The Cape Leopard Trust is turning its attentions to the Eastern Cape to study the free roaming predators in the province and they need help!

South Africa (06 March 2024) — The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) is calling on residents of the Eastern Cape to help them start monitoring wild leopards in the province. They are even hosting a competition to boost engagement.

The Trust is a non-profit that has worked hard to conserve the wild spaces these free-roaming predators call home, working with farmers and the public to ensure their safety.

The leopard is the last large predator and the last member of the Big 5 to still roam free in the Cape provinces. The species faces multiple threats, including limited and fragmented habitat, reduction in prey numbers and high levels of conflict with people.

“Have you ever seen a leopard or any field signs of leopards in the Eastern Cape? We’d love to hear from you if you have – you’ll be contributing to important leopard research and you stand a chance of winning some awesome prizes to boot!”

The CLT leopard database collects information on leopard activity and threats to leopards from across the Cape provinces. Over the past 3 years, this database has collated thousands of records – thanks to fantastic contributions from citizen scientists, researchers, and partner organisations. Currently, most data points are from the Western Cape, but in 2024 the Trust is setting its sights on expanding leopard knowledge in the Eastern Cape.

In 2023, the Cape Leopard Trust partnered with Jamma International, Panthera, and Nelson Mandela University to support PhD student Silindokuhle Tokota. His work focuses on the status of and threats facing leopard populations in the Eastern Cape. Over the next couple of months, the CLT invites leopard records from across the Eastern Cape to be submitted to our database. These points will contribute to Silindokuhle’s research and shed light on an understudied area for leopards within South Africa.

What exactly is CLT looking for?

They are seeking all verifiable observations of leopards and their field signs in the Eastern Cape from 2010 onwards.

Leopard sighting records can consist of camera trap photos, photos of leopard signs (i.e. spoor/tracks, scats/droppings, scratch marks on trees, feeding sites) and photos of direct leopard observations (i.e. visual sightings).

The team needs a photo, date as well as a location point for each record.

How to submit your records and enter the competition:

Go to app.capeleopard.org.za and follow the steps to create an account.

Each data point must be submitted individually to the online portal, so if you have multiple observations to share or prefer to contribute via email, please contact research@capeleopard.org.za

You can find all the details about the competition via the Cape Leopard Trust website.

Sources: Cape Leopard Trust – Linked Above

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This World Wildlife Day, we look at how South Africans can join in the fight to save our beautiful country’s wildlife.

South Africa (03 March 2024) – World Wildlife Day is an annual event observed on March 3rd that aims to raise awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants and the need to protect them. If you live in a city far from natural wildlife, you can still be a part of celebrating and acknowledging this special day. Here are a few ways how.

Educate yourself

Taking the time to learn about different species of wildlife and their challenges is key to driving change. Raise your voice in support of wildlife!

Support conservation efforts

Often even supporting just one species will have a ripple effect. For example, the rhino, which is known as an ‘umbrella species’, represents much more to the environment than just being a member of the Big Five. It forms an integral part of an entire habitat that supports many different creatures, from insects to the symbiotic relationship the rhino has with, for example, the Oxpecker.

Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) needs support of its efforts to ensure the continued survival of an animal that remains the target of poachers for its most valuable asset – its horns. They fundraise to raise awareness and educate communities about rhino poaching, and assist teams from the EWT involved in anti-poaching efforts across the country. This includes their K9 unit which deploys detection and anti-poaching dogs to trouble zones to assist rangers and other enforcement teams in their work to try and prevent poaching incidents.

How you can help rhinos

One means to support rhino conservation is through Relate Bracelets, which is a non-profit that raises funds to support charitable causes by selling themed bracelets, and offers regular people an opportunity to support the conservation of these animals by buying themed bracelets. Relate Bracelets’ CEO, Dalit Shekel says: “It’s not enough simply to make and sell something without meaning or context.”

“You can also make a real difference as an individual by advocating for policy change. Get involved in advocating for policies that protect wildlife and their habitats. This can involve writing to elected officials, signing petitions, or participating in campaigns organised by conservation organisations,” says Shekel.

