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.
Minister turns down Tsitsikamma fishing application
Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR
ENVIRONMENT and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has rejected the much- debated application by local community anglers for the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) to be partially opened for fishing.
Announcing the milestone decision yesterday, Van Schalkwyk said plummeting linefish populations had prompted his predecessor, Mohamed Valli Moosa, to close the MPA completely in 2002 – and nothing had happened to sway him from this thinking.
“Linefish catches have collapsed almost everywhere along our coast. Certain species are already managed as ‘an emergency‘.
“Only MPAs hold these breeding fish in sufficient quantities to provide for new fish recruitment. If the MPAs are opened to fishing, the entire national fishery will be jeopardised.”
The Storms River-based Tsitsikamma Fishing Forum has argued its historic and cultural right to fish the section of coast, now included in the MPA, on a recreational basis.
Members of the forum hit the headlines two months ago when they forced their way into the Tsitsikamma National Park and spent a day fishing in the protected marine zone for black musselcracker, steenbras, galjoen and elf – all endangered species.
“MPAs are the life-support system critically needed to resuscitate ailing oceans and collapsing fish stocks. They increase catches outside their boundaries because juvenile fish migrate.
“Opening the MPA for the exclusive use of a few will bring into question the value of MPAs for the remainder of fisherfolk. I do not want to put at further risk the interests of fisherfolk who rely on linefish for a livelihood.”
Tsitsikamma Angling Forum chairman Henrico Bruiners expressed disappointment.
Poachers‘ vessel now in the hands of marine patrols
Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR
A POWERFUL perlemoen poaching vessel seized in an operation two years ago has been handed over to SA National Parks – and it will now be used against the poachers.
The undercover investigating officer involved in the initial seizure, who cannot be named, said yesterday that the 13m semi-rigid hull “super-duck” was the biggest poaching vessel that his team had yet encountered in the war against the poachers.
The official, who heads SANParks‘ crack corporate investigation services unit, was stationed on Bird Island with his men on November 17, 2005, when they spotted the vessel anchored well within the surrounding marine protected area (MPA).
The MPA is a no-take zone encircling the island and stretching two nautical miles (3,7km) out from it.
Photographs were taken of the crew diving and bringing perlemoen on board, and a Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) team on the mainland was then alerted to keep watch for the boat.
By the time MCM managed to pick up the boat, however, it was already berthed in Redhouse, only the skipper was still on board, and the crew and the perlemoen were gone.
With no evidence, the authorities were unable to pursue a charge of perlemoen poaching against the skipper, Despatch resident Henri Hurter, who was also the vessel‘s owner.
With clear photographic evidence of the identify and whereabouts of his vessel on November 17, he was then charged instead with fishing illegally in an MPA. But the court found there was not enough evidence to show that he was piloting his vessel that day or that he was aware of what it was being used for.
With the help of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, acting public prosecutions deputy director Christopher Ndzengu said yesterday, the SANParks investigation team then changed its tack and used the Organised Crime Act.
SANParks planning and development head Dr Michael Knight welcomed the handover of the vessel, saying it would hopefully be the catalyst for further transfers of this kind.
information on Matilda
Hi – Tim Condon is looking for any information on Matilda. You can contact him at tim.condon@shaw.ca
Any Hope " Photograph wanted !!
"Matilda" - Black Rhino Bull - Hluhluwe Game Reserve (circa 1870-1951)
Above the visitors popular Hluhluwe game guard of the 1940's and early 1950's, Wellington, introduces the Condon family to the famous Black Rhino, Matilda (left in the valley behind his hat).
Hi all wildlife history boffins & Black Rhino lovers !!
Can anybody possibly have or know of the whereabouts of a photograph of Zululand's most famous Black Rhino - "Matilda" who was a great attraction in Hluhluwe during the 1940's.Also any anecdotes you may remember about him ?? Should be in old NPB Archives but who knows !!
Greatly appreciate if you can assist !!
