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Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy April 16, 2008

Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Climate Change, Conservation , add a comment del.icio.us:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy digg:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy newsvine:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy blinklist:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy furl:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy reddit:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy blogmarks:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy Y!:Corridors, Climate Change and Democracy

Corridors are the sexiest thing in conservation.  It has been realised for some time now that Africa will be one of the continents hardest hit by the effects of climate change.  When Africa’s protected areas were initially proclaimed, no-one foresaw the increases in human population that we’ve experienced, and now these areas are islands in a sea of humanity. 

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Lesotho and Tutu: What do they have in common? April 8, 2008

Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : African Peoples, Tourism , add a comment del.icio.us:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? digg:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? newsvine:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? blinklist:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? furl:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? reddit:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? blogmarks:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common? Y!:Lesotho and Tutu:  What do they have in common?

Apart from the cute rhyme there are a number of traits that are common to the Archbishop emeritus and the small southern Africa Kingdom.

Contained in the fortress of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains Lesotho lies 1000m above sea level - close to God.

Like Desmond Tutu, the Basotho people under their founder, King Moshoeshoe, fought hard for independence and self-governance.  And, after conquering his foes, King Moshoeshoe remained generous and gracious in his exalted position.

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Mother of All Crocodiles April 2, 2008

Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Animals, Community, Conservation, ecotourism , add a comment del.icio.us:Mother of All Crocodiles digg:Mother of All Crocodiles newsvine:Mother of All Crocodiles blinklist:Mother of All Crocodiles furl:Mother of All Crocodiles reddit:Mother of All Crocodiles blogmarks:Mother of All Crocodiles Y!:Mother of All Crocodiles

Madikwe, short for Madikwena, meaning Mother of All Crocodiles is a shining example of ecotourism success in Africa.  This 76,000 hectare reserve was created in 1994 and was the subject of the largest game reintroduction exercise on the planet.  Operation Phoenix saw the translocation of 8000 animals over a period of 8 years.  The fully fenced reserve offers an almost unique location to view both desert adapted species, and the more regular bushveld animals.   Gemsbok, brown hyena and eland occur;  as do buffalo, elephant and spotted hyena.

Wild Dog Bagheera

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