In a nine-hour operation at the reserve yesterday, the three rhino, two males and a female, were darted separately, had holes drilled into their horns, and poison injected into them.

Inverdoorn owner Damian Vergnaud hopes this will deter poachers, who have begun targeting Western Cape rhino.

The poison will not kill, but is designed to make anyone who consumes the ground-up horn feel sick. Most poached horn is smuggled into Asia where it fetches sky-high prices in the traditional medicine trade, although it has no proven medicinal qualities.

The horns were also injected with a bright-red dye that effectively defaced their interior, making them unusable as dagger handles or other ornamentation. Rhino horn has been used, particularly in Yemen, for dagger handles. The dye and poison combination was developed by Denel and has been designed to bind with keratin, the substance horn, hair and nails are made of.

The third part of the anti-poaching cocktail was barium, injected into smaller holes, which will show up on X-rays if the horns are smuggled through airport security.

Inverdoorn owner Damian Vergnaud, who was present throughout the operations that began before dawn yesterday, said yesterday: “I wanted to destroy the market value of the horns, and I hope other game reserve owners will follow what we’ve done. That way we can destroy rhino horn as a product. I think it will work if many people do it. I want everyone to know that we have done this to the horns.”

Wildlife vet and consultant Alex Lewis flew from Hoedspruit to do the operation, assisted by Ceres vet Mark Walton. “When poachers attacked the rhino at Aquila, I thought it might be a one-off, but we increased security. Then when Fairy Glen was attacked we took it very seriously. But I don’t have the funds for this level of anti-poaching.” He contacted Lewis, who has spent a week at Inverdoorn discussing options which included cutting off and burning the horns and inserting tracking devices in them. Eventually, he decided on the dye and poison option.

They made a wooden horn replica and experimented with injecting the cocktail.

They also made a circular metal device, which screws on to the horn and allows the dye to be pumped in under pressure, so that it penetrates the horn.

Around noon, the vets and rangers headed out to search for the male.

Lewis and ranger Gert Bobbeje tracked it and darted the animal.

The Cape Times followed and saw the rhino “high-stepping” as the drug took effect, and then it sank to its feet. As soon as it was down rangers tied a blanket around its eyes to protect them and reduce stress. While some trickled water over it to keep it cool, others off-loaded the small generator to power Lewis’s drill.

He measured the horn, started the generator and used a grinder to flatten a section. The air was filled with the smell of diesel and burning hair. When he used the drill to bore a large hole into the horn, little white flakes spun off and fell into the dust like flakes of dried coconut. Then he attached the metal circle around the horn and put the nozzle of the pump through a hole in the metal. Bobbeje then pumped the dye-poison mix into the horn.

Meanwhile, Walton took blood samples and then drilled smaller holes to inject a combination of glue and barium, which shows up on X-ray. Then they filled the holes with glue, and bound the horn in tape to allow the glue to dry. The rhino will rub the tape off eventually.

The operation took about 40 minutes. Lewis gave the animal the antidote to the immobilising drug, everyone got on the vehicles, and the bull stood up. It looked a little whoozy, but then trotted off.

Two rhinos were dehorned at Aquila Game Reserve in August, one of which died. Two were dehorned at Fairy Glen, near Worcester, two weeks ago. The male is still on the danger list. – Cape Times

Sourced for ecoAfrica Travel via IOL News

Click on the photo to view the encounter on YouTube

Touched by a Wild Mountain Gorilla

Known as Crossways Farm Village, the new town is spectacularly located on the edge of the Van Staden’s River Gorge outside Port Elizabeth. On 2 December in the presence of Mr Gugile Nkwinti, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, work will start on the installation of all services for the first residential and industrial phases. All the industrial stands and 70% of the residential stands in these phases have been sold. Construction of the first houses was expected to start by April next year.

The industrial stands, located some distance from the residential nodes, are intended for light cottage industries with a strong artisanal and agri-processing character.

design, planning and implementation

CMAI, the firm of Dr Chris Mulder, is responsible for the design, planning and implementation of the R3,4bn project. Dr Mulder, whose Thesen Islands project in the Knysna lagoon won two CNBC International Property Development Awards in 2007, said Crossways Farm Village would combine the benefits of a healthy rural existence with all the conveniences of sophisticated urban living.

The town consists of 747 residential stands of varying sizes divided into neighbourhoods spread throughout the 563 ha site of which more than half would be a conservation area. The plans for the development were approved earlier without any preconditions by the Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism of the Eastern Cape as well as by the national Department of Agriculture.

Mulder said Crossways was expected to set the benchmark for green building practises and would be the most advanced town in South Africa because of its high-tech infrastructure. “We plan to take the entire town of almost 800 stands off the national grid by means of photovoltaic technology which will provide us with a total alternative energy plan.

“The implementation of this technology will be made possible by the fibre-optic data communication network we will be installing throughout the development. The alternative energy and energy-saving technology will be built into the town’s infrastructure from the outset which means all owners will enjoy these benefits as standard features.”

