My approach is dual fold. On the one hand I frequently travel to take Nature and Wildlife Photos to remind us as people of the very thing we aim to protect and conserve. During these trips I also expand my ever-growing contacts list (people ready to make a difference) and never miss an opportunity to educate people about the beauty of Mother Nature and the magnitude of threats challenging her due to Mankind. On the other hand I lend these very skills and experiences pro-bono to further the reach and effectiveness of as many Causes as I can work with. During the years some have become my most involved Causes and to date I am especially proud and committed as photographer for The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Escape to Chimp Eden’). I am also part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Whale Wars’) and very recently People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). I also work ongoing with instrumental individuals from the foremost South Africa Environmental Journalist Television  Series 50|50 on numerous stories that must simply be told.

‘Old Man Joao’ Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Chimp Eden) With his distinctive looks, Joao is the oldest resident at Chimpanzee Eden and could even be the oldest in South Africa.  Joao arrived at the Maputo Zoo in Mozambique when he was 3 years old, left behind by a touring Circus company.  At that stage he had a companion but soon after the war broke out in Mozambique, the war lasted for more than 30 years and Joao saw it from start to finish.  His companion past away falling ill to an unknown virus leaving Joao in isolation from another chimpanzee until April 2006 when JGI South Africa convinced the zoo to release him to the care of JGI Chimpanzee Eden.

For more information and to make a donation go to http://www.janegoodall.co.za (Information courtesy of Jessica Ney)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) Anti Fur Protest, 8 July 2010 Hyde Park, South Africa
For more information go to http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/skins/world-cup-coverage-united-we-stand-against-fur-cruelty
To join or make a donation go to http://blog.petaasiapacific.com

‘Seals Revenge’

The Namibia Cape Fur Seal Cull is happening and as we speak. An estimated 91,000 Seals are savagely clubbed to death annually in Namibia starting July, despite very few legit reasons left for this inhumane massacre. Be informed and join the action to stop this savage event. There is a Namibian Seal Cull Protest on Saturday, 17 July 2010 at Hyde Park, Gauteng, South Africa starting 11am.

As a Photographer and Activist I have committed my life to making a real change. “If an images can speak 1,000 words, then imagine how many words I can speak for those who cannot speak and stand for themselves. Silence is suicide, so with my Photography and travels I aim to educate and inspire and instill change.” DD. Oosthuizen | Devographic (Devoted to exposing and fighting De-Evolution).

How will we be remembered by future generations? Will we be the Generation that managed to kill the last animals and learn that you cannot eat money, or will we be remembered as the Generation that managed to find the courage to make a change and turn this all around. Will we walk in the footsteps of the Gods, or drudge in the demise of our own inactivity and greed?

Edmund Burke once wrote , … “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing”. This could not be more true today. In South Africa we pride ourselves as being united as a Nation of “Black and White under The African Sun”, yet we seem more distant to the plight of our Animals than ever before. In fact, it is in our African Culture and Tradition to be cruel to Animals.

“Zebra Sunset” – Pilanesberg Game Reserve

“Flyby Dawn” – Kruger National Park

So much is written and know about the Great Men of our Time. For instance, despite overwhelming adversity Nelson Mandela triumphed above oppression and walked the Long Walk to Freedom. Today South Africa is a much better country due to the courage of such men. We even hosted the top Sporting Event in the World, the World Cup Soccer 2010. However, whom will be the ultimate Champion and Saviour of our Environment and Wildlife?

There are so many unsung heroes fighting for our Animals and Environment Worldwide, yet they may walk past you in a crowd and you will not even recognise them. It is time you get to know your heroes and start supporting the Causes and Passions that have the potential to ultimately make changes to save our Wildlife and Environment.

“The Long Walk to Freedom” – Apartheid Museum, South Africa

“Ayoba Time” –  The South African World Cup Soccer 2010 Celebrations (Unifying a Nation)

There is so much to see and admire in our own country. Many people in South Africa dream about leaving for ‘greener pastures’. Most of which never bother to stop and see the beauty around us. The glass is half full people, and the time is now to make a difference. We are in the best position to turn South Africa into the most desirable of all.

Already so many people come to see our Animals and Wildlife, yet when they are all gone what will people come for. Corruption has lead to the highest Poaching Numbers in South Africa since the mid 1980’s.. Demands in Rhino Horn and the Bush Meat Trade are systematically killing the African Tourism Draw Card.

Not even our splendid Scenic Landscapes and fantastic weather will not save us when all the Animals are gone.

