to unnoticed and widespread virus transmission.” On Heroina Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, wildlife biologist Meagan Dewar from Federation University Australia and her team found over 500 dead Adelie penguins, with many
thousands estimated killed, according to a Reuters report. Approximately 280 000 Adelie penguins breed on Heroina annually. “This has the potential to have a massive impact on wildlife that is already being affected by things like climate change and other environmental stresses,” warned Dewar. Field tests for these deaths were inconclusive, but they suspect H5N1. Results are not available yet. The current strain of the virus is affecting a far broader range of animals beyond seabirds. It has been detected in various mammals, including a dead walrus in Norway and foxes, otters, mink, sea lions, and seals. Alarmingly, a polar bear in northern Alaska has also fallen. The British Antarctic Survey estimates the total number of breeding pairs of penguins in the Antarctic region is around 20 million. It may cover a massive geographical area, but penguins are concentrated in coastal regions, huddling up in the winter. Emperor penguins, for example, can reach a density of 19 birds per square meter. Several penguin species live in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Emperor, southern rockhopper, and macaroni penguins are listed as vulnerable or near threatened already.
A living Mesechinus orientalis from Xuancheng, Anhui.
HEDGEHOG HIDDEN FOR CENTURIES IN CHINESE FOREST
While very similar to previously identified species, the newly discovered hedgehog has different DNA – and it has been undetected for over a million years.
S cientists misidentified a tiny spiked mammal found in eastern China when they first picked it up in 2018. Researchers at various universities in China initially thought that the hedgehog they had collected was Hugh’s hedgehog ( Mesechinus hughi ) but some elements were not adding up since the Hugh species occurs a thousand kilometres west of Anhui, the province where they found the critter. Upon closer investigation, the DNA didn’t match the Hugh hedgehog either. This prompted the researchers to find more hedgehogs around the provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang. They contrasted the physical appearance and DNA matches with Hugh’s hedgehogs and various other species sharing the Mesechinus genus. The analysis revealed no direct matches, confirming the Anhui hedgehogs were previously unrecorded. Dubbed the eastern forest hedgehog ( Mesechinus orientalis ), this discovery brings the list of identified hedgehog species to 19. These findings, shared in the open- source ZooKeys journal, detail the morphological, morphometric, and genetic evidence separating Mesechinus orientalis from it counterparts. There are some morphological similarities with Mesechinus hughi but key differentiators are the hedgehog’s diminutive size, a shorter spine, a four-colour ring spine, and a parietal higher than the frontals in skull formation.
CHINA
Anhui Zhejiang
As for when the gene divergence occurred, researchers calculated the time from the most recent common ancestor, finding the Mesechinus genus to have first appeared around 1.7 million years ago in the early Pleistocene period. Mesechinus orientalis diverged from its closest relatives, Mesechinus hughi and Mesechinus wangi 1.1 million years ago. This tells us how long the hedgehog genus isolation in the region has existed and points towards evidence of climate shifts in the Pleistocene era that impacted the migration habits of the little spiked critters. The new species of hedgehog is an exciting (and adorable) development for the field and is a testament to the rich and varied flora and fauna landscape of eastern China. These discoveries affirm the importance of efforts to conserve wild species in China and globally.
King penguins on ice. Credit: Pixabay, Pexels
Written by Taylor Blaire
10
IS EUROPE REALLY CURBING THE ILLICIT IVORY TRADE? The sale of elephant ivory is illegal, but a recent investigation shows that it is still openly taking place openly across Europe on online platforms with no real enforcement putting a stop to it…
Credit: Jean Wimmerlin, Unsplash
A recent investigation has uncovered that significant quantities of ivory are still traded online within the Europe, raising questions about the effectiveness of regulations aimed at curbing the illegal ivory market. These findings recently became known in a report released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). They commissioned an independent study to assess the scope of online ivory trading on Europe marketplaces and auction sites a year after the European Commission strengthened rules on the domestic trade of ivory. Researchers from MK Wildlife Consultancy monitored 49 online platforms across seven Europen countries over 23 days in May and August 2023. They found 831 advertisements offering 1 330 ivory and suspected ivory items for sale. Elephant ivory made up the vast majority, with 1 019 specimens recorded. Apart from elephant, hippo, walrus, whale, narwhal, and dugong ivory are also sold on the platforms. “With results like this and given the strict exceptions still allowing legal trade in the Europe upon presentation of certificates, it is extremely likely that much of the ivory recorded is illegally advertised for sale online,” said Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW’s Head of the European Policy and Campaigns. “The latest European rules on ivory trade represented a crucial step
forward, but our study highlights their loopholes and their weak implementation and monitoring.” The platforms screened included major classified websites and auction houses, but only ones identified in previous studies as hosting ivory items. As a result, the numbers might be higher. Germany had the most advertisements with 215, followed by Italy with 140 and Spain with 112. While 70% of the sellers were within Europe, 41% of all advertisements offered international shipping outside Europe, raising questions over legality since the new rules prohibit commercial ivory imports and re-exports with only narrow exemptions. These cases require scrutiny with certificates or permits issued by relevant authorities. Unfortunately, most of these rules are not legally binding, and individual member states must act on their own to implement them. The most alarming was raw elephant ivory items found for sale, as internal trade and exports of unwrought ivory are banned. Sellers provided verifiable permits or certificates proving legal acquisition before key dates for just 9% of worked ivory specimens and a mere 3% of raw specimens listed in the study. The European Commission adopted the first version of guidelines in 2017 to suspend the re-export of raw ivory. They
then revised this in December 2021, effectively banning most forms of trade in elephant ivory from January 2022. These measures followed commitments made in the European Wildlife Trafficking Action Plan, the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. A public consultation that showed 90% of the 90 000 respondents supported an European ban on ivory trade. These rules apply to ivory from both African and Asian elephant populations. The European adopted revised regulations amid growing demands to curb domestic markets fuelling poaching abroad. Key measures prohibit most commercial trade in both raw and worked ivory, with exemptions for verified pre- 1947 antiques and pre-1975 musical instruments.
