FreeMe Newsletters
FREEME JULY 2023 NEWSLETTER
Dear Custodians,
Better late than never! Please find attached the July newsletter.
The editorial by Di Martin on compassion fatigue may just give a hint at why we are so late with this newsletter.
There is an interesting extra on indigenous tortoises in this newsletter, and we are making available our Zoom talk on ‘The Little Five’ which includes the Leopard Tortoise, so please respond to this email requesting the talk if you would like to listen to it, and I will send it over to you via WeTransfer.
We are also looking for contributors from our Custodians who would like to send through short pieces of interest for our newsletter editorials. Please contact me if you are interested in contributing to this and I will send you the guidelines for the editorial.
Announcement of changes to senior leadership at WESSA
The board of directors of WESSA announces that CEO, Dr. Andrew Baxter will change roles from Chief Executive Officer to a Non-Executive Director and member of the WESSA board effective 1 June 2022.
The board is pleased that following the resignation of Andrew Baxter from his current executive position as CEO of WESSA, effective 31 May 2022 he will remain involved with WESSA and provide strategic support at an important juncture in its history. WESSA has made sound strides under Andrew’s leadership and the board wishes to thank him for his significant contribution in a short period of time.
WESSA, a membership-based environmental and conservation NPO that traces its origins back 96 years, is credited as being among the oldest and most trusted conservation and environmental agencies in Southern Africa – responsible for significant conservation achievements including the establishment of the Kruger National Park. WESSA is well known today for its work in environmental education, youth development, environmental advocacy, and member-based conservation projects around the country.
Andrew leaves WESSA to take up a position with African Habitat Conservancy (AHC) and its subsidiary, Babanango Game Reserve, a ground-breaking re-wilding, and conservation project that directly benefits local communities in one of the most bio-diverse regions of rural Kwazulu-Natal. Although disappointed at the premature departure of Baxter from WESSA where he has been leading the organisation along its path towards a revised strategy, the board acknowledges that Baxter’s departure to AHC is a win for the sector and for conservation.
It was further announced that Deputy Chair of the board, Helena Atkinson, will act as interim CEO from 1 June 2022 and ably guide the organisation while it considers the appointment of Baxter’s permanent successor. The board has confidence that the transition will therefore be a smooth one.
kind regards,
Wandisile Mandlana
WESSA Board Chairman
FreeMe November Newsletter 2021
Rescued from the wild. To our nature conscious minds, this statement sounds absurd. But this is not always the case with everyone. At FreeMe Wildlife, we engage with various people about this topic regularly, but why do some people assume that some wild animals need to be rescued from the wild? In this context we are not referring to wildlife that is sick or injured, but rather perfectly healthy individuals removed from perfectly healthy environments. A classic example is the belief that a tortoise crossing the road in a wild setting somehow needs to be removed from the wild and brought into a rehabilitation centre, sanctuary, or worse – become a pet.
Notice of the 95th WESSA AGM and the 2021 National Awards
Dear WESSA Members,
The 95th WESSA AGM will take place on Saturday the 4th December 2021 from 9am to 11am. The AGM will take place as an online webinar again this year.
Click here to register for the AGM
By clicking on this link, you will be taken through an online registration process. The minutes of the 94th AGM, agenda for the 95th AGM, Chairman’s report, CEO Report, Annual Review and 2021 Annual Financial Statements will be uploaded to our website by the 26th November 2021 for your information. Please go to: https://wessa.org.za/news-media/95th-wessa-agm/ for these supporting documents..
Members are informed that three vacancies will become available on the WESSA Board. Should any member wish to nominate an individual to the Board kindly do so by emailing communications@wessa.co.za for the attention of Sarah Alcock by latest 28th November 2021 at 5pm. Please email Sarah Alcock for the terms of reference and criteria for WESSA Board members. Nominations must be signed and emailed by a WESSA member in good standing. The nominator should provide a motivation of the nominees suitability as a Board member, and should include their cv, and a written consent for the nominee to stand for election.