“Dawn Rhino Dual” –  Crocodile River, Kruger Park, South Africa

“Solitary Waterhole Tree” –  Madikwe, South Africa

“Table Mountain Lights” –  South Africa

“Sea Point Sunset” Cape Town, South Africa

“Marakele Mountains” – South Africa

At this stage we are on a Downward Spiral to oblivion, seemingly uncaring and obvious to the fact that when Nature and our Environment dies … we die! We are all part of the intricate web of live. Ripples in our Environment will ultimately spiral the intricate Web of our own lives out of control and the next extinction will be at our own hands.

At this rate we shall be the only initiator of our own extinction … and ironically life has shown to be far more perseverant that Mankind … life will ultimately find a way to continue long after Mankind ceases to exist on this Planet.

“The Downward Spiral” – Dullstroom, South Africa

“Web of Life” – Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape Town

The rate of extinction and de-evolution is  accelerating daily, so literally every day counts. If I can reach just one person daily and count on the viral-effect of my message then surely an Eco Warrior Army is sure to evolve from the ashes of our own ruin. Time to put our heads together and  think outside the r=traditional confinements to construct methods that will save lives and restore us as respectable caretakers of our Planet. Remember, we have so much to love for and so much beauty around us … do not let this go to waste.

“Tri-Zebra” – Mabula, South Africa

“Elephant Tussle” – Pilanesberg, South Africa

“Malachite Kingfisher” Mankwe Dam, Pilanesberg, South Africa

“Bateleur Eagle Stare” (Terathopius Ecaudatus) – Moholoholo Predator Rehabilitation Centre, South Africa

“Duality” – Sondela, South Africa

“Jurassic Pose” Yellow Billed Hornbill – Sondela, South Africa

“Cheetah Gaze” – Kruger National Park, South Africa

“Mirror Equids”  - Kruger National Park, South Africa

Stay well, stay true, always fight the good fight … making a real difference starts with you!

Best Regards,

David Devo Oosthuizen

David’s Links:

- Website: Devo Graphics
- Facebook Page: Devographic Facebook Page
- Twitter: Devographic on Twitter

DevoGraphic Activism Through Photography proudly supports:

- The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Escape to Chimp Eden’)
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Whale Wars’)
- Seal Alert South Africa
- The Taiji Action Group: South Africa (TAG)
- The Animal Ambulance
- Ripples for Good: Motivating Change in our Waterways
- Fur Free Africa
- 50|50
- Beauty Without Cruelty
- Puppy & Kitten Haven
- Peta International
- Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
- AfriOceans
- The South African Vegan Society

The Serengeti natural heritage area is in acute danger.

The potential collapse of the region’s ecosystem could have even worse consequences than the cattle plague epidemic of the 1890s, which was introduced through domesticated animals and killed off more than 90% of the wildlife population. During the course of the following 70 years, human interference in the area was kept to a minimum and the wildlife population slowly returned to its previous strength.

Now, in 2010, the threat is not disease, but instead a road-building project that values economic interests above the lives of more than two million animals.
The planned Serengeti Highway will cut the Mara ecosystem in the northern Serengeti into two. In order to preserve the Serengeti’s status as a natural heritage area, the plan is to build the road in a closed corridor within the Serengeti National Park. This would, however, make the highway an insurmountable barrier for the 1.5 million ungulates that migrate to the Masai Mara every year in their search for food during the dry season.
Scientists predict that the loss of the Masai Mara food reserves would have dramatic effects on the animal population, starving more than 80% of the indigenous ungulates, including the gnus that are so important to the balance of nature in the region.
The ecosystem would simply collapse.

»»» more «««

On a different level however, another kind of battle is taking place: the battle against canned hunting! The term has been evoked before, so I won’t drag out on the matter. However, notice that this horrendous practice is still very popular, and is responsible for the deaths of over 1000 lions per annum (among other animals).

If you have a minute or two, do me a favour and do two things:

1. Watch this video and comment on it (viewer discretion is advised).
2. Visit the “Four Paws International” website and Sign the Petition against Canned Hunting.

Thanks for your time!

Today, Zimbabwe is home to an abundance of cultural and wildlife diversity, as well as a wealth of natural resources. And inside this glorious wildlife haven lays two noble World Heritage Sites: the Mana Pools, and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.

Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s natural wealth is slowly being destroyed as a result of its crippled financial structure and colonial governed past. Because of the poor economic climate, the local people of Zimbabwe are driven to utilize the natural resources of the land in unsustainable practices. This results in deforestation, endangered wildlife, and lack of water supply. As this vicious cycle continues, natural resources become much less abundant, and scarce.

