Readers’ wildlife photos

Today we have photos from Rosemary Alles, a reader who runs an animal conservation organization in South Africa, and is also helping me organize my August trip to Kruger. She originally comes from Sri Lanka but now splits her time between South Africa and the U.S. But I’ll let her narrate herself (her text is indented), and you can enlarge her photos by clicking on them. Oh, and there’s a link should you wish to donate to the organization.

Sri-Lanka lies in the shadow of her giant neighbor India; a teardrop on the vast slate of the Indian Ocean. My family emigrated from our island nation many moons ago, leaving a jeweled landscape ravaged by corruption, ethnic violence, and terrorism.  

My first home in the West was in Canada, and then, on the Big Island of Hawaii. These days, I travel between South Africa and Hawaii, centering my work on the protection of iconic megafauna, the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER). 

These images were captured in Kruger National Park during a 3-day journey into Africa’s wild world. We work with wildlife rangers (the Black Mambas and Transfrontier Africa), their extended families, and their children to bring the wonders of South Africa’s wilderness to those who rarely—or never—experience it. Our work with the children in rural communities of Africa helps disrupt poaching and wildlife trafficking and heals the wounds inflicted by apartheid and history. 

Currently we are seeking donations to buy 4 large canvas tents to accommodate more children and young adults in our monthly programs designed to disrupt the distance between rural South Africans and their wild heritage; our target goal is 1500.00 USD. You can help us here.   [JAC:  dig down, please, readers. I don’t ask for anything for me, but these are other species of African mammals who are asking.]

African Bush Elephant (also called “Savannah Elephant,” Loxodonta africana) – male, aka, “Purple Haze”:

Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), female:

 

Grey Heron (Ardea cineria):

Young African Elephant bulls – jostling for dominance at water tank:

Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis):

African Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), searching the horizon:

Young African Bull Elephant  – drinking at water tank:

African Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans):

Elephant Dreams. Mature bull in thicket:

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer); “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse”:

European Roller (Coracias garrulus, migratory):

The iconic Olifants River in Kruger:

Our children and young adults:

Our children and young adults at Koru camp:

Below: images of Nkateko Mzimba, a Black Mamba/Transfrontier Africa Anti-Poaching Ranger at CITES CoP19 (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CoP19). Our group -GMFER- sponsored her trip and  accompanied her to Panama City in Panama for CoP19; this so she could advocate on behalf of Africa’s iconic wildlife.  CITES determines, via representative nation votes, the quotas of wild, endangered species and/or their body parts each country can exploit and export; it also regulates—and not well—quotas of trophy hunts. CITES’ representative body in the United States is the USFWS and operates under the Department of the Interior. 

By and large, and much like many international agencies, CITES is largely ineffective and vaguely corrupt. Still, it is the “best thing” we have to monitor and regulate the trade of endangered species. 

While in Panama, we collaborated with local schools for a celebration of wildlife on the opening day of CITES’ CoP19. During CoP19, Nkateko’s powerful testimony against Trophy Hunting was delivered prior to a victorious vote on a temporary moratorium on the live capture and trade of wild African elephants.

“After a long and complex debate, Africa’s elephants were finally given some respite when the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) voted in favor of a temporary moratorium on further exports of live wild elephants at its Conference of the Parties in Panama.” – Born Free. 

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Nkateko describes how her life changed after she became a ranger – at CITES’ CoP19:

Nkateko testified on agenda Item: 66.4 at CITES’ CoP19 – moratorium on the live capture and trade of wild African elephants:

JAC: If only 300 readers donated $5 each, GMFER would reach its goal of providing shelter for local residents who are learning about wildlife in an effort to save them.  Think about making a small (or large) donation here. Money goes a long way in South Africa, so don’t feel shy about donating even $1 or just a couple of bucks. Thanks!