Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for the Cleft Stick, the Game Ranger magazine and to be posted on the web site. These are your magazine and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
Please let me have any changes to your physical address, phone no. or e-mail address to keep the database up to date.
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.
If you do not wish to receive this e-mail newsletter please send a blank e-mail to me at the above address with the word “unsubscribe C~S ” as the message heading.
AGM 2007 Announcement 5 – 9 February 2007 at De Hoop, Western Cape
Hi guys,
A specific email address has been set up for bookings and further informations regarding the 2007 AGM. Please contact Sonja Chadwick to make bookings for accommodation and attendance. Costs for accommodation at Potberg and all meals will be R850.00. Should attendees book to stay elsewhere, then the cost of the AGM will be R700.00 per person. Please contact Sonja at:
graa_wcape@iafrica.com
Please find attached a list of other accommodation venues within the De Hoop Area, should attendees to the AGM, not want to stay at Potberg. Should people wish to stay at these places, they will need to book with the relevant accommodation venue independently.
Most events will take place at the Potberg Education Centre, except for field trips and outings which will be in the De Hoop Tourist section which is about 30km from Potberg. The accommodation on offer is at Potberg itself in the education centre or the researchers house "Klippies". The only accommodation on the coast is Lekkerwater (listed under DE Hoop) - beautiful setting but very big and maybe a bit far to travel everyday?
AGM for 2007, De Hoop
Location: De Hoop Nature Reserve in the southern Cape and situated 60km's from both Swellendam and Bredarsdorp off the N2. The venue will be the Potberg Education centre, situated in the eastern sector of the reserve. The reserve is the flagship of CapeNature and lies in a World Heritage Site and the Cape Floral Kingdom. Nine broad habitat types are found within it boundaries and there is both a terrestrial and marine reserve within its boundaries.
Dates: Arrive 5th Feb 2007.
Marine Seminar 6th Feb
Field Visits: 7th Feb
AGM: 8 Feb
Depart: 9 Feb
Venue: The venue will be the Education Centre, which sleeps 60 persons in dormitory type accommodation. The "Klippies House" can sleep an additional 20 persons and should there be requests, attendees may bring their own tents, which can be put up around the centre. The GRAA will have the centre entirely to themselves. Coupled to the centre is a large lecture hall with all the equipment needed to give presentations and where we can hold the AGM. There is a large kitchen from where all the meals will be served. A full list of the local B&B's will be sent out next week, for those that wish to stay in something a little more luxurious ( I know rugged rangers are becoming softies these days) Attendees are asked to provide their own bedding.
Activities: The GRAA has traditionally been terrestrial and this AGM hopes to change this by holding a seminar on the second day regarding the marine environment. We hope to highlight all the risks that the oceans are facing. Marine Protected Areas have become a priority in South Africa and it is envisaged that they will play an ever increasing roll into the future for our fish resources. Field trips are still being planned, but it is hoped to hold sundowners on the coast on the first night. Other trips will include hiking up to the Cape Vulture colony (The only one in the Cape province). The reserve is full of rarest and endangered, so attendees must bring good walking shoes and binoculars and cameras.
Catering: All meals will be fully catered and the local school will be running the cash bar for Malts and Wines. Heavier tack will need to be brought along by attendees is they so wish. We have asked the school to provide the bar, so that they may raise some funds for the school.
Costs: At this point the cost will be R850.00 all inclusive. A special edition golf shirt or a cap is currently being priced to be included in the cost.
Donations: To date some wine will be donated, but we will be approaching other potential sponsors shortly.
Payment: We will be setting up the account this week into which payment can be made, and I will notify all of the account number shortly.
Nearest Supplies: Please be aware that the nearest towns for supplies are approximately 60km;s away.