For any other general queries please email: communications@wessa.co.za
We look forward to seeing all our members at the 95th AGM and the announcement of the 2021 National WESSA Award winners!
Kind regards,
WESSA Communications
#PeopleCaringForTheEarth
IWMC (Integrating Wildlife, Markets and Conservation)
Dear friend,
Three agenda-setting initiatives from IWMC
Integrating Wildlife, Markets and Conservation (IWMC) is excited to report today the launch of its website, which hosts Conservation Influencers, an innovative directory of 60 animal activist, environmental and ecological NGOs. The new website also provides news about Wildlife Betrayed, a forthcoming book containing a 21st-century manifesto for conservation and the consumptive use of wildlife.
The new website offers fresh stories, analysis and videos. In future we shall invite guest columnists to speak out, as well as add more NGOs and philanthropic bodies to Conservation Influencers. We shall also provide frequent news reports.
Please feel free to let us know what you think of the website and Conservation Influencers. We’d also welcome your suggestions for what we should cover in the future and what tools and resources we might further develop.
Visit www.iwmc.org
FRANCAIS
Trois initiatives à l’ordre du jour de l’IWMC
Intégration de la Vie animale, des Marchés et de la Conservation (Integrating Wildlife, Markets and Conservation) (IWMC) est heureux d’annoncer aujourd’hui le lancement de son nouveau site Web, qui héberge les Influenceurs de Conservation, un répertoire innovant de 60 militants de la cause pour les animaux, ONGs environnementales et écologiques. Ce nouveau site Web signale, de plus, la parution éventuelle d’un livre « Wildlife Betrayed », un manifeste du 21ème siècle pour la conservation et l’utilisation durable de la faune.
Le nouveau site Web offre également de nouveaux récits, analyses et vidéos. Des chroniqueurs seront invités à s’exprimer, et davantage d’ONGs et d’organismes philanthropiques seront ajoutés aux Influenceurs de Conservation. Nous publierons aussi des reportages.
N’hésitez pas à nous faire savoir ce que vous pensez du site Web et des Influenceurs de Conservation.
Nous serons également heureux de recevoir vos suggestions sur ce que nous pourrions couvrir à l’avenir et sur les outils et ressources à développer.
Visite www.iwmc.org
Yours,
Eugène Lapointe, IWMC President
EXCLUSIVE
Hands off all sharks?
At CITES’ CoP-18, the assembled NGOs made sharks their iconic species of choice, knocking elephants off their number one spot. The question is, why did an ugly predator displace photogenic and speciously friendly elephants as the primary campaign pillar of animal rights activists?
Read more to find out why…
If you enjoyed reading this…
If you’ve enjoyed reading this newsletter, please share it with your friends and colleagues and help promote IWMC’s mission of integrating wildlife, markets & conservation.
Freeme June Newsletter
As we move into the cooler temperatures of winter, turning on heaters, unpacking thick blankets, and closing the cold out, many of our indigenous wildlife species are also on a mission to find somewhere snug to wait out the winter months. And while we can relate to this behavior, many of them start seeking refuge in places we do not always appreciate, making them unwanted guests in our homes.
Custodian Newsletter – May 2021
As the bounty of summer comes to an end, the trees change their colour, the days get shorter, and many bird species begin their migrations. Migration can be defi ned as the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another. Some species migrate seasonally within the province whilst some willingly travel half-way around the world. There is a large diversity of migratory bird species that frequent Kwa-Zulu Natal; from the tropical beaches to the cool temperate highlands and everywhere in-between.
Custodian Newsletter – March 2021
Tree felling and gardening – when to trim… All of us with gardens have been hard at work this summer thanks to all the fantastic rain and sunshine. Our gardens have grown lush over this period. However, as the summer season pushes on, many of our gardens have become overgrown and in need of a good trim.
Custodian Newsletter – February 2021
With the good rains and heat, reptiles have been highly active. As they are cold-blooded animals their energy levels and metabolism are dependant on the weather. Summer brings two things for reptiles: a rise in temperature and an increase in food. The increase in food corresponds well with their muchincreased appetites stemming from their sped-up metabolism. Summer is the season for reptiles. However, more activity leads to more interactions with humans. Three possible out-comes can occur when there is a human/reptile interaction.
