- From the editors desk - Last Month’s Top Shot Winner - Facebook Cover Shot Winner - Volunteer Encounter
- THAF Update - Community Focus
- Photography Reflections - Photography Focus
- Research Update - Research Focus
Another month has passed and it makes me realize how fast time goes when you are enjoying yourself! Sadly this is already my last warthog edition! With this said, I just want to say thanks to all the enthusiastic, amazing, incredible … volunteers and staff that made my stay here just something to never forget! This is one life experience that will forever be in my heart! Not only volunteers and staff made my stay here amazing; the things that we do and stand for are just as important. From learning amazing photography skills that we use to tell stories and make people aware of what we do, to learning and appreciating the little animals, the insects, the “creepy crawlies” like they are mostly called. You can read all about it in this month’s edition. And last but not least we want to say a big thanks to Trico and Siobhan, for all the things that they did and accomplished here at Dumela. You were both amazing people to work with, to have as colleagues but also as friends! A new journey is waiting for both of you and we wish you guys the best of luck!
Subscribe by mailing: warthogpost@africanimpact.com to keep yourself updated with the latest news! Cover shot: lightning – Dumela Lodge – Balthazar Gini, Switzerland
The
When was your 1st time in Africa? When I start working with African Impact What do you like about your job? Combining my 3 passions; photography – learning - teaching What makes you smile here? It would be easier to ask me what makes me frown … What do you miss the most when you are here? Family and my mum and sisters cooking, have to mention them both or otherwise I will start a fight What do you miss the most if you are back in Ireland? No matter the mood I’m in, taking photographs of the animals, nature, … makes me smile.
Do you know when you’re watching a documentary, and at some point the predator attacks the prey, and you don’t know whether to turn off the television or to keep watching? Good. Now take that feeling, multiply by a thousand times and you’ll be pretty close to what you get when you come to Africa for the first time. At first you feel stunned by the harsh reality of nature but then you gradually realise that she is always right, that everything is meant to be and striving for balance and you can’t do anything but watch the show. My experience as a volunteer was more than awesome, and above all expectations. Primarily it has allowed me to begin the paintings that will describe my life, and secondly because everyone knows what Africa is but no one really understands it until they have been here. I started with the idea that this place would have changed my life and now I know that this will be the first of a long series of volunteering experiences. When you come here, be sure that Africa will call you back!
At first I did not know what to expect or if I would be able to be really helpful to the projects. When I arrived at Dumela lodge I never thought of being able to write an article, let alone in English! Then I realised that Africa has a different energy in the air and just have to go with the flow. Almost immediately you abandon your normal routine and begin getting used to the postcard colours that make up the incredible sunsets, monkeys on the roadside, impala who stumble on the asphalt, the smell of nature and the local people who will always say hello even if you have never met before and will probably never see again. Down here people don’t have much more to offer than their humanity, but they do so with open arms.
The impact in my case has been of massive significance to me because I come from a country where society is completely different. In Italy we have an extremely fast pace of life; here in South Africa the lifestyle is much more relaxed. Staff direct and motivate us every single day. The ultimate goal is to leave a mark, to educate people to respect their environment and to fight for the protection of the species that inhabit it. The aim of the various projects is to help improve the quality of life and knowledge of the local communities. Here I met wonderful, friendly and open minded people of all ages, including guys barely over the age of 18 with a surprising awareness of justice, and part of this also comes from this wonderful organisation which is African Impact. As a photographer I arrived here with no experience at all, and I would never imagine how much I could learn just in the first week. When you come here you see a very fine combination of your own willingness to help a good cause, and the very high competence level of the staff. This is definitely an experience to be repeated and spread! All animals, including zebra, giraffe and elephant, will lie down to sleep deeply or even rest. Monkey and baboon tend to sleep seated All antelope, buffalo and giraffe only have a short periods of deep sleep per night, where zebra, rhino, elephant, primates and carnivores sleep deeply for a number of hours.