| FACILITY | TOTAL BEDS | RATE | TELEPHONE | KMs from De Hoop | Kms from Potberg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Hoop Nature Reserve | |||||
| CottagesX3 | 2bedroom/4 bed+s/couch | R520pn for 4+R130pppn extra | 028 4255020 | 0 | 0 |
| CottagesX7 | 2bedroom/4 bed | R385pn for 4 | 028 4255020 | 0 | 0 |
| Lekkerwater | 4bedroom/10 bed | R1950pn for 6+R225pppn extra | 028 4255020 | 55 | 25 |
| Buchu Bushcamp | 2bedroom/4 bed+s/couch | B&B R850pn for 2+R175pppn extra | 028 5421741 | 12 | 20 |
| Buchu Bushcamp | 1bedroom/Double bed | B&B R850pn for 2 | 028 5421741 | 12 | 20 |
| Cozy Cottage | 2bedroom/4 bed+s/couch | R400pn for cottage | 028 5421205 | 18 | 15 |
| Koppiehuisie | 3bedroom/6 bed | R300pn for 2+R50pppn extra | 028 5421036 | 18 | 15 |
| Verheuwel Guest Farm | 2bedroon/4 bed | R150pppn under 12yr R175pn | 028 5421038 | 18 | 10 |
| Potteberg Guest Farm | 2bedroom/ 4 bed | R160pppn | 028 5421876 | 18 | 15 |
| Die Plaashuis | 4bedroom/10 bed | 028 5421037 | 13 | 25 | |
| TIDES RIVER LODGE | |||||
| Zebra Lodge | 4bedroom/8 bed | R2500pn for lodge | 028 5421018 | 60 | 60 |
| Cob Cottage | 4bedroom/8 bed | R2500pn for cottage | 028 5421018 | 60 | 60 |
| Heron House | 2bedroom/4 bed | R1600pn for house | 028 5421018 | 60 | 60 |
| Boat House | 2bedroom/4 bed | R600pn for house | 028 5421018 | 60 | 60 |
| Malgas Hotel | |||||
| Twin RoomsX24 | 1bedroom/2 bed | R499 per room | 028 5421049 | 45 | 45 |
| Family UnitX17 | 1bedroom/4/5 bed | R699 per room | 028 5421049 | 45 | 45 |
| Large Family UnitX4 | 1bedroom/5/6 bed | R999 per room | 028 5421049 | 45 | 45 |
| The Mudbank Guesthouse | 1bedroom/double bed | D, B&B R420pppn | 028 5421161 | 60 | 60 |
| Die Herberg | |||||
| ClustersX16 | 3bedroom/4 bed | B&B R438pn for 2+R219pppn extra | 028 4452500 | 80 | 80 |
| ExecutiveX24 | Twin/double sleeps 2 | B&B R448pn for 2 | 028 4452500 | 80 | 80 |
Please also note that camping at POTBERG is available at R30pppn for non-members (no electricity, communal braai), or R850pp for camping with all meals excluding special AGM shirt or cap which is included for members only.
AGM at DE HOOP Itinerary
5th – 9th February 2007
Day one, 5th February
Arrive by Lunch Time
Sundowners at Koppie Alleen overlooking Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Day two, 6th February
Marine Day
Guest Speakers on the following topics:
Overview of De Hoop Nature Reserve
WWF Marine Program Manager’s message
Importance of MPA’s in terms of National Fishery Industry
Importance of De Hoop as Southern Right Whale breeding ground
MPA’s inclusion into World Heritage Sites and possibilities of Marine Wilderness Areas
Successes of bringing endangered Black Oystercatcher back from the brink
Development of Up-Market Whale Trail
Sustainable livelihoods within the Marine environment
Importance of Estuaries in the marine environment
Role of the Overberg Test Range
Day three, 7th February
Field Day
Visit to Cape Vulture Colony
Visit into Eastern Section of Reserve
Coastal Walk: Mosselbank to Bloukrans
Estuary Management: Visit to the Breede River & Estuary
Day four, 8th February
AGM
Award ceremony
Day five, 9th February
Depart
John Geddes Page– Jim Feely remembers
The news of John Page's passing was saddening. He and I went back a long way - to December 1953 when I joined Cape Nature Conservation at Jonkershoek, where John was the curator of the fish hatchery and I a temporary assistant. It was my first job.
One of his accomplishments that abides in my memory was his extraordinary inventiveness and skill with his hands. He made a working scale-model piano with reduced key-board as that year's Christmas present for his young daughter, using parts of ancient typewriters thrown out by the provincial administration. They dated from pre-World War II. He also became highly skilled in the preparation of life-like wooden replicas of fishes for educational purposes.
When he left there to join the Natal Parks Board in the winter of 1954, I was transferred to the Pirie trout hatchery near King William's Town to assist his father Geddes Page, who introduced me to Jack Skead then at the Kaffrarian (Amathole) Museum. Two others who profoundly influenced my early life for the better.
The following year I too moved from Stellenbosch to the Natal Parks Board, to be stationed at Mfolozi, where John and I met up occasionally. One such was a memorable visit of the Inland Fisheries lot - John, Bob Crass and Jock Fraser - to sample the icthyofauna of the Black Mfolozi river in 1956. I walked across from Gome for a day to find out what they were doing and how; and most instructive it was too. In those days I was not issued with a vehicle; there was only one in the entire game reserve (based at Masinda).