Free Me January 2021 Newsletter
At FreeMe Wildlife, our mission is to rehabilitate and release indigenous wildlife back into a natural habitat, whilst maintaining the highest ethical standards and furthering conservation by playing a role in engaging with wildlife professionals, volunteers, learners, and members of the public by using the “One Health” approach.
Miscellaneous
Project Rhino Annual Report 2022
ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Photo credit: Les Weaver
STATISTICS STATE THE FACTS
ACCESS THE FULL ANNUAL REPORT HERE: ANNUAL REPORT 2022
There is nothing that paints a picture more clear then facts and statistics – The Project Rhino 2022 year in review:
PROJECT RHINO K9 UNIT
Photo credit: Anthony Kirkwood
A formidable team they are! From January 2022 to December 2022, the K9-Unit removed 885 snares on patrol, responded to 112 emergency call outs, apprehended 33 criminals, retrieved 3 illegal firearms, recovered stolen goods (including wildlife products and rhino carcasses) from 17 incidences, recovered 9 hi-jacked vehicles, responded to 10 armed robbery / burglary cases, dealt with 1 abduction case and successfully found the missing person, and, retrieved narcotics from 3 separate incidences where arrests were made (+/- 6kgs narcotics, 2x truckloads of counterfeit goods worth R15million).
THE ZULULAND ANTI-POACHING WING
Photo credit: Keaton Perkins
From February 2022, when our new dedicated pilot, Keaton Perkins started, until the end of August 2022, when the plane was grounded, a total of 368 hours were flown of which 325 were for patrol and reaction (Plus an additional 35 hours with the Bateleurs). 12 Poached rhinos were found by our air wing, 2 wounded rhinos were detected and successfully treated and 5 calves from poached adult females were located and successfully moved to a rhino orphanage to ensure their survival.
RHINO ART: COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Photo credit: Lundy Bredberg
Some 11,466 learners were reached at 42 different events in 2022, with a focus on schools adjacent to conservation areas, or near to poaching hotspots.
In addition to activations, outreach and judging, we co-facilitated two Kid’s Camps, involving a total of 74 learners and 8 teachers, and partnered with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in a corridor cleaning campaign with learners from the local surrounding schools.
Rhino Art is partnership between Project Rhino and the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. It was founded in 2013, as rhino poaching in South Africa reached crisis levels, and with the realisation that less than 2% of South Africa’s youth had seen a rhino in the wild.
EMPOWERING WILDLIFE COMMUNITIES
Photo credit: Richard Mabanga
The COVID-19 lockdown devastated Africa’s tourism and hospitality sectors – leading to loss of jobs and incomes for some of our most vulnerable communities. Project Rhino was part of a multi stakeholder initiative to relieve food insecurity by providing families, rangers, and wildlife communities with food parcels. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 2.6 million parcels were delivered to wildlife communities, issued alongside neighbouring reserves and with the assistance of the local Nkosi (community leader) to ensure they went to the families most in need. Each food parcel drop went hand in hand with a conservation message, as we used the opportunity to educate communities on conservation and the preservation of our wildlife and wild areas. The programme partners continue to support wildlife communities where possible, assisting with services such as boreholes, food garden support and school resources. The programme helps to build positive, healthy bridges with game reserve neighbours – showing that conservation cares for communities during difficult times.
RANGER TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Photo credit: Chris Galliers
Over the course of 2022, we conducted continuous training of teams and member reserve’s rangers. These trainings included PARCS Training, CMore Training, Crime Scene Management, K9 and ZAP-Wing simulator training, and Advanced Ranger Training. These training opportunities are enormous morale boosters for our rangers. In total we conducted and participated in 29 training workshops and awareness events over 12 months, this is an average of 2.5 per month, broken down as follows: 4 x Zululand security meetings 4 x Midlands security meetings 2 x Tree planting projects in Loziba 3 x K9 training workshops 3 x Community education and food drop projects with DoMore and Kingsley Holgate Foundation 1 x PARCS Training 2 x CMore Training 1 x Crime Scene Management Training 6 x K9 and ZAP-Wing simulator training 3 x Advanced Ranger Training.