In an effort to stop this brutal cyclical pattern from depleting the natural riches of Zimbabwe, The Tashinga Initiative was established.

The Tashinga Initiative—Tashinga translated to mean “we have been on a journey of endeavor, and despite the difficulties, we have won through”—is a highly proactive organization. It was established to help conserve the fragile eco-systems of the Zambezi River Valley and the wildlife that occupy them, as well as the area’s World Heritage Sites, and legendary communities.

With a 5-year intervention plan, the Tashinga Initiative is working hard to restore roads, build bridges, develop infrastructure, increase the use of solar power, train and equip rangers, encourage the development of eco-tourism companies, and produce documentaries. The final, big picture of the Initiative is to develop a solid, sustainable foundation for the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and help them to influence the locals with socio-economic responsible practices.

Lending support to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe, The Tashinga Initiative’s vision for the future is to establish effective wildlife protection units, spread awareness and environmental training skills, and monitor the parks that run through the Zambezi River Valley.

The efforts put forth by The Tashinga Initiative and the Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe focus on three primary areas: conservation, management, and protection.

What makes The Tashinga Initiative different from other donations and philanthropic organizations?

The Tashinga Initiative has done extensive research on past donation practices (both by governments and by individuals) and has carefully analyzed the inefficient results of these efforts to understand the reasoning behind why past donations haven’t had the powerful impact needed in Zimbabwe. Past donations have been a way for the Tashinga Initiative to recognize what hasn’t worked, and establish a model based on remedies to past failures. They’ve taken their efforts one step further than providing donations and have built a model that Zimbabwe can follow in order to see a great return on energy and financial investment.

Below is a list of scenarios that illustrate what Zimbabwe will eventually become with The Tashinga Initiative, and what it could become without The Tashinga Initiative:

Zimbabwe WITHOUT wildlife protection units: Poachers will continue to kill rhinos and elephants for commercial sales, which will eventually lead to the extinction of these regale creatures. Poaching has increased more than 900% since 2001. Can you imagine how much more it will increase in the next five years if it’s not stopped?

Zimbabwe with wildlife protection units: Rhino and elephant population will steady increase with black rhino numbers rising from a mere 450 individuals to thousands. Former poachers will find more sustainable means of making a living, helping the local economy to grow and sustain itself.

Zimbabwe WITHOUT sustainability awareness and environmentally responsible skills: The locals will continue to turn to unsustainable living practices as there is no other alternative. Deforestation will rise, natural resources will be depleted, and human / animal conflict will increase, all resulting in economic turmoil and the extinction of wildlife.

Zimbabwe with sustainability awareness and environmentally responsible skills: The Tashinga Initiative spreads awareness and training to locals who live in rural environments, teaching them how to utilize the land in sustainable practices and how to conserve their use.  These programs educate locals on natural resource management and practices that are not only beneficial to the community but also to the environment in which they live.

The Tashinga Initiative warmly welcomes donations worldwide.

1. Hi Herman! Please present yourself in a couple of words…

I am a professional live wildlife photographer and 6th generation African.

2. You are currently working for Safari TV. Sounds really exciting! Is this some kind of “dream come true” experience you are living at the moment? Tell us a bit about how you got to this point, what your background is, etc.

Definitely a dream come true, even if I didn’t realize it at first. I’ve always enjoyed spending time in the wild, and entertainment and conservation are two of my other big passions. These three form the perfect tripod from which I can share my beautiful continent with the rest of the world, through Safari TV.

I was born and bred in Cape Town, and travelled all over Southern Africa as a child with my family. From a young age I have enjoyed the wilds of Africa and mastered the family handycam, dreaming of one day ending up in the entertainment or conservation industry.

I completed an acting degree at the University of Stellenbosch and after that travelled with a community theatre for a while… only to become more and more intrigued by jobs behind the camera.

Then, after doing a specialized wildlife film making course in Cape Town in 2008, I received a call from Graham Wallington (WildEarth TV CEO) and the rest is history. I moved to the beautiful Sabi Sand Game Reserve to do camera work for WildEarth and am now head camera operator for Safari TV.

3. It must be such a thrill waking up with wild animals in your backyard, huh? Is this something you feel comfortable with? Any anecdotes regarding some of the “local visitors” you may have encountered? Any “naughty” baboons, “vicious” snakes or “unpredictable” hyenas wandering about your property?!

