African Parks is delighted to announce that yesterday on ‘World Wildlife Day’ the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs committed €200,000 to the Rwandan Development Board (RDB) in support of bringing black rhino back to Akagera National Park. The funding will go towards the sourcing, translocation, reintroduction and protection of black rhinos into Akagera National Park later this year. This critical support was announced at the Save Wildlife Conference in The Hague. Since 2010, African Parks has managed Akagera through a public private partnership with its government partner, the RDB.

The rhino project in Akagera is a visionary conservation initiative that will see black rhinos restored not just to a park, but to an entire country. The species was nearly eradicated in the 1980’s due to wide-scale poaching and the last rhino was seen in the park in 2007. The reintroduction of rhinos will also cement Akagera’s Big Five status, a classification that will further stimulate tourism and generate additional employment opportunities for local communities who live outside the park.

“Restoring and protecting wildlife populations are cornerstones of the African Parks model” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO African Parks. “In a time where the main news coming out of Africa is about poaching and large-scale destruction of wildlife and wild places, this rhino reintroduction is a story of hope and of homecomings. We thank the Dutch Government for their generous contribution and congratulate our government partner, the RDB on receiving this support and the role they have played in the ongoing success of Akagera”.

The oldest of Rwanda’s three national parks, Akagera is 1,120km² in size. The only protected savannah region in Rwanda, the park also consists of rolling hills of acacia, woodlands and a labyrinth of lakes and papyrus swamps. It is home to more than 8,000 large mammals and more than 500 bird species. In July 2015, African Parks successfully reintroduced seven lions into the park, bringing the species back to Rwanda after almost 20 years.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, has donated US $70,000 to Odzala-Kokoua National Park which will be used for the repair and maintenance of 42 kilometres of road in the park.These roads connect the two tourist camps, Mboko and Lango, with the airstrip and the town of Mbomo.

The roads are used by Odzala eco-guard units to implement anti-poaching initiatives in the park. They also provide access for tourists who stay at the lodges operated by CCC (Congo Conservation Company) and who are attracted by the rich wildlife experiences on offer, especially opportunities to see elephants and gorillas in the wilds. Tourism creates employment and income for local communities who live outside the park.

This initiative by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China is the second collaboration of its kind with Odzala and has been fostered by Mr Henri Djombo, Minister of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development in the Republic of Congo; Mrs Saskia De Lang, EU Ambassador to the Congo; and Mr Pascal Ngoma, Interim Park Manager for Odzala.

“China is a signatory to the Washington Convention and as such works with other partners to translate the provisions of the Convention into concrete action, fighting poaching and the illegal trade of prohibited (wildlife) products, said Xia Huang, Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Congo. “This, our second financial contribution to Odzala-Kokoua National Park, reaffirms the Chinese Government’s commitment to fighting these illegal activities.”

“We are grateful to the People’s Republic of China for their continued interest and financial support of the country’s iconic park, and its wildlife, thereby providing sustainable benefits for the Congolese people,” said Pascal Ngoma, Interim Park Manager for Odzala. “This second tranche of funding for US$70,000 will be used to fund the park’s anti-poaching efforts and improve access for tourists keen to discover its rich wildlife offerings.”

Comprising 1 354 600 hectares in size, Odzala-Kokoua National Park located in the northwest of the Republic of Congo is an important stronghold for the remaining forest elephants and populations of western gorillas which face ongoing threats from poachers. Located in the heart of the second largest rainforest in the world, the biodiversity of the park is exceptional with over 400 species of birds, 114 species of mammals (including 16 primates) and more than 4 400 plant species. Local communities are permitted to harvest non-timber forest products and hunt and fish by traditional methods in the ecological development zone of the park.

The partnership agreement between the Congolese Ministry of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development, and African Parks, to manage Odzala-Kokoua National Park and promote its long term conservation for the benefit of the Congolese people was signed on November 14, 2010.

African Parks’ plans to reintroduce black rhinos into Akagera National Park, Rwanda have been given a £100 000 boost by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that the initiative to reintroduce the species into the park after an absence of 10 years will cost more than £1million.

The £100 000 funding for the rhino initiative was announced at the People’s Postcode Lottery gala function in Edinburgh last night. The funding will go towards the sourcing, translocation and reintroduction of 10 black rhinos into Akagera National Park later this year.

African Parks was one of 57 beneficiaries that also received additional, unspecified funding of £25 000 at the gala event.

