Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger, Author at Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Botswana proposes hunting and trade as elephant population declines

Mar 7, 2019 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: Nikela Blog, trophy hunting Tagged: Botswana, Conservation Action Trust, elephant hunting

The results of the recent and most extensive elephant population survey of Botswana estimates the country’s population at 126,000 elephants, a further decline from 131,600 reported in 2014. Nonetheless Botswana proposes hunting! The report shows repeated evidence of significant increases in elephant poaching in four hotspots in Northern Botswana, which started a media storm last year. This report by Elephants without Borders (EWB) comes after the cabinet sub-committee presented their pro hunting report to President Masisi on Thursday last week, which proposes not only lifting the hunting ban, but also the introduction of regular elephant culling and associated elephant meat…

Saving the highly endangered Pangolin one at a time

Jan 23, 2019 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: Animal Poaching, endangered, Nikela Blog, Pangolin, wildlife conservation Tagged: Conservation Action Trust, endangered pangolin, Natalie Rogers

Living in the African Bush Natalie goes about saving the highly endangered Pangolin one at a time. Slowly the tiny ball in the wooden crate began to unwind. Its scales moved and a pointy nose followed by two black button eyes emerged. Natalie was entranced. The baby pangolin unwrapped its tail, holding out its front legs and gazed at her, asking to be picked up. It was love at first sight. Natalie is a veterinary nurse, used to caring for all sorts of African animals (including orphaned rhino calves) – but this young pangolin is a first for her. Ramphy…

Young Balule elephant shot 13 times before horrified guests

Dec 9, 2018 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: elephant, Nikela Blog, trophy hunting, wildlife conservation Tagged: APNR, Conservation Action Trust, Kruger National Park, trophy hunting

Just as the furor about the trophy hunting of the pride male named Skye began abating, another incident, the shooting of a young Balule elephant, has highlighted the ethics of hunting in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) alongside the Kruger National Park. This time the victim, a young Bulele elephant, was shot 13 times within sight of traumatized guests. Balule is a reserve within the APNR. After the first shot, the elephant began screaming and its cries were only silenced 12 shots later. Guests staying at Parsons Nature Reserve near the boundary of Maseke Nature Reserve were relaxing on…

World’s worst elephant poaching countries let off the hook by CITES

Oct 10, 2018 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: Animal Poaching, elephant, Nikela Blog Tagged: CITES, Conservation Action Trust, EIA, elephant poaching

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, China, Thailand and the Philippines, some of the world’s worst elephant poaching countries and illegal ivory traders have been allowed to exit a key international initiative set up to curb the mass slaughter of elephants. They have been allowed to exit the National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) process at recent meeting of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), because they have supposedly substantially achieved their National Ivory Action Plans. The Problem… However, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) strongly disagrees with the so-called success. It says key gaps remain in terms of implementation on the ground…

Rhino poaching drop may mean we’re running out of rhinos

Oct 2, 2018 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: Animal Poaching, Nikela Blog, rhino, rhino poaching Tagged: Conservation Action Trust, Department of Environmental Affairs, rhino poaching

A strategic report on poaching just released by the Department of Environmental Affairs shows a rhino poaching drop, and that fewer rhinos and more elephants are being killed. Of concern, however, is what the report leaves out. Until August this year, 506 rhinos were poached in South Africa, 333 in the Kruger National Park. That’s 185 fewer than the same period last year. At the same time poaching incursions into KNP increased from 1 702 last year to 1 873 this year. Taken together – higher incursions and fewer kills – it’s bad news, meaning there are fewer and fewer…

Botswana proposes hunting and trade as elephant population declines

Saving the highly endangered Pangolin one at a time

Young Balule elephant shot 13 times before horrified guests

World’s worst elephant poaching countries let off the hook by CITES

Rhino poaching drop may mean we’re running out of rhinos

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