Waking up and going to bed with the sounds of the bush makes it all worth it! We have a troop of very naughty vervet monkeys with quite a sweet tooth. More than once I’ve had a cheeky monkey stare at me, chewing a chocolate stolen from my secret sweet stash.

We also have some cat visitors that enjoy taking down our washing from the line. Karula is a female leopard in our area. She and her two sons (Mixo and Induna) see our camp as part of their playground.

I’ve also encountered a female hyena early one morning as she was wandering through our camp.

4. Take us on a typical day at “the office”…what do you do? Do you have a certain daily routine, or do tasks vary from one day to the next? You must be an early bird, I presume?

This is normally my routine:

05h00 Wake up.

06h00/06h30 Departure on a three hour game drive (until 09h30).

10h00 Breakfast time. Then I need to clean the camera equipment…

11h00-13h00 Social networking.

14h00 Get ready for the PM Safari.

15h00-18h00 Out on the afternoon drive.

18h30 Make sure everything is ready and on charge for the next morning.

19h30 Have dinner and maybe something cool to get rid of all the dust in the throat.

Michael: Beer, I presume?!

After that I normally take it easy and get ready for bed.

5. Being skilled as a “camera operator” is in itself extremely interesting! What would you say are the top 5 qualities necessary to become a successful cameraman in your domain?

Being a live wildlife cameraman means you always have to be on top of your game, since there is no editing involved as you are broadcasting. Patience, patience and more patience is probably the most important thing when you are trying to catch that perfect moment. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast”.

As long as you keep on breathing your shots should be steady. Framing pictures is what it is all about. Remember the rule of thirds and try not to have your subject in the middle of the picture. You must certainly enjoy animals and understand behavior to know when that leopard is going to jump or pounce. For me camera work is something very ‘Zen’, and you need to be at peace with yourself and your surroundings to get the perfect picture and make it flow into the next.

6. Africa is a “Garden of Eden” when it comes to national parks and wildlife preserves. How do you feel about the current conservation status of this stunning continent? Are you confident about the future? In your opinion, what areas do we still need to improve upon in order to sustain such vital resources?

I think that people are realizing that they need to preserve wild areas, and in itself it is already a big step in the right direction. Here in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve animals can roam freely into the Greater Kruger Park and Mozambique. Even though the humans can’t move around as they please, for the animals it is just one big “Garden of Eden” with not a fence in sight.

In Africa, poaching is still a big problem and this seriously needs to be addressed. The trading of endangered species must be stopped completely. The most important thing is educating people so that they want to preserve our natural world.

7. Lastly, what would you recommend to people who’d like to follow the same kind of path as yourself? Is passion really enough to pursue one’s dreams? Any tricks to overcome some of the challenges we all have in life? A “secret formula” perhaps? If so we’d really like to know everything…

Following your passion is certainly the way to go. If your passion is big enough, overcoming challenges are so much easier. Try to figure out where you want to be in 5 years time, and be sure to work towards that even if you have to change your strategy along the way. Embrace change and use it as a means of personal growth. Oh yes, eat healthy and do exercise!

Thank you Herman!

Connect with him on Facebook.

Tweet & Retweet his stories on Twitter.

Recent blog posts by Shem Compion and Gerry van der Walt (click on their names to go and read their posts) have also served as catalysts for my thoughts in this blog post.

For me, the privilege of being able to capture forever moments of natural history in the wild places of Africa really boils down to leaving a legacy…something tangible that might still be able to be enjoyed long after all that we’ve seen and all that we’ve come to love in Africa (and other wonderful locations around the world) has passed away and been replaced by garbage dumps and concrete living quarters. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those “tree-huggers” who will chain themselves to whaling ships or despise all technological advancement (although I do think whaling is disgusting and that some technology cripples us more than it enables us to better conserve our planet)…in fact I do drive an SUV (maybe not as big a gas-guzzler as a Hummvee but one that at least gets me where I need to be in Africa, potholes in the roads being more dangerous than the wildlife these days), and I do live in a bustling town of industry and I do in fact work in a field that creates a bit of pollution. But one thing I know…I love Africa. I love her vibe, her cadence, her charisma, her unbridled energy and most of all, her natural beauty.

