Here's This Week's Africa Wildlife News Digest

S.Africa tourism in turmoil after variant sparks travel bans

Helpless and furious, South African tour operators are flooded with cancellations as countries follow Britain's decision to ban travel from the region over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.

"This is a knee-jerk reaction but with such a strong snowball effect," said Richard de la Rey of Dark Giraffe Marketing, which organises safaris and beach holidays in Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa.

"No one knows anything about this variant at all and they just assume the worst," he huffed.

Source: France24

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Prince William derided over Africa population growth remarks

The United Kingdom’s Prince William has been told to “mind his own business” by critics after suggesting that population growth is endangering wildlife in Africa.

Speaking at the Tusk conservation awards in London on Tuesday evening, William said increasing pressure on the continent’s “wildlife and wild spaces as a result of human population” was presenting a “huge challenge for conservationists, as it does the world over”.

Source: Aljazeera

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Childhood hobby pushes Malawian man to establish game ranch in Lilongwe

Rashid Geloo says his childhood hobby of keeping animals like birds and white rats pushed him into setting up a game ranch in Lilongwe, central Malawi.

Recently, AfricaBrief Editor-in-Chief, Winston Mwale, paid Rashid a visit, to appreciate his work at R and L Farms/Game Ranch, where he keeps animals like zebras, ostriches, emu, kudus, bushbucks, porcupines, and vultures.

Source: AfricaBrief

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Imvelo launches conservation course in Zimbabwe

LodgesImvelo Safari Lodges has launched a course for young adults to experience a community-based conservation partnership in Zimbabwe.

The course will be held twice in 2022: May 19 to May 27 and June 23 to July 1. Participants will be accommodated at Imvelo's Camelthorn Lodge in Hwange National Park, the largest and most diverse national park in Zimbabwe.

Each course will be led by senior management, Zimbabwean professional guides and licensed local guides who will act as group leaders.

Source: TravelWeekly

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How Dogs Are Fighting Rhino Poaching

In the war on poaching, some of the best defenders have four legs.

Trained canines are used in some of South Africa’s national parks to detect wildlife contraband like rhino horns, pangolin scales, and ivory at airports and roadblocks. Other dogs are trained to track and apprehend poachers in the field.

According to Save the Rhino, 9,885 rhinos have been lost to poaching in the last decade.1 But Carl Thornton, founder and director of Pit-Track K9 Conservation and Anti-Poaching Unit, says the numbers are likely much higher.

Source: TreeHugger