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AVG TEMP:
Swati
27°C
LANGUAGE LESSON Shangaan ‘kukhandziya’ means ‘clown’
WHAT’S NEW ON THE GROUND? 1) We welcomed our new Lodge Manager – Zanele - while Freddy joins the maintenance team 2) Melanie – our latest NGO intern has been hard at work raising funds in order for us to continue making our impact 3) Summer is well on it’s way, bringing with it plenty of migrants (birds) – a treat for all our birders!
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Two lionesses that recently appeared in one of the reserves we study - Buffaloland - seem to have decided to stay around. We have now started collecting data on them, adding a new element to our lion research.
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By constantly monitoring the health and location of rhino in the region, we have become an important asset to reserve management in ensuring the safety of their animals; a role that we are extremely proud to hold.
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A male lion that forms part of the ‘Triolgy’ pride was recently encountered in our study area after a lengthy absence. Recording his presence again reiterates the importance of using long-term research projects to fully understand ecological systems.
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After days of tracking, several missed sightings and much excitement, we finally encountered wild dogs on one of the reserves we work in, Leadwood! We feel truly privileged to be able to study and contribute to the well-being of this beautiful but highly endangered species.
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Thanks to numerous donations and plenty of fundraising, we now have 18 camera traps up and running in our study area, putting our leopard research project into full swing!
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Talking leopard research, thanks to the ‘datacation’ of our research team and volunteers, we have managed to positively identify the male leopard that has been passing through our lodge as MBL5 – the same individual we have seen in 3 different properties – giving us a major insight into leopard movements in the area.
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Short tracking courses and assessments have recently been introduced into volunteer schedules, better equipping them to contribute to our projects.
• Amazing progress has been at Sasekile Gardens (an income generation project for local people). The fence has been built, the plants are growing, the gardeners are gaining skills and confidence and most importantly – veggies are being harvested and sold, bringing the gardeners their first, hard-earned income! • The format of Reading Club has been slightly altered so that when the students are not reading to volunteers, they are inside playing educational games as a group – further developing their vocabulary and comprehension. • Environmental Club has kicked off at our new partner school – Hloaia Primary! Volunteers are enjoying teaching students about the environment and the importance of looking after it though both creative and physical activities.
• Photography volunteers played a crucial role in assisting our partner, Eco Children, to document and publicize the renovation and rejuvenation of the local Makwetse Primary School. • Photographers continue to contribute clear and useful images of elephant, rhino, leopard and lion to the research project for the compilation of animal ID kits – a crucial element of the work. • Volunteers have professionally captured, edited and finalised over 4000 images this quarter – equating to 48 photographs per volunteer per week! • 24% of images submitted were selected for our online database this quarter, maintaining the over 20% ‘strike rate’ that we aim for.
Photo of weekend trip highlight
“On a trip to Swaziland we got to climb a summit, see new species of animals – some I didn’t know existed, ride mountain bikes, and hang out with new friends. It was truly an incredible experience I would not have had without African Impact.”
– Alex Langsam, Large Predator Volunteer
When their busy schedule allows, volunteers get the opportunity to visit the Pro-track Anti Poaching training grounds. Here they learn about the fight against poaching and get an insight what it takes to mitigate one of the several threats our wildlife face.
Team Photo
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