THANK YOU
Photo credit: Mark Lautenbach
Our heartfelt thanks to all of our donors, no matter how big or small, for your kind support throughout uncertain times. Without you, our work would not be possible. A special thank you to Thanda Private and Weenen Game Reserves for hosting our bi-monthly member meetings. Thank you also to Mziki Private Reserve for hosting our friends, partners and donors. To everyone who has donated their time, knowledge, money or resources to the cause this past year – your efforts are truly appreciated.
ACCESS THE FULL ANNUAL REPORT HERE: ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Copyright © 2023 Project Rhino Alliance, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
info@projectrhinokzn.org
WRSA & PHASA SERVE PAPERS TO HALT REVISED TOPS REGULATIONS
REVISED TOPS REGULATIONS 2023: WRSA AND PHASA LAUNCH LEGAL ACTION
Dear WRSA Members,
MEDIA STATEMENT RELATED TO LEGAL ACTION AGAINST REVISED TOPS LEGISLATION
09 March 2023
RELEASE DATE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TOPS REGULATIONS – UNTENABLE FOR WILDLIFE AND HABITAT CONSERVATION
Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) and the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA) has issued and served papers to halt the draconian and illogical Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) Regulations and arbitrary TOPS Species Listing, recently Gazetted by Minster Barbra Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE), in Government Gazette 47984 on 3 February 2023. Both organisations are deeply concerned about the recent promulgation of these regulations which are due for implementation on 1 April 2023 as we believe these Regulations will have an adverse impact on game ranching, hunting and the conservation of species outside of protected areas.
Key concerns in the founding affidavit highlight governmental lack of capacity and implementation capabilities. Something Minister Creecy even admitted in her press release when she announced the new regulations on 14 February 2023. “Given existing capacity, it would be impossible to regulate the scope of restricted activities envisaged by NEMBA in respect of all the species included in the list.” What is even more concerning, as highlighted by former President of WRSA Mr Jacques Malan during the Implementation roadshow held in Pretoria on 27 February 2023, is that since inception of TOPS in 2007, some provinces have never even implemented these TOPS regulations within their province. Mr Malan asked the DFFE official present at the roadshow, how can they expect game ranchers to implement these overburdening regulations when the DFFE’s own officials are not even adhering to, or administrating, these regulations for the last 16 years?
In most instances, protected areas and state-run reserves are failing, with limited budget, capacity and/or means for officials to perform their duties. Kruger National Park for instance has lost 75% of its white rhino population since 2011, and due to mismanagement and neglect allowed 20 roan antelope to die of thirst within their breeding camps. The most recent report in the Mail & Guardian “Corruption rife at Kruger) estimates about 40% of the law enforcement employees at the park are participating in corrupt activities. (https://mg.co.za/news/2023-03-04-corruption-rife-at-kruger-park-report/)
Private wildlife ranchers currently conserve more than double the amount of habitat as compared to protected areas. Commercial wildlife ranches cover 16.8% of the country’s landmass, with approximately 80% (16 million) of all game in South Africa, estimated at 20 million. Nevertheless, when determining the TOPS species list in 2015, the DFFE based its decisions on the IUCN 2001 Red list system. These figures are now 21 years old and excluded the majority of game ranchers and their wildlife. Sable antelope are now listed as “vulnerable”, based on numbers that do not reflect the total population in the country. According to the updated 2016 IUCN Red List, there are only 1 346 mature sable in South Africa. Yet during the last 20 years, more than 18 818 sable were sold on auctions. Considering that an estimated 15 – 25% of the entire population was sold on auction, the likely total number of sable in private ownership in the country is conservatively estimated between 75 000 and 125 000.
The DFFE’s inclusion of arbitrary “natural distribution ranges” for wildlife within the Regulations is unenforceable as no maps were promulgated with the regulations and there is no indication of who would decide, and on what basis, these “home ranges” would be determined.
