Artist Rizah Potgieter has been hard at work creating Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural—an ode to community pride and marine life awareness.

Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Artists, volunteers and community members have all played their part in helping make Mitchell’s Plain’s longest mural possible.

A legacy in blue, the ‘longest mural’ (also known as the Poseidon Mural) seeks to bring a sense of beauty, calmness and awareness to Mitchell’s Plain. In an big way, its breathtaking size makes the topic of climate change and its impact on our oceans hard to ignore with sea characters on vibrant display. In even bigger ways, it stands to show people the beauty that their area can call home; cultivating a sense of community pride and responsibility.

Led by mural wizard Rizah Potgieter who was also behind another iconic mural last year (“Standing Tall”, a 22-metre high mural in Khayelitsha that captured netball player Phumza Maweni), the Posideon project was a collaborative effort that saw many people unite for its creation.

 

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PAINT, an artivist organisation on a mission to transform neighbourhoods and non-profit ArtBridge teamed up to ensure that Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural would become something for Cape Town to be proud of. For the team, this wasn’t singularly about marine life awareness or art’s positive impact on communities, but both in unison.

Says Mikal Ernest Bell, Founder of PAINT, “The initial objective was bringing the two communities together, this will therefore be the culmination. The artwork on either side of the wall has greatly contributed in bringing about peace in these two communities that has been ravaged by crime and gang violence.”

The more we make the hard topics accessible and the more we let art bring people together, the better chance we have for a South Africa that understands that no matter where you come from or what challenges you’ve faced, you can still make an impact on our future.

Sources: Various (Linked Above) 

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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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The Penguin-Pals Project is going to help so many penguins get the help they need thanks to Betty’s Bay residents who have volunteered to transport penguins to rescue facilities! Not only will they be playing a helpful role as penguin ‘Uber drivers’, but they’ll also be saving rescue staff a lot of time.

Betty’s Bay, South Africa (06 March 2024) — The Southern African Foundation For The Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is getting a helping hand from the Betty’s Bay community thanks to residents who have volunteered their time to be part of the Penguin-Pals Project!

SANCCOB is responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating many of South Africa’s seabirds. But, there are only so many staff members. Journeys to assist penguins in need often mean many hours on the road, which in turn leaves staff members unable to help other seabirds while trekking these distances.

As Tim Elliot of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy (BBC) shares:

“Up until now SANCCOB have had no option but to send one of their own staff from Betty’s Bay all the way in to Tableview, in Cape Town, in the event of an injured or sick penguin or other seabird. Everyone at the Stony Point Nature Reserve has enough on their plate without sitting in a vehicle for the three hour plus round trip.” 

This is where the Betty’s Bay community have decided to help lighten the load of responsibility. As part of BBC’s Penguin-Pals Project, residents have offered to share their time and transport any struggling seabirds to Somerset West—a big chunk of the distance that will undoubtedly help staff members save on time and transport expenses.

Training was underway in late February for the Penguin-Pals’ volunteers.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of being involved and being able to help constructively,” adds Tim. 

This initiative displays not only how a little help can go a long way (quite literally), but also sets the path for future Penguin-Pals Projects outside of Betty’s Bay! Word at the colony is, SANCCOB may also need some volunteers in Gordons Bay too, so don’t be afraid to spread the word!

Sources: Betty’s Bay Conservancy

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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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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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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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So many office items ended up as waste or in landfills, during and after the pandemic. But what would these items look like if instead, they had a second chance at life? The upcoming UPCYCLE exhibition is gearing up to give us a look:

Cape Town, South Africa (05 March 2024) — The spaces we work in have changed greatly in the past four years. But, so has our relationship with the biggest space of all—the planet we call home. Merging these two ideas and inviting us all to be freely inspired by them, is the UPCYCLE Exhibition, set to pop up in Cape Town next month.

The exhibition’s organisers believe that the working world has massive potential to join in on the circularity movement—ie: the upcycling movement which gives waste a chance to be reworked into treasure.

Reconfiguration of the workspace in the post-Covid world has led to a mounting tide of discarded office equipment and furniture that either lazes around in storage, ends up on an over-supplied second-hand market, or worse—in landfill.

But, with clever designers and artists playing a critical role in imagining new possibilities for the things that fill up our spaces, hopes are hot that creative change can make an important dent in influencing the corporate world to get on board with the conscious world.

The UPCYCLE exhibition then, is on a mission to tackle the bigger issues of sustainability and regenerative design through the vehicle of unbounded creativity. Not limited by function and challenged to create a thought-provoking spectacle that will ignite powerful conversation, a select group of designers and artists have been tasked with breathing bold new life into discarded office equipment and furniture pieces.

