wild animals | Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

How is the Covid-19 Pandemic impacting Africa’s wildlife?

Apr 15, 2020 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: All Posts, Animal Poaching, wild animals Tagged: Coronavirus, Covid-19, pandemic, tourism

Shut down! How does this Covid-19 Pandemic closure of game reserves and nature parks impact the wildlife it is protecting? A few weeks ago tourism in Africa came to a screeching halt due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Long awaited African Safaris were canceled and visitors and volunteers fled the continent. How is the Covid-19 Pandemic impacting Africa’s wildlife? For some wildlife the break from the endless gawking of tourists may be very welcome. Cheetah, lions, elephants and leopards frequently deal with hoards of tourists crowding them. Excited onlookers in safari vehicles press in for that unique chance to capture that…

Why these farmers are celebrating this harvest season in Tanzania

Mar 10, 2020 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Elephants, Human Wildlife Conflict, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: farmer crops, human-wildlife conflict, Moses Ryakitimbo, saving elephants, win-win

Where wild animals and people live close together human wildlife conflicts are inevitable. Then why are these farmers celebrating? Well, it all started when one man had the notion that with a bunch of beehives the elephants would stay away. Moses took a risk. He approached us here at Nikela to sponsor 10 beehives to keep elephants from destroying farm crops. Families were losing their livelihood, their food and at times their lives. Elephants were crushing their maize. Lone bulls were scaring old and young alike as they tramped through crop fields. Some farmers were grabbing spears and snares to…

Why Trophy Hunting isn’t Wildlife Conservation: The most convincing argument yet?

May 29, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Human Wildlife Conflict, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: Beverly Joubert, Botswana, trophy hunting, wildlife conservation

Beverly Joubert one of wildlife’s longstanding champions recently shared on Instagram, a most personal reason, why trophy hunting isn’t wildlife conservation. And, it may be the most convincing argument yet! During our travels with our Land Rover we’ve made some interesting discoveries. While in the Namibian desert east of Wallis Bay we found the wildlife extremely skittish. Zebra herds would start running as soon as they herd the growl of the Landy. Rarely did they stop to look when we did. Contrast to this to Chobe in Botswana, where elephant mothers, even with small calves, barely noticed us as we…

The Three R’s to Save the Planet Although Earth Day 2019 is History

Apr 24, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Human Wildlife Conflict, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: Earth Day 2019, save the planet, wildlife conservation

Earth Day is set aside for us to consider what we can do to save the planet. It’s a day to raise awareness of the earth’s status, which isn’t that healthy at the moment. Why does the planet need saving? Well, with our ever growing need for more, the earth’s resources continue to get depleted. According to EcoWatch.com, “Human Consumption of Earth’s Natural Resources Has Tripled in 40 Years.” Among others these resources include Water, Minerals and Forests. This depletion has a tremendous impact on wildlife populations. As humans fell more and more trees each year, nature and wild places…

When it’s best not to save a wild animal

Feb 13, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: All Posts, conservation, Elephants, giraffe, wild animals Tagged: elephants, giraffe, really helping, Saving Wildlife

That’s a crazy thought when you’re a wildlife lover… How can it ever be okay not to save a wild animal! Well, over the past years we’ve unfortunately learned that there are times when it’s best not to save a wild animal. Let me start at the beginning… The Giraffe There this lofty giraffe stood with his horn (ossicone) torn away from his head. I grabbed the binoculars. I could see flies swarming around what must have been a massive wound. However, there he stood looking at us munching away. We watched each other for a while then he returned…