Later, when John succeeded Joe Stanton as the Board's Secretary I used to see him more regularly at Mfolozi and Lake St Lucia. This post was retitled subsequently, but he was 2-i-c. His robust, and very audible, common sense was refreshing and supportive. Together with 'the Colonel', Jack Vincent, we game rangers and fisheries inspectors of the old Natal Parks Board were doubly fortunate in our top management in the late 1950's.
John and I kept in touch through the subsequent years, a long friendship that I greatly value. I last saw him at Swadini at the 2003 AGM (If you managed to locate the group photo with him at centre, I'd be very glad of a copy).
Jim Feely
Unfortunately the photo was taken with a digital camera and it “lost its memory” –ed
CONFISCATED ABALONE
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Media Statement, For immediate release 23 October 2006
Contact: Carol Moses 082 829 3917
GOVERNMENT CONFISCATED ABALONE AND MADE 24 ARRESTS
This morning (23 October 2006) officials from the Departmental of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) together with the Hermanus Dog Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) confiscated 29 bags of abalone containing 3 800 abalone at Meerensee near Hawston. Four suspects were arrested. They are due to appear in court tomorrow.
Several other confiscations and arrests were made over the weekend.
Officials from the Department and the SAPS have clamped down on a farm in Steinkopf on the West Coast over the weekend and confiscated 20 600 units of abalone, more than half of which was dried. Four vehicles, a caravan and various drying equipment were confiscated and 11 suspects were arrested, one of whom is a Chinese national. All are expected to appear in the Springbok magistrate's court today, Monday 23 October 2006.
In two separate incidents in the Overberg area officials seized 10 000 units of abalone in Buffelsjag and also arrested two suspects in a house in Gansbaai where they confiscated 780 units of abalone and a freezer after a tip off was received from members of the community.
During the same time in another incident, members from the South African Police Service confiscated 5 600 units of abalone, a vehicle and arrested 7 suspects in Napier near Bredasdorp.
All suspects are due to appear in court today.
"With increasing tip-offs and cooperation with members of communities it becomes clear that communities are becoming impatient with poachers and others who illegally exploit our marine resources. Poachers are warned that no matter where they are engaging with these illegal activities, they will be exposed," said Blessing Manale, Acting Chief Director Communications of the Department.
Issued by Blessing Manale
Chief Director: Communications (Acting)
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Cell: 0833812939
Hippopotamus population PRESS RELEASE, 23 October 2006 New Frankfurt Zoological Society census finds a 98% decline in the Hippopotamus population of the Virunga National Park, DRC
A census carried out this morning revealed that there are only 629 hippos left in the Virunga National Park, DRC. In the late 60’s and early 70’s there were around 30,000 hippos living in the park. The aerial census carried out earlier today by the Frankfurt Zoological Society with funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, shows that this population has now declined by 98%.
With the second round of presidential elections in Congo less than one week away, the Mai Mai and other non integrated local militia groups are poaching at an unprecedented rate because they believe their days in the park are numbered. The Congolese army who operate in the park without sufficient rations or salary have also been accused of poaching the hippos, often in collusion with the militia troops.
The problem has now become so serious that the Ugandan military have deployed troops along the banks of the River Ishasha, which separates Congo from Uganda, to help deter the Mai Mai from killing the park’s largest remaining group of hippos consisting of only 134 individuals. The Mai Mai and other poachers have been targeting hippos and elephants for their ivory, which is collected regularly from the militia camps and is thought to leave Congo through Uganda and Sudan to be traded illegally on the international black market.
The Mai Mai have refused to engage in dialogue with the rangers and have recently begun launching attacks on their patrol posts. Despite that fact that over 100 rangers have been killed over the last few years trying to protect Virunga’s wildlife populations, and that they have not received a proper salary for more than a decade, the rangers continue to show remarkable commitment, determination and fortitude. After years of hardship, some support from the European Union and other donors is enabling the Congolese rangers to take control of the situation, but this positive development may be too late for the hippos.
Poaching has now become so prolific and the threat to rangers so serious, that a combined operation between the park rangers and the UN peace keeping troops is needed. The Mai Mai camps are well known to both the rangers and the UN, and an operation needs to be mounted quickly. However, the UN is preoccupied with the lead up to the second round of elections and the militia forces have taken advantage of the situation. Over the last few weeks the park has seen unprecedented levels of poaching, ambushes, violence, and violations of human rights.