Among the exhibition’s participants are Congolese artist Patrick Bongoy, sisters Viveka and Rucita Vassen of Ananta Design Studio, Nisha and Justus van der Hoven of Hoven Design, Laurie Wiid of Wiid Design, Amaury Watine, who is the Creativity and Innovation Director Tétris EMEA, Adrian Davidson.

The exhibition will be open to the public at Makers Landing at V&A Waterfront on 19 and 20 April 2024. On Friday 19 April, design students will be welcomed for a special student-focused day, and on Saturday 20 April there will be a free curated walkabout with the artists and designers at 11h00. 

Get ready to explore the future of the workspace!

• Date: 19-20 April 2024 
• Venue: Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
• Opening hours: 10h00-21h00, Friday-Saturday
• Cost:  Entrance to the exhibition and Makers Landing is free
• Parking: Secure paid parking is available at Makers Landing

Sources: Supplied

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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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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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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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The expedition team for the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s Africa Odyssey have faced several milestones and challenges so far; this is how the trip is going:

Northern Africa (03 March 2024) – Legendary South Africa-based explorer Kingsley Holgate and his team are two-thirds of the way through their 41^st humanitarian and geographic expedition which began in June 2023, and are now gearing up to reach some of the wildest and most isolated regions in central, north and west Africa.

Utilising new Defender 130s, the Afrika Odyssey expedition that began in June 2023, has already surpassed 40,000 kilometres along some of the most treacherous routes in Africa, withstanding torrential rains, excessive heat, and record floods in the past eight months.

This expedition is delving into the wild heart of 12 diverse African countries and has a strong conservation, culture, and community focus. The aim is to reach 22 unique wildlife reserves, managed by the conservation NGO African Parks in partnership with the government of each country.

“Over the past 30 years of adventuring in every country on the continent, we’ve come to realise that Africa’s iconic biodiversity and wildlife is under immense threat,” said Kingsley. “For a long time, we’ve been asking the question: is there hope for Africa’s wild spaces as well as the people who depend on it, in the face of burgeoning global demand for natural resources?”

“That’s what spawned the idea for this expedition and there’s good news. We’ve been privileged to see first-hand the incredible work being done to protect and restore vast tracts of wilderness and the frontline fight against criminal networks that profit from illegal trade in wildlife, logging, and mining.  We’ve heard gut-wrenching, personal stories of loss from rangers on the front line, alongside uplifting stories of hope that bear witness to the revival happening in many countries thanks to proactive governments, and the positive impact it is having on both wildlife and neighbouring communities.”

The expedition has now reached 15 of the 22 wildlife regions on their list. Starting in the northern tip of the Namib desert at Iona National Park in south-western Angola, it has journeyed through nine national parks in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi; and reached the furthest and highest source of the White Nile in the mountainous rainforests of Nyungwe in Rwanda; tackled a difficult route to two remote wildlife parks in South Sudan; and nearly lost the expedition Defenders to the worst floods in 20 years at Garamba national park in the remote north-eastern corner of the DRC.

The Afrika Odyssey expedition is also providing humanitarian support to communities living alongside these wildlife regions.

“Unusually high rainfall in the East and Central African regions have escalated malaria cases, especially in young children and babies,” said expedition leader Ross Holgate. “The whole team also contracted malaria whilst in East Africa and we know from personal experience how deadly malaria can be. So, we’ve distributed over 7,600 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to date on this journey. With one mosquito net protecting on average a mum and two children, that’s nearly 23,000 people safe from malaria.”

“We’ve also provided 1,800 reading glasses to poor-sighted, mostly elderly people in these isolated areas. Additionally, conservation education forms an integral part of this expedition. Through our Wildlife Art programme, we’ve helped educate thousands of children living alongside African Parks-managed protected areas about the values of caring for their environment. They are the future guardians of these wildlife gems and it’s important to pass on the baton of conservation, to ensure they continue to benefit from Africa’s wildlife resources in the coming years.”

“Ahead lies the most difficult part of the expedition, to reach seven wildlife regions in Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Benin,” continued Ross. “We’ll be tackling dense rainforest conditions, difficult river crossings, vast desert and rocky mountain terrain where water and fuel will be hard to come by, as well as potential security threats. The logistical issues for this chapter are extreme.”

Veteran expedition member ‘Shova Mike’ Nixon, one of only three people in the world to have completed all 19 Cape Epic mountain bike races, will attempt to cycle 600 kilometres on a specially adapted Evo-bike through Chad’s Sahel and Sahara desert to reach the World Heritage Site of Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve near the Libyan border.

“Ennedi is said to be the most beautiful part of the Sahara but I’m expecting a hard, physical test with powdery soft sand and temperatures above 40’C,” said Mike. “From what I’ve researched, this route hasn’t been attempted before by bicycle; hopefully it becomes another ‘first’ that adds an extra level of adventure and excitement to the expedition.”

