Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A Drive through Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria
Rietvlei is situated 25 kilometres from OR Tambo International Airport between Kempton Park and Johannesburg. The nature reserve is 3800 ha and includes Rhino, hippo, cheetah and Lion. The lions are the only animals that are not free roaming.
For more info please go to http://www.friendsofrietvlei.co.za/ or www.rietvlei-reserve.co.za
We spent two hours driving around the reserve and found a few rare birds that you don't see every days.
The first encounter was with a male and a female Secretarybird. The Secretarybird is classified as Vulnerable. The bird is instantly recognisable by having an eagle-like body on crane-like legs or as my kid calls it a mean looking chicken. The bird is largely terrestrial and hunts with it long legs while walking through the grass. I have seen this bird take on snakes in the past and its always in the birds favour. Secretary birds consume snakes, other reptiles, amphibians, tortoises, rats and other small mammals as well as young game birds. The Secretary bird is widespread throughout Africa south of the Sahara but are listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss.
The next on the list was the White-fronted Bee-eater. Although this is not uncommon it is good to see so close to Johannesburg. Their status is common resident in grassland and savanna’s and Im sure we will see it right through winter at Rietvlei.
The next picture is of a yellow billed duck. Quite common and always spotted at Rietvlei I just had to take a few pictures as the colours on this bird are just spectacular.
African Grey Hornbill
Ant-Eating Chat
Our last entry before we left was a Rhino and her calf.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Save our grasslands, save our water sources!
Dr Morné du Plessis
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Rhino reward of R100 000 in KZN
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The original Sounds of Silence @ the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
My recent trip to iSimangaliso Wetland Park was epic and I cant wait to get back. Early on the morning of the 25th I took the loop just out side of Cape Vidal and stopped the car at the Bhangazi Lake view point.
The last time I was in the park this route was not open and thus I ended up doing it every day on this trip.
The Bhangazi Lake is a natural fresh water reservoir that is fed from rainwater from the low-lying wetlands.
This video clip is looking onto the lake on a overcast morning and the sounds are amazing.
Every time I long for the bush now this is the sound I play myself.
the | end |
Friday, September 14, 2012
Rhino poaching toll hits 381
So we have now hit the mark of 381 rhino mark for the year.
I am actually quite stumped how we as South Africans can solve this problem. Yes their are site like www.stoprhinopoaching.com etc but does pumping money into the issue actually solve this at the end of the day?
Would it not be more constructive to get the buy in from the actual people that are going into these wild life parks to poach.
Its clear to see that over the last couple of months some culprits have been caught as it show that everybody is in the chain,
How can we make a difference and protect our last legacy that we can pass over to our children.
I remember a story last year about a game farmer that had started putting cyanide in the rhino horn. Jan VanDerGrootsloot... Is this what we have to resort to?
Its extremely sad but the truth is I as an individual feel completely helpless to stop this.
My kids are fortune in the fact that they have seen these amazing animals in the wild but quite soon it will only be in Zoo's
Say no to poaching, shame the people that are buying this product.............................
Extract from Iafrica.com
Rhino Poaching
http://news.iafrica.com/sa/816356.html
A total of 381 rhinos have been killed since the start of the year, the environmental affairs department said on Wednesday.
"Thus far, the Kruger National Park (KNP) has lost 236 rhinos to poaching," it said in a statement.
"Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West provinces continue to be the hardest hit by poachers, collectively accounting for the loss of 117 rhinos."
Last year, 448 rhinos were killed, 252 of these in the KNP.
In 2010, 333 rhinos were killed, 146 of them in the KNP.
The department said 199 people had been arrested this year in connection with rhino poaching. Of these 176 were poachers, 10 were receivers of the horns, and 13 couriers.