The rhino project in Akagera is an important conservation initiative that will restore black rhino in the park, a species that was nearly eradicated in the 1980s due to wide-scale poaching. They were last seen in park in 2007. The reintroduction of rhinos will solidify Akagera’s Big Five status, a classification that will help increase tourism and generate further employment opportunities for local communities. Since 2010, African Parks has managed Akagera National Park in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and in just five years, poaching of wildlife has been greatly reduced and is now under control.

The oldest of Rwanda’s three national parks, Akagera is 1,120km² in size. The only protected savannah region in Rwanda, the park also consists of rolling hills of acacia, woodlands and a labyrinth of lakes and papyrus swamps; it is home to more than 8,000 large mammals and more than 500 bird species. In July 2015, African Parks successfully reintroduced seven lions into the park, bringing the species back to Rwanda after almost 20 years.

“We are delighted that the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting the return of rhinos to Akagera, said Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery. “This project will have such a positive impact on the region in terms of conservation and tourism. The additional funding has also provided vital funding for numerous beneficiaries across Great Britain and internationally”

“African Parks has a proven track record of conservation restoration across the continent, including re- establishing and successfully protecting populations of locally extinct wildlife,” said Peter Fearnhead, African Parks CEO. “Akagera, with its rich wildlife, strong law enforcement, community development and tourism opportunities, is a symbol of hope, and rebirth, and serves as a shining example of what conservation can look like in 2016. We sincerely thank the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for their generous support in helping to bring rhinos, a critically endangered species, back to this spectacular park, and back to Rwanda. The additional funding of £25 000 is also most appreciated and will be used for park initiatives.”

With exceptional surviving skills lions roam the Namib Desert! On the brink of extinction, their future is at risk, and now a brotherhood of five young lions holds the key to the future of their kind. Two years ago an old queen and her two daughters gave birth to a total of five male cubs and despite the hardships of the desert they have managed to raise them successfully. But soon the time will come for the ‘Five Musketeers’ to continue life on their own, when their mothers begin their search for one of the last remaining adult male lions. Faced with many unforeseen challenges the five young males need to conquer the oldest desert on earth on their epic journey to adulthood.

In this 1-hour HD special we discover an extraordinary predator in one of the most remote wilderness areas in the world. Now for the first time ever in this extreme and epic landscape, we can observe, over an extended period, the secret lives of true desert lions. They roam the rugged mountains, the majestic sand dunes, the endless gravel plains and legend has it they prowl the beaches of the Skeleton Coast. With the help of lion researcher Dr. Philip Stander and sophisticated satellite tracking technology we will get the unique opportunity to witness the natural behaviour of one of the rarest kinds of lion. His lifelong devotion reveals an epic journey of hardship and triumph.

The blue chip style of the film will not be affected by the few and short appearances of the scientist who has collared all the lions for their own sake. He is aware that faced with the already ruthless elements of the desert there are even more dangers on the horizon: local villagers, poachers and hunters pose a threat to the survival of the population. And once the lions attack cattle the herders will unhesitatingly kill them. Philip Stander’s research over the past 17 years indicates that now more than ever our Five Musketeers’ survival is crucial. Without adult male lions, prides will fall apart and desert lions will vanish before our very eyes…

Go on safari in Namibia to witness first hand the phenomenal adaptations of its fauna & flora with a leading eco lodge & runner up in the 2015 Safari Awards Best Ecologically Responsible category.  Wolwedans Dunes Lodge ensures a very light environmental footprint on Namibia’s pristine desert ecology.  For the most incredible desert safari experiences on offer, be sure to also check out the best camps & lodges Namibia has to offer as reviewed by the most knowledgeable & highly respected Safari Awards Judges.

The South African rhino poaching epidemic continues unabated as the latest figures released today show that the killings have surged through the 600 barrier and now number 618 dead rhinos so far this year. That is an increase of 60 rhinos since the last figures published on July 11th.

Looking back on the figures for July it shows a devastating loss of the rhino in South Africa – 122 of the creatures have been killed this month.

It could have been worst as the first 11 days of the month say 62 kills. another 60 rhino have been killed since 11th.

The latest stats have been released on World Ranger Day at a ceremony dedicating a monument to rangers in SANPARKS that have been killed trying to protect wildlife from the poachers.

The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Barbara Thomson, officially unveiled the Ranger Monument at the Kruger Gate in the Kruger National Park on 31 July 2014, as part of the World Ranger Day celebration.