I find myself longing for days long gone when explorers such as Livingstone and Hemingway stood atop the kopjes of the African plains, and looking out in all directions all they saw was a mass of animal life as far as the eye could see. Large herds of elephants with tusks thrice as long as a man…buffalo herds that made the great wildebeest migration look like a flea circus…clans of wild dog that roamed vast grasslands and outnumbered even large predators like lions. These men could only but capture their fascination with Africa in their writing, and boy do these tales excite…grand sweeping prose that makes you yearn for times gone by with a thick lump in your throat. These days we have the tools to make those memoirs even more vivid…our cameras. The majesty and elegance and beauty of this continent of ours is now in our hands to portray to all who would perhaps stop by our blogs, read our books or stumble upon our images on a calendar or in a magazine, and if I can evoke those same feelings in at least one other person, I would be ecstatic.

The fact that poaching of rhinos (for the supposed medicinal value of their horns) is rising at an alarming rate all over Africa, and more specifically in the national parks and wildlife reserves of South Africa, has sparked these ideas into another direction. What if the only rhino/cheetah/leopard (fill in the blanks) that my children will ever get to see, are the ones that I have had the privilege of taking photos of during my lifetime??? What if I can never take them to the places I’ve been and show them the things I’ve seen, save for showing them a large print of a photo that tries in some meager way to capture the essence of the animal/bird?

This rhino bull was captured in stunning morning sidelight, and I deliberately underexposed with a moody black-and-white photo in mind to convey my concern over this species and others. I hope with all my heart to show this one to my own children one day, and then get into the car, drive to a nearby reserve and show them the real thing…

As Gerry rightly put – we need to take action on a grander scale than merely joining a Facebook group or signing up for a newsletter at Conservation organisation. How and what that involvement will be is up to each of us to determine, decide, and put into action. Until I have the funds to invest in conservation efforts and sponsor large-scale projects, I will continue to try and share the images I have the honour of taking with whoever wants to see. And I do hope we all desire very much to SEE…

Morkel Erasmus

I am amazed that more photographers don’t ask, or try to answer, this question.  Is it perhaps because we are afraid of what the answer might be?  What if no one cares about my images?  What if if no one like the images I am creating?

For me the answer to the question, when relating to wildlife photography, is quite a simple one.   I care.  I do it because I love what I do.  Being in the moment and capturing that moment is both the challenge and the reward.  Sure, a time will come when you are going to want to take your photography to the next level but I feel quite strongly that you should never stop caring about your own images.  The moment you stop caring, other people will stop caring as well.

Shem does a great job of exploring the various directions one can go with this question, and I strongly recommend that you go and check out his blog, but for now I want to take a slightly different approach.

Wildlife photography.  Who cares about it today?  Who will care about it in the future?  Sounds simple enough doesn’t it but think about it.  Many of the subjects we are photographing in the wild every day will not be there in future.  They will be gone and only images will be left.  Will someone care then?

Too often we are so caught up in what aperture to use or firing off 8 frames per second that we forget the sad reality that the images we create will probably outlive our wild subjects.  Take rhinos for example.  Currently in South Africa, one rhino gets killed every 1.6 days.  Yeah, that means that every second African sunset brings the death of another rhinoceros in South Africa.  Every second sunset.

Now it’s all good and well to join a Facebook group and feel all happy that you have done your part for conservation but the people who really make the difference are the guys and gals who physically get involved.  Yes, Facebook groups and all that is great to create an awareness but there really needs to be more people who get out there and physically do something about it.

I was recently lucky enough to be a part of a conservation weekend organized by one of our lodge shareholders.  The short version is that eight guys all come together for the weekend, find out what needs to be done and then raise the money and get their hands dirty by assisting the  North West Parks and Tourism Board in completing some important conservation projects.

So two weekends ago eight guys got together to help with conservation in Madikwe.  During the weekend we released an endangered African Rock Python back into the wild, micro-chipped three white rhino and helped with the relocation of two male lions – all in one day!  The two other projects that we were hoping to complete was to remove a research collar of a Buffalo and place a GSM collar on a Wild Dog did not quite work out as the animals involved did not quite play along.  These two projects will be completed during the following few weeks but for now, here is a look back at our conservation weekend.

The wildlife vet and helicopter pilot herding a group of buffalo into the open while looking for the buffalo whose collar had to come off.  We found at least 300 buffalo but the one with collar was missing.  After a while it was decided to move our attention to rhino.   In an effort to combat the ridiculous levels of poaching, rhinos are now getting microchips implanted in their horns and body.  This then gets registered and can ultimately be traced back to the exact animal.  A small but very important part of trying to discouraging the illegal trafficking of rhino horn.

This was the second rhino that the helicopter brought out into the open.  The skill and experience levels of the wildlife vet and pilot is mind-blowing as they time the darting and ultimate collapse of the rhino to within meters of the vehicle where we were waiting.