Teach children about wildlife conservation

Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage, which is a wildlife orphanage and environmental education centre, places a strong emphasis on children’s education about wildlife. The Hoedspruit-based non-profit recognises the vital role of educating youth in ensuring a sustainable future, and actively involves children in their wildlife education programmes.

Michele Merifield, Co-Founder of Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage says: “Through these initiatives, we aim to cultivate a generation that is conscious and committed to preserving nature. This gives local children access to their rich natural heritage. We encourage others to join the mission to raise a generation of passionate ecologists and to make South Africa a better place for all.”

Through the combination of the bush school and the wildlife orphanage, Daktari has developed an immersive educational experience for local children to learn about the wildlife around them, the environment, anti-poaching initiatives, and a wide variety of other issues, right in the middle of the bush. The work extends into the local community through ECO Club at the secondary schools, outreach campaigning in several schools, and other community development projects.

Elephants need our help too

Elephants are recognised as a “keystone species” meaning that they define the entire ecosystem they are a part of. If the species were to disappear, no other species would be able to fill the ecological niche left behind. Best case scenario, the entire ecosystem would be forced to change in dramatic ways or worst case, cease to exist altogether.

These are some of the elephants’ contributions to the overarching ecosystems:

One single African Forest Elephant is estimated to be worth more than US$ 1.75 million in carbon offsets. This means that a single African Forest Elephant is effectively undoing emissions from 2,047 petrol cars for one year! Adding to this, African Savannah Elephants may distribute seeds farther than any other land mammal (up to 65km), they also play a significant role in maintaining tree diversity and seed banks across the landscape.

Elephants are the architects and ecosystem engineers of the African wilderness. As Africa’s largest land mammal, they help to conserve large areas of landscape by forging corridors between islands of wildlife safe havens. We can’t afford to lose them, or the habitats they need to thrive. Elephant conservation is not an African issue, it is a worldwide issue.

Elephants Alive has identified several landscape-planning elephants. These trailblazers connect four countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini. Some elephants travelled from the Kruger National Park in South Africa all the way through southern Mozambique and back into Tembe National Park in South Africa, through Eswatini, before finally returning to Kruger! Others went East towards the Futi corridor and to Maputo Special Reserve on the south-eastern coast of Mozambique.

Travelling close to 3000km, these elephants have indicated a major natural migratory route in need of protection. Without this corridor, the nature reserves would be mere isolated islands. It also indicated potential high-conflict zones where the elephant corridors overlap with densely populated human settlements.

Dr. Michelle Henley, CEO of Elephants Alive: “These elephants’ movements are our call to action to not only understand their spatial requirements but to urgently work towards ways to make people’s livelihoods compatible with conservation outcomes so that coexistence and connected landscapes can prevail.”

Elephants Alive works together with rural communities to develop and implement solutions to turn human-elephant conflict into co-existence, by ensuring people’s safety and food security in areas where elephants are moving outside of nature reserves and creating linkages between Protected Areas.

Remember, every action, no matter how small, can make a difference in protecting and conserving wildlife for future generations.

Sources: Supplied

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Since being rescued from Boksburg, the two tigers have started settling in at their new home and the game plan is weight loss!

Free State, South Africa (29 February 2024) – Two tigers were rescued from a private residence in Boksburg earlier this month by the NSPCA. They have since been moved to the Isindile Big Cat and Predator Sanctuary in Fouriesburg, Free State.

The sanctuary is NSPCA accredited, and will be home to the pair for the rest of their lives. Speaking to Ansa Gerber, the founding Director, she shared that the pair are currently in a small holding enclosure so they can adjust to a natural environment and after a few months, and with the sign-off of NSPCA veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell, they will move into their perminant space.

“We relocated them to our sanctuary on 20 February. They were released into a smaller holding enclosure where they will learn to adjust to life in a natural environment and where it is easier for us to observe them. In 3-4 months from now, depending on the veterinarian Dr Peter Caldwell’s recommendation, they will then be moved to a one hectare enclosure where they will then stay permanently. All our enclosures are designed to cater for the needs of our animals and to allow them unending views of the valley and mountains in the distance, creating the illusion of even more space.”

