Conservation Action Trust 6 | Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Mpumalanga tightens up on elephant trophy hunting

May 23, 2017 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: Elephants Tagged: Conservation Action Trust, elephant, elephant hunting, Mpumalanga, trophy hunting

Despite the poaching crisis the fact that elephant trophy hunting continues remains troubling, however, this is some good news from Mpumalanga. Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has confirmed that it will not issue permits to elephant trophy hunting with unlimited tusk weights. In a surprise development MTPA permitting authority, Riaan de Lange, confirmed that no permits will be issued for elephants bearing tusks in excess of 40lbs. Instead he said that permits for four 30lbs bull elephants and one white rhino have been issued for Timbavati and that the elephant hunts have already been concluded, but it remains unclear…

Hwange Lion Killings Undermine Wildlife Conservation Efforts

May 17, 2017 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: All Posts, conservation, Human Wildlife Conflict, Lions, wildlife conservation Tagged: Conservation Action Trust, human-wildlife conflict, hunting, Hwange, Oscar Nkala, predator conflict, professional hunters

With the numbers ever decreasing lion killings by farmers and villagers continue in Zimbabwe and other African countries. Two endangered lionesses were killed after being lured out of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe to a hunting trap set up using meat from a cow they allegedly killed the previous night. One of the two lionesses was reportedly pregnant when she was gunned down. The shooting took place within 60km of the spot where the iconic lion Cecil was killed by hunter Theo Bronkhorst and his American hunter-client, Dr Walter Palmer on July 1, 2015. Hwange-based lion researcher Brent Stapelkamp said…

Botswana Budget Cuts Imperil Rhino Anti Poaching

Apr 25, 2017 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: All Posts, Animal Poaching, Poaching, Rhino, rhino poaching, wildlife conservation Tagged: Botswana, budget cuts, Conservation Action Trust, Oscar Nkala, rhino poaching

Long known for its topnotch success in protecting its rhino population Botswana’s budget cuts may change all that. Botswana’s world acclaimed anti-poaching success story is being threatened by budget cuts that have forced the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) to curtail patrols of the crack Rhino Squad. The cuts have also created a huge backlog in unpaid farmer compensation claims arising from the human-animal conflict. Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism minister Tshekedi said that DWNP anti-poaching operations were hard hit by government austerity measures which resulted in a reduction of the ministry’s 2017 budget from P213 million to…