Latest news with #Wanderer
Daily Maverick
24-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Tracking the Shangani Wanderer — vulture survival, poaching threats, and hope from the skies
The Shangani Wanderer is a young white-backed vulture fitted with a tracking device at Shangani in Zimbabwe — a region where the critically endangered birds have fallen prey to poaching and poisoning. For now, the Wanderer flies on. Every evening, just before bed, Josephine Mundava checks her phone, not for messages, but to see where the Shangani Wanderer is. The young white-backed vulture, fitted with a tracking tag as a nestling on Shangani Ranch in Zimbabwe, has become a symbol of hope and survival in a region shadowed by poisoning incidents and poaching. 'Yes, the Wanderer is still safe,' she says with cautious relief. 'This morning, it was in Kafue National Park in Zambia.' Earlier in the week, it had been on the Angola-Namibia border. 'It moves a lot.' Mundava is a lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe, and, together with her postgraduate students, researches and monitors the vulture numbers and breeding habits at Shangani. Concern over the welfare of the Shangani Wanderer and vultures across the region has heightened following the poisoning of 100 of the birds in the Lionspruit Game Reserve near Kruger Park in May. This came weeks after 100 vultures were killed and 84 rescued after being poisoned in the Kruger National Park. In both cases, white-backed vultures, already on the critically endangered list, made up the highest number of deaths. The deaths are often deliberate, as poachers poison carcasses to kill birds whose presence is erroneously believed to give away poacher activity, or collateral deaths when poachers poison animals such as elephants for their tusks. Furthermore, vultures are also killed for cultural and traditional medicine reasons. Of the eight vultures tagged at Shangani so far — three in 2023 and five in 2024 — one dropped off the radar, in Namibia in September 2024. 'We don't know what happened,' says Mundava. 'The tag just stopped transmitting, in the Chobe reserve in Botswana. We haven't been able to retrieve it.' The Wanderer was one of two vultures tagged in the nest on Shangani Ranch, at the end of November 2024. It wasted no time exploring the southern African landscape after it took wing, says Mundava, heading west across Botswana with stopovers in South Africa. 'With wingspans reaching 2.3 metres, these magnificent scavengers typically begin their independent journeys around 120 days after hatching,' says Mundava. 'Our data shows Shangani Wanderer has already traversed international borders, demonstrating the critical importance of transboundary conservation efforts.' White-backed vultures face numerous threats, including poisoning, electrocution and habitat loss. Their rapid decline has placed them on the 'critically endangered' list, making this satellite tracking project vital for their protection. Tracking such individuals gives scientists a rare chance to follow a bird's journey from fledgling through its wide-ranging forays across southern Africa. The broader tagging project, sponsored by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, was born from a need to understand how vultures use landscapes — protected areas, private ranches and communal lands — amid growing threats. The Shangani vulture population itself has grown from about 10 nesting sites in 2012 to an estimated 80 to 100 today. 'Some areas aren't easily accessible, so that's a rough estimate,' says Mundava. Satellite tags Because monitoring every nest isn't feasible, the research team uses satellite tags to track select individuals and build a picture of how vultures navigate southern Africa's complex landscapes. Patterns are already emerging. 'Most birds spend a lot of time in protected areas — national parks and private reserves — and some come back to Shangani regularly,' she says. This raises the question: How do vultures 'know' where it's safe? 'They don't,' she laughs. 'They follow food. What we call protected areas often have better wildlife management and more carcasses. That's what draws them.' One of the birds being tracked, for example, nests in the Tuli region along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border but regularly returns to Shangani, likely for feeding. 'If there's a carcass, they'll show up on the map, then disappear again,' says Mundava. Now, a Stellenbosch University honours student is analysing the movement data in greater detail, looking at habitat use, land types, and foraging hotspots. 'When vultures feed, they often stay in one place for a while. So we can create heat maps showing their favourite feeding grounds.' Though the team can track where vultures go, they don't always know what they're feeding on. 'There's someone starting a PhD in Hwange who will look into that,' says Mundava. 'It's a long-term project. But for now, with the Wanderer, we're just seeing movement patterns.' Vultures tend to be opportunistic, though carcass size matters. 'Larger carcasses attract more birds. Small ones might not be worth landing for,' she explains. 'But in terms of species, we don't know if they're picky.' The Shangani ranch has provided fertile ground for student involvement. Each year, Mundava is accompanied by students, whose projects have included studies on community attitudes toward vultures, lead contamination in birds, and basic breeding patterns. 