Both tigers are overweight so they are currently on a diet to help them get back to the powerful predators they should be. The diet plan will be about a year long, to help them gradually lose the weight.

“As they are extremely overweight they are on a tailored diet to help them lose weight very gradually over a period of a year or more. The special diet as well as space to play, explore and exercise will also assist in slimming them down. They have settled down well and enjoy exploring especially after sunset.”

Not only were these two rescued, the sanctuary also helpedwith the rescue of a young Bengal tiger from Pakistan.

“This young tiger was rescued from the exotic pet trade in Pakistan and in dire condition with multiple bone fractures when he was found by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) at a local veterinarian office. Under the care of IWMB and Second Chance Wildlife (SCW) in Pakistan after consultation with South African specialist veterinarian, Dr Peter Caldwell, he was nursed back to health.

In a joint operation with The Aspinall Foundation, IWMB and SCW this young tiger were flown to South Africa and released at our sanctuary on 14 February 2024. He is a lively young tiger enjoying his new life in the Eastern Free State.”

Sources: Isindile Big Cat and Predator Sanctuary

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In an effort to protect wildlife that call the Orange River home, South African and Namibian field rangers are on the case; teaming up to defend those who can’t defend themselves!

Orange River, South Africa (29 February 2024) — South African and Namibian field rangers have teamed up to up the heat on anti-poaching efforts in what South African National Parks have called a milestone collaboration between the two countries for the betterment of the environment.

By committing to a joint patrol, ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Field rangers alongside Namibian rangers are adding a fortress of backup to protect the wildlife that call the Orange River (one of the most important and longest rivers on the continent) home, with a big focus on fish species who need protection.

This effort comes to combat the illegal activities that have been on the rise; impacting fish populations and subsequently, the Orange River’s ecosystem and wider community.

The first efforts were underway in mid-November where the united rangers were able to apprehend suspects who were caught poaching through illegal fishing actions.

Where many of us might think of poaching as a concept reserved for endangered species, it is important to remember that many non-threatened species are still not safe and remain at risk. Nipping these problems in the net is only one part of the good these rangers are enforcing, with the second being their collaborative effort!

“This cross-border conservation collaboration serves as a shining example of solidarity in protecting our planet’s ecological treasures. It showcases the power of international cooperation in addressing complex environmental challenges and emphasises the importance of collective action in safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations.”—SANParks.

Sources: SANParks

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Three conservation heroes share their hopes of getting more children involved with nature, creating a generation that is hooked on nature.

South Africa (29 February 2024) – When Patlego Machete lived with her grandmother in rural Mpumalanga, she couldn’t wait to escape to the bright city lights. It was only years later that she realised the bush had always been calling her back – and now she is imparting this rekindled passion for nature to children as a conservation facilitator at Good Work Foundation (GWF).

As we celebrate World Wildlife Day on 3 March, Patlego and other young conservation champions wish to drive home the importance of educating children – as future custodians of our natural heritage – about conserving wildlife and caring for the environment.

Patlego’s journey may have since come full circle but, as a young village girl, “I wanted a different kind of life – I envied the city life. I needed to go and find myself,” she reminisces.

After matriculating, she had hoped to become a chartered accountant but was not accepted into college. Then she heard about GWF’s Conservation Academy and decided to enrol, not really knowing what it was all about.

“Three months down the line, I fell in love with nature – it was insane!” laughs Patlego. She would stop to identify rocks as she walked home, eliciting curious stares – “and that’s when I realised this is for me”. Accounting was history!

Today, Patlego is a qualified GWF conservation facilitator who loves taking schoolchildren into the bush on educational game drives. She says they get so excited seeing lions, zebras, wildebeest and elephants for the first time – even though they live close enough to these wild spaces to throw a stone in there, most have never had the opportunity to visit a game reserve because of affordability.

“If you have a dream, it’s better to go for it than to just do nothing and feel sorry for yourself. My dream came true, and I’m grateful for the risks I took and the people who helped me along the way.”

Neo finds her groove as a game ranger

Neo Mnisi, another GWF conservation graduate who works as a ranger and guide at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, was hooked on the great outdoors from an early age.