This further highlights a severely flawed 2015 public participation process as inadequate information was provided. The Minister’s rational to now publish these drafted regulations 8 years later, despite substantive change, numerous amendments, the removal of key definitions and omission of an entire section from the 2015 draft regulation is irrational and, in our opinion, unlawful. The removal of essential definitions from the Regulations, such as “game farm” and “semi-extensive wildlife systems” undoubtedly place the industry in a legislative vacuum.
These TOPS Regulations are nothing more than legislative deprivation aimed at eroding the rights of private ownership. Placing private assets under governmental control with an illogical permitting system.
The arbitrary inclusion of abundantly common species such as blesbok, blue wildebeest and normal plains zebra, that occur in the hundreds of thousands across South Africa on a threatened and protected species list, merely to then exempt them is illogical. The TOPS regulations are designed with the intent to protected species facing extinction. TOPS is by no means the correct tool for such a listing as is proven with the black wildebeest, which were culled in the thousands. In fact, the current demand for black wildebeest which were included on TOPS since 2007, is that a 1,500 black wildebeest were sold from the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve only for culling purposes as recently as April last year. The price was determined at R28,00 per kilogram.
It is deplorable that key stakeholders within the wildlife economy are excluded from the process, despite our considerable contribution to the conservation of our biodiversity heritage and the rural the wildlife economy. The South African game ranching model has brought several species back from the brink of extinction and into thriving populations. In spite of these successes and the significant contribution to the country’s social and economic well-being, we are left in an inescapable legislative wasteland through illogical and unsupported regulations. It is most unfortunate that we are left with no choice but to pursue legal action for the sake of our business, our communities, and our wildlife.
WRSA and PHASA are fully committed to fight for the constitutional rights of our members. This includes our right to earn a living from the wise and sustainable use of natural resources through proactive wildlife management and responsible hunting.
Yours faithfully,
WRSA
WESSA KZN Green Spiral | Newsletter November 2021
Dear WESSA KZN Members, Supporters and Friends,
Welcome to the WESSA KZN Green Spiral, with news from the region over the last quarter.
Best wishes from the WESSA KZN Membership Team
Click here to view Newsletter | |
IN THIS ISSUE | |
Overview | Message from the KZN Team
Hot off the Press KZN Annual General Meeting | KZN-UVNR Youth Workshop | Stop Shell Blasting the Wild Coast Projects, Advocacy & Networking WESSA Eco Rangers UPL Chemical Spill Disaster Amanzi ethu Nobuntu Phase 1B Project KZN Branches & Affiliate Members Events, Activities & Outreach International Coastal Clean-up WESSA Youth Workshop at the Priority Zone The Great Southern BioBlitz CJCM People’s Assembly on World Food Day Youth Initiatives WESSA Youth Durban Team building with Futhi Sibiya Heritage Day Guided Cycling Tour |
Upcoming Events & Future plans
Exhibition: Aftermath of Durban Unrest Youth Branches WESSA LIFE Projects | Green Matchmaking Strengthening & Growing KZN Membership In the Media International Coastal Clean-up Sewage Crisis Conservancy tackles invasive trees Mindset Change Needed to Tackle Pollution Wildlife Handbooks Special Features A Tribute to Mduduzi Joubert Majozi Green Heroes of Highway Branch: 50 years of Caring for the Earth CoP26: Another World is Necessary Sani Pass Wildflower Walk Sani Wildlife Branch’s renowned annual event |
Regional Chair
Regional Representative Regional Coordinator |
kzn.chair@wessalife.org.za |
Custodian Newsletter – February 2021
With the good rains and heat, reptiles have been highly active. As they are cold-blooded animals their energy levels and metabolism are dependant on the weather. Summer brings two things for reptiles: a rise in temperature and an increase in food. The increase in food corresponds well with their muchincreased appetites stemming from their sped-up metabolism. Summer is the season for reptiles. However, more activity leads to more interactions with humans. Three possible out-comes can occur when there is a human/reptile interaction.