The end of the year heralds Farewell ceremonies and graduations across schools in South Africa. As the end of a chapter draws close for many students and schools which we help, we also would like to summarise and review our year on our community projects.
Buy books, not gear
Having expensive camera equipment doesn’t always mean that you’ll take good photos. I’ve seen some absolutely amazing images shot with nothing more than a smart phone. Instead of having ten different lenses, invest in some fantastic photography books. By looking at the work of the masters, not only do you get inspired, you come away with ideas to improve your own photos.
In January 2016 we kick started our projects at Seganyane Primary School. Major stumbling blocks to progression at school are passing English, Maths and Science. To help improve these subject grades we assisted Eco Children with their Conservation Education curriculum, to reinforce these important lessons for students. Conservation Education aids basic academic disciplines while also educating on the environment, wildlife, eco systems and how to protect them. This can also help spark interest for future employment, or at least help the students to consider their own impact and responsibilities in protecting the environment. We also started Homework Assistance to focus on core academic subjects and enable students to complete their homework assignments. Grade 4 is the crucial year in which students change from local languages to having all classes, assignments and exams in English – a big change! Therefore Homework Assistance focuses on reviewing English homework and repeating difficult topics with interactive activities as English is essential to their success at school and to their future.
When did you start working for African Impact? I started on the 14th of November this year, 2016.
What do you like about your job? Here I get the chance to talk and meet people from all over the world. What don’t you like about your job? Being away from my child. Do you want to tell me more about your child? I have one girl and she is 6 years old and her name is Climantia. Who makes you smile here? All the volunteers and staff. Where do you live in SouthAfrica? Mpumalanga, Acornhoek
We also hold a weekly Reading Club which assists in English literacy, gaining confidence and makes reading fun! This is a firm favourite as students get some one on one interaction with volunteers. The teachers and students are now very happy in particular to see regular use of the library at school. The Principal from Seganyane Primary School, Eckson gave the feedback that in Grade 7, in particular, reading and English speaking has been improving and he is hoping this will be reflected in the end of year English results! The Grade 5 English teacher also told us “We really appreciate what you are doing and the learners are benefitting from your programme.” He hopes the students of Seganyane are will be able to compete against other schools in circuit reading and speaking competitions! This feedback is great to hear as it confirms that the students are not only having fun while at after school classes but their academic abilities are also improving! The successes of the project have been down to the efforts, motivation and commitment of volunteers so we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all involved including partners, staff and volunteers! Thank you for all your help and here’s to making an even greater impact in 2017!
I honestly don’t know how I can possibly sum up the last 6 months on paper. This opportunity has helped me develop both professionally and personally. Not only has it allowed me to organise three successful pub quizzes and a fun day, but it gave me the chance to meet and work with some of the best people I have ever meet.
Mopane wood is hard and termite resistant. It's a good traits of a building material. It is also a flexible wood and poles are compliant to bending. It is also well known because of the way it grows. Usually it grows very upright, makes them suitable for use as all manner of posts. The wood is also used medicinally to cure eye infections. The inner bark produces a strong rope and is used in a cure for venereal diseases.
I’ll start with my fundraising, since it is one of my favourite aspects of this internship. I have to say I am so proud of how successful my bush pub quizzes have been. Each pub quiz had something special about them, however the first pub quiz had something that no other quiz has been able to match with, which was a mixture between nervousness, stress and excitement that comes with doing something for the first time. Since the last warthog post we held my final bush pub quiz, and just like the previous two, was a massive success and we were able to raise R3,312. This quiz night had a twist on it with a prize for the best dressed team. Our volunteers and staff went all out for the event from obnoxious tourists to paparazzi to super Mario brothers, it was definitely a sight to see! I have to say that even though I loved every minute of my pub quizzes nothing could beat #ToughOnConservation fun day. I have never been so stressed and excited for an event in my life and I loved every minute of it, even though it might not have looked like it at the time. I am so proud of what I was able to accomplish on the day. I am ecstatic to say that in my 6 months as a THAF intern I have been able to raise over R12,000 for conservation education.