Neo grew up with her grandmother in rural Bushbuckridge, where life was tough. “When the rivers were full [and impassable], there was no going to school, even though I was a top student, getting 100% for my Natural Sciences tests. Sometimes, I would go to school with no lunch.”

Her career aspirations were put on hold when she fell pregnant at 18. To make ends meet, she took a job packing macadamia nuts on a farm. Years later, a glimmer of hope arose when she moved to Tshabalala village near Hazyview and learned of the opportunities offered at GWF.

Despite a decade having passed since school, Neo took the plunge and enrolled at the education non-profit’s Bridging Year Academy in 2020, and after that its Conservation Academy. “I’ve always loved reading and learning, so for me it was easy to go back to school,” she declares. “And I love nature.”

Thanks to GWF’s network of hospitality contacts, Neo landed a job as a transfer driver at Sabi Sabi. “They gave me a chance, enabling me to gain confidence as a driver. My driving improved a LOT in those first three months!” Neo then became a trainee ranger and, in February 2024, she qualified as a ranger.

“I get goosebumps when I think how much I love my job – it’s so amazing to see the faces of guests when they see an elephant for the first time in real life, not on TV. Some of them start crying,” she says, adding that she enjoys teaching children in her village about different bird calls and the importance of not harming wildlife.

“We should respect nature, and nature will respect us. Animals are dying because we are building everywhere and limiting their movement. We need to protect nature and wildlife and preserve it for future generations, otherwise they won’t know about their natural heritage.”

A conservation hero who never rests

Zuzumuzi Gumede, a facilitator at GWF’s Conservation Academy who has also worked at the Open Learning Academy, is a natural teacher who thrives on activity. “My favourite animal is an elephant – because elephants are always busy, moving around and doing something. They seldom rest.”

This animal lover was named a conservation hero during last year’s Extra Mile trail run (an initiative of the More Community Foundation) that passes the GWF’s campus in Huntington village – small wonder, as his passion for bringing conservation to life for young people is plain for all to see.

“There are a lot of issues related to human conflict with the natural environment, like poaching,” he says, explaining his passion for kindling a love of nature in young people.

“The natural environment is part of us as human beings – without it, we are nothing. It’s our duty to protect and sustain it. If we damage our ecosystems, humans are the next to be damaged. So we should learn to conserve our environment so it can sustain itself,” says Zuzumuzi.

Sources: The Good Work Foundation

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World scientists will be spending several days in the Kruger National Park, sharing ideas and working to support global conservation efforts.

Mpumalanga, South Africa (28 February 2024) – Kruger National Park (KNP) will once again host world scientists, researchers and Protected Area Managers at the 21st Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting, which will take place from 3 – 7 March 2024 in Skukuza.

“The park will host 208 delegates representing 80 different scientific and conservation organisations from 25 countries. 99 of the delegates will be from South Africa, representing 30 institutions ranging from national and provincial government departments, academic institutions, research, NGOs and conservation agencies. The meeting will also be streamed live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@savannasciencelivestream335” for those who would like to take part online; said SANParks Acting GM: Savanna Research Unit, Cathy Greaver.

Many topical issues in ecological and social sciences will be covered during the four days’ presentations and posters. There is a range of sessions covering various topics and these include:

• Classic ecological themes like studying ecological patterns (e.g., animal space-use patterns, large-scale biodiversity patterns),
• Understanding ecological processes (e.g., erosion, predation, plant recruitment, herbivory, fire, disease, decomposition)

This year’s program includes presentations on cultural heritage, tourism, human-wildlife conflict and co-existence, as well as the Wildlife Economy and Wildlife Crime. Presentations on cultural heritage, tourism, human-wildlife conflict and co-existence. This reflects the incorporation of expertise from diverse fields to assist in attaining conservation goals.

