1. Africa Update
Waiter, waiter there's a chimpanzee in my
coffee!
Well known environmentalist Jane Goodall has developed a
certification scheme to recognise coffee growers in Tanzania and
Burundi who are making an effort to conserve endangered
chimpanzees. Coffee is grown in close proximity to areas where
endangered species of chimpanzees live and in these areas farmers
are encouraged to protect and enlarge the surrounding forest - in
return, their coffee will receive a specially marketed label and
fetch higher prices. Chimps are heavily poached and the higher
prices for coffee beans may just make it more lucrative than
bushmeat - having all kinds of benefits. If you're prepared to pay
a bit extra for a brew that's helping local coffee growers and
chimps alike then be sure to look out for the new label.
Jane Goodall Primate Safari
Turtle breeding success on Cousine Island
Cousine
Island, a small granitic island in the Seychelles, is the nesting
ground for many Hawksbill and Green turtles. In an average
breeding season at least 14 000 Hawksbill turtle hatchlings are
observed and released into the ocean. So far this season, Cousine
has seen 3291 turtles hatch from the 23 of 74 Hawksbill nests, and
24 more turtles have been tagged for further monitoring. The
remaining nests are still in incubation and the full compliment of
hatchlings is expected to be ocean bound by the end of April.
Visit Cousine Island
Singita in the Community
Singita reaches out into the local community in many
different ways and this April the Themba Hosi Care Centre is due
to open. Fifty physically-challenged children, currently
accommodated in a church, will be moving across to the Care Centre
and will be cared for by staff and dedicated volunteers. Working
together with generous donors Dell Computers, other lodges in the
area, and the local authority,
Singita
has been part of an important development in the local community.
2. Have your say:
Elephant cull update
The South African government has decided to postpone a decision on
whether to resume
culling
in the Kruger National Park, SABC news has reported. "They
listened to our arguments and have agreed to postpone the cull,
but we don't know for how long," said Rudi van Aarde. "We want at
least three years for more research." Van Aarde is part of the
team of scientists advising government on the issue.
Full story
3. ecoAfrica's ecoQuest
ecoQuest
is ecoAfrica's search for the extraordinary in terms of best
practices in African ecotourism.
ecoQuest highlights unique ecological, cultural & conservation
features and special recognition gained in the hope that this will
inspire you to visit and support these establishments, and other
establishments to follow suit.
4. Ranger Report
Safari Stories from
The Great Wilderness Journey - by Grant Atkinson
Our safari got off to a rather rainy start and it was with much
relief that we arrived at Kwetsani on Day 3 to be greeted by
cloudy skies, but no rain. There are not many places in northern
Botswana that can compare with the floodplains in the Jao
concession as far as scenic beauty is concerned. This is
particularly so in early summer, when the first rains are falling
and the short grass plains are seen against the backdrop of
storm-clouded skies.
When you are guiding in scenery like this, you hope for that
special sighting to share with your guests. On our last morning at
Kwetsani, when we were busy having breakfast, and the sun was
about to creep over the horizon, we heard lions roaring. They
sounded close by, and a minute later two male lions came into
view, striding purposefully along. We watched them from the raised
deck of the camp, and then rushed for the Land Rover to follow
them as they moved off.
It was easy to find them in the short grass. We drove some
distance ahead of the two lions then switched off and sat very
quiet and still as they approached. First one and then the next
dark-maned cat passed by the Land Rover, giving us just a couple
of metres width, and ignoring us completely as they padded softly
through the dew-soaked grass. Droplets of water dotted their
manes, and sparkled in the clear light. Little clouds of vapour
misted from their open mouths as they walked past.
We had all been snapping away with our cameras, the lions dark
manes contrasting deeply with their tan fur...
