Latest news with #EndangeredWildlifeTrust
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Watch: Escaped Rietvlei cheetah found and captured
Njozi, the female cheetah that escaped from Rietvlei Nature Reserve earlier this week, has been safely captured. This is according to Obakeng Ramabodu, MMC for Environment and Agriculture Management. Pretoria Rekord reports that Njozi was located today after she mysteriously escaped yesterday. Ramabodu confirmed the big cat was found in the Bapsfontein area, thanks to a tracking device fitted on her. 'The team, along with veterinarians, used the tracker to locate Njozi. She is safely recovered without incident,' he said. He assured the public that Njozi was not harmed during her escape and that she did not cause any injuries or fatalities to the public. Ramabodu also revealed that the cheetah most likely escaped through a section of the reserve's perimeter fence that had been vandalised. 'We believe the escape was made possible due to damage to the fence,' he said, confirming that vandalism has compromised the reserve's security. 'We are prioritising repairs to the damaged fencing and strengthening safety measures to prevent future escapes. The safety of both wildlife and the surrounding community is non-negotiable,' he said. Ramabodu added that the department will immediately begin implementing enhanced safety measures to prevent further animal escapes from Rietvlei Nature Reserve. 'We must act swiftly to prevent future incidents, particularly involving the cheetah, which is often targeted. Our greatest concern is the safety of both the animal and the public. We cannot risk losing Njozi to injury, nor can we allow the possibility of her harming someone,' he said. Njozi was relocated to Rietvlei from the Western Cape and has a history of escaping. Yesterday, Njozi escaped from the reserve. Njozi was spotted on the R50 Delmas Road in the area of Bapsfontein, a farming town in Ekurhuleni. Derek van der Merwe from the Endangered Wildlife Trust said following an extensive search yesterday, Njozi was located in Bapsfontein but couldn't be darted as she ran into dense bushes, and it got dark, so the search was called off. He added that he believed that Njozi escaped as she was on the search for a male companion. 'If we can bring her a male cheetah, she wouldn't try to run or escape anymore. I am certain she will stay in the reserve with her companion.' This is not her first stint at escaping. In 2021, she slipped out of the reserve, and after an extensive search by officials and wildlife conservationists, Njozi managed to return on her own. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Science
- IOL News
'Lost' Blyde River Flat Gecko rediscovered after 33 years
Two Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) researchers have rediscovered a gecko species that had not been seen for over 33 years - the Blyde River Flat Gecko. Image: Endangered Wildlife Trust A gecko species that had not been seen for over three decades has been rediscovered by two researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), bringing renewed hope for the conservation of South Africa's lesser-known species. The Blyde River Flat Gecko (Afroedura rondavelica), first discovered in December 1991 by Dr Niels Jacobsen in the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga, was only known from two male specimens. Since then, no other sightings were recorded, sparking debate about its taxonomic validity and concerns about its possible extinction. In April 2025, EWT's Dr Darren Pietersen and John Davies accessed the remote site, a nearly inaccessible inselberg by helicopter after a two-year process to secure permits. Their successful expedition confirmed the gecko's continued existence and its taxonomic distinctness. 'This brings to four the number of 'lost species' that the EWT has rediscovered as a result of its increased focus on locating and conserving elusive, less charismatic, but critically important wildlife that is often overlooked and at risk of slipping into extinction unless urgent action is taken,' the EWT stated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Flat geckos are known for their micro-endemism, occurring only at one or a few localities. The Blyde River Flat Gecko is perhaps the best example, with its known range restricted to a single rocky outcrop in the canyon. Its classification as a 'lost species' by re:Wild, along with its listing as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, reflected the lack of data and uncertainty surrounding its survival. With the rediscovery, the EWT confirmed that 'the morphological and therefore taxonomic distinctness of the species' was validated. Tissue samples were collected to conduct genetic analyses that will further confirm its classification and help guide conservation planning. 'The ecological and population data that they collected will allow this species' conservation status to be re-evaluated, moving it out of the Data Deficient category,' the EWT added. The EWT expressed gratitude to the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) for issuing the necessary permits and pilot Jana Meyer of Hope for Wildlife for navigating the challenging helicopter journey to the inselberg. Financial support from the Anglo American Foundation and Global Affairs Canada made the expedition possible, it said. THE MERCURY
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
South Africa's wattled cranes are no longer critically endangered: why the birds' numbers are rising
Cranes are some of the world's most majestic birds, with 15 species found globally. Four of these are found in Africa. The wattled crane in South Africa was in decline, but seems to have turned a corner. Its numbers have increased from just 188 birds in 2000 to 304 today. Crane researcher Lara Fuller explains how the population's recovery recently led to it being moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species. Wattled cranes are the largest crane species in Africa. They are only found on the continent and there are only about 9,600 left in Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The tall birds (up to 180cm or six feet tall) have a wingspan of up to 2.6 metres wide and can weigh up to 8 kilograms. They're the tallest flying African bird. In the wild, the wattled cranes are estimated to live for about 30 years although older birds have been observed. These birds carry striking colours and conduct spectacular mating rituals involving bowing, dancing and jumping. They symbolise grace, devotion, beauty and longevity. Firstly, the number of breeding areas has increased. In 1999, there were only 70 breeding territories. Today, this has increased to 84 breeding areas in the wattled crane's core population in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. To count cranes, we use annual aerial surveys. We average the number of birds viewed over several years so that we are sure we get an accurate number. In 2000, there were just 188 individual birds in KwaZulu-Natal. By 2005, the South Africa population had increased to 242 individual birds. By 2024, 304 individual birds were found. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature keeps lists of how endangered all animals are globally. This helps scientists and society know when an animal is edging closer to extinction. When an animal becomes less endangered through a conservation success, this is known as downlisting. In the case of the wattled cranes, their downlisting from Critically Endangered to Endangered was achieved by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation working with landowners where the birds live to restore their habitats. The biggest number of these birds living together in Africa is found on the southern-central floodplains (areas of flooded grasslands found in different countries across southern and central Africa). There are two smaller populations in Ethiopia and South Africa. Most wattled cranes in South Africa inhabit the foothills of the Drakensberg mountain range. This area provides a large amount of drinking water to numerous towns and settlements. Wattled cranes live in wetlands and grasslands in the area. The wetlands form between 10% and 40% of their breeding territory, and the surrounding natural grasslands make up about 20% to 80% of their nesting territory. Grasslands are crucial to the health of wetlands. They keep soil stable and prevent erosion and siltation of the wetland. These areas also provide water to people through naturally occurring springs. These are often used by rural villages, and without them, many communities would not have access to drinking water. Read more: Grasslands are also foraging areas for the family of wattled cranes as the chick becomes larger. Wattled cranes eat water lilies and other water plants, water insects, snails, and frogs found in wetlands. The birds breed in wetlands, where there is enough food available for chicks to grow one inch (2.54 cm) per week after they hatch. The chicks only start flying when they are several weeks old. Until then, wetlands act as natural moats, protecting chicks from being eaten by predators. Read more: Wetlands are often seen as muddy, damp, insect ridden and smelly places. In South Africa in the 1970s, 50% of the country's wetlands were drained and turned into commercial agricultural lands or degraded. As South Africa is also considered a water scarce country, this action had a devastating result and is partly the reason why the wattled cranes became critically endangered. When rain falls in abundance, wetlands soak up the water, slowing the flow down and reducing flooding. This saves a lot of damage to infrastructure and prevents soil erosion in natural areas. Wetlands are also a natural water purification system – they clean pollutants from the water, and deliver water that is much cleaner than it was when it soaked into the wetland. Where wattled cranes are found breeding in wetlands, it is a clear sign that the wetland is healthy and thriving. The wellbeing of people, cranes and wetlands is intricately linked. The size of the wattled crane population in KwaZulu-Natal – fewer than 400 birds – makes it incredibly vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as disease. This would put the species at risk of extinction in South Africa. Wattled cranes need more breeding sites to increase their populations. Wetlands need to be rehabilitated and restored, because the birds won't mate and breed in degraded or polluted wetlands. Environmentalists and the birds will be relying on the goodwill of landowners and everyone who uses wetlands to support this and help keep wetlands clean. We plan to deepen our work in restoring wetlands. We aim to restore wetlands in other parts of South Africa too so that wattled cranes can go back into these habitats and continue to breed. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lara Fuller, University of KwaZulu-Natal Read more: For endangered species, the road to recovery can be winding and bumpy Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya – new study South Africa's Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds Lara Fuller works for two NPO's the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation. These orgainsations receives funds from multiple bodies.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
‘Lost' species rediscovered after more than three decades
A "lost" lizard species, the Blyde Rondavel flat gecko, has been rediscovered in South Africa 's Blyde River Canyon after 34 years. It was first identified in 1991, but not seen again. That led to it being thought extinct, as well as its existence as a distinct species being questioned, as some believed it to be a juvenile of another species. Researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust located and photographed several specimens in April 2025, confirming its distinct species status. The development follows other recent rediscoveries by the EWT, including a mole, butterfly, lizard, and frog. The collected data, including tissue samples, will help confirm the gecko's unique classification and contribute to its conservation.
Times
15-05-2025
- Science
- Times
‘Lost' gecko found in South African canyon after 34 years
South African scientists have discovered a 'lost' species of gecko that had not been seen for 34 years — and which some believed might never have existed at all. Last month two researchers went to extraordinary lengths to prove that the elusive creature, dubbed the Blyde Rondavel flat gecko, did in fact, live exclusively in an almost inaccessible canyon in northern South Africa. Darren Pietersen and John Davies from the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) were lowered by helicopter to inspect a rocky hillside in Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga province. That was where the species had first been sighted in 1991 and given its taxonomic name Afroedura rondavelica, although some speculated at the time the two males were merely juveniles of another species. The