Regards, Tim
PS: Below some snippets about "Matilda"
NPB Press Release :: August 28, 1951: Pietermaritzburg -- Matilda, the one-horned black rhino bull which has lived in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve for about 80 years, died this morning. The rhino was named by visiting Australian soldiers because of his waltzing gait. A Natal Parks Board spokesman said the famous wild bull had died of old age. "During the past few winters he ailed noticeably and ----
Ian Player - Monday Column - "A Voice from the Wilderness"
"I remembered my very first visit to the reserve. It was 1947 and we drove late into the reserve and reported to Captain Potter, he ticked us off for arriving after dark but was very decent about it. The next morning I saw my first black rhino, a famous beast known as Waltzing Matilda. It had been given it's name by some visiting Australians. Captain Potter came along with an Admiral Tovey, a visiting VIP. I will never forget how captain Potter gave us as much attention whiles we were watching "Waltzing Matilda" as he gave the Admiral. Little did I know that five years later I would be working in the same reserve under Captain Potter's son, Peter."
Dear BIOPLANNERS, biofuels bonanza
The biofuels bonanza appears to be unstoppable at the moment, with oil heading past 100 dollars per barrel and unlikely to return given the still growing demand and increasing scarcity of major new oilfields - peak oil prices appears finally to be appearing.
It is unlikely that the current dash for fuel from crops - bio-ethanol, etc, will suffice to reduce demand on oil, so a move to lignocellulose-based energy crops (e.g., switchgrass) seems inevitable.
Below is the press release and links to a download of a review of the risks and methodologies for assessing risk of these feedcrops becoming invasive in different parts of the USA.
Best wishes
David Duthie
UNEP-GEF Biosafety Unit
Geneva
david.duthie @ unep.ch
New CAST Commentary Evaluates Risk of Biofuel Crops Becoming Invasive Species
http://www.cast-science.org/displayProductDetails.asp?idProduct=146
http://www.cast-
science.org/websiteUploads/publicationPDFs/Biofuels%20Commentary%20Web%20version%20with%20color%20%207927146.pdf
Several candidate biofuel feedstock species being considered for commercial production in the United States are invasive pests in other regions where they have been introduced. This new CAST Commentary, Biofuel Feedstocks: The Risk of Future Invasions, describes the potential risk of dedicated biofuel species becoming weedy or invasive and provides a process to quantify and minimize this risk.
For Immediate Release
CAST Releases New Commentary Evaluating Potential Risks of Biofuel Crops Becoming Invasive Species
javascript:openWin('displayNewsRelease.asp?idNewsRelease=133&display=1',640,480)
November 5, 2007. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is releasing a new CAST Commentary, Biofuel Feedstocks: The Risk of Future Invasions, as part of the joint annual meetings of the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand domestic energy production, and maintain economic growth, public and private investments are being used to pursue dedicated feedstock crops for biofuel production. But several of the candidate biofuel feedstock species being considered for commercial production in the United States are invasive pests in other regions where they have been introduced. Therefore, the objectives of this Commentary are to describe the potential risk of dedicated lignocellulose biofuel species becoming weedy or invasive, and to provide a process to quantify and, subsequently, minimize this risk.
Critical questions this Commentary will address include the following:
Breeding and genetic engineering for enhanced environmental tolerance, increased harvestable biomass production, and enhanced energy conservation through fermentation may have unexpected ecological consequences outside the agronomic framework,? says Task Force Chair Dr. Joseph M. DiTomaso, Assistant Extension Non-Crop Weed Ecologist, University of California, Davis. ?The potential societal benefits of a biologically based energy crop supply are great, but the introduction and development of biofuel crops should be conducted to minimize the risk of these proposed feedstock species escaping cultivation and causing economic or environmental damage.?
CAST Executive Vice President John M. Bonner concludes, ?Carefully researched by an impressive group of scientists, this latest CAST Commentary highlights critical areas in the evaluation of biofuels. CAST is pleased to present this document as part of the ongoing biofuels discussion.?
The full text of Biofuel Feedstocks: The Risk of Future Invasions (CAST Commentary QTA 2007-1) will be available online without charge beginning November 5, 2007 at the CAST website (www.cast-science.org), along with many of CAST?s other scientific publications. CAST is an international consortium of 38 scientific and professional societies. It assembles, interprets, and communicates credible science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public.