The Virunga National Park’s best chance now lies in the hands of its elite ranger force, trained by Frankfurt Zoological Society and deployed to help protect the last few hippos from extinction. The Congo Rangers are massively under resourced and are outnumbered five-to-one by poachers armed with machine guns and rocket launchers. UNESCO and the EU are engaging at the highest political levels in Kinshasa, but support is desperately needed on the ground. Frankfurt Zoological Society is committed to providing the rangers with vehicles, fuel, rations, and further training next year, and a pioneering initiative has just been launched by the Africa Conservation Fund to gather international support and provide desperately needed patrol equipment and salary supplements directly to the field.
The efforts of this team of rangers to protect the last of Virunga’s hippos can be tracked day to day on their recently established weblog at www.wildlifedirect.org/congo-rangers.
REPORT – VICTORIA FALLS ANTI POACHING UNIT(DAVE GLYNN) REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM ANN TURNER TO HELP THEM
Hi All!
I received this rather desperate request for financial help from friends in Zimbabwe who have been running their Anti Poaching Unit at Victoria Falls, which is even more necessary now than it was when they started 7 years ago. I wonder if you can help at all, or send this on to someone who can.
This letter I received from Dave Glynn which I hope is self-explanatory.
With thanks, and hope, Ann
Ann Turner
Co-coordinator,
The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project
083.743.4270
Hi Ann
I hope you will be able to help us here. At Victoria Falls Safari Lodge we started the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit (VFAPU) some 6 or 7 years ago. Although we remain heavily committed to it through conducting most of the fund raising, financial management and administrative support, much of the town now contributes to providing funding as well. The real problem is that times are extremely tough economically in Zimbabwe, now in its 6th year of meaningful recession. As a result the Unit is continually under strain financially with a more and more serious and difficult task to perform as more inhabitants turn to poaching to survive.
Effectively the Unit runs on the smell of an oil rag and is poorly equipped for the job it needs to perform. It is run by Charles Brightman, a selfless and extremely dedicated individual, who manages a team of 14 that scour the surrounds of Vic Falls daily for animal and wood poachers. To date they have retrieved over 16,000 snares, land mines, a host of poachers have been arrested and they have been in several life threatening episodes even including shoot-outs. On behalf of the Unit Charles has received, very deservedly, several local and international awards for their tireless efforts.
We have decided that if VFAPU is to survive, and most critically is going to be able to continue to contain the rising incidences of poaching, we need to now step outside the boundaries of Zimbabwe and look very seriously for some international help in funding this on-going exercise.
Our objective is to try to create a 5 year funding process which will do 2 things :-
Funding raising will continue in Zimbabwe, but we are losing the battle. You will see from Arthur's rough financial that we are not looking for a huge amount of money in international terms, although it is a 5 year plan so from that aspect it will mount up.
It would be really outstanding if you would be willing to help us locate this funding, perhaps on a commission basis against monies raised, if you would so require. Our wildlife estate manager, Steve Edwards would be available to help you with any queries as would Charles Brightman himself. They could be contacted as follows :-
Charles Brightman : e-mail cat@mweb.co.zw Mobile Tel : 011 209144
Steve Edwards : e-mail steve@saflodge.co.zw Mobile Tel : 011 207307
I look forward to your response.
With kind regards
Dave Glynn
Chairman and C.E.O., VFSL Tourism Group
E-mail : cheryl@vfsl.co.zw
This PORTUGUESE RANGER´S SITUATION
Just for info in respect of the Portuguese situation, the attached is my rough translation of a briefing note so that we can understand what is going on. In truth, to really understand you have to know a little bit of Portuguese history and in Particular, the role of the GNR during the fascist Batista regime. The mentality they had then has still not totally died away
Regards
Sean P
1 –The Portuguese Ministry of the Environment which is in effect the governing agency for Portuguese Rangers, are trying to extinguish the post of Ranger and to integrate the them in a paramilitary body, National Republican Police (GNR)- whose whole ethos, methods of working and formation is totally different (to those) of the rangers.
Ranger would be integrated into an already functioning a group whose acronym is SEPNA (Serviço de Protecção da Natureza e do Ambiente )- who are now beginning to substitute rangers and the responsibilities of the rangers . (they also have) an office of propaganda (that is) very well accepted by the media as well as by the government.