While a positive step, IFAW wildlife crime expert Eugénie Pimont said the results show that these rules alone may not be enough. “Our research shows significant ivory trafficking continues online in Europe. Stricter mandatory regulations with stronger enforcement could be needed to really address this persistent threat to Africa’s elephants.” Authorities will now face calls to get tougher in implementing the guidance at member state level. IFAW also urges platforms to do more, such as improving detection tools and permanently removing illegal wildlife listings. IFAW warns that until demand is quashed at both ends of the supply chain, elephants will remain at risk of being killed for their tusks to supply illegal markets.
Credit: Garreth, Pexels
READY MADE UP SOLAR MOUNT KITS FROM CLENERACK • Residential • Commercial • Utility • Roof Mounting • Gound Mounting • Solar Carports • Balcony Mounting • Clenerack offers a 12-year warranty and a 25-year life span
+27 21 001 3790 admin@clenerack.co.za STRENGTH AND DURABILITY
11
Democratic Republic of Congo
pristine tropical forest. While scanning the forest canopy, Harvey caught sight of a colourful flicker - it was unmistakably a group of helmetshrikes. They spent a week in the helmetshrike habitat. The absence of sightings or documentation of the helmetshrike for decades does not necessarily indicate its extinction. Harvey points out that being “unknown to Western science” does not equate to being lost. He highlighted that there are regions of the world poorly explored by biologists and bird watchers. It took them two weeks to get to the area where they finally spotted the birds, travelling first by off-road vehicles, dirt bikes, and on foot for over a week. But the helmetshrike was not the only surprise. The expedition yielded other surprises, including the rediscovery of a tiny frog last documented in the 1950s. Belgian scientists first discovered the red-bellied squeaker frog after the Second World War, when the Congo was still under colonial rule. They also took DNA samples of a rare snake. Findings like these could shine the spotlight on often-overlooked regions and their biodiversity. Harvey believes people could become invested in preservation and conservation efforts by raising awareness. Greenbaum agreed, “Each new discovery reaffirms why it’s so important that we continue exploring the planet’s most biodiverse areas.”
Credit: Matt Brady
A FLICKER OF FEATHERED FORTUNE
S cientists rediscovered a rare bird thought to have been extinct in the wild in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo during a six-week expedition to the Itombwe Massif, a mountain range in the eastern part of the country. Nobody has seen the yellow-crested helmetshrike for nearly 20 years. With its bright yellow crest and black plumage, the striking bird occurs only in the high cloud forests of the Albertine Rift montane regions. However, war and the
inaccessibility of this remote mountain habitat made surveys difficult in the past.
Greenbaum. Ornithologist Matt Brady and a Congolese research group from Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles joined the expedition. Not only did they capture the first photographs of this African bird species long believed lost to science, but they also recorded audio. The expedition also had challenges. Braving torrential rain, rough terrain, and potential tropical diseases, the scientists collaborated with Congolese colleagues to explore over 75 miles of
“It was a mind-blowing experience to come across these birds. We knew they might be possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would appear in life,” said Michael Harvey, PhD, an ornithologist, and assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP.
Harvey co-led the expedition with Professor of Biological Sciences Eli
TURKISH AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON ILLICIT WILDLIFE COLLECTION
Animals illegally killed. Istanbul Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch
I n a massive operation targeting the illegal wildlife trade, Turkish authorities have conducted coordinated raids on two private museums housing trophies of endangered species in Istanbul. The combined estimate of the seizures is worth over US $2.3 million, revealing extensive criminal activity spanning decades. The collections housed more than 400 specimens, some species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement between governments aiming to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Acting on intelligence, police targeted the premises of 85-year-old businessperson Ali Haydar Ustay. They believe Ustay, known for his passion for big game hunting, has spent years travelling internationally to hunt protected species. He then displayed his trophies at two private museum locations in Istanbul’s Sarıyer and Arnavutköy districts. During raids in March, police confiscated taxidermy specimens from Ustay’s collections, including polar bears,
crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, bison, and a mammoth tusk. The seized trophies represented over 30 countries from six continents, transported illegally on Ustay’s private plane. Among the most concerning finds was the rare Anadolu tiger skin, revealing that Ustay might have hunted Turkey’s last known individual of this extinct subspecies. The discovery sparked outrage among conservation groups, given the tiger’s symbolic status for Turkey’s lost biodiversity.
solely for pleasure, establishing an illicit museum to display his trophies. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison for each unlawful animal killed. International bodies such as Interpol have praised Turkey’s leadership in disrupting the illegal market trade, enabling the demand for rare trophies. Monitoring groups are analysing seizure records for clues, tracing smuggling routes and identifying accomplices abroad who may now fear prosecution.
