Conservation Watch ‘Zombie’ mice terrorise albatrosses as boffins mull bringing dodos back from the dead A deeper, grassroots approach to conservation – and solid science – could stave off looming extinctions. Fred Kockott reports on some of the lessons (and offbeat tales) from the 12th annual Oppenheimer Research Conference Written by rovingreporters October 14, 2023March 26, 2024
Biodiversity Conservation Watch Swimming against the tide of sewage: Standerton sanfus stir up action An intrepid band of activist-athletes are drawing attention to a pressing pollution problem Written by RR March 22, 2021November 18, 2021
Conservation Watch Environment Fikile Ntshangase opposed a mine extension. Last night she was murdered. Violence on border of iMfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Park linked to fears of mass retrenchments Fikile Ntshangase, a vocal opponent of plans to extend the Somkhele coal mine, was murdered in her home on Thursday night. This comes after threats and attacks have previously been made against those opposing the mine. Mine management says expansion is essential […] Written by rovingreporters October 23, 2020September 20, 2021
Conservation Watch Environment HIGH STAKES AT SOMKHELE Mine expansion row puts lives on the line Shootings, threats and other violence have ratcheted up tensions in Somkhele where a mine extension has exposed deep fault lines in a poor community. Fred Kockott and Matthew Hattingh report Written by RR June 3, 2020December 9, 2020
Uncategorized Hard yards: How Sarah survived Covid-19 Sarah Ferguson, the inspirational open water swimmer and founder of Breathe Conservation, was diagnosed with coronavirus 10 days before a countrywide lockdown was declared in South Africa. This is her story and poignant advice to others. Written by rovingreporters April 14, 2020April 14, 2020
Environment Ocean Watch Green plan to turn dirty waste into walkways Unrecyclable plastic waste collected from the Umgeni River could soon become part of paving networks, walkways and eco-landscapes in and around Durban, write Jared Sumar and Fred Kockott. This is one of several innovations from Green Corridors – a non-profit social-purpose organisation and incubator of various environmental initiatives. Green Corridors already has in place effective […] Written by rovingreporters March 8, 2020April 3, 2020
Conservation Watch Environment Civil action could address Mdloti river pollution Sick Durban river spoils popular recreational lagoon Written by rovingreporters February 3, 2020May 29, 2020
Conservation Watch Environment Harrismith: When the going gets tough, the tough get going The people of Harrismith have set out to fix what has been broken by years of corruption and theft under Jacob Zuma’s ANC and the premiership of Ace Magashule. Theirs is a story of corruption and collapse being repeated across South Africa where the failure of basic services is causing environmental degradation on a massive […] Written by rovingreporters January 23, 2020January 23, 2020
Conservation Watch Environment 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. Laura du Toit holds up the mirror. First published by Sunday Tribune GLASS recycling in South Africa is a “disaster”, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal where […] Written by rovingreporters December 29, 2019May 29, 2020
Uncategorized Wild waters, but where are all the sharks? A record breaking endurance swimmer saw worryingly little marine life, especially sharks, on a North Coast adventure. Jess Nicholson reports. Written by rovingreporters November 2, 2019November 3, 2019