The Monument acknowledges the contribution of past, present and future rangers to conservation in South Africa, and the world. The event marked the seventh anniversary of World Ranger Day held in memory of rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to honour those who risk their lives daily to protect endangered species and other natural resources.

“Nowhere is the importance of Rangers more clearly illuminated than in the fight against rhino poaching,”  said Ms Thomson.

“As government we need to boost the morale of rangers by showing them their battle against poachers and other environmental crimes are not in vain. We want to tell you that we understand and fully appreciate that rhino poaching goes much deeper than mere physical security. Social and economic problems such as unemployment and poverty are part of the problem. 

“In other words, it is a multi-dimensional problem that extends beyond provincial borders, countries and government departments, and we are committed to develop a multi-dimensional combat strategy in support of your efforts.”

“The rangers of the Kruger National Park, like the Leadwood, have survived for more than 100 years. Through their strength of spirit, their resilience to the hardships and dangers they face almost daily, the rangers will survive and continue to stand tall,” said Ms Thomson, referring to the Leadwood tree.  The tree signifies longevity in local culture and is an iconic tree of the Lowveld savannahs.

The new monument highlights the two ‘life lines’ of a hand. The main life line represents the ranger’s lives which are dedicated to serve the broad ideals of conservation. The smaller life line  illustrates the Stewardship responsibility of all people, particularly the ranger’s life as defending and conserving all creatures and natural places.

Poaching in Sub Saharan Africa is on the rise as more elephants and rhinos are targeted for their tusks and horns respectively.

Armed criminal gangs target these wild animals to take their tusks and horns to Asia to be used to make ornaments and medicines.

On Wednesday night, two armed gangs killed four rhinoceroses for their horns in rural Kenya which is considered the worst rhino poaching incident in the country in more than 25 years.

The spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Service, Mr Paul Mbuya said on Friday that rhino bodies were discovered at two separate sites on the 58,000-acre ranch near Nanyuki, about 200 km north of Nairobi and the poachers had escaped with three of the animals’ eight horns.

The killings take the number of rhinos poached in Kenya so far this year to 22, which leaves just 1,037 rhinos still roaming private wildlife conservancies and KWS national parks, Muya said.

One conservationist told Reuters, “They’ve got high levels of security there, so the implications are that really rhino are not safe anywhere.”

Kenya has emerged as a major transit route for ivory destined for Asian markets from eastern and central Africa in recent years.

Last year, 59 rhinos were poached in Kenya, a country famous for its sprawling Maasai Mara game park and abundant wildlife.

Rhino horn sold on the streets of major Asian cities was last year more valuable than gold or platinum, with traders asking for about $65,000 per kg of rhino horn. A kg of gold is currently worth about $42,920 while a kg of platinum is $48,450.

However, Kenya’s parliament has passed strict anti- poaching laws and the government has beefed up security at parks to stop poaching, which threatens the vital tourism industry.

The country has also started using high-tech surveillance equipment including drones to track poaching gangs and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos roaming its sweeping national parks.

Since this year begun, poachers have killed more than 500 rhinoceroses in South Africa, AFP reports, and wildlife officials fear that at this rate the country is on course to break its 2013 record of 1,004 rhino deaths, which had been the highest recorded in the past seven years.

Approximately 25,000 rhinos exist in the world today, and South Africa is home to 80 percent of the world population.

Most of the killing takes place in Kruger National Park, a renowned safari spot where 351 rhinos have been poached since January 2014.

Poaching in Africa has risen in the past decade, reports say, because of the appetite for rhino horn in Asia.

The Bead Coalition’s RHINO FORCE division, the home of the best-selling rhino bracelet, has donated a R 280.000.00 4×4 vehicle to the International Anti Poaching Foundation (IAPF), founded by Damien Mander. The vehicle will assist the IAPF to reach remote areas threatened by rhino poaching. The company will be raising the donation through the sale of RHINO FORCE bracelets.

In addition, the IAPF will be receiving 10% of the suggested retail price of every hand-beaded RHINO FORCE bracelet sold in South Africa.

Anti-poaching rangers form the first line of defence for our wildlife. Without the right training and equipment, they cannot defend natural areas. The IAPF believes in wildlife conservation through direct action. It develops, implements and manages: Anti-poaching ranger training; conservation security plans; wildlife crime information systems and more. In 2009, Damien Mander, a former Australian Royal Navy Clearance Diver and Special Operations military sniper, formed the IAPF to use his unique skills for conservation.

