Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for both the Cleft Stick and to be posted on the web site. It is your magazine and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
Thanks to all of you who have made the effort. Please will any of you who know of members who do not get this “electric” Cleft~Stick, & have access to e-mail, pass their address along to me.
Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534 Int. Tel & Fax (+2733) 343 1534 cell 082 377 7562 E-mail dyunnie@xsinet.co.za.
Peter Coulon our fundraising portfolio holder asks “can we put a appeal in the next cleft stick asking for members to forward to me potential fund raising projects using the fund raising project guideline format.
We want to be project focused in our fund raising efforts.
For ease of reference herewith the format
GRAA FUND RAISING PROPOSAL
VISION: The Game Rangers Association of Africa commits itself to the preservation, conservation and where possible, restoration of Africa’s biodiversity and the continued existence of its wilderness.
MISSION: The future of conservation in Africa and the preservation of its wilderness, lies in the hands of its natural resource managers and field rangers. The GRAA is committed to ensure that those responsible for the future of conservation in Africa are dedicated, motivated, skills trained, ethical and professional in the execution of their duties.
OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of the GRAA are:
Description of project requiring funding:
Objectives of project:
Benefits of this project:
Funds required for project (include funding time frames and expenditure plan):
Sustainability of project:
OBITUARY ROBERT (Bob) WILLIAM LANGEVELD 1935 – 2005
I met Bob in the winter of 1973 whilst I was employed as a zone officer by the Natal Parks Board at the Jozini Outpost in Maputaland. Bob had been sent by the department of Agriculture and Forestry to enlist me to address elephant problems in the area. At the time in history elephant control permits were issued by the Natal Parks Board in my name. Therefore legalities required my presence on any control work. Within the hour a patrol of the area concerned was under way and this was the start of a ten year liason and friendship.
Bob was educated in Brackpan and went to work on the mines, eventually becoming an assayist. His hunting career started at this time supposedly when he had time off from his work. Eventually he went to Zambia where he became an elephant control officer in the Luangwa Game Reserve. Bob thereafter worked in some nine African countries as hunter, game warden, safari guide and professional hunter. His travels took him from the central African Republic southwards to South Africa and Mocambique. The last country being Mocambique where he and an associate had an established safari concession somewhere between the Zimbabwe border and Tete.
Bob was back in South Africa at the time that I met him due to his children being young and in need of better education and stability. Many were the times when he would arrive in my area complete with four children during a week or so in school holidays. Times were enjoyed camping and fishing etc.
During my association with Bob I had the privelidge to understudy him and learn from his vast experiences. He taught me elephant hunting at a time that the only elephant I’d ever seen was in a circus. We would spend much time studying skulls and he would indicate bullet placement at various angles. He announced that he needed to observe my skills with a rifle before he would consider me to accompany him on elephant control work. One must understand that the habitat in which we were, was very thick sand forest and heavy thickets where hand and knees approaches were common. Bob would pin a note book page onto a tamboti tree and tell me to approach from about 20 paces, at the instant that I could observe the page (probably 15 paces) I had to fire 4 rounds into it, this was done standing and kneeling. He never told me whether the exercise was successful or otherwise. I did however hit the target 3 times out of 4 and gained his confidence. I was using a FN Mauser .375 H&H magnum at the time and although he felt it was a bit light in thick cover he said it was adequate. Subsequently it is of interest to note that I used the .375 H&H magnum for the remainder of my service in the board.. I did however have a .458 back up carried by a game guard. Bob never liked the .458 win mag and on more than one occasion remarked that it was only good for use as a tent peg. His passion was double rifles of which he had used many. Mostly large bore calibres such as .470 NE .500/.465 NE .450 NE. During my association with him his battery consisted of a double .500/.465 ejector with side locks (built) on the style of Holland & Holland. A Winchester .375 H&H magnum and a 30.06 also a Winchester if I remember correctly. Bob always carried a side arm which was a browning hi power 9mm P. I also seem to remember a government model .45 acp as well.
Unfortunately Bob took ill some 11 months ago and was given a mere 6 months to live. He passed away a month before his 70th birthday on the 9th May 2005. He was laid to rest by his children in Loxton some 3 hours from Beaufort West. Bob leaves his four children Cathy, Trevor, Kevin and Gerald. His companion Helga who has been with him for the past 15 years and who cared for him up until the time of his death. He also leaves five grandchildren. Rest in peace Bob, those who knew you will remember you.
Greg Ridgway.
Protect the rotectors
GRAA members and Friends
The Game Rangers Association of Africa, in affiliation with the International Ranger Federation; wish to remember rangers who have died on duty. We cannot allow their efforts to have been in vain, and we will continue our vision to Protect the Protectors until we achieve this.
May I ask that you please send me any information you have of those who died on duty since January 2000.