'When we tagged birds, we also collected blood, feathers, and bones to test for lead exposure,' says Mundava. Results are expected soon. Lead poisoning occurs when vultures feed on carcasses left behind by hunters. 'Bullets fragment and leave tiny pieces throughout the meat,' she explains. 'Even when hunters cut out the wound channel, fragments can be far beyond it. If vultures ingest them, they're at risk.' Poisoning But lead isn't the only danger. Vultures across southern Africa have increasingly fallen victim to poisoning, sometimes deliberate, sometimes incidental. 'The reasons are diverse and hard to predict,' says Mundava. In Zimbabwe's worst incident, 183 vultures were killed in 2013 at Gonarezhou National Park, near the border with Mozambique. 'It was an elephant carcass laced with poison. The tusks were gone, and the vultures' heads were cut off, likely for rituals.' Other cases, like the cyanide poisonings in Hwange, are more straightforwardly tied to elephant poaching. 'In those, nothing was taken from the vultures; it was just collateral damage,' she says. 'But it's very difficult to prosecute. Poachers are usually long gone by the time carcasses are discovered.' Legislation has toughened since then. In Zimbabwe, the maximum sentence for vulture-related crimes is now three years. 'It used to be just months,' says Mundava. 'Now there's more advocacy and stiffer penalties.' Unfortunately, white-backed vultures, the species to which the Wanderer belongs, are among the hardest hit. 'They're the most abundant, so they arrive in the largest numbers and suffer the most in poisonings,' she explains. 'They're also critically endangered.' Still, it's not all grim. The tracked birds provide rare insight into just how far vultures travel. Mundava cites one bird, which they tagged at Shangani at 3pm, but by nightfall it was already in Gonarezhou, more than 400km away in a straight-line distance. 'They cover huge areas,' notes Mundava. She checks her phone to give an update on the tagged vultures. The Wanderer is in Kafue National Park in Zambia. Another bird is in Angola, near the Caprivi Strip. One remains in the Shangani region; another hovers between South Africa and Botswana. Another pops up in Zambia. 'They seem to like Zambia and Namibia,' she says. Every ping from a tracking tag is a sign of life, and a small reprieve from the constant worry that another might go silent. For now, the Wanderer flies on, following the invisible threads of thermals and food, and watched, always, from below. DM Yves Vanderhaeghen writes for Jive Media Africa, science communication partner of Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Best Team Compositions for Dahlia in Genshin Impact
Image via: HoYoverse There exist team defining characters in Genshin Impact. Then there exist characters like Dahlia, who never takes the limelight but instead shapes the theme, subtly directing how a team flows into attack and sustains it. Dahlia is a 4-star Hydro sword designation introduced in Version 5.7 with a peculiar shield-attack speed play. These types of dual stars give him the power to just creep into rosters and seamlessly change how they work, without ever demanding center stage. What makes Dahlia special is the deadly combination of a shield that scales off HP and activates on Burst, and an attack speed buff that, while not flashy, ties very much into Normal Attack-focused compositions. The Freeze Engine: Skirk, Escoffier, Furina, and Dahlia Speed and synergy are the major advantages these Freeze teams have. Dahlia is not just about shielding; he is all about speed, which fits perfectly with fast-paced Normal Attack characters like Skirk, a Cryo DPS. The speedy party also includes Escoffier, who reduces Cryo resistance of the enemies looks like this team's final piece. Character Trailer - "Dahlia: Rites of Relaxing Patrols" | Genshin Impact #GenshinImpact #Dahlia Elemental Overdrive: Wanderer, Fischl, Xingqiu, and Dahlia Freeze is where the control and overwhelm side get such orders. Wanderer is an elemental damage dealer, hitting Normal Attacks at a speed that has little distinguishing so far. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Fischl and Xingqiu set Electro and Hydro off-field applications for a never-ending Electro-Charged reaction. Though Dahlia has less to do with Freeze mechanics than enabling, his speed buff stacks with those from Wanderer's artifacts and catalyst weapon, while his shield keeps this fragile Anemo unit on the field longer. So, what develops then are more of a sort of elemental symphony with Wanderer conducting, and Dahlia as metronome. Raging Physical: Razor, Yun Jin, Mika, and Dahlia Not every single team needs to rally behind reactions. In one of the less expected but more exciting compositions in existence, having Razor and Dahlia direct the extremes of Normal Attack Speed. Yun Jin buffs the raw damage of Razor's attacks, Mika comes along with additional Physical DMG and more speed, while Dahlia finishes them off with yet another 20% ATK SPD and a protective shield. It is probably not the most conventional composition, but watching Razor zipping around the battlefield at nearly twice his usual speed is exhilarating. It's a physical DPS showcase with one very clear objective: attack first. Collected Miscellany - "Dahlia: Trifles in the Wind" | Genshin Impact #GenshinImpact #Dahlia Dahlia doesn't demand attention, but he rewards attention to detail. When paired with the right characters, especially those who thrive on Normal Attacks, he becomes the quiet engine powering an aggressive, unrelenting combat style. Whether you're freezing foes with Skirk, raining elements with Wanderer, or unleashing a flurry of physical strikes with Razor, Dahlia's steady presence keeps your rhythm strong and your squad standing. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