80 solar panels on each roof

Mulder said the design of one of the new houses well illustrated this approach “Some 80 solar roof panels will provide the full energy requirements of the house, storing the excess produced in an integrated bank of photovoltaic batteries with the capacity to provide the energy needs of the house for three days. Additional excess can be fed into the town’s own energy grid and be sold be the owner for use elsewhere.

“Rainwater harvested from the roof will be stored in three 1000 litre tanks built into the structure of the house while a unique heat-pump system will circulate pool water through the flooring system to heat or cool the building to reduce seasonal temperature variances.”

Mulder said the fibre-optic technology will serve as infrastructure for a wide range of services, from regulating the town’s energy grid to controlling infra-red security systems and providing high-speed connectivity. “As the telephone system is also imbedded in this technology, all calls within the town will be free.”

Mulder said once the upgraded dairy farm with its stud herd was fully operational and generating profits, it would be ceded, debt-free, to the town. “The town’s people will have access not only to the range of dairy products but also to an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables which will be commercially grown on the property.”

Sourced for ecoAfrica Travel via The Green Times.

“We need to capture the attention of international governments, particularly those who have influence over China. Through massive public and governmental pressure on the major importers of the horn, we have a chance to save these animals,” says director of the Wilderness Foundation, Andrew Muir. “Escalating poaching figures and continuing brutal attacks on rhinos show that an inter-continental effort is needed to fight back.”

The Wilderness Foundation will be presenting a petition against rhino poaching to the US congress this September. “The petition will be presented to the highest governmental powers and is a vital part of the lobbying campaign which is needed to change the laws regarding the importation of rhino horn into foreign countries,” says Muir.

It is crucial that the petition conveys a powerful message to international authorities. “We need as many signatures as possible to highlight the severity of the issue, and thus secure the full weight of support from the US in joining the fight to save the rhino,” says Muir.

The Wilderness Foundation is a project-driven conservation and leadership organisation that encourages, plans and protects wild lands and wilderness, uplifts the knowledge and lives of citizens and stimulates an environmental ethos among current and future leaders. It envisages a world that has sufficient intact natural ecosystems and wilderness areas that are valued and efectively protected for the benefit of all species.

Join the fight and help us gather signatures by encouraging people to sing up:
http://wildernessfoundation.co.za/savetherhinos/

Sourced via Tourism Update Online for ecoAfrica Travel

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the incidents occurred on Rietvley Farm in Polokwane and Welgevonden Farm just outside Modimolle in the late afternoon.

“The man was shot at Rietvley Farm after he and his four accomplices allegedly failed to heed police instructions to surrender,” Hangwani said.

He allegedly pointed a R5 automatic rifle at police, who then retaliated with gunfire. Another suspect was shot in the buttocks and taken to hospital under police guard. Three others then surrendered.

“In Welgevoden Farm, two suspects, one who is an employee of the Limpopo provincial government, were cornered by police, and laid down their arms without any resistance,” he said.

During both operations, police managed to recover a police-issued R5 automatic rifle with 34 live rounds, a silencer, a Toyota van, two axes, and a .307 rifle with a silencer.

The alleged poachers, excluding the Limpopo government employee, were Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals, who were residing in Tembisa and Soshanguve townships in Gauteng.

Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Amon Mashigo said: “I hope this will be a lesson to other poachers that police are serious about their work and will not hesitate to protect themselves and arrest anyone including government officials who are fuelling this criminal act.”

All suspects would appear in the Modimolle and Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

- SAPA

Sourced via news24 for ecoAfrica Travel

She mentions the fact that much of the blame for fracking has thus far been attributed to Shell (seen as the greedy corporate giant) as well as the Department of Mineral Resources. But have we considered that these parties are simply stepping up to fulfil a demand – which starts with us?

In today’s society, we focus on the easiest and most convenient way of living. Which means many people live in a consumerist and materialistic way on the one hand, and yet on the other they demand that companies like Shell focus on protecting the environment. It seems that the responsibility must start with us – through everyday environmental acts and increasing the demand for sustainable energy sources while decreasing the demand that Shell is trying to fill. Simply boycotting Shell is not enough – soon enough the other mining companies will step up to fulfil the increased demand placed upon them.

As van Hoogstraten says, “Do we really expect to be able to indulge our bad habits on the one hand and call for a pristine environment on the other? This is the demand of a petulant child, not a responsible citizen. It may not seem like it, but any intelligent response to fracking has to include a change in the way we live our daily lives.”

Definately a new way of thinking – what are your thoughts? Read the full article – it is very eye opening: click here.

Sourced via All4Women.co.za for ecoAfrica Travel

The ranger, who has yet to appear in court and therefore cannot be named, was arrested after he was linked to previous rhino poaching incidents that took place in the park.

“Internal disciplinary and criminal processes against the ranger will run concurrently and we hope for a speedy trial and believe that justice will prevail. Rangers are guardians and a key force in protecting these rhinos; those who do not aspire to these values should be flushed out and brought to book,” said CEO of SANParks, David Mabunda.

This year alone a total of 131 suspected poachers have been arrested around the country, of whom 65 were arrested in the KNP. Since January this year, throughout the country, 15 suspected poachers have been killed and nine injured in clashes with authorities in the KNP.

Sourced via Tourism Update Online for ecoAfrica Travel

It must be remembered that GNP has previously received buffalos, wildebeest, elephants and hippos, all relocated from  conservation areas in South Africa or from  Limpopo National Park.

GNP Administrator, Mateus Mutemba and GNP Director of Conservation, Carlos
Lopes Pereira holding two of the new cheetahs of the Park

After a long period of negotiations between the authorities in GNP and the NGO “Modgaji Conservation and Rehabilitation Project,” (an organization which works closely with the government of Cape Town, South Africa,) Carlos Lopes Pereira (Director of Conservation and GNP Veterinary) took over management of the relocation process.  The addition of the four big cats will make the savannah plains of Gorongosa a place to gain true insight to the fastest animals in the jungle.

The first cheetah leaves the plane held by the Veterinary T. Potgieter…

The relocation operation became a reality with the arrival of four cheetahs by air. This was a unique opportunity for GNP staff (as well as to many tourists present on the runway of Chitengo Safari Camp) to observe how carefully and diligently a team of wildlife lovers moved the cheetahs. The animals, while still tranquilized were moved from the plane to GNP jeeps, which quickly carried them to a quarantine location (known as the boma). The boma is a specially built enclosure which has been adapted for cheetahs by a dedicated team of workers from GNP).

… and is carefully placed in the GNP jeep that will take her to the “boma”

Will Van Duyn, the man responsible for Modgaji, gave us with the following statement:

“I have been working in conservation for over 20 years. We care for the cheetahs and strive to return these animals to the freedom of the jungle. I love working with animals. Our experience in conservation teaches us that when working with the relocation of wild animals, there are successes and setbacks.  It is never an easy operation …
I enjoy the task of animal conservation because I am sure it is in the best interest of the animal. In my opinion, releasing animals back into the jungle is always the better option. Imprisoning them in cages is a not a good solution …”

At the “boma”, Will van Duyn (on his knees) talks with the South African
veterinary  and with the GNP staff, closely watched by his family members

“As soon as we return to South Africa, we will make further efforts to bring more cheetahs to Gorongosa National Park. These four cheetahs are the first group, which has only opened the door to many more cheetahs in Gorongosa …” assured Will Van Duyn. His institution promises to bring more of these remarkable animals to the Gorongosa National Park.

This operation was made possible by the good will of many people. They included a pilot from the famous “Bateleurs” (pilots who serve the cause of environmental conservation for free), a veterinarian and two assistants (all from South Africa) who accompanied the cheetahs throughout the trip.

The expenses were borne by a philanthropist, Allan Friedland, who told us the following:

“I walked by many conservation areas in South Africa and I did not like what I saw. Animals are treated like a tool or a bicycle, discarded when there is a malfunction. I believe that all animals deserve respect and to be treated well. They deserve a life in the wild, not to be trapped. It has always pained me to see animals exploited. When I heard that Will intended to return some animals to the freedom of the jungle, I decided to contribute to this worthy cause through a financial donation. ”

Allan, the philanthropist who funded the transportation, holds one of the cheetahs

Once installed in their quarantine location, it was discovered that one of the cheetahs did not survive the complex transport operation. This tragic loss was due to an incident during the immobilization of the animal while still on South African soil.

Will Van Duyn, confirmed the death and said:

“Doing what we do, give freedom to the animals where it is necessary, carries risks. So, I say that our operation was a success because we have three cheetahs alive. It broke my heart to lose the fourth cheetah in the operation, but if we were no longer able to return these cheetahs to the wild it would be even worse. Either way, this operation has opened a large area and more cheetahs will be relocated to Gorongosa.”

GNP staff that build the “boma” where the cheetahs will stay for the quarantine period

Sourced via Parque Nacional da Gorongosa for ecoAfrica Travel

Speaking at the handover ceremony, SANParks, CEO, Dr David Mabunda said: “This will certainly go a long way in changing the trend of suspects found in possession of rhino horn only being charged with possession as the horns in their possession can now be linked to a carcass lying somewhere in a national park or game reserve.”

According to Dr Mabunda the kits would also assist rhino managers with individual rhino in their care.

The project is supported by a number of private sector companies, including SAB Miller, BMW, 702 Talk Radio through its LeadSA Campaign and the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

According to Dr Cindy Harper, Head of Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, at the University of Pretoria, the ability to obtain a full DNA profile from rhino horn allows us to match recovered horns to specific poaching incidents.

Sourced via Tourism Update Online for ecoAfrica Travel

Both men had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Khoza and Luthuli were arrested after an exchange of gunfire with Ezemvelo field rangers that resulted in the death of a third suspect, Nhlanhla Ncanana.

At the scene, Ezemvelo field rangers recovered two unlicensed firearms, axes and two rhino horns that had been crudely removed.

A ballistic analysis linked the firearms to a dead rhino found nearby and the horns recovered were also linked by DNA analysis to the same carcass.

A post mortem examination of the rhino revealed that it had been shot six times and that an axe had been used to immobilise the animal by severing its spine

Sourced via Tourism update Online for ecoAfrica Travel