2 - I will try to send the whole legislation on the run of the vigilant ones of the nature - rangers.
3.-It is obvious, the Rangers feel despondent, they are seeing their specific formation of protectors and environmental educators, being replaced by a group who are not educators, but repressors, given that the body of the National Republican Police is a paramilitary body, armed and used normally like repressor.
POSITION(s) Available
Consultant for Mondulkiri Protected Forest.
WWF asked me to pass this vacancy on.
If any GRAA members are interested they can contact me about life in Cambodia. Martin von Kaschke (oom Albert se seun) from SA and Fred Beattie from Zim are both doing same job here. Please publish in the next Cleft Stick and distribute to whom you can.
Best regards
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Liza Higgins-Zogib [mailto:LHiggins-Zogib@wwfint.org]
Sent: 18 October 2006 07:52 PM
To: Wcpa_members_kn@indaba.iucn.org
Subject: [WCPA Members] Consultancy in Cambodia
Dear all,
The WWF Cambodia office is looking for an experienced consultant to prepare a protected area management plan for the Mondulkiri Protected Forest. We anticipate this being a three month consultancy, in three, one month-long periods in the first half of 2007.
For more details and a copy of the TORs, please contact my colleague Nick Cox at nick.cox@wwfgreatermekong.org
Many thanks in advance.
Liza Higgins-Zogib
Protected Areas Officer, Forests for Life
WWF International
1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 364 9009, Fax: +41 22 364 0640
WWF for a living planet, http://www.panda.org/forests
Beyond Belief: http://www.panda.org/forests/beyondbelief
Law Enforcement Ranger Adviser
Fauna & Flora International (FFI)– Cambodia
Salary: $24,000 per annum
Start date: As soon as possible
Duration of contract: 12 month fixed-term contract, with potential to extend for a further 12 months, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability
Fauna & Flora International’s Cambodia Programme is seeking a Law Enforcement Ranger Adviser, to be based in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Samlaut District, Battambang Province, Cambodia. The Sanctuary is a remote area of forested mountains containing some of the world’s most threatened wildlife. It also contains a significant human population, many of whom depend on the forest for survival. FFI has been working in the Sanctuary with the Ministry of Environment for 5 years.
The Law Enforcement Ranger Adviser will build effective, efficient and confident ranger teams that are able to meet the considerable law enforcement challenges of the Sanctuary. The main duties will be to:
Applicants should have the following skills and experience:
For a detailed job description, please visit our website at www.fauna-flora.org.
Applications, consisting of a detailed letter of application and CV, should be sent to the Project Manager, Cardamom Mountains Wildlife Sanctuaries Project, Fauna & Flora International, 8b Street 398, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, or emailed to cmwsproject@gmail.com
Please mark your application ‘Law Enforcement Ranger Adviser’.
Closing date for applications: 25th November 2006.
Tailpiece-
Cats have nine lives. Which makes them ideal for experimentation.
- The right to bear arms is slightly less ludicrous than the right to arm bears.
- My dad is Irish and my mum is Iranian, which meant that we spent most of our family holidays in Customs.
- The dodo died. Then Dodi died, Di died and Dando died. Dido must be sh*tting herself.
- My parents are from Glasgow which means they're incredibly hard, but I was never smacked as a child, well maybe one or two grams to get me to sleep at night.
- Is it fair to say that there'd be less litter in Britain if blind people were given pointed sticks?
- You have to remember all the trivia that your girlfriend tells you, because eventually you get tested. She'll go: "What's my favourite flower?" And you murmur to yourself: "Sh*t, I wasn't listening... Self-raising?"
- The world is a dangerous place; only yesterday I went into Boots and punched someone in the face.
- I saw that show, 50 Things to Do before You Die. I would have thought the obvious one was "Shout for Help".
- I went out with an Irish Catholic. Very frustrating. You can take the Girl out of Cork...
- Got a phone call today to do a gig at a fire station. Went along. Turned out it was a bloody hoax.
- Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.
- A dog goes into a hardware store and says: "I'd like a job please". The hardware store owner says:
"We don't hire dogs, why don't you go join the circus?" The dog replies: "What would the circus want with a plumber".
- Hey - you want to feel really handsome? Go shopping at Asda.
- It's easy to distract fat people. It's a piece of cake.
- I enjoy using the comedy technique of self-deprecation - but I'm not very good at it.
- If you're being chased by a police dog, try not to go through a tunnel, then on to a little seesaw, and then jump through a hoop of fire. They're trained for that.
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