League One 2025/26 line-up confirmed as Wanderers learn final opponent
Wimbledon have clinched the final spot in League One next season after beating Walsall 1-0 in the play-off final at Wembley. Myles Hippolyte scored the decisive goal on the stroke of half time, picking out the bottom corner with a clinical first-time finish from the edge of the area. Walsall were inches away from an equaliser early in the second half when Riley Harbottle cleared Jamille Matt's effort off the line. Levi Amantchi and David Okagbue also had chances late on, while Tommy Simkin made an impressive save from Josh Neufville at the other end. Former Wanderer Liam Gordon played the full 90 minutes for Walsall, while Brandon Comley was an unused substitute. Wimbledon survived six minutes of stoppage time to get over the line after three years in League Two. "This is surreal it feels like a dream, and I'm trying to take it in and enjoy it," manager Johnnie Jackson told Sky Sports. "There was so much riding on this game, so much pressure when the whistle goes. It's just relief and now I want to spend time with players, family and friends." The 2025/26 League One line-up is now finalised. Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale and Bradford City are the other promoted sides. Cardiff, Luton and Plymouth are the clubs dropping down from the Championship after finishing in the bottom three. Leyton Orient will play in the third tier again after their narrow defeat against Charlton at Wembley over the weekend. The Addicks join Birmingham and Wrexham, who finished first and second respectively, in promotion to the Championship. Wanderers and their rivals will learn the full 2025/26 fixture list at 9am on Thursday, June 26. Steven Schumacher is preparing for his first full season in the hot seat as the Whites aim to build on their eighth-place Blackpool Bolton Bradford Burton Cardiff Doncaster Exeter Huddersfield Leyton Orient Lincoln Luton Mansfield Northampton Peterborough Plymouth Port Vale Reading Rotherham Stevenage Stockport Wigan Wimbledon Wycombe
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Wanderer gets first permanent manager's role at ex Football League club
FORMER Wanderers midfielder Neil Danns has been appointed as the new manager of Southport. The Liverpudlian, who racked up more than 600 career appearances, including 116 in Bolton colours between 2013 and 2016, has accepted his first permanent role in the dugout at the National League North club. Danns had been placed in temporary charge of Macclesfield in December 2022, taking the Silkmen to an unbeaten finish in the league at the time, and more recently he has been assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers in League Two. He links up with ex-Macclesfield teammate Mark Duffy in his new role and is eager to get going with the former Football League club. 'I'm really excited, grateful for the opportunity,' he said. 'I managed to get to a lot of Southport games last year and obviously I was assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers and we had Josh Williams on loan here. 'I don't live far away, just down the road in Ormskirk. But there is no much potential here and I am looking forward bringing that potential out. 'One of the things people would have seen when I was at Macclesfield is that I expect a lot of energy, a lot of confidence, and it's up to us to bring that out of the players now. 'We know it won't be easy and doesn't necessarily happen straight away but we are confident we can get them playing the way we envision and bring some real spirit. There's a really god fanbase here and it's important we all get behind each other.' Danns had a varied playing career spanning 16 different clubs, his longest stints being at Crystal Palace, Bolton and Bury. He was signed on loan by his former Selhurst Park boss Dougie Freedman and after an impressive spell was handed a two-year contract. He continued to be a fixture in the team after Freedman's departure and briefly served as vice-captain to Darren Pratley under Neil Lennon before being released after Bolton's relegation to League One in 2016. 'I was really proud of what I achieved in my career and played up to the age of 40, and that was one of things was probably most proud of. I'd always wondered as a youngster how long I would play on for,' Danns added. 'I am looking forward to the next phase of my career now.' Danns is not the first former Wanderer to take charge of the Sandgrounders, with Kevin Davies performing an eight-month stint from October 2017. Jimmy Meadows also managed both clubs, while Farnworth-born Alan Ball Senior also spent two years as manager of Southport in the late seventies.
