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July 10th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion
Started by Valorie (Moderator) in Cam Sightings Discussions 5 hours ago.
Volunteer Sign up and Ideas of How you can help 36 Replies
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July 9th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion 5 Replies
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July 8th 2009 - Cam Sightings Discussion 6 Replies
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A place to ask WE management questions. 263 Replies
Started by Graham Wallington in Questions to WildEarth. Last reply by Cyndi 1 day ago.
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Disturbing data
GPS tracking collars normally make our life a lot easier. As seen above, we can track leopards via Google Earth maps and then follow this up with ground surveillance. GPS collars may be more expensive than the old fashioned radio collars, but they're worth their weight in gold.Of-course it isn't always good news. This week we have received worrying data from one collar, where the uploaded data has remained in one position for seven days! Obviously the leopard wouldn't be glued to one spot unless something is wrong. Either she has shed the collar (which can happen if he has been in a fight or mating), or she has died.
The team are combing the area on foot, but so far no leopard and no collar, but it is dense bush with high grass and hundreds of game trails, making life difficult. Hopefully we'll find the collar lying on the ground and not a dead leopard.
Written by Will Fox
Close call for our Volunteers
One hidden aspect of the economic slowdown is the adverse affect on wildlife. Of-course tourism and donations/sponsorship for wildlife projects have suffered. But more than that, unemployment has lead to more guys returning to the old ways.
We have several large mines about 70kms away. Mines that attracted labourers and their families from all over Africa. 8,000 of those labourers are now out of work with no source of income and some are now poaching wildlife.
However much sympathy one has for their plight, lets not forget that poaching indiscriminately kills, it is cruel and illegal.
The photo above was taken a few years ago, but I've added it to emphasise my point. The leopard shown (FS 6 one of our study animals), is carrying a poachers snare around her abdomen. Sadly she died a few days after this photograph was taken.
The other morning two of our volunteers (Alan and Steven) were out tracking leopards when they came across five guys with dogs in the bush. You may ask so what? But these guys were dragging a dead Kudu bull. Thankfully Alan and Steve did the right thing. They kept walking and reported the incident. Any confrontation would in all likelihood have ended badly.
Of-course poaching is a worldwide problem and not just in Africa. When I was in the UK, I had many problems. Although we worked closely with the police, we only ever moved the problem away for a short period. Africa is no different.
The truth is that poachers and wildlife managers generally maintain an uneasy truce. With both sides avoiding confrontation. Of-course things sometimes flares up, but there are no winners.
For now, we have increased our anti-poaching patrols and local law enforcement officers have stepped up their presence. Local papers are also running articles to emphasise that poachers will be prosecuted.
Poaching is a complicated, cultural and economic issue that won't be solved easily or in the near future. At a local level we can only attempt to manage the issue using a mixture of prosecution and education, but we can not ignore the problem.
Written by Will Fox
© 2009 Created by Graham Wallington
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I see from your photo you were at Djuma. How wonderful. :) Were you able to meet the WE crew?
Welcome to WE.TV. It is nice to have you here. Enjoy the site and happy camming. :)