In order to provide a sound scientific platform from which to address the knowledge needs to manage biodiversity and protected areas in a changing world, SANParks scientists engage and collaborate with a wide range of national and international scientists, research partners and funders. A mix of basic and applied research, spanning the biophysical and social domains, strengthens research and monitoring efforts and builds stronger and deeper knowledge of the savanna systems. The close interactions between academics and park authorities facilitated by this meeting are key to promoting proactive evidence-based decision-making and directing research to address priority conservation management needs. The meeting has always valued capacity building, and as such students share the platform with world-renowned savanna scientists from across the globe.

“The idea for the Savanna Science meeting came about when a small group of scientists working on river related issues in KNP, reflecting on the impacts of the 2000 floods, started thinking that a small meeting held annually to share research findings with management, might be very useful. The scope and participation of these meetings grew quickly to include Savanna related research and delegates from many countries and organisations. This meeting is now considered the premier international savanna science conference covering socio-ecological research taking place in savannas across the globe. The conference format allows for dialogue and discussion on ecological science and conservation matters, both formally and informally in a spectacular venue, shaping our collective understanding and seeding future research collaborations and projects to fill key knowledge gaps”; concluded Greaver.

Information on the SANParks Scientific Services is found on the link below: https://www.sanparks.org/conservation/scientific_new/

Sources: Supplied

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A line of hippos crossing a parking lot has everyone giggling – the hippo train was made up of four hippos carefully walking nose to tail.

St Lucia, South Africa (27 February 2024) – St Lucia residents are no strangers to hippos making appearances in and around town. A recent sighting has the internet giggling!

St Lucia is surrounded by wetlands that are home to around 800 hippos so one is always able to spot one or two. They often make their way into town, and it is always a spectacle. St Lucia is a settlement in Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The small town is mainly a hub for the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park which is undoubtedly the largest Hippo Population in South Africa.

The hippo groups occur in the area of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and St Lucia is situated in the heart of this wetland. They play a vital role in nutrient distribution for the area and the species as a whole plays a role in keeping rivers healthy.

Recently, The Little Bush Baby Co. shared a video of four hippos walking in a line through their parking lot. They called it the “Hippo Train”. Take a look at the moment below:

Sources: The Little Bush Baby Co

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WWF South Africa has reacted to the release of rhino poaching numbers today, with great concern over the KZN stats – But they have a plan!

South Africa (27 February 2024) – The ongoing rhino poaching pressure in KwaZulu-Natal, where 325 rhinos were killed in the last year, is of grave concern.

The latest figures released by environmental minister Barbara Creecy today (Tuesday, 27 February 2024) indicate that 62% (307) of the total number of rhinos lost in South Africa in 2023 (499) were illegally killed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. In 2022 a total of 448 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa, 244 of which were in KZN.

Among a range of interventions Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is implementing, WWF will be supporting improving field ranger capacity through targeted training and improving living conditions for rangers. The organisation is also assisting Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in developing an integrity management plan to build organisational resilience.

“The province of KwaZulu-Natal has a proud record of having played a critical role in rhino conservation in South Africa when rhino numbers had dwindled to just a few hundred animals. This is why we are committing resources towards supporting the authorities in their efforts to turn the tide on illegal killing of rhinos, particularly in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

“There is a growing recognition of the importance of professionalising rangers working on the front line of conservation efforts by improving morale and building trust within law enforcement teams. This is one tangible area of work where WWF is hoping it can make a difference. It is also imperative that we continue to focus on growing rhino numbers and increasing range as quickly as possible, through efforts such as the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, in the hope of building resilience in the populations to guard against the poaching onslaught.” – Jeff Cooke, WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project Leader

In September last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicated that rhino numbers across Africa had increased by 5.2% between 2021 and 2022. Black rhino numbers rose by 4.2% from 2021 to 6,487 animals. White rhino numbers increased to 16,803 (an increase of 5.6%) – for the first time since 2012.

“While these updated IUCN populations figures provide hope, these gains remain tenuous as long as the poaching crisis continues,” Cooke said.

WWF is Working to Make a Difference!

On a national level, WWF actively supports the government’s efforts to effectively address the issue of illegal trade in rhino horn through its National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking which aims to break the illicit value chain in South Africa and beyond its borders. At a provincial level, WWF is actively supporting KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife.

WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP)

BRREP, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, aims to increase the number of Critically Endangered black rhinos by facilitating the creation of new populations. Removing black rhinos from existing populations stimulates the growth rate in the donor populations. The removed rhinos are released onto new sites to found new populations.

In the past two decades, 250 black rhinos have been moved to new project sites where they have the space to breed and thrive. More than 200 calves have been born on project sites and there are now 16 new black rhino populations in southern Africa. The project has also seen the range of black rhinos in KZN increase by more than 50%.

The WWF Khetha programme

Khetha, which launched in 2018 and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), focuses on reducing the impact of wildlife trafficking on elephants and rhinos and people living in the South African and Mozambican landscape of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA).

Khetha takes a holistic approach to addressing wildlife crime. It is strengthening law enforcement responses such as improving ranger wellness and resilience, providing necessary rhino monitoring equipment and training prosecutors and magistrates on wildlife crime.

Khetha also focuses on the relationship between protected areas and neighbouring communities by upskilling community engagement practitioners, improving human-wildlife conflict management, engaging the youth through sports programmes, and strengthening or creating platforms for communities to be part of discussions to wildlife crime and other conservation issues.

KZN’s historic role in rhino conservation

All of Africa’s remaining 16,000 southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum) emanate from a population of fewer than 100 individuals in 1920 that remained in the Umfolozi Game Reserve (now part of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park) and surrounds. Most of the black rhino (Diceros bicornis minor) south of the Limpopo River in South Africa and Mozambique originate from two remnant populations, one in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves and the other in uMkhuze Game Reserve and state land to the north of the reserve, where their numbers had dwindled to fewer than 250 in the 1950s.

Sources: Supplied

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A young man with a heart of gold walked all the way to the George Traffic Department to get help for an injured Dikkop.

George, South Africa (25 February 2024) – The George SPCA praised a young man who rescued an injured bird back in December 2023. The post got lost in all the holiday business but his actions still deserve public praise.

They shared how the unnamed young man came across the injured Dikkop. He then scooped it up and walked all the way to the George Traffic Department. Here he explained that he was trying to save the bird.

A traffic officer, touched by his actions, offered the young man a lift to the George SPCA where he was able to hand the bird over to the team for treatment.

Sadly, the Dikkop’s injuries were too severe and the bird was put down. Thankfully, it didn’t have to suffer on the roadside and for that the young man is our biggest hero!

As sad as the loss of the Dikkop is, Branch Manager Brenda Spark shared that “it is just wonderful to experience the young caring for those that don’t have a voice.”

So while his actions may have been two months ago, they continue to inspire to this day!

Sources: George SPCA

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Young Man Rescued Wild Bird in December – Honoured for Efforts appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Ayanda Cimani and Martine Viljoen took an above-and-below approach in an effort to save two seals at the same time – Watch what happens:

Cape Town, South Africa (22 February 2024) – Two more seals are free of the ropes and plastic that bound them, thanks to the efforts of the Marine Wildlife Management Programme run by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Ayanda Cimani and Martine Viljoen both celebrated successful detanglements.

Footage of Ayanda’s latest rescue was shared online this morning and it highlights his determination to save as many seals. He was the most successful disentangler of 2023 with 29 rescues. Now he adds another one to his belt.

“Our Marine Wildlife Management team disentangled two Cape fur seals at once!

While Ayanda Cimani used a specially designed cutting tool to disentangle a seal on the Seal Platform, Martine Viljoen (in a wetsuit underneath the platform) did the same with another entangled seal!

Our Marine Wildlife Management Programme highlights the importance of teamwork every day, but this case was truly one-of-a-kind!”

The team is needed because seals often find themselves tangled up in nets and pieces of plastic. Sometimes, these seals will live with the pollution attached to their bodies for far too long. With this awesome team at hand, any time there is a seal in need, they work to save it. Even if it takes weeks to catch the clever seals.

Cape fur seals feed on shoaling fish, squid, octopus, sharks and rays, all of which sometimes find their way into the maze of the waterfront, making the area a great place for the seals to hang out.

Because of Ayanda and Martine, two more seals swim freely without any human restraints!

Watch the team cut the ropes and plastic below:

Sources: Ryan Sandes

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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