Please state
Many thanks
Tim
Timothy V. Snow
Africa Chairman, Game Rangers Association of Africa
International Ranger Federation Executive Committee - Africa representative
Telefax +27(0)33 2677171
Mobile +27(0)82 4634104
PO Box 78, Rosetta, KZN 3301, South Africa.
e mail: snowman@ewt.org.za
IUCN Member NG1567.
Congolese Awarded For Saving Apes From Militias
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: June 3, 2005
KINSHASA - Congolese park rangers who risked or even lost their lives to save mountain gorillas, pygmy chimpanzees and white rhinos as war raged around them have been honoured two years after the conflict officially ended.
More than 40 park guards, bush trackers and local chiefs -- many of whom fought off militia fighters, bandits and poachers in Congo's lawless east -- were presented with the Abraham Conservation Award in Kinshasa late on Wednesday.
"The bravery, dedication and courage of this year's recipients is incredible," US based environmental group the Alexander Abraham Foundation said in its presentation.
Mokilibe Atakuru and Likambo Masikini, two park guards from the remote Garamba National Park on Congo's border with Sudan, were posthumously recognised for their efforts to help to try to save the world's last remaining northern white rhinos living in the wild.
They were both killed in May last year during a gun battle with heavily armed poachers from the Janjaweed militia -- accused of raping and killing in Darfur -- who swept into Congo on horseback from Sudan to hunt down the rhino for their horns.
Attacks on ranger stations and anti-poaching patrols are common in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which is renowned for its diverse wildlife but has been at war for most of the last decade.
The vast central African country's forests are the sole habitat of bonobos, or pygmy chimpanzees, one of humans' closest living relatives which have been pushed to the brink of extinction by fighting, conservationists say.
Although the latest conflict officially ended in 2003, the government is struggling to impose its authority and armed groups still hold sway across vast swathes of the east.
Congo is home to five natural heritage sites and 200,000 square km (77,230 sq miles) -- 8 percent of the country -- is protected land. Since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, millions of refugees have flooded into the country and two wars have broken out, putting pressure on its natural resources. Congo's parks have also had to cope with myriad local militias and rebel groups from neighbouring Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
Virunga National Park, one of Africa's oldest, which lies on the Rwandan border, was one of the most contested areas during Congo's war and is now struggling to survive.
Some 100 rangers have been killed among its lowland forests, open savannahs, snow-capped peaks and volcanoes since 1996.
Norbert Mushenzi, head conservationist in the north of the park, was given an award for 34 years of service, during which he has been arrested and repeatedly attacked by armed groups.
"We will all die one day, but if I die for a noble cause, then I think it's worth it," he told Reuters.
Story by David Lewis
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE.
Rain Forest Myth Goes Up in Smoke Over the Amazon , Jun 9, 2005 Los Angeles Times
Henry Chu Times Staff Writer. Copyright Los Angeles Times Corp. June 8, 2005
REMANSO TALISMA, Brazil - The death of a myth begins with stinging eyes and heaving chests here on the edge of the Amazon rain forest.
Every year, fire envelops the jungle, throwing up inky billows of smoke that blot out the sun. Animals flee. Residents for miles around cry and wheeze, while the weak and unlucky develop serious respiratory problems.
When the burning season strikes, life and health in the Amazon falter, and color drains out of the riotous green landscape as great swaths of majestic trees, creeping vines, delicate bromeliads and hardy ferns are reduced to blackened stubble.
But more than just the land, these annual blazes also lay waste to a cherished notion that has roosted in the popular mind for decades: the idea of the rain forest as the "lungs of the world."
Ever since saving the Amazon became a fashionable cause in the 1980s, championed by Madonna, Sting and other celebrities, the jungle has consistently been likened to an enormous recycling plant that slurps up carbon dioxide and pumps out oxygen for us all to breathe, from Los Angeles to London to Lusaka.
Think again, scientists say.
Far from cleaning up the atmosphere, the Amazon is now a major source for pollution. Rampant burning and deforestation, mostly at the hands of illegal loggers and of ranchers, release hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the skies each year.
Brazil now ranks as one of the world's leading producers of greenhouse gases, thanks in large part to the Amazon, the source for up to two-thirds of the country's emissions.
"It's not the lungs of the world," said Daniel Nepstad, an American ecologist who has studied the Amazon for 20 years. "It's probably burning up more oxygen now than it's producing."
Scientists such as Nepstad prefer to think of the world's largest tropical rain forest as Earth's air conditioner. The region's humidity, they say, is vital in climate regulation and cooling patterns in South America - and perhaps as far away as Europe.
The Amazon's role as a source of pollution, not a remover of it, is directly linked to the galloping rate of destruction in the region over the last quarter-century.
