Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 16 April 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The Cape Leopard Trust has concluded a camera survey in the Piketberg and Olifantsrivier Mountains, spotting 31 wild mammal species. This includes Cape fox, African snake weasel and black-backed jackal. The survey also recorded elusive leopards at 54 of 74 locations. With over 154-thousand images captured, the survey offers vital insights into leopard density and wildlife activity. The trust also embarked on community engagement and conservation workshops to enhance awareness.

# Government marked Indigenous Tree Day by planting over 100 indigenous trees across national botanical gardens. Last year, the inaugural Indigenous Tree Day saw thousands of participants gather at 26 sites across 12 African countries. Led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the initiative forms part of a continent-wide effort to conserve locally adapted, threatened, and fruit-bearing species. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has set an ambitious target to plant one million trees this year.

# And finally: Four people – two Belgians, a Vietnamese national, and a Kenyan – have pleaded guilty to smuggling approximately five-thousand queen ants out of Kenya. The ants, including the rare and highly valued Giant African Harvester Ants, were hidden in modified test tubes and syringes to survive extended periods and evade airport scans. The Kenyan Wildlife Service says the interception valued at 147-thousand-rand represents a significant breakthrough in combating biopiracy. The accused face charges of illegal possession and trafficking of live wildlife.

Stay tuned for more news………….