Latest news with #Sanbi
The Citizen
11-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Pretoria National Botanical Garden receives global arboretum accreditation
The Pretoria National Botanical Garden (PNBG) is now among 46 botanical gardens worldwide to be awarded the highest accolade by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Programme and The Morton Arboretum. Pretoria Rekord reports that the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Programme is a global initiative that recognises arboreta (a botanical garden specifically focused on cultivating and displaying trees and shrubs for research, education, conservation and public enjoyment), based on its commitment to professional standards, collection development and overall excellence in tree-focused gardens. A Level 4 accreditation from ArbNet is the highest level that can be credited to an arboretum. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) says the PNBG is a testament to achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Programme is the only global initiative to officially recognise arboreta at various levels of development, capacity and professionalism. The botanical garden is now also recognised as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world's arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. 'Being part of ArbNet connects us to a global network of arboreta and strengthens our ability to protect and celebrate South Africa's incredible tree heritage,' says Mpho Mathalauga, senior horticulturist of the PNBG. 'This accreditation is an important step in the right direction for the PNBG, reinforcing our commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of indigenous trees. Our long-term vision is to establish PNBG as a gene bank for most of South Africa's tree species, ensuring the preservation of genetic diversity for future generations,' says Mathalauga. The PNBG, a conservation and research space established in 1946, was opened to the public in 1958. It is a 76ha urban oasis and a pristine getaway in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. It serves as the headquarters of Sanbi and the National Herbarium, overseeing South Africa's National Botanical and Zoological Gardens. The garden focuses on the conservation, display and research of indigenous plants, especially trees from northern and eastern South Africa, South African cycads and succulent species. The garden features both landscaped and natural areas, extending into the Magaliesberg mountain range. Some of its unique features include an avenue of Tree Wisterias (Bolusanthus speciosus), and naturally occurring Lekkerbreek (Ochna pulchra) and Magalies Redwood (Ochna pretoriensis). The PNBG has also been awarded Best Place to Get Back to Nature for 10 years in a row by the Best of Pretoria Rekord Readers' Choice Awards. PNBG continues to play a key role in tree conservation, education and scientific research to protect South Africa's plant biodiversity. 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!
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
Here are the new additions to Pretoria Zoo's aquarium
The national zoo in Pretoria welcomed over 200 new sharks and fish to help boost their biodiversity offering. The National Zoological Garden in Pretoria has shipped in a variety of new marine life. Boasting the largest inland aquarium on the African continent, the zoo welcomed over 200 new finned friends. The increase in marine specimens allows the zoo to broaden its aquatic offering and ability to educate the public about life under the seas. Over 200 new fish The live cargo touched down at OR Tambo International via Kenya last week, with each fish arriving in their own oxygen-rich tanks. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) reports that the fish acclimated to their new habitat using controlled floating methods before joining the existing aquarium population. 'The arrival of these animals not only adds to the beauty and diversity of our exhibits but also helps us tell a bigger story about ocean ecosystems and the threats they face,' said director of animal collections at the zoo, Tracy Rehse. Sanbi says that the fish have fully settled, feeding well and interacting with their surroundings with ease. Blacktip reef sharks Among the marquee arrivals are three Blacktip reef sharks, a fast and agile species native to the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. The trio took their 10-hour journey from east Africa in 1 000 litre plastic enclosures and were connected to life support systems to ensure proper oxygenation during the journey. Blacktip reef sharks are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) Red List due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Usually living for 10 to 12 years in their natural habitats, their lifespans can be extended to over 20 years in aquarium settings, reaching up to two meters in length. Other notable species added to the Pretoria Zoo aquarium are power blue tangs, green bird wrasse, various pufferfish and skunk-striped anemonefish. 'This latest development forms part of the zoo's ongoing mission to connect people with biodiversity and highlight the importance of marine conservation through education and immersive experiences,' Sanbi concluded. Infrastructure challenges The zoo had previously come under scrutiny after complaints about the maintenance of the facility. Sanbi stated last year that it had been on an infrastructure drive since 2018 but that the size of the zoo required a staggered approach. 'A property the size of the zoo must be tackled in stages. Sanbi has already completed a significant amount of work since it took over the operations of the zoo,' stated Sanbi. 'Several enclosures have also been completed, including our southern ground hornbill camps, duck, chicken and crane aviaries. 'Visitors to the zoo can still see lions. In addition, we have iconic species such as komodo dragons, tigers, rhino and buffalo,' Sanbi concluded. NOW READ: Gorilla from Pretoria zoo undergoes dental surgery