The dense and steamy habitat straddles eight countries and is home to up to 20% of the world's fresh water and 30% of its plant and animal species.
Brazil's portion accounts for more than half the entire ecosystem. Official figures show that, on average, 7,500 square miles of rain forest were chopped and burned down in Brazil every year between 1979 and 2004. Over the 25 years, it's as if a forest the size of California had disappeared from the face of the Earth.
Such encroachment on virgin land is theoretically illegal or subject to tough regulation, but the government here lacks the resources - some say the will - to enforce environmental protection laws.
Loggers are typically the first to punch through, hacking crude roads and harvesting all the precious hardwoods they can find. One gang of woodcutters, in cahoots with crooked environmental-protection officials, cut down nearly $371 million worth of timber from 1990 until it was busted in the biggest sting operation of its kind in Brazil, authorities said last week.
Close on the loggers' heels are big ranchers and farmers, who torch the remaining vegetation to clear the way for cattle and crops such as soy, Brazil's new star export, which is claiming ever larger quantities of land.
Prime burning period in the Amazon runs from July to January, the dry season. In 2004, government satellite images of the forest registered 165,440 "hot spots," fires whose flames can shoot as high as 100 feet and push temperatures beyond 2,500 degrees.
These tremendous blazes spew about 200 million tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year, which translates into several times that amount in actual carbon dioxide. In contrast, Brazil's consumption of fossil fuels, the chief source of greenhouse gases worldwide, creates less than half what the fires send up.
During burning season, dark palls of smoke settle over parts of the jungle for days.
"It becomes hard to see, and your eyes have problems. The kids all get sick and have trouble breathing," said Joaquim Borges da Silva, 42, a rural worker who lives in a small encampment here in Remanso Talisma, on the forest's outskirts.
Smoke grew so thick at one point last year that two cars on the road into the camp barreled into each other head-on, killing two people, Borges da Silva said. The fires also kill the game that workers and small settlers rely on for food.
He pointed out a charred tract of land, littered with stumps and felled trees that looked like so many toothpicks, where tractors working 24 hours a day for a month cleared 1,000 acres last year. Trucks rumbled in and out, loaded down with mahogany and cedar.
Farmers subsequently burned the area. Two months later, at the first rain, a small plane swooped in and dropped seeds.
Even with the burning of the rain forest, Brazil's annual output of carbon pollutants is tiny compared with that of the U.S., which produces nearly 6 billion tons.
But Brazil's share still vaults it onto the Top 10 list of polluters, ahead of industrialized nations such as Canada and Italy.
However, under the international environmental treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol, Brazil and other poor countries are not required to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Nor does the accord contain financial incentives to encourage nations such as Brazil and Indonesia to rein in the destruction of their tropical forests.
"This is a very sensitive issue in Brazil and among developing countries," said Paulo Moutinho, research coordinator for the Amazon Institute of Environmental Studies. "If you want to include developing countries, especially countries with large areas of tropical forests, in some kind of mechanism to mitigate climate change, you need to compensate deforestation reduction."
The federal government here has begun discussing ways of rewarding states for conserving the jungle, but little has been achieved.
In 2004, Brazil lost an estimated 10,000 square miles of forest, the second-worst year on record. Nearly the same amount was destroyed the year before. Environmentalists had hoped that the 2002 election of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's first left-leaning leader, would reverse the tide, not accelerate it.
Critics say that despite repeated promises to protect the Amazon, Lula's government has favored the huge farming interests fueling its destruction in order to keep Brazil's economy growing and to boost his chances of reelection next year.
Even without the massive burning, the popular conception of the Amazon as a giant oxygen factory for the rest of the planet is misguided, scientists say. Left unmolested, the forest does generate enormous amounts of oxygen through photosynthesis, but it consumes most of it itself in the decomposition of organic matter.
Researchers are trying to determine what role the Amazon plays in keeping the region cool and relatively moist, which in turn has a hugely beneficial effect on agriculture - ironically, the same interests trying to cut down the forest.
The theory goes that the jungle's humidity, as much as water from the ocean, is instrumental in creating rain over both the Amazon River basin and other parts of South America, particularly western and southern Brazil, where much of this country's agricultural production is concentrated.
"If you took away the Amazon, you'd take away half of the rain that falls on Brazil," Moutinho said. "You can imagine the problems that would ensue."
A shift in climate here could cause a ripple effect, disrupting weather patterns in Antarctica, the Eastern U.S. and even Western Europe, some scholars believe.
This is what worries ecologists about the continued destruction of the rain forest: not the supposed effect on the global air supply, but rather on the weather.
"Concern about the environmental aspects of deforestation now is more over climate rather than [carbon emissions] or whether the Amazon is the 'lungs of the world,' " said Paulo Barreto, a researcher with the Amazon Institute of People and Environment.