The Afrika Odyssey’s Scroll for Conservation – with hundreds of pages already filled with inspiring messages from community leaders and beneficiaries, park rangers, conservation partners and government envoys –  will also complete the journey, as will the well-travelled Zulu calabash that is collecting symbolic water from all 22 African Parks-managed protected areas.

“We trust that the Zen of Travel will continue to ride with us,” concluded Kingsley. “We need to showcase the inspirational potential of Africa’s people and wild places – it is not all doom and gloom. We’re raring to go for chapter three of this incredible journey, continuing the humanitarian work, and meeting more passionate individuals who are dedicating their lives to this beautiful continent’s wild heart and rural communities.”

Follow the expedition on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsleyHolgateFoundation

Sources: Supplied

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A donation of R1 million has been given to Goodbye Malaria in an effort to combat the deadly disease in Southern Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa (01 March 2024) – Relate Bracelets, a dedicated non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, is happy to announce a significant milestone with a donation of R1,000,000 to Goodbye Malaria, marking another step forward in the relentless fight against this deadly disease. Since its inception, Relate Bracelets has proudly raised just under R14 million for this cause, showcasing the collective power of the community and commitment to making a tangible difference in fighting this disease.

Relate Bracelets is a proudly 100% not-for-profit social enterprise which makes and sells handmade beaded products to raise money for charities globally, while creating jobs for people in low income communities. The non-profit is a social enterprise, which works towards providing solutions to some of the biggest problems in South Africa. It’s a business and does not rely on donations, but raises money for charitable causes.

Goodbye Malaria is an initiative to eliminate malaria, a preventable disease that kills a child every two minutes in Africa.

CEO of Relate Bracelets, Dalit Shekel says, “Malaria accounts for one in twelve global deaths in children under the age of five. Eighty percent of annual malaria deaths are among African children under five. The scourge continues to be a significant health concern for Africa, with the region accounting for 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of all malaria deaths.”

The partnership with Goodbye Malaria aids in accelerating interventions and innovations to malaria elimination in Southern East Africa. During the 2022/23 campaign, integrated vector management was conducted in a total of 22 districts in 3 provinces in Southern Mozambique, with an additional 8 mobile surveillance units positioned at key eastern border regions of South Africa. The results include over 4.2 million lives protected from malaria in the MOSASWA (Mozambique, South Africa and eSwatini) region.

Shekel says, “It is an honour and joy to collaborate with Goodbye Malaria, uniting our efforts to safeguard vulnerable communities, particularly women and young children, from this deadly disease. While we are celebrating this milestone, we’re also filled with anticipation for the greater impact we aim to achieve in the coming year. Our partnership embodies our shared commitment to turning the tide against malaria, and I’m profoundly inspired by the difference we’re making together”

Goodbye Malaria is the brainchild of passionate and concerned African entrepreneurs who’d seen the devastation of the disease on the continent. The social benefit organisation collaborates with world-class partners to end Malaria, including the Global Fund, private organisations, and the governments of Mozambique, South Africa and eSwatini.

Goodbye Malaria’s Marketing Manager, Kiri Rundle says, ‘Malaria holds back economies, communities, and families, with women and girls bearing the brunt of this impact. When we fight to eliminate malaria, we improve economic growth, advance gender equality, and bend the curve of poverty’.

‘The only way to combat this disease is together, this innovative partnership allows us to make an impactful difference on the ground and in malaria endemic communities, while driving societal transformation and empowering the crafters behind each bracelet’, Rundle adds.

Sources:  Relate

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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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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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The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) shares how pet owners can help curb the spread of Zoonotic Diseases in South Africa.

South Africa (29 February 2024) – Humans and animals share a special and close bond, especially when it comes to our beloved pets and our livestock. But think twice before giving your parakeet an affectionate peck on the beak, letting your dog lick your face or cuddling up with your new kitten until it’s received a clean bill of health from an animal healthcare professional.

Why? Well, your cute pets or farm animals might just be harbouring a zoonotic disease, which is an infection that is transferred between animals and humans. And be aware that there are some diseases that we can transmit to our beloved animals, too.

“The best-known zoonotic disease is rabies, which is transmitted from an infected mammal – usually a dog – to humans, and can be fatal if not treated immediately. So, avoid stray dogs and those exhibiting erratic behaviour,” says Dr Nandipha Ndudane, the president of the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). Tick bite fever is another well-known zoonotic disease that is prevalent in Southern Africa.

In the home, kittens and puppies can carry ringworm that poses a danger to immunocompromised pet owners. Also, birds such as budgies and parrots can transmit psittacosis – or parrot fever – to humans, resulting in flu-like symptoms or severe pneumonia.