On the personal side, this internship allowed me to develop in many aspects, especially in confidence. If you ask any of the staff here, they would tell you I am not a shy person at all but if you can believe it before I came out here I could not talk to people on the phone let alone talk to strangers, but now I can talk to just about everyone without being overcome with shyness. This internship throws you in the deep end in all the best possible ways. In my final paragraph in the warthog post I want to talk about the amazing people that I have had the privilege to work with these past six months. Each and every one of the AI staff have become my family, from the laughs to constant teasing I wouldn’t change them for the world. They have been my support from day one and I honestly don’t think this internship would have been half as life changing if it hadn’t been for my African Impact family. Even though my time with THAF and African Impact is finished, my time in Hoedspruit isn’t over yet and I am excited to see what’s going to happen in the future.
We can show how the Hippo has an affectionate, not just aggresive side, we can show the industrious dung beetle working away (the flies here, incidentally, point like an For my work,the I travel arrow towards subjecta–lot I and I’ve visited many interesting countries trained them And myself), or a lonely and places. what’s the nicest way to show people what you’ve impalaYep! with aa long way to go. seen? photo.
So, I did take lots but mostly with a small digital camera or with my We can also create confusion mobile … image good to enough I thought. But last year I found out that there’s within the make the viewer more to photography thaneye just taking a picture. Two things: 1. How it look deeper, like a crocodile’s seen through croc’s mouth, made me at another ease and forget all the busyness around me, just enjoying getting the audience to engage with the moment (the here and now) … and 2. How to show people how a photo, get them thinking. you’ve experience everything. My husband gave me together, a nice camera for Christmas and I starting Bringing two elements fiddling about with it. Mostly we can make a suggestion – here in “auto” or “prepared” settings. Nice! But I that African Impact with to come to Dumela to take part in the wanted more andworks decided snakes – so you can and see that even how to photograph, nice combo I workshop. Safari learning with few variables, a photograph thought. Although I’ve learned that it’s not just clicking around … becomes more and more complicated.
Aperture, shutter speed, rule of thirds, frame in frame, balance, need for Aaarrrghh! me, is part ofThere my IThis, go on? was so much to learn and to discover. What fascination with photography an experience and overloadthe the first week… Hardly knowing how my control we can have over what we camera worked me and my fellow photographers had to go on a want to communicate, by simple mission. Look around with a different point of view and try to tell a inclusion or omission. It’s also story where we have a responsibility, in not only what we say, but how we
say it. a There is no way we can With great teacher, Timget Feherty, who explained how to use the that perfect image, that puts an idea don’ts and how look with a different camera efficiently, the do’s and in another’s head with no confusion eye. We took photographs which were critiqued afterwards by the whatsoever. Striving towards that fellow students and Mr. Feherty perfection, however, is what keeps himself. What I found out is that what we really see with our own the photographer coming back. eyes is not easy to show in pictures.
Use what’s on offer.
Natural lighting is always Definition of going to be way better than Safari anything man can manufacture, so use it! The The word safari originates hours just after dawn and just from the Arabic before sunset (theword golden "Safar", meaning "aa hours) give light with journey". beautiful, rosy quality (which is why most romantic shots are set at sunset). It entered the English ‘Bad’ lightinglate can19th workcentury in your language favour. Atmospheric and was taken from Swahili conditions to moody meaning can "longlead journey". shots, so maximize any definition in overcast clouds The verb for travel in to make sure it doesn’t look Swahili is "kusafiri" and the painted out. noun for the is used Rim-lighting (a journey technique "safari". in studio lighting setups using a designated ‘hair light’ for In English use the word models) andwe silhouetting can have a very dramatic safari when makingeffect. an Just because you can’t overland journey, or get into the right position photographic or doesn’t hunting mean you should try for the expedition in the African shot. Remember – let nature bush. inspire you!