This is a second before the rhino goes down.  You can see the vet and his assistant behind the animal making sure that he doe snot get injured in the process.

Once the animal is down the vet will check that it is safe, cover the rhino’s eyes to minimize stress at which point the guys can hop off to join in the checking, measuring and microchipping of the animal.

Every little detail of the animal gets recorded as the guy get a chance to support, learn and ultimately help conserve the fragile existence of the beautiful animals.

Being involved in something like this is a once in lifetime experience and nothing, and I mean nothing, can make you feel stronger about conserving nature then being immersed in a project like this.

Just before the vet wakes the rhino up, it literally takes a few seconds, Adele and I stopped in for a quick photo as well.

After darting and chipping three rhinos we stopped for lunch and then set off to find two male lions that needed to be relocated to new homes.  Not going to get involved int the whole natural balance of a closed conservation area now, but the bottom line is Madikwe has a lot of lions and some newer reserves needs lions.

After a little of searching we found the two 5 year old cats rather close to the lodge.  We tied a piece of wildebeest carcass to a old leadwood stump and proceeded to call the lions out.  Within minutes they moved towards the meat where Declan, Madikwe’s field ecologist, was waiting to dart them.

Always suspicious, the two boys came within range of the darts.  What followed was a quick tussle between the two brothers as when the dart hit the one attacked the other thinking that he bit him.  Didn’t last too long and soon both were sleeping like little kittens.

The freaky thing is that even though they are knocked out, their eyes remain open.  This made sure that everyone was rather alert during the entire lion removal.  Helluva experience.

After loading the two sleeping cats onto the back of a pick up, they were taken to a holding boma where they would wait for their new properties to come and fetch them.  We ran into a slight glitch in that ellies broke the one side of the boma fence, so in rain and disappearing light we had to get the lions to the other boma, about 45 minutes away, before their drugs wore off.  Quite an exciting chase!

With a lion like htis weighting around 200 kg it was quite a mission to pick them into and out of the vehicle.

While two large lions ’spoon’ on the back of the vehicle, Jono and his conservation mates all pose for another picture of a very successful conservation weekend.  For your interest, involvement and financial support, I salute you guys!! Look forward to next year!

The reality is sad and scary.  African wildlife as we know it is not going to be around forever.  We are the ones who are destroying it but, and this is where there is a little bit of hope, we are also the ones who have the power to save it.

Whether through physical involvement, financial support or even just by creating an awareness I urge you to get involved.  Teach your kids.  Speak to people.  Support the people on the ground who are making it their life to try and conserve the magic that is Africa.

So who cares about your wildlife images?  Hopefully more people than we think.  Now and in the future!

When it comes to conservation, don’t turn a blind eye…

See ya tomorrow!

Gerry

This courageous anti-poaching organization has lent a great deal of attention and valuable resources to threatened wildlife in both the Victoria Falls National Park and its neighboring Zambezi National Park since the unit’s establishment in 1999.

Privately funded, the VFAPU works closely with the Wildlife Management Authority and the parks to ensure the unit’s wildlife conservation vision is properly implemented and supported throughout the 146,632 acres of terrain their efforts cover.

Individuals, as well as over a dozen hotels, lodges, and eco-tourism companies, also donate their support and finances to the VFAPU in order to expedite the anti-poaching unit’s vision for poaching reduction in the area.

Before the VFAPU stepped in . . .

More than 19,000 poaching snares were strewn throughout the national parks. Unfortunately, when animals are caught in these traps, it can often take them several days to die.

Subsistence poaching was occurring at a highly threatening rate. This form of animal poaching is done by locals to get bush meat to eat and sell. In fact, central and southern Africa consume more than 1.9 million tons of bush meat each year—a large contributor to the Zambezi River Valley’s wildlife devastation.  These subsistence poachers often kill kudu, impala, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, and warthog for their bush meat and then sell the meat for profit.

Environmental poaching was a large contributor to eco-system and habitat destruction. This form of poaching involves the act of deforestation or removing plants, soil, and sand from the environment. Locals cut down trees and other flora for fuel, firewood to cook, and for building expensive furniture. Other times, they use natural resources such as sand to build shelter and structures.

Elephants and rhinos were being poached at a highly excessive rate for their tusks or horns, feet, and skin. This form of poaching is also known as commercial poaching and is primarily done by poverty-stricken locals who are looking for a form of income.