“Having RHINO FORCE in our corner is a huge step in the right direction, we are truly grateful. We are fighting a world wildlife war and the rangers who spend their lives at the front-lines need all the support they can get. I don’t ask you to consider whether or not rangers should be trained or equipped to the genuine levels required, I ask if you will accept the outcome if we do not follow this path?” says Damien Mander, CEO of IAPF.

Red, black and white RHINO FORCE beaded bracelets are worn for rhino conservation globally, and are sold online at www.beadcoalition.com or at various retailers and lodges in Southern Africa for R40 each. We deliver worldwide.

Latest figures for rhino poaching in South Africa shows that so far this year 419 rhinos have been killed for their horns. The press statement also revealed that a former wildlife ranger and 2 police officers based at the Skukuza police station in the Kruger National Park have been arrested in connection with helping rhino poachers.

The arrests, made yesterday, followed an intelligence-led operation and resulted in the arrest of a former SANParks sergeant in the ranger service and two police constables based at the Kruger National Park.

Members of South African HAWKS – the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – where out on a patrol with park rangers when they found a black rhino that had been killed and de-horned. Following on the spot investigations they received information about a police van that had been seen in the area.

The van was found and pulled over. Investigators discovered that the van was carrying a suspected poacher and a hunting rifle with a silence, ammunition and other poaching equipment. The constables in the van could not provide an adequate reason for carrying the suspected poacher and were arrested.

Minister for Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, welcomed news of the arrest and said, “The SANParks and SAPS officials who performed the arrests are congratulated for their outstanding work. The arrest sends a strong message that officials alleged to be involved in poaching will be arrested and face the full might of the law,”

The Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Simon Mapyane, applauded the team under the stewardship of Colonel Johan Brits for work well done.  “Colonel Brits is going on pension this Friday, 30 May 2014, after serving the police for 39 years and eight days. He is leaving a mark and has handed the mantle to the team,” he said.

“The suspects were tasked with the responsibility to patrol the streets around the park and to confront suspicious vehicles. It is clear that these members were doing the opposite,” added General Mapyane.

The two officers are set to be charged with corruption.

The Officer Commanding of the SANParks Rangers Corps, Major General (RET) Johan Jooste commended all the units that were involved in the arrests of the suspects. He added that the war was intensifying but the men and women in uniform were certainly up to the task.

“The incursions are now relentless and taking their toll on our resources, but we have men and women that are dedicated and fully committed to the cause, they are determined to win this war,” said Maj Gen (ret) Jooste.

The latest poaching statistics for rhino in South Africa are:

“Geoeducation, geoheritage and Peace building in Africa and Middle East” 19-20-21 March 2014

The African Association of Women in Geosciences and the African Geoparks Network are proclaiming the 20th March as a “Day for Earth Sciences in Africa and the Middle East” to increase the awareness about the role that earth scientists could play to help to build a peaceful, healthier and wealthier continent. This day was first celebrated in 2013. In 2014, the day will be celebarated under the title “Geoeducation, Geoheritage and Peace Building in Africa and Middle East”.

Why the 20th March?
Equinoxes have been celebrated in cultures all over the world. In the northern hemisphere the March equinox marks the start of spring and has long been celebrated as a time of rebirth. The 20th March corresponds to the March equinox where night and day are nearly of the same length all over the world. However, even if this is widely accepted, it isn’t entirely true. The March equinox occurs the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. This happens either on March 19, 20 or 21 every year. In that way, the activities, related to the “Day for Earth Sciences in Africa and Middle East”, could be extended on the 19th and the 21st March.”

Activities
Conferences, seminars, courses, presentations, field trips, exhibitions, films, games, visits of Earth Sciences departments…etc. It is up to you to create and innovate in order to answer the need of your respective societies.

Target public
Pupils from primary and secondary schools, students from universities, policy makers, large public, potential partners and sponsors…all the components of your respective societies.

Partners
GSAf, IAPG, the ArabGU, Society of African Earth Scientists, YES Network, IAGETH, CIFEG, the ASRO, GIRAF….So, if you are interested to be partner or supporter of this initiative or if you are willing to propose activities in your respective countries or online activities through your facebook groups, your blogs or your tweets, please join us to make this exciting experience a success.