Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 15 August 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Pulse oximeters, originally designed for humans, can be used more effectively to monitor the blood oxygen levels of rhinoceroses who are under anaesthesia and immobilised. This is according to new research by the University of Pretoria. Immobilising rhinos for dehorning or relocation is becoming a routine procedure for wildlife veterinarians working to protect these animals from poaching. The university’s doctor Thembeka Mtetwa says the rhino’s third eyelid proved to be the most reliable site to attach the pulse oximeter:

# Conservationists are commemorating a decade of successful expansion of protected areas within the Succulent Karoo biome of the Northern Cape. Over the past ten years, the Northern Cape Land Project has enabled the declaration of five new nature reserves and one new protected environment. A further eight sites are also under negotiation. Once completed this would contribute a total of 70-thousand hectares to conservation. The global aim is to conserve 30-percent of terrestrial and marine environments by 2030.

# And finally, US scientist and astronaut, Sian Proctor, believes that freeze-drying technology has the potential to revolutionise food practices in Africa. Proctor says this will improve food security and reduce waste. Proctor highlights that freeze-drying could replace frozen foods, eliminating the need for cold chains and extending shelf life. She envisions solar-powered mobile freeze-drying units for rural communities, allowing them to preserve food, access distant markets, enhancing sustainability and resilience in food distribution.

Stay tuned for more news………….