The leopard tortoise is called such because it has a similar colouration to its namesake. It has no teeth but has a serrated, horny, beak-like upper lip, which it uses to secure its vegetarian food like grass, flowers and young leaves. The shell is divided into two halves. The upper part is called the carapace while the lower part is known as the plastron. The shell is also covered in horny scales.
Males have longer tails than females and a concave plastron that allows them to mount females during mating. Females conversely have flat plastrons.
The pictures taken look nice on your little display on the back of your camera but unfortunately when you look on your computer it’s a disappointment. Not in focus, half of what you wanted is on the picture, over- or underexposed, a little thing in front of it, etc., etc. It’s not at all how you saw it and thought it was going to be. After the photo critiques you go out again and take the info that has been given, where to stand - how to capture the subject - what do you want to tell with your picture - into practice. At least 3 times a week we were given a new task (activity) where we had to practice our skills. I certainly started looking to all the things around me in a different way and even started to appreciate the little (wildlife) things around me. Never thought I would spend about 15 min lying on my belly on “hot” dirt to take a picture of a butterfly or any other insect. But I did! And not only that, colors, trees, clouds, people and certainly the beautiful animals (incl. the Big 5) here in Klaserie.
As the weeks pass by you start to see the improvement of your own pictures and your fellow photographers. The dirtiest secret is that you have to take a lot of pictures to develop a style and I think I’m starting to find out what kind of pictures I like to take and how to crop them. But there’s still a lot to try out.
I can say that, thanks to the beautiful environment, Lightroom, but most of all a great teacher, I’ll go back home as a better photographer with a whole lot of photo’s filed on my computer and I will certainly keep on developing myself. As there’s still so much to explore …
Participating in the 4 week photography project with African Impact at Dumela is a fantastic experience to photograph the amazing wildlife and the ‘Big 5’. However, it is not all about the animals in South Africa as the country is also rich with amazing flora as well – flowers, trees and plants. I have always been interested in flowers & plants and naturally my passion for photography started with the flowers I saw in gardens and in the countryside. I could easily spend a whole day getting lost amongst the plants and focusing on the small details, colours & patterns with my macro lens.
As part of the photography project here we participate in ‘Macro Bush Walks’ around the Dumela Lodge with our knowledgeable guides – Katie & Ange. On these walks we are able to look at our surroundings in a bit more detail and get up close with all the insects and creepy crawlies too. For me it has been fascinating to learn about the various useful & medicinal properties of the plant life in South Africa. Nearly everything that grows here has some sort of use. From the Benghal Blue Wandering Jew (Ecklons Commelina) - which has a blue flower and can be used to treat infertility, burns, sore throats & used as eye drops - to the Weeping-Wattle tree whose leaves can be used as toilet paper! As you look closer and take some time you start to notice many different details. Getting up close with your camera is important and once you start taking photos the more you see. On one of our walks we were asked to focus on one tree each – I chose the Sickle-Bush which is known as ‘The A to Z’ of medicinal plants.
The Bateleur’ – Terathopius ecaudatus means marvelous face without a tail. They are striking eagles with contrasting black plumage, red bills and feet and a very short tail. The short tail reduces drag during their lengthy foraging flights (estimated 4oo km per day) and provides them with an element of maneuverability when they attack prey or in combat with other bateleurs. They are opportunistic feeders and being on the alert for meals to either scavenge, pirate or hunt, they fly low (50 – 150 m above the ground) zigzagging repeatedly over the same area.
The Sickle Bush has lovely fluffy soft leaves and produces pretty pink and yellow flowers that dance in the wind. It also has extremely sharp thorns that can cause some serious damage if you are not looking where you are going! The medicinal properties of the Sickle Bush include treatment of toothache, snake bites, skin diseases and its leaves are said to have local anaesthetic properties. The African giant land snail is the largest snail in the Lowveld. It grows to an average size of about 20 cm. Unlike its vegetarian cousins, the African gaint land snail is a scavenger and eats carrion, providing a useful ecological ‘clean-up’ service. Food is scraped up with a unique mouth apparatus known as a radula. This is a conveyor-like ribbon membrane with backwards facing teeth for rasping. Snails exhibit a relatively unique configuration known as torsion. This means head and anus are positioned at the same end. The giant land snail is a hermaphrodite meaning that one individual contains both male and female reproductive organs.