Programs initiated by the VFAPU to retaliate against poaching:

Animal rescue and rehabilitation programs: Animals who are injured or snared by humans have the opportunity to survive thanks to the VFAPU’s hard-working volunteers and support team. Often snared on the face or limbs, animals can become horribly wounded and suffer until rescued. Through private donations, medicines such as antibiotics and sedation drugs, can be administered to animals in need of rescue.

Once these animals are rescued and rehabilitated, they can be released and reunited with their offspring and herds / social groups.

Wildlife and habitat protection programs: Currently employing more than a dozen scouts to survey the Zambezi River Valley region and prevent poaching activities, the VFAPU has arrested more than 360 poachers and has taken great measures to set an example in the area.

School and community awareness programs: Through song, dance, and story, the VFAPU is working to bring poaching awareness to the local communities and educate youth on the environmental and community consequences of poaching. Through these programs, children and adults alike participate in theatrical performances that educate the local population, and kids from nearby schools are brought to visit the area’s Elephant Camp to learn about the elephants of the Zambezi River Valley and their importance to the environment.

VFAPU also provides educational demonstrations on the rapid consumption of natural resources for fuel and educates locals on alternative materials that can be used in place of these natural resources.

Ex-poacher employment programs: Working with a variety of employers, the VFAPU seeks self-sustaining job opportunities for former poachers. Some of these employment opportunities include textile making, clothing production, and legal wood carving jobs with the Forestry Commission.

Although the complete elimination of poaching in the Victoria Falls National Park and Zambezi National Park is still a great ways away, VFAPU has made phenomenal strides in Zimbabwe wildlife conservation since their beginnings, and continues to implement their vision for a poaching-free Zimbabwe.

Through their exciting programs, individuals from all around the world can lend a hand in Africa’s eco-tourism and conservation efforts. Whether you have a passion for horses, marine life, conservation, wildlife, guiding, or volunteering, Campfire Safaris has tailored courses to accommodate individual needs to better suit their volunteers and interns.

Highlighted below are three of their most renowned and popular courses:

Conservation Land & Sea: Born nearly 10 years ago, Campfire Safaris’ Conservation Land course has evolved into a more holistic approach to conserving the fragile wildlife of Africa. Through its growth, Campfire Safaris has been able to add marine conservation programs to their Conservation Land curriculum.

Beginning in June 2010, Campfire Safaris will offer their combined conservation program, Conservation Land & Sea, to individuals who want to volunteer, intern, or train to be a field guide.

During this joint, one-month education / volunteer program, which is comprised of both fieldwork and in-class lectures, students will learn the basic elements of marine eco-systems and ways to maintain and conserve their cleanliness and living organisms and animals.

During this course, students will discover . . .

• The basic elements of life found in the ocean and on land.
• The land zones of a coastline including beaches, estuaries, dunes, and coral reefs.
• The living patterns of fish, Echnodermata, sponges, single-celled organisms, and marine mammals, reptiles and birds.
• The importance of seaweed and algae in the balance of marine life.
• How to clean the shoreline.
• How to deal with the dangers of the sea including predators, currents, and tides.
• How humans impact the sea and ways to manage and conserve the sea.

FGASA Field Guiding Course: During this highly rewarding program, participants take a comprehensive look at nature and discover how to interpret its fragile eco-systems and wildlife. Students then learn how to convey this interpretation in an insightful way to visitors from all over the world.

When you partake in this course, you will have the opportunity to discover the natural wonders of the world, develop exceptional observation skills and an immense appreciation for nature, and interact with people from all around the world.

At the end of this adventurous course, participants will receive certification as an official guide to take visitors out into the wilderness and show them the many hidden treasures of the African bush.

During this course, students will discover . . .

• How to interpret the sights, sounds, and smells of nature.
• Real-world applicable lessons in leadership and theoretical practices.
• The essential practices of animal management.
• The truth behind which animals are hunted and why they are hunted.
• The difference between trophy hunting, poaching, and meat hunting.

Horse Trail Guide Course: Designed with equestrians in mind, the Horse Trail Guide Course is for horse lovers who want to participate in equestrian study. The program comes in several forms including volunteer work experience, internship and practical training placement, and horse trail guide training.

For those interested in volunteer work experience, you can be trained in equestrian center management, wildlife conservation and preservation practices, and learn about the role horses play in the African eco-system.

If you’re interested in an internship and practical training placement, you can participate in a wildlife study and equestrian study while Wildlife Equestrian Centre estate. Here, you will have the opportunity to research the purpose of horse trails, learn about environmental impact, and experience hands on learning.

