Elephant options in Africa May 2, 2008
Posted by Ralph Pina in : Animals, Conservation, Safari, Tourism, ecotourism , 1 comment so far
No doubt you have heard by now that South Africa has decided that culling will once again be an optional intervention in the management of elephant populations, albeit an intervention of last resort, to address what is known as “the elephant problem”. Elephant conservation has been enormously successful in southern Africa (58% of the population), to the extent that some conservationists now argue that there are “too many” elephants. Personally, I think that the problem could be restated as “too little elephant habitat”. (more…)
Mother of All Crocodiles April 2, 2008
Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Animals, Community, Conservation, ecotourism , add a comment
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.
Man-eaters of Eden December 20, 2007
Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Animals, Books , 1 comment so far
When I first learned of Robert R. Frump’s book called the “Man-eaters of Eden” I have to confess I groaned inwardly. Thinking of the Hollywood version of the man-eaters of Tsavo (Michael Douglas in the Ghosts of Darkness) I didn’t want to hear more demonizing of a perfectly natural phenomenon – predators eating prey.
I was pleasantly surprised. Robert Frump not only tackles the issue without hysteria but does so in good journalistic fashion – attempting to get all sides of the story.
Meeting the Meerkats December 19, 2007
Posted by Clarissa Hughes in : Animals, ecotourism , add a comment
Meerkats (or suricates) are one of those species that deserve Walt Disney full-feature attention. They are cute-looking, live in communes and are jam-packed with character. All kinds of “wickedness” (in the form of raptors and poisonous snakes) lurk at every turn. I should think they are manna- from- heaven for Hollywood directors.
Jack’s Camp, on the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana has started interactive safaris with these endearing little creatures.
For a complete photo-journey through the lives of meerkats we recommend Alain Degre & Sylvie Robert’s coffee table book “Meerkat Valley”. The Degres are also known as the parents of Tippi whose adventures are well documented in “Tippi of Africa”.