Dumela Lodge has an Ecology Plan which is focused on bringing the ecosystem of the lodge back into good health. Having been used as a hotel and golf course in the past the ecosystem here was neglected. This resulted in a loss of many naturally occurring plants, insects & animals and the introduction of many invasive species of plants, such as the jacaranda, that were introduced purely for ornamental reasons. All the photographs we take around the lodge & its grounds will help assist in the long term ecology plan by being added to a database and helping assess the quality of the ecosystem. By determining which plants, animals & especially insects are on the property the plan can be adjusted accordingly and the impact made by the ecology & conservation plan can be measured.
The
When was your 1st time in Africa? After I finished my exams at the age of 17 I was traveling for 1 month in Ghana. What do you like about your job? Working with a lot of different people and cultures. What makes you smile here? Braai
What do you miss the most if you are here? Family, but it’s harder when I’m back home, then I realize what I have been missing out on. What do you miss the most if you are back in Scotland? Modern technology isn’t vital here, people still take the time to talk with each other.
It all started a few months ago, when I was busy studying. I was studying “Teaching Assistant Childcare” and I arrived in my last year. I’ve always had two passions. One of them was working with children, while the other one was completely different: being around wild animals. I love working with people and being surrounded by nature. My parents came with the best graduation gift I could wish for, and that was volunteering in Africa for three months. Africa is my favourite continent on this planet. It has everything you can wish for. From beautiful people to stunning nature and amazing animals. I’ve been to several countries in Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Zanzibar and now for the second time in South Africa. Every time, besides Zanzibar, I’ve been on amazing safaris. My parents told me I could choose different projects. But I made them clear from the first moment that I wanted to work with children, with animals and that I wanted to conserve nature. They were not surprised. For my first volunteer project I went to Saint Lucia. I worked in the crèche every morning, with children aged from 0 till 6 years old. I mostly worked with the older children. We had to teach them all different kind of things from the Alphabet and numbers to English names of family members and healthy food. Those little children were so keen to learn and laughed all morning long. In the afternoon we also went to the community, to go to support groups and to talk with the ladies and work in their eco-garden and orphanages. We saw so many different people and it was so heart-warming to see that they had big smiles on their faces after the different sessions.
After my first six weeks in Saint Lucia I went to a completely other environment called Greater Kruger Area. This was the kind of environment I already knew from my trips in the past: a lot of nature! But this was even more special then my past safaris. I spent six weeks on the Large Predator Research Program and learned so much about everything that’s going on in the Ecosystem. The staff members are so passionate and dedicated and were teaching me an incredible amount of things. Dumela works towards every aspect of conservation and I am very glad I could be part of that. Besides observing the animals and getting as much information about them, I helped to conserve their natural habitat. Clearing sickle bushes to provide food for them makes me happy, even though it’s tough work.
I can honestly say that I’ve had the time of my life with African Impact. I met amazing people and I have the feeling I have done something extra for this beautiful country/continent. I will never forget the people I worked with and they all do an amazing job. I think I can even say that one day I will come back. Thanks for completing my life a bit more. I loved it!
Parasola plicatilis is a very delicate member of the inkcap group of fungi. Also known as pleated Inkcap or the Little Japanese Umbrella. This is one of the many short-lived grassland fungi that appear overnight following rain; the fruitbodies develop, expand, shed their spores and decay within 24 hours and by the next morning there is usually no evidence of them ever having existed.
