The heart of a lion

The Global White Lion Protection Trust is set to launch their White Lion Leadership Academy in July 2012, and Wildlands are excited to announce that one of our staff members will be one of the first scholars to embark on the program. Michael Zakhele Ngcobo, known by his fellow employees as Zakes, has been awarded a full scholarship with the Academy, to further improve his skill base as a Wildlands’ Initiative Manager for the uThungulu District. “When they told me I had been awarded the scholarship I was so happy,” exclaims Zakes, “I ran into my office, closed the door and jumped up and down and thanked god!”

The White Lion Leadership Academy was established in response to the environmental crisis we are witnessing unfold on the planet. The Academy represents a call to action and aims to inspire and empower participants to embody “White Lion Leadership Principles.” These include equipping people with solid values, intuitive courage and enhanced awareness in order to face the critical world of today, and make a meaningful difference in the environment.

When asked how he envisioned the Leadership Academy benefiting him, Zakes said, “I work with different communities of differing cultures and styles, mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds. I believe this scholarship will teach me to better understand them and their behaviour, as well as how to be a better ‘fit’ in their daily activities while enlightening them about the environment. I believe this scholarship will empower me with the knowledge and skills I need to work better within these communities.”

This qualification with the White Lion Leadership Academy will add to Zakhele’s Diploma in Project Management and his BSC degree in Environmental Management which he will complete this year.

Zakes is a humble soul and also won’t take all the credit for being awarded this scholarship. “This opportunity is not only for my benefit but also for my family, friends and Wildlands, who have all shown me a road to success. I must thank my Mom, Richard Mabaso, Charmaine Veldman, Andrew Venter, Roelie Kloppers, Simone Dale, my team in uThungulu and the whole Wildlands team – thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Email Stella at stella@whitelions.org for more information or an application pack. “I encourage others to sign up or apply,” says Zakes, “as it will add value to your life and help make you a success.”

Tourism meets Conservation

Thompsons Africa recently raised their hands to partner with Wildlands in support of their work around rhino conservation.  On the 11th of May Thompsons hosted a Pre-Indaba cocktail event for all their partners, clients and some of their staff. The event, at Circus Circus on the beach front, was well attended and Rhino themed, in line with their “rhino” focused stand at Indaba, one of the largest tourism marketing events in Africa, which ran from the 12-15 May.

“The travel industry and wildlife groups are reliant on each other for survival. The “Big 5” are a massive selling point for tourism operators, as the animals are ultimately what attract visitors from all over the world,” mentioned Dr Andrew Venter as he highlighted the very real link between Wildlands and Thompsons.

Venter presented a moving speech and audio visual depicting the plight of our rhino populations. An auction followed thereafter and saw the auctioning of a SHARKS Rugby Ball (signed by the team) and 3 paintings by top artists, Ian van Zyl, Maureen Edgecombe and Steve Mandy. Attendees also submitted pledges and collectively the auction and pledges raised around R30 000 at the event.

Wildlands are focusing these funds on 2 of their projects namely, Project Rhino Tracker & Project Rhino Aerial Support. Project Rhino Tracker involves GSM based monitoring and tracking of rhino populations, which allows for effective behaviour based management. The Tracker project is complemented by aerial support, which involves light aircraft and helicopters that patrol fence lines and reserve land, and allows for a rapid response to poaching threats.

Wildlands call organisations & individuals such as Thompsons “Rhino Ambassadors.” A Rhino Ambassador is someone that invests in Wildlands’ Rhino Conservation efforts and therefore contributes directly to stemming the rhino onslaught. This Campaign aims to secure an annual donation per annum commitment from Businesses and private individuals for rhino conservation, and in return for their support, each Ambassador is invited (cost free) to participate in a series of events and functions, aimed at profiling their commitment, nurturing their understanding and progressively growing a network of Ambassadors. For more information around the Wildlands Projects email kevinm@localhost/import-data-post, if you would like to become a Wildlands’ Rhino Ambassador email laurenl@localhost/import-data-post .

FIND THE RHINO, SAVE THE RHINO!