Telegraph
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Britain's long obsession with caravan holidays
It's not the vehicle you may expect to be associated with royalty, but the humble caravan is getting its moment in the spotlight, thanks to the 70th anniversary of a special version gifted to Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1955. The Royal Caravan – a fully functional, scaled-down caravan – was built in 1955 by Rollalong Caravans Limited in Ringwood, Hampshire as a gift from the Caravan and Motorhome Club to the young royal siblings. It was presented to them in recognition of the Duke of Edinburgh's patronage of the Club, which began in 1952. Now, a special showcase at the National Motor Museum in Hampshire will mark the 70th anniversary of the miniature home on wheels – and with it, the nation's enduring passion for caravan holidays. More than a toy Measuring 6ft 9ins long and 5ft 9ins high, the Royal Caravan was more than a toy. Designed to be roadworthy, it featured working interior lights, a sink with hand pump and road-legal fittings, including a hitch, brakes, and corner steadies. As well as custom furnishings, it included a Poole Pottery tea set, Beatrix Potter books, and a signed copy of Children of the New Forest by Captain Marryat. It had a wooden hob instead of a working stove for safety reasons, but came with a kettle and frying pan to play with. Originally, the caravan was towed around the grounds of Buckingham Palace by a specially-modified Hillman Husky from the royal fleet, with the Duke of Edinburgh personally taking his children on a test tow. After it was outgrown by Prince Charles and Princess Anne, the caravan was stored at Sandringham, then restored for the Caravan and Motorhome Club's 75th anniversary in 1982, then again for its centenary. It has been displayed several times, including at Buckingham Palace, and since 2016 has been permanently housed at the National Motor Museum. 'This exhibition is a celebration of both royal history and caravanning history,' said Sara Riccabone, curator of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection. 'The Royal Caravan is a fascinating piece of craftsmanship and a testament to the enduring appeal of caravanning.' Enduring appeal That enduring appeal arguably lies in the caravan's universal accessibility to the British public. While horse-drawn caravans were used as homes on wheels as far back as the early 19th century, according to the Historic Caravan Club, it's generally accepted that the first leisure caravan was Wanderer – a purpose-built design built around 1880 by the Bristol Carriage Company for Dr. W. Gordon-Stables, who went on to become the first president of the Caravan Club when it was founded in 1907. According to historian Andrew Jenkinson, after the First World War, a Birmingham father-and-son team 'saw the future of caravanning with cars', building the first commercial touring caravan, the Eccles car-pulled caravan, in 1919. While early caravans were initially the preserve of the rich, in the 1930s a rise in middle-class car owners also led to an increase in the number of caravan owners, sparking growth in the holiday industry. According to the Caravan and Motorhome Club, in the 1950s, when there was an increase in the popularity of caravanning, there were around 3,000 new caravans manufactured each year. Fast forward to the 21st century and the caravan's popularity appears to have endured, with an estimated 500,000 to 555,000 on the road today. In 2022 research carried out for the club by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) found the number of Britons considering a touring holiday had grown by 20 per cent in the two years to April 2022, while research by Mintel found that 47 per cent of UK adults went on a camping or caravanning holiday in the last three years. And according to touring caravan bookings are up 21 per cent so far this year, versus last year, with 14 per cent of pitch bookings in the past 12 months for touring caravans specifically. 'Most of those taking a trip in a touring caravan tend to be either older couples aged 50-plus, or families,' said founder Dan Yates. 'We see younger couples favouring campervans and roof-mounted tents, although it's fair to assume that many will grow into a full touring caravan in due course.' A more affordable option There has certainly been a trend towards campervans and motorhomes in recent years, but it's fair to say a traditional touring caravan remains a potentially more financially-accessible option – with prices closer to £15,000 for a new purchase compared to £60,00 for a brand new campervan. According to the Caravan and Motorhome Club, while a top-of-the-range caravan could cost £50,000-plus, you could buy a good secondhand caravan 'for no more than the cost of one or two family package holidays'. On top of that, the uptick in renting or 'subscribing' to a caravan rather than purchasing one outright means some people might be getting involved without buying one, suggests accountancy firm PKF Smith Cooper. And while affordability might be a factor in encouraging people to choose a caravan over a 'cooler' campervan, so too is nostalgia. As a campervan owner myself, I have fond memories of childhood caravan holidays with my best friend's family, and plenty of celebrities share that joy. ITV's Lorraine Kelly is said to be a caravan lover, as is Warwick Davis, while Cold Feet star Helen Baxendale previously said: 'I just love the feeling of 'We're off!' I had a lot of caravanning holidays when I was young with my parents and have very happy memories, and this is me trying to replicate that.' The most popular places for caravanning 'On a practical level, touring caravans are an easy solution for those who like to explore the UK often through multiple short breaks,' said Yates. 'They're also – bar the initial investment – a really cost-effective solution, with pitch costs from as little as £9 per night.' The obvious choices for a caravan holiday might be the seaside, but according to the central region is overtaking the South West in popularity, 'partly to avoid the crowds (and narrow lanes) of the south west, but also because it's home to the largest number of sites rated a full 10/10 by past Pitchup guests', he added. 'The key factors that our customers regularly highlight for an enjoyable touring caravan stay include level, serviced pitches, good access routes around the site and well-kept shared amenities, as well as a peaceful atmosphere.' The caravan may have started its life as a toy for the rich, and a gift for royals, but this much-loved British institution has cemented its place as a holiday home-from-home for people from all backgrounds, with no sign of the nation's love affair ending anytime soon.
