Stuart on Nature - Blog Post

Much emphasis, and rightly so, is placed on the exotic plants, such as eucalypt and pine species, and their eradication in South Africa. However, we feel equally important are the free-ranging ungulates that are receiving little, or no, attention - such as Fallow Deer (Dama dama) and Barbary Sheep, or Aoudad, (Ammotragus lervia) in the Karoo. 


Barbary Sheep

We know of one population of Barbary Sheep to the north of Carnarvon in the SKA-Meerkat area that numbers in the hundreds and moves freely ...
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During the course of this year rhino poachers and their bosses in South Africa seem to have been having a relatively easy time (except those eaten by lions).

• One 'Mr. Big' Mabuza released on bail in Nelspruit with 'strict' conditions - report to the local police station once a week and only leave the area with permission! Guess there was a party!

• One 'prolific rhino poaching kingpin' in Botswana, one Mayo, released on bail despite being on Interpol's Red List of most-wanted wildlife criminals!

• T...

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In August we spent just short of three weeks in the Baltic state of Estonia, a part of Europe we have never visited previously. Apart from work at the Tallinn Zoo and Tartu University we had the opportunity to explore with knowledgable colleagues - looking for flying squirrel signs close to the Russian border, and European mink on the mainland and Hiiumaa Island. 



It is one of the countries in Europe with the highest levels of natural forest cover. Populations of moose (elk), red deer, roe dee...
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Beautiful landscapes with surviving wildlife. At this time of year the Alpine Ibex and Chamois are on the high meadows above the tree-line, so difficult to locate. A few Brown Bears survive here in the Triglav National Park close to the Italian Alps but their true stronghold is in the south of Slovenia in the forests, with an estimated 400 individuals. For another visit! 

From our viewpoint one of the disturbing and annoying aspects of this park and many others around the world is the need for...
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There are literally thousands of kilometres of electric fencing ringing our South African national parks, reserves, game farms and Karoo sheep farms. A recent incident involving an Aardvark on a farm close to our Karoo home started us thinking. 

We know of numerous records of Leopard Tortoises being electrocuted and killed on these electrified strands. But tortoises do not pull back and receive multiple shocks. Although the Aardvark in question was only stunned, recovered and ran away, we wond...
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The time has just been running away and our web page updates have suffered as a result. A few short thoughts from the last three months:

PHASA/CPHCSA:

The whole hunting ethics saga in South Africa continues. With the unethical hunters cornering PHASA - pro "canned lion hunting", amongst other issues. Those more ethical hunters breaking away from PHASA to found CPHCSA. South African hunting is already viewed from overseas with a hint of disgust. Safari Club International and Boone&Crocket no lon...
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Mesquite (Prosopis spp.), a group of about 40 small leguminous trees are native to the south-western USA and Mexico. Several species, especially Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), were introduced into South Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as both a shade tree and as a source of fodder for domestic livestock. It was cultivated and planted out in many arid areas of central, northern and western parts of South Africa. It forms dense thickets that even goats cannot penetrate a...
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It seems as if many in the South African hunting fraternity are hell bent on driving another nail into the coffin of ethical hunting.

Firstly we had the using of dogs in leopard hunting, then came the infamous 'canned' lion saga, an issue still ongoing. Next the breeding of numerous colour mutant antelope species, which has angered many hunting organisations in Europe especially but also in the USA. In fact in our view it has reached ridiculous levels but the 'bubble' at least on this has b...

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Guest blog: A letter from Gerhard von Hasseln to a disillusioned fellow hunter!

For introduction I mention that I have read your articles in the Man Magazine for which over the years I have also written some articles which were published. I arrived in South Africa in 1957 starting as a learner wool buyer. As a farewell present my father gave me a 9.3 x 62 rifle with which I shot my first bushbuck ram on a farm near Kei Road. I have hunted in six African countries though nowhere near as exten...

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