A partnership between the Wildlands Conservation Trust, Thanda Private Game Reserve and Nelson Mandela Square, has inspired the combination of a unique fund raising event with the implementation of a project to improve the security of the rhino at Thanda Private Game Reserve and the associated Mduna Royal Reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal.  A “Find the Rhino – Save the Rhino” competition, involving clues and a rhino statue strategically hidden inside different shops, was held at Nelson Mandela Square in November – December 2011, and the overall prize of a rhino darting experience was won by Mr Peter Rice.

The darting is part of the Wildlands’ Project Rhino Tracker project. The aim of this conservation project was to capture and fit as many rhino as possible with the latest tracking equipment, in many cases to allow the remote tracking of rhino populations.

On the 18th of May, Peter Rice and 5 of his friends (all inclusive of this prize) spent three nights at Thanda Private Game Reserve and participated in this valuable conservation exercise. Rhino were captured at Thanda, and adjoining Mduna Royal Reserve by a wildlife vet and game capture helicopter operator, and were fitted with a range of tracking devices, from satellite transmitters to UHF GPS data loggers and VHF telemetry units, with assistance from Wildlife ACT staff.

Rhino were also notched in order to better identify individual animals in the future, DNA samples were taken and transponders were inserted into the horns. “This will allow the management staff at the reserves to monitor the rhino more efficiently and effectively, adding a layer of extra security to the rhino populations,” commented Wildlands’ Kevin McCann. “This is critical in light of the recent rhino poaching upsurge, and is a response to try and secure existing populations on private and communal land. By knowing where all the rhino are on a daily basis, anti-poaching units can ensure they respond more efficiently to any issues with the rhino. Wildlands would like to thank Nelson Mandela Square and Thanda Private Game Reserve for contributing to this project, which will go a long way to ultimately securing our rhino.”

Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle MTB Challenge

The 16th Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge, one of the Bonitas Wild Series Events, was a hit yet again this year, with cyclists braving one of South Africa’s toughest one day biking events on Saturday last week. This epic 75km challenge took place at Giants Castle in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and was won by John-Michael du Preez in a time of 03:44:14, with Jeremy Thomson in 2nd place and Warren price in 3rd. Desiree Chantal Briedenhann was the first woman to cross the finish line in 19th place overall in a time of 04:30:12. The challenge raised over R200 000 this year, R24 000 of this was raised independently by David Graham who is proudly supported by Deloitte and private donors.

The Bonitas Wild Series events are hosted by Wildlands Conservation Trust within some of the country’s most pristine wilderness areas, often where you would not be permitted under normal circumstances, such as nature reserves. This makes these events unique and the demand to participate in them extremely high. These Bonitas Wild Series events also raise funds to support the conservation efforts within the areas or reserve in which they are staged.

Through the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle MTB Challenge, funds raised are currently supporting two conservation elements in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. The first being activities aimed at securing the critically endangered Bearded Vulture, which is an iconic species of the Drakensberg Mountains and is seriously under threat. The Bearded Vulture relies heavily on these Drakensberg areas for its breeding and foraging. Funds raised through this event are supporting hi-tech Bearded Vulture research, allowing the satellite tracking of several Bearded Vulture adults, resulting in a better understanding of their movement patterns, specifically where they forage and become vulnerable to human impact. This information will ensure conservationists can respond accordingly and work with the Lesotho government in putting conservation interventions in place, to ultimately secure the survival of this important species.

To complement the Bearded Vulture research, N3TC have come on board as an additional partner who are funding the construction of 2 additional Vulture Hides at Cathedral Peak and Golden Gate National Park, as well as a revamp of the Giants Castle Vulture Hide. This will add significant value to the tourism potential in the area, and will have the added benefit of assisting Vulture research in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Secondly, a portion of the funds are being used to improve the management of this World Heritage Site (uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park) by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This includes projects such as, establishing solar-powered infrastructure and improving the camp facilities at the Giants Castle camp sites, improving communication systems in the reserve, providing baboon-proof rubbish bins and all ultimately ensuring an improved ‘visitor experience’.

“Wildlands Conservation Trust would like to thank all cyclists that participated in this event,” said Kevin McCann Strategic Manager at Wildlands. “Taking part in this amazing challenge means that you have contributed to the improved conservation security of the Drakensberg Park and the Bearded Vulture. A big thank you must also go out to our sponsors Bonitas and Sunday Tribune, as without them this event would not have been possible.”