"For sure, the Amazon is not the lungs of the world," he added. "It never was."
(END).
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
WESSA: NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION Post
Dear Colleagues,
Despite having received a few good applications for this post when we advertised a few weeks back, we have decided to re-cast the net before making a decision.
I would therefore appreciate it if you would put out the word on our behalf.
Many thanks,
Malcolm Powell
Chief Executive Officer : WESSA
Subject: WESSA: NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) invites applications for the post of NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION (designate).
The incumbent would be responsible for directing and co-ordinating WESSA's national conservation strategies and actions, and would report directly to WESSA's CEO.
Minimum requirements would be an appropriate 3 year tertiary qualification, with at least 5 years experience in a related field, two of which should have been in a senior position.
WESSA offers a competitive remuneration package with all the usual benefits.
The incumbent would be based at WESSA's national office in Howick, KwaZulu Natal.
Interested persons should email a detailed CV to WESSA's CEO at mjp@wessa.co.za by 30 June 2005
Malcolm Powell
Chief Executive Officer
WESSA
P O Box 394
Howick 3290
South Africa
ph. 27 (0) 33 3303931 fax. 27 (0) 33 3304576.
POSITION(s) Sought
Traineeship/Internship
Dear Sir,
Hi, I am a young 23 year old male who is currently working at the leader in the financial services sector.
Although I am excelling at my work, what I am currently doing I feel that this is not the right calling for me. I have a great passion for the outdoors especially the wildlife.
I am enquiring about the possibility of being part of a traineeship/internship programme if one does exist or the possibility of partaking in earning a grading to become a game ranger or else be involved in projects on your game ranger, I have a endearing and never ending interest especially in the Felines, specifically the Leopard (panthera pardus) with a protection status listed: CITES Appendix I, as I have done intensive reading and research about this cat in my own spare time. The reason choosing a leopard is because of its resilience and the survival instincts of this cat under immense pressures such as habitat loss. I was astonished to learn how elusive and widespread the species throughout Africa, Asia, Middle east some parts of Turkey with sightings near towns/urban areas having being reported. It would fulfil a life long dream as to be able to get first hand experience with this particular animal. Although other animals ranging thought Southern Africa do take a great part of my interest as well , such as the other species of antelope, Elephant, Hippo and so on,….
My own little experience was volunteer work at the Emerald Zoo in the Vaal Triangle where I was a Language Practice student at Potchefstroom University. Although I had one on one experience and encounters with the like of Lion, Wild Dog Cheetah and so on, this did not provide me with the opportunity to observe them in the domain “ truly wild “ animals as they where kept in enclosure where they do not exercise their natural born abilities to hunt their own food.
In short I am willing and interested in partaking in a life long endeavour to study, preserve and appreciate and last remaining wilderness , if the opportunity arises.
Please take a heartfelt look into my request and allow me to prove myself through dedicated hard work and commitment through working with animals.
I do realise as well this is not going to be a holiday at all, it will be filled with dangerous surprising and often heart-warming experiences .
Also note that in high school , Pietermaritzburg, Alexander High I was the often top when it came to rifle practice with a .22 calibre rifle and also have experience in the Natal Carabineers in bush craft and survival skills as cadet during weekends . Hope you do find the above in order.
Yours truly,
Felix Kuku, Felixku@absa.co.za, 012 317 3872
Tailpiece-
It's quiet in Alaska
Tom had been in the liquor business for 25 years. Finally sick of the stress he quits his job and buys 50 acres of land in Alaska as far from humanity as possible. He sees the postman once a week and gets groceries once a month. Otherwise it's total peace and quiet.
After six months or so of almost total isolation, someone knocks on his door. He opens it and sees a huge, bearded man standing there. "Name's Lars, your neighbor from forty miles up the road... Having a Christmas party Friday night... thought you might like to come. About 5:00."
"Great", says Tom, "after six months out here I'm ready to meet some local folks. Thank you. "As Lars is leaving, he stops. "Gotta warn you... There's gonna be some drinkin'." "Not a problem" says Tom. "After 25 years in the business, I can drink with the best of 'em." Again, the big man starts to leave and stops. "More 'n' likely gonna be some fightin' too." "Well, I get along with people, I'll be all right. I'll be there.
Thanks again." "More... 'n likely be some wild sex, too." "Now that's really not a problem" says Tom, warming to the idea I've been all alone for six months! I'll definitely be there. By the way, what should I wear?" "Whatever you want. Just gonna be the two of us".
Matter of Fact
This is an electronic newsletter of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, nor of the Editor. This is intended to be an exchange of news snips, ideas and communication between members. Newsletter content may be copied and re-distributed without authorisation. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at dyunnie@xsinet.co.za