Ustay now faces interrogation over hunting well over 400 protected species
12
ON BORROWED TIME The African penguin only occurs in South Africa and Namibia, and nowhere else on earth. Their numbers are dwindling fast. How long will it be before they disappear completely from the wild? René Laing looks at the dire reality facing these seabirds, and a potential beacon of hope… PENGUIN’S LAST STAND IN COURT
Namibia
South Africa
The only two countries where the African penguin is found.
A penguin at Boulders Beach, Cape Town
P enguins are wobbly and cute; there is not much arguing about that. Yet, their numbers are plummeting quickly. It may sound like fear mongering, but if current trends continue, the African penguin could vanish from the wild by 2035. This is why BirdLife South Africa and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) filed an application in the Pretoria High Court against the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment in March. They argued her policies are actively pushing the penguins closer to the brink. The issue revolves around the Minister’s failure to implement proper fishing restrictions around key penguin breeding colonies at Dassen Island, Robben Island,
Stony Point, Dyer Island, St. Croix Island and Bird Island. Penguin numbers have declined by 8% per year under Minister Barbara Creecy’s watch. Africa’s only penguin population has plummeted by over 97% from a peak of over 1 million in the early 1900s to less than 10 000 breeding pairs today. There is no good news if commercial purse seine fisheries continue unchecked. “This is the penguin’s last stand - we desperately needed to compel legal action to safeguard their survival,” said Dr Alistair McInnes, Seabird Conservation Manager at BirdLife South Africa. “The science clearly shows closures improve access to food for these iconic black and white birds. It’s time for decision-makers to champion conservation over consensus.” The South African government implemented temporary no-fishing zones around six major penguin breeding colonies in August 2023, but despite guidance on configuring the zones, the minister sent industry and conservation scientists back to the negotiating table. The minister’s announcement stated that if agreement on fishing limitations across sectors were not reached by the start of the 2024 small pelagic fishing season, the current interim fishing limitations would continue until the end of the 2033 fishing season. “These so-called closures ignore scientific recommendations on sizing and placement that were provided precisely to ensure overlap with important foraging areas for the penguins,” said Dr Katta Ludynia, a research manager with SANCCOB. “By not following expert
guidance, the Minister has failed her legal obligations to implement measures that will actually prevent extinction.” Furthermore, steps are underway to upgrade the African penguin’s status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List from Endangered to Critically Endangered, only a step away from extinction in the wild. The decline meets the threshold criteria for the most at-risk listing. Penguins also face other threats. Apart from things like oil spills, 63 African penguins died in 2021 at the Boulders colony in Simon’s Town after an encounter with bees, while in 2022, two stray dogs killed 19 penguins from the same colony. Earlier this year, a honey badger claimed the lives of 11 individuals at the De Hoop Nature Reserve penguin colony. Both Boulders and De Hoop fall within Marine
Protected Areas, but land-based threats remain a reality.
CRITICALLY ENDAGERED The current conservation status of the species FOOD Penguins feed on anchovies and sardines 9 900 The number of breeding pairs remaining in the wild 2035 The year by which penguins will be extinct in the wild without action
If penguins disappear, it will influence tourism and the ecosystem. “Penguins are a sentinel species - where they decline rapidly, other sea life will surely follow. Local fishers and a lucrative tourism industry also lose if iconic wildlife is no more,” explains Ludynia. Kate Handley, Executive Director of the Biodiversity Law Centre, explained: “This is the first litigation in South Africa invoking the Minister’s constitutional obligation to prevent extinction of an endangered species. A ruling favouring science-led action could create an important precedent guiding future conduct and litigation regarding at-risk wildlife.”
Living the Wild Life (Self Published) Dr. Ian Whyte spent his formative years in Johannesburg and began his career in 1970, working for South African National Parks. Over 37 years, he conducted extensive research on diseases, drugs, lions, wildebeest, elephants, buffalo, hippos and baobab trees in Kruger National Park. Whyte gained expertise flying fixed-wing and helicopters to conduct aerial wildlife surveys. Take your own peak into his adventurous hands-on experiences, up-close encounters with dangerous game and
research on elusive species. The autobiographical work provides scientific insights alongside captivating anecdotes from a lifelong career immersed in African wildlife.
Order your copy by mailing merle.m.whyte@gmail.com
Dr. Ian Whyte
13
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting