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  • WEreaders Book Club

    55 members Latest Activity: Oct 25 Share your favorite Africa-related "reads" with other members! Both fiction and non-fiction are WElcome, incl.guidebooks and travel manuals.WE only as…

  • metaAfrica

    14 members Latest Activity: Jul 1 Promoting Africa in Virtual Worlds, and Virtual Worlds in Africa

  • WEcooks

    57 members Latest Activity: Nov 12 A place to share your recipes and cooking styles with each other.

  • WE Film-makers

    41 members Latest Activity: Sep 10 A group of wildlife film-makers that 'rip' LIVE WildEarth video and make mash ups.

  • Wildlife Issues

    63 members Latest Activity: 16 hours ago a group dedicated to all the wildlife and conservation organizations and causes you support or believe in. And a place to learn about the science of n…

  • WE Photographers

    75 members Latest Activity: 15 hours ago A place where those of us who love the beauty in a single frame, the magic of a moment, come to share what WE do.

  • Creative Candids

    18 members Latest Activity: Nov 4 A place to share your creations you design with graphics programs!

  • WE Writers - The Lonesome Feather Hoek

    33 members Latest Activity: Nov 5 This is a place to post your writings, to express your creativity with words in your own style or in the style you choose. Presentation is left to yo…

  • WEangels

    143 members Latest Activity: Oct 4 "The WEangels are a team of people that care. People that have a common interest in making a difference."

  • Wild Africa

    32 members Latest Activity: Oct 29 Group dedicated to leaning about and the conservation of African wildlife

  • WE Crew

    13 members Latest Activity: Nov. 18, 2008 This is the group for WildEarth Crew. You have to either work or have worked for WildEarth.

  • Elephant Planet

    53 members Latest Activity: Oct 29 Group dedicated to the study and conservation of the magnificent elephant

Forum

Valorie (Moderator)

Nov. 15th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion

Started by Valorie (Moderator) in Cam Sightings Discussions 23 hours ago.

Valorie (Moderator)

Nov. 14th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion

Started by Valorie (Moderator) in Cam Sightings Discussions 1 day ago.

Valorie (Moderator)

UPDATE - Please Read Re: Live Stream 1 Reply

Started by Valorie (Moderator) in Announcements. Last reply by Bluebird 1 day ago.

Valorie (Moderator)

Nov. 13th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion 1 Reply

Started by Valorie (Moderator) in Cam Sightings Discussions. Last reply by Patti Nov 13.

Graham Wallington

A place to ask WE management questions. 332 Replies

Started by Graham Wallington in Questions to WildEarth. Last reply by CarolJ Nov 13.

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Ingwe Action Blog

UK tour raises some great questions


Some great questions have been raised by University students during my recent lecture tour in the UK, which have focused our thoughts on the direction of the ILP for the next years. Sure, we’re growing rapidly but it’s important to ensure that we focus on our core aims first and foremost. The object of our research is to gather data on the density and behaviour of leopards (and other carnivores) outside of formally protected areas. And why? Well it is in these areas (the largest land mass of South Africa) that leopards are in conflict with humans and in these areas where they are the last of the big five remaining truly wild.
So how can we conserve the dwindling leopard population. As said, first we need data, but also we need to develop wildlife management methods and techniques. Within this we need to become more than a pure research project and tackle some of the other issues. Education is undoubtedly a major factor. We need to get the message across in the right way. But we also need to develop and employ pragmatic management solutions. We will need a holding facility to temporarily detain problem animals, sufficient to give us time to ensure that any relocation does not compromise the genetic dynamics of an area and importantly that we do not create a problem in that area. Whether that be with local livestock, people, or other leopards.
All of this will mean we need more staff. Dedicated people who have a passion for wildlife conservation. We’ll also need more funding. But here is where we can offer something a little different. We want to create an ILP membership scheme (say$8 annual fee). However rather then just ask for a membership fee, in return we want to offer something more than a badge or membership card. Membership will then entitle folks to a 10% discount off an African Conservation Safari. As with everything we do, we look to our friends to give us their input and feedback, so if you have any thoughts on this concept then I'd love to hear from you.
Written by Will Fox

Honey Badgers - You have to love them



Finally we have some news on our Honey Badger project. As you may know we have been holding two troublesome honey badgers, that were killing Geese on a farm and removed before they could get into even deeper trouble. Of-course we have been waiting for permits but (in this case), that is no bad thing. It has provided time for the badgers to loose their homing instinct to that farm (otherwise they would just head home and into more trouble). It's also given us time to arrange for tracking equipment. In this regard, we took lots of advice from badger specialists before deciding on a two pronged approach to tracking these animals that roam in very large areas.
Firstly, one of the badgers had a radio transceiver implant yesterday (unobtrusive low range device placed under the skin by a vet), and second they will each be given VHF collars before release. Of-course with such tenacious animals the collars won't last long before the badgers have destroyed and discarded them, but by that time we hope to have logged their new home range and have an idea of where to find them. Thereafter the implant (which has only a small range) will help us to monitor the badgers for the next year or so and gather much needed data on Honey Badgers living outside of formally protected area's. You've heard it before, but these are the area's where all carnivores at the biggest and imminent risk from human conflict. So we very much hope that these two will be only the first of many, so that our study results can hep formulate pragmatic conservation policies.
For now, the badgers will be monitored at Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation centre for another twelve days and then we'll release them into a wild area. Where we hope they'll stay out of trouble. Yea I know, fat chance of that. Badgers just seem to look for trouble. I have to be honest, it's why I love them.

Written by Will Fox

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