Category: 2005

The inaugural Sterling Light Vodacom Big 5 MTB Challenge held on Saturday, 30 July, in South Africa’s oldest game reserve, iMfolozi, was a resounding success. A total of 138 entrants finished the challenging 55km course in the first event of its kind held in a KZN Wildlife Reserve.

The winner, Gary Behn, crossed the finish line in an unbelievable time of 2:46:46, beating second place Ross Levin by over 15 minutes (3:01:52). Max Cluer of Team Jeep followed in 3rd place in 3:07:25.

First lady home was Sue Erskine, in a time of 3:12:14 followed over an hour later by Crystal de Klerk (4:31:20) and Jane Leppan (4:35:54).

Cyclists reported sightings of impala, water buck, nyala, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and warthog. The even culminated in a ‘wild braai’ and a steady supply of Sterling Light Lagers on Saturday evening.

Event sponsors, Sterling Light Lager and Vodacom, helped make the iMfolozi MTB Challenge a reality. Whilst the event is a true Mountain Biking Challenge, its beneficiary is the Wildlands Conservation Trust and entrants have to date raised in excess of R42,000, with two weeks still to go before the close of fund raising. Our grateful thanks to all sponsors and participants.

Launched recently by a group of stakeholders at the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, the Environmental Learning Forum (ELF) is a network of organisations and individuals, working collaboratively towards relevant, high quality environmental education and training. It will provide an interface between providers, employers, learners and the relevant Seta’s, which will lead to the development and implementation of locally relevant, contextualised learning programmes.

Providers will have access to shared resources, ideas and case studies that will help them meet accreditation requirements.

Founding members of Elf include the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, Rhodes University Environment and Sustainability Unit, Environmental Justice Networking Forum, the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism, Earth Life Africa, Heinrich Boell Stiftung, the South African NGO Coalition, KZN Department of Agriculture and Environment Affairs, Zero Waste Institute of South Africa, the Green Network and SADC Regional Environmental Education Centre.

For more information, please contact Jonathon Wigley at WESSA on tel. (033) 330-3931 or email jj@wessa.co.za

In what has been described as a ‘major coup for conservation’, a pack of 15 Wild Dog has been released into the Mkuze Game Reserve – an area from which this species disappeared 75 years ago.

The reintroduction programme was a combined effort by the Wetlands Park authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Society and the Smithsonian Institute’s National Zoological Park. The African Wild Dog faces extinction in the wild in South Africa, as a result of habitat destruction, persecution and competition with larger carnivores

Exactly R200 000 was raised by participants in this year’s Giant’s Castle Mountain Bike Challenge, which took place on Sunday 24 April.

The limited field of 400 are required to collect a minimum personal sponsorship of R175 each, which is donated in its entirety to Wildlands Conservation Trust.

Last year’s winner, Brandon Stewart was first home, in a time of 3 hours, 49 minutes and 54 seconds. However, the real excitement was reserved for the rider who came seventh – local resident Mphikiseni Duma, who was cheered home by a large crowd of friends and relatives. Duma was one of four ‘development riders’ whose bikes and kit were sponsored by corporate sponsors of the Challenge. These riders did however have to meet the same conditions of entry in order to be included in the conservation effort

According to reports by Independent Newspapers, President Robert Mugabe’s regime has ordered national parks staff to shoot animals in the country’s state-owned game reserves to feed hungry rural people.

This is a major blow to conservation efforts and poses serious threat to the dream of Transfrontier parks where animals can roam safely across borders.

Poachers, polluters, illegal developers and other environmental criminals beware: the Green Scorpions are about to be unleashed!

Environment Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk has announced the introduction of a special unit of environmental management inspectors (EMIs) to investigate individuals and corporates who infringe the country’s environmental laws.

The new officers will be part of a national network, including park rangers, conservation officers, marine and coastal enforcement officers and officials monitoring urban development, pollution and waste disposal. If necessary, the inspectors will involve the police force.

Now Dewu Zuma’s work has been formally recognised with the presentation of the 2004 Malamba Award for excellence in contributing to the conservation of protected areas. The award, sponsored by the Wildlands Conservation Trust, was inspired by legendary game ranger Nick Steele, whose Zulu nickname was Malamba.

With little formal education, Zuma has a formidable store of indigenous knowledge and his practical understanding of flora, fauna and ecosystems has been entirely self-taught. However, it is in leadership abilities and dedication to his work that Zuma has set high standards and inspired his staff of 14.

Because the uKhahlamba Drakensberg forms the border between South Africa and Lesotho – an area frequented by drug smugglers, border jumpers and cattle rustlers – Zuma has often had to go into situations where his life has been in danger. He has always set an example to his men by his immense courage and lack of regard for his own safety.

His seniors speak highly of him. ‘Zuma is reliable, respectful, polite – a hardworking and honest man,’ says Acting General Manager uKhahlamba Region AC Myezi. ‘He is an asset to the organization.’

Last week saw the first major sale of indigenous trees grown from seed by school children participating in the Trees for School Fees project.

School children and parents from communities in KwaJobe, adjacent to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in Zululand, received a total of R28 000 for their saplings, which were collected over a two day period by volunteers from Unilever, who also sponsored the vehicles. A consignment of trees was delivered to Robyndale Nursery in Kloof outside Durban, while the balance remained at the mother nursery at the Muzi Pan Adventure Centre near St Lucia.

Wildlands Conservation Trust is appealing to South Africans to support the project by purchasing the trees. Indigenous trees are perfect for gardens as they require less water and care, and attract local birds and insects. By buying these trees, people can also contribute to the economic upliftment of poverty-stricken rural people.

Many children have lost parents to illness and the income they receive from their trees is vital. About 175 growers – including schools, homesteads and individuals – are enthusiastically supporting the programme.

‘Wherever we went, people came to greet us with their trees. Many met us on the road, carrying their little trees,’ said Charmaine Veldman, project leader.

‘The money earned in this way is used to pay school fees. We encourage learners to use what is left over for uniforms and stationery. Sometimes there is enough to contribute towards the family income.’

Initial payouts were funded by Investec and limited to R200 per grower. The sustainability of the initiative will depend on response from the public.

‘We are about to buy our next consignment and we are looking for people who want to buy them,’ said Veldman. ‘We are happy to sell anything from a single tree to hundreds.’

Anyone interested in buying the trees can contact Charmaine Veldman or Richard Mabaso on (035) 562-0061 or 084 5565885.  A detailed price list is available from the Khula Village information office – tel: (035) 550-4072 or contact Robyndale Nurseries on (031) 764-6328.

After two days on the road from Stellenbosch on the back of a specially modified vehicle, a life-size bronze statue of a white rhino arrived in Durban on 17 March to take up permanent residence at the entrance to the International Convention Centre (ICC).

Commissioned by the Conservation Trust and created by renowned sculptor, Dylan Lewis, the statue is a tribute to South Africa’s proud conservation record.

The white rhino is a living symbol of conservation success; the largest animal to be brought back from the brink of extinction by sheer determination and innovative conservation techniques in KwaZulu-Natal game reserves.

‘There is no such commemorative icon anywhere in the country,’ said Dr George Hughes, former CEO of the Trust and the driving force behind the project. ‘The finished life-size bronze will serve as a source of pride to citizens of South Africa, as well as being a drawcard for tourists and delegates to the ICC.’

First conceptualised during preparations for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 5th World Parks Congress in 2003, the bronze represents what conservation has achieved in terms of promoting economic growth in South Africa and an aesthetic appreciation of our fauna and flora.