Hi, my name is Liam Mills I am currently a research volunteer for African Impact here at Dumela lodge. Within my first week on the research project I fell in love with the raptor research and decided this was going to be my focal project while volunteering. Ever since then I’ve been working on the raptor project. My current goal is to make it possible for our future volunteer researchers to be able to better identify and understand raptors in the field.
My way to achieve this is to create a better field identification guide for all indigenous species within the areas we conduct our research. All the data we take on raptors is very important to their future conservation and research. However, I only have so little time here to do my best to create a resounding impact on the project here and make it take a step forward with its raptor research. For that reason it is my hope to do what I can before my departure and pass on the metaphorical torch to those who will carry my love and enthusiasm for raptors. The word ‘raptor’ is derived from Latin raptare, meaning ‘to seize’. Although a number of other bird groups, such as shrikes, rollers and hornbills take live or even warm-blooded prey, raptors are characterized by their hooked bills and keen eyesight as well as their powerful feet and sharp talons”(Ulrich Oberprieler). In Southern Africa there are 71 diurnal bird of prey species of the order Falconiformes and the 12 species of owl belonging to the order Strigiformes. Of these species quite a few are categorized as threatened species. Vultures are especially threatened because they will often gather and feast at poisoned carcasses resulting in hundreds of them dying at once.
Mud- wallowing is carried out primarily by animals with very little body fur for one or a combination of following reasons:
* To cool the body down in hot weather *To prevent sunburn at times when shade is limited * To keep biting flies and other insects at bay * To keep irritating flies off open wounds After wallowing, most species will use rocks, logs or trees as rubbing post. In so doing, they will remove parasites, which are encrusted in the mud, as well as old skin cells – so the behavior certainly has health benefits.
There are also other conservation problems with raptors like traditional medicine where they will kill and eat vultures because they believe it will give them the power to see the future. Poisons, habitat loss, persecution, and other threats are all conservation problems concerning raptors. That is why in my opinion researching these awesome birds is very important because we would never like to reach a point of no return.
The painted reed frog is a very small frog of only about 2,5 cm but is conspicuous for its dazzling colouration and high-pitched piping whistle. The inner section of the hind legs are infused red and this is used as an antipredatory device known as flash colouration. A threatened individual will leap up, exposing the bright red colour obvious to the predator, which then focuses on this. As the frog lands, the red inner leg is instantly tucked away and the predator no longer has its target in sight and may struggle to relocate its quarry.
That is why we at Africa Impact are currently working with A.R.D.B aka African Raptor Data Bank to identify and record raptors in the areas we frequent for research. We take data on age, activity, species, coordinates, date, positional accuracy, color, and count to name a few. This we then record and send to A.R.D.B which allows them to map out ranges of where certain raptor species habitats reside. Their main goal is to use this data for researching the status and habitats of multiple raptor species to allow them to better conserve and protect all raptor species. There is also a lot more that A.R.D.B can do with the data that we provide them so it is of utmost importance that the data we enter and send to them is accurate. This will all lead to a better plan of action and preparation so that we may conserve and protect them for future generations to study.
One of the major frustrations with carnivore research is the low detection rate of the animals themselves. From their position at the top of the food chain, these species are naturally rare with large territories and ranges. However, no more has this presented a challenge than with the Spotted Hyena population in Buffaloland in the last month. Of course leopards are difficult to locate. This is a well-known characteristic and undoubtedly adds to the mystery and allure of the species. However, the spotted hyena in Buffaloland have presented a special case of hide and seek for our research team. We have recorded signs of Crocuta crocuta, spotted hyena, presence in Buffaloland since project inception in May 2015. Distinctive “whoops” have been heard, tracks have been measured, and photos have been downloaded. Still, we have not had a visual of this species in Buffaloland since beginning the research project. Until recently, signs and tracks were rare and an exciting find. However, the last month provided a definite increase in hyena activity. In the last month, we have recorded many camera trap sightings, scats and tracks. The property seemed to be covered in them! The presence of this predator is confirmed. However, camera trap photos were not clear enough for ID purposes and we will need to design a specific survey if we aim to determine how many there are and their range throughout the property. You can say the research team has made it somewhat of a mission to gain a visual of this clan (even an individual visual will do)! To start, we will be mapping GPS data of known locations so that we get a better understanding of where any hyena “hotspots” may be. This should assist with focusing our location efforts.
