Environment
Authorities pooh-pooh claims of faecal contamination at an Umhlanga beach as hundreds hit by gastro
Scores of holidaymakers have reported that they contracted a gastro bug after swimming at Umhlanga’s Bronze Beach. But authorities say the lurgy wasn’t in the seawater, writes Fatima Khan. First
Negotiating a water-scarce world
Can the water-rich mineral Ringwoodite provide humans with water in the future and become the “gold of the 21st century”? asks Fatima Khan
Alarm over mass vulture poisoning in Zululand
Another vulture poisoning incident, discovered two days before Christmas in far northern KwaZulu-Natal, has sparked warnings that the region’s diminishing vulture populations could face extinction if belief-based use is not
Vital move to sharpen up recycling
Smoke and mirrors stuff must be cleanly dealt with Outgoing WildTrust CEO, Andrew Venter, spills a few secrets about recycling in South Africa and enthuses about the potential for change.
Hollow ring to pipe dream tale
He who pays the piper calls the tune. But not so it seems if you’re dealing with a certain hard-to-reach KZN ‘artist’. Rookie reporter Laura du Toit learns things aren’t
Lift off for African vulture safe zones
The first of at least five new “vulture safe zones” in Southern Africa are about to take off as private landowners and other partners join the battle to save Africa’s
Geologist’s ‘deep view’ perspective gets climate community hot and bothered
Global warming is real and it’s happening, but a geology professor reckons the current focus on it is short-sighted, distracting from more pressing environmental problems. Mike Watkeys’ “deep time” perspective
Why are conservative men so scared of Greta Thunberg?
What is it about Greta Thunberg that scares so many ageing, conservative men? Is it because she challenges the old-world industrial capitalist order that gave men the authority over everything,
Buzz off! Stinky solutions for a jumbo problem
Elephants can fundamentally alter the landscapes as they forage, damaging or killing large trees. Now researchers are trying out pungent potions to keep destructive pachyderms at bay. Tony Carnie reports
Win in war on logging pirates
Mozambique has recorded a measure of success recently against wildlife poachers and illegal loggers, thanks to stronger enforcement. Fred Kockott reports. This report was commissioned and first published by Mongabay