Furthermore, cattle tuberculosis (caused by Mycobacterium bovis) can be transmitted between humans and animals – through unpasteurised milk, infected animal carcasses or meat that hasn’t been cooked properly. Another zoonotic disease is brucellosis, a bacterial infection causing flu-like symptoms that affects not only livestock but also humans who are in contact with infected animals and contaminated animal products or who consume unpasteurised milk from infected livestock. Unlike flu, however, brucellosis can become chronic and debilitating if not diagnosed and treated timeously.

We also need to prevent the spread of disease from humans to animals – for example, human tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) can be transmitted to other mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife such as primates. If you have an illness that can affect animals, take special precautions to keep them safe.

Dr Ndudane says it’s imperative for farmers, people who work with animals and members of the public to know more about the close relationship between human, animal and environmental health – also known as “One Health” – to prevent zoonotic diseases from spreading.

The SAVC also hopes to raise awareness about the vital role veterinary and para-veterinary professionals play in curbing disease outbreaks, thereby contributing to public health and food security.

“We urge pet owners to educate themselves about the symptoms of important zoonotic diseases, and mention them to your doctor if you suspect they might be relevant when you are feeling ill. Wash your hands thoroughly after playing with pets or handling animals, and ensure your children do so, too. Clean your pet’s litter box and living quarters regularly. Do not touch or interact with wild animals, as they might be carrying an infection you don’t know about,” advises Dr Ndudane.

Zoonoses also pose an economic threat to farmers – including subsistence, small-scale and emerging farmers – and agricultural workers, making preventative measures vital, says Dr Ndudane.

“Most of our farmers are aware that healthy herds and flocks mean healthy products and profits, but education about animal health and food safety needs to be an ongoing process,” she says. Here, para-veterinary professionals and community animal health workers who are trained in primary animal healthcare can show farmers how to protect their herds through vaccination and other biosecurity measures.

“For anyone working in meat and dairy production, it’s vital to take precautionary measures when handling animals, as well as animal products and by-products. Educate yourself as to what is normal and abnormal animal behaviour so you can recognise when they are unwell, and of course always practise good basic hygiene and wear gloves, masks and overalls.”

Certain animal diseases, such as rabies, are controlled through national legislation. Controlled and notifiable diseases must be reported to the state so that the government veterinary services can intervene to halt an outbreak – and, if it’s a zoonotic disease, prevent a spillover to humans as well.

“It’s important to view the health of humans, animals and the environment as closely interlinked,” says Dr Ndudane. “We need to reassess how human activities are disrupting how we engage with animals and the environment, because new zoonotic diseases are emerging that pose a serious risk to public health.

“For example, the Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease that affects livestock and humans, is thought to have originated because of fruit bats being displaced from their natural forest habitat due to agricultural expansion in Asia.”

She says it’s therefore vital to find a better balance in how humans engage with wildlife, production animals, pets and the environment – because we are dependent on each other for our common health and well-being.

“Most importantly, be switched on and be aware. And remember to take your animals for regular veterinary check-ups and vaccinations to ensure their optimal health – and yours. We applaud South Africa’s veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals for rendering a valuable public health service in ensuring our animals are healthy and our food is safe to eat.”

Other zoonotic diseases to be aware of:

• Rift Valley fever is transmitted mainly via mosquitoes to livestock or to humans (humans can also be exposed to it indirectly through infected animal carcasses)
• Salmonellosis (caused by the Salmonella bacterium) can be transmitted to humans via contaminated poultry or dairy products, or to workers in contact with infected animals
• Anthrax is a deadly disease that can be transmitted from infected livestock or wildlife to humans – by law, all cattle have to be vaccinated against anthrax in South Africa
• Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that can be transmitted to humans, especially those working in animal production, through infected poultry or other birds, including pet birds
• Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium that is transmitted to farmworkers by cattle, sheep and goats
• Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can be contracted through contact with cat faeces, and is particularly dangerous to pregnant women
• Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal condition caused by a parasite living in the intestines of humans and pets, and is spread through contact with infected stools
• Cat-scratch fever is a bacterial infection that can be passed to humans through a cat scratch or bite
• The herpes B virus (which often manifests in fever blisters) can be transmitted from macaque monkeys to humans via a bite or a scratch

Useful resources

• National Institute for Communicable Diseases
• Resources | Global Alliance for Rabies Control
• Controlled and Notifiable Diseases – NAHF
• Afrivet – disease identification and treatment
• Zoonoses: Animal Diseases and Man (book and website)

Sources: South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

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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 From Cows to Kittens – How to Curb the Spread of Zoonotic Diseases appeared first on Good Things Guy.