Shoot Every Day
The best way to hone your skills is to practice. A lot. Shoot as much as you can – it doesn’t really matter what. Spend hours and hours behind your camera. As your technical skills improve over time, your ability to harness them to tell stories and should too. Don’t worry too much about shooting a certain way to begin with. Experiment. Your style – your ‘voice’ – will emerge in time. And it will be more authentic when it does.
Our progress with elephant research has been wonderful in the last month! We have been lucky to have a determined and passionate team of volunteers who have focused on updating the ID database and ID kits, so that we can continue to add value to our location data. In total (at time of writing) the number of individuals who have been identified is now 126. This is an increase of 51 elephants since last month!!! For those who aren’t aware, that number of 51 elephants represents hours of organizing and analysing photos to distinguish individuals. This number also only includes bulls or distinctive cows within herds. The total number of elephants within the herds is much larger.
Hippos are air- breathing mammals with lungs, and do not possess any mechanisms that obtain oxygen from water. Buoyancy effectively reduces their body weight in water, thereby lessening the work- rate of the heart and lungs. As result, their pulse rates drops by twothirds (from 60 to 20 beats per minute) and breathing from 7-10 breaths per minutes to 1 breath every 5 minutes when submerged.
The elephant research is further evident by increased identifications being made in the field. With updated ID kits and volunteers being familiar with the individuals through project work, more and more herds and bulls are being recognized from the ID kits and recorded on sighting. There is nothing as satisfying as determining who a specific cow is, by the notch in her tusk or the hole in her ear, out of a herd of 30+! Overall it has been a successful month on research, making progress on major projects, and presenting new challenges and motivations for others. We look forward to all that we can do next!
The
It is easy in this country and this area especially to be distracted and enamoured by the “Big 5” and all that they represent. This is not to say that they are not important…they play a significant role within the greater ecosystem, they are a part of the “bigger picture”. Yet many people do not look beyond the megafauna that are present in southern Africa even though they represent only a small proportion of the “life” found here. Have you ever stopped and looked at the ground beneath your feet? On the surface alone is a whole world happening from ants scurrying around, termites breaking down organic material to spiders hunting and dung beetles rolling their balls of dung to… do you see the pattern I am making here? Arthropods, insects, arachnids, bugs, creepy crawlies! Often we shudder at the thought of these “things” buzzing and crawling around (easy to do when you think of mosquitos and ticks!). Nevertheless all these creatures are a vital part of biodiversity. Famous biologist and entomologist Edward Wilson coined the term “biodiversity” (a contraction of “biological diversity”) in 1988 to encompass the variety of life on earth in all of its forms and its interactions. Insects comprise the most diverse and successful group of organisms on the planet! Did you know that insects are responsible for so much that we take for granted? These include “ecosystem services” that are imperative for our survival. Insects contribute significantly to pollination, pest control, decomposition and are used as a food source to name a few. Therefore they are often used as “indicator” species in determining the health of an ecosystem – the greater diversity and richness the healthier the ecosystem is! Studies have shown that if insects were to be eradicated from the planet, the human population would not survive more than a few months. So maybe whilst you are here, take a moment to appreciate the little things… take a walk and find somewhere to sit for a moment, look at the activities around you with an open mind and a new perspective. Take out your camera and look at the exquisite details, colours, varieties and diversity instead of immediately dismissing them as disgusting and/or uninteresting, you may even be pleasantly surprised. We are privileged to be surrounded by infinite natural beauty, something that not everybody in the world will ever get to see or experience (including the “creepy crawlies”)…that’s the bigger picture.
Check out our newest submissions for this month on: africanimpactphotography.com