If you are looking to earn qualification in horse trail guiding, African Dream Horse Safaris is currently working to become a training facility.
If you are interested in earning an accredited qualification, African Dream Horse safaris is in the process of becoming a training centre in South Africa that offers just that.

During this course, students will discover . . .

• How to ride and manage a horse at an intermediate level.
• How to manage a group of horses through a safe and relaxed approach.
• How to care for horses.
• How to help tourists mount and dismount their horse.
• How to ride as a substitute or backup guide.

• The Cape buffalo population went from 13,000 to 15.
• The wildebeest population went from 6,400 to 1.
• The hippo went from 3,500 to 44.
• The zebra went from 3,300 to 12.
• The black and white rhino population fell to 0.

A place that once was known for its endless amount of animals was down to less than 100 individual creatures. By the late 1970s and early 80s, Gorongosa laid to rest its reputation as one of Africa’s most beloved and stunning wildlife regions—only to begin resuscitating its claim to fame, again, in 2005.

With nearly 2,500 square miles of lush grasslands and widespread floodplains, elephants, birds, lions, and antelope are now reclaiming Gorongosa has their protected home. Today, the river is abundant with active birds and Nile crocodiles, and the grasslands are swarming with joyful herds of zebra and Cape buffalo.

But how did Gorongosa reestablish its wildlife population and fragile eco-systems after nearly 20 years of barren savanna? It took the powerful vision of one man who had the hope and conviction that Gorongosa could restore its past reputation as Africa’s prime wildlife region. This businessman-turned-philanthropist, is none other than Greg Carr.

Gorongosa National Park’s uplifting transformation:
Breaking free from the norm, in every possible way, Greg Carr is raising the bar for individual conservation contributions, not only in Africa, but also nationwide. With a $40 million, 30-year-pledge to bring life back to Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, Carr’s epic contribution to Gorongosa’s conservation is one of the largest individual efforts ever seen in Africa—in both financial and time contribution.

Greg Carr, also known as Gorongosa’s father of conservation, fell in love with the area years ago and established the Carr Foundation in 2005.

For five years (and counting) Greg Carr is managing to do a complete 360-degree-turnaround with Gorongosa. He is not simply throwing in money and waiting to see what everyone will do with it. He’s taking advice, working with the locals for a better Gorongosa, and lending a hand.

Below are merely a few specific efforts Carr is implementing to help conserve Gorongosa and bring it back to its once thriving state:

• Employing over 100 game scouts: Carr’s decision to hire game scouts has not only helped to prevent poachers from entering the Park, but it has also benefited the hired game scouts, who are locals, bring money into their community. The direct and highly-effective efforts put forth by the game scouts have enabled animals to breed and increase in population, and they are now not as timid toward humans as they were before Carr’s first arrival to the Park.

• Introducing new animals to the Park: With a little help from South Africa, the Carr Foundation was able to relocate buffalo, wildebeest, elephant, and hippos from Kruger National Park to Gorongosa. Now, Gorongosa has a strong wildlife base for breeding.

• Working to increase eco-tourism companies: Bringing in eco-tourism companies can be difficult when there are too few animals for safari tours to operate. This is why Carr is working hard to bring in animals from South Africa. Through an effort to increase eco-tourism companies in the area, Carr hopes to attract thousands of tourists a year, without taking away from Gorongosa’s authenticity and exclusivity. The outcome of more eco-tourism companies is a more sustainable local environment, economy, and community. Today, Gorongosa’s yearly tourist count is roughly 8,000, but those involved in increasing eco-tourism efforts in the Park predict that in 10 years, tourist population will reach 100,000 annually.

• Providing community members with a financial stake in Gorongosa conservation: In order to drastically reduce human / wildlife conflict, and encourage support for the Carr Foundation and their epic efforts, Carr is providing an incentive to the locals. Allowing nearby communities to have a financial stake in the Park’s conservation efforts, Carr hopes to drastically reduce tension between humans and wildlife and increase community participation in helping Gorongosa thrive. Merely a year after first establishing the Carr Foundation, locals were warming up to Carr’s efforts as he hired many of them to be guide visitors around the land, build tree nurseries, and replant vital flora. He also hired more than 100 locals to be game scouts around the Park.

But Gorongosa isn’t completely in the clear. In order to seal its revitalized state into a permanent way of life, conservation models need to be put in places and strictly enforced to eliminate human / wildlife conflict, bring economic stability to the local population, help sustain fragile eco-systems, and restore and protect wildlife.