Contacts:
Dr. Joseph M. DiTomaso?Phone: 530-754-8715; E-mail: jmdtomaso@ucdavis.edu
Dr. John M. Bonner?Phone: 515-292-2125, ext. 25; E-mail: jbonner@cast-science.org
RARE SOUTH CHINA TIGER CUB BORN IN SOUTH AFRICA - November 25th 2007
(Laohu Valley Reserve, South Africa) Ms Li Quan, founder of Save China’s Tigers today announced that a male South China tiger cub was born at Laohu Valley Reserve, Free State, South Africa at 23:30, November 23rd 2007. It is truly a historic event, because it is the first time that a South China Tiger has been born outside of China. Only around 60 South China Tigers exist in captivity and less than 30 survive in the wild.
The male South China Tiger cub, is at this stage healthy and strong. He weighed 1.2 kg at birth (larger than normal), and although his eyes have not yet opened, he is already quite vocal, especially at feeding time. He is the first cub born to the female tiger, Cathay and the male tiger, TigerWoods who are both undergoing rewilding training at the Laohu Valley Reserve in South Africa.
The tigers mated continuously for five days from August 7th to 11th 2007 in the 4 ha tiger camp. The frequency of the mating culminated in 9 times in an hour. As a result the female tiger was pregnant and the entire pregnancy has lasted for 103 days.
After the birth, which took 12 hours, the four and a half year-old Cathay displayed her motherly instincts by cleaning and licking her cub, but unfortunately un-seasonally cold weather necessitated the cub being removed to prevent it from dying from exposure.
The male tiger, TigerWoods is three and a half years old and weighs approximately 140 kg. During the rewilding training of the past 3 years, he has gained a strong body and has a mischievous personality. He has yet to see his cub.
To read more, please visit http://english.savechinastigers.org/node/347
To view photos of the new born cub, please visit http://english.savechinastigers.org/gallery
Once in a life time opportunity for game rangers to be face of South Africa
Good Day,
If you are a game ranger, employ game rangers, or know game rangers read on!
South African tourism (SAT) is launching a campaign in Germany that requires a real living, breathing, talking South African game ranger – to be the face of South Africa in Germany in 2008.
To find this ideal ranger SAT is running an online competition. Rangers are required to send in 100 words on either themselves, a recent game experience, or some original information on the bush. Entrants will also be required to upload their photograph.
The winning ranger, in addition to being the face of South Africa at ITB, Germany’s biggest travel expo in March next year, as well as appearing at other promotional events in Germany throughout 2008, will receive a return ticket to Europe, R15000 cash, a Lumix camera and designer bush wear.
The two runners-up will also receive cash and goods prizes.
If you are, or know of, an experienced game ranger with a gift for story telling and a passion for the bush - or if you employ or work with game rangers fitting this description please visit the website of the Wildest Ranger Competition at:
www.wildranger.co.za (entries close 14.01.08).
Many game rangers might not have access to the internet, or be able to write 100 words or upload pictures. Hence we’d encourage all recipients of this e-mail who are not rangers, but employ or know of suitable rangers, to alert them to this competition and assist them complete their entries.
If you need any more information or require help, please contact:
Stuart Meyer at FDBeachhead, 011 214 2408, 083 618 7260.
With best regards and looking forward to receiving your entry soon.
Theresa Bay-Muller
South African Tourism
Germany
Stuart Meyer [Stuart.Meyer@fd.com]
Media Release, SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM, Johannesburg Monday, November 26, 2007
South African game ranger to be 'Face of South Africa' in Germany
South African Tourism's operation in Germany is launching a competition to find South Africa's most exciting game ranger.
Says Theresa Bay-Muller, South African Tourism's country manager for Germany, "Germany needs a highly visible marketing campaign that brings the excitement of South Africa to life."
"What better way than a walking, talking, breathing embodiment of what the Germans call 'khaki fever' - a real, red-blooded South African game ranger!"
Bay-Muller added that, "While we know this concept will take the German travel market by storm, our biggest challenge is to find the right ranger."
"He or she needs to be knowledgeable about the bush, interesting, an engaging speaker, authentic and exciting all at once".
The ranger also needs to convey a message of professionalism. Germans considering a visit to South Africa should feel that they will be taken beyond their comfort zones, thrilled with new and fascinating experiences - yet remain safe and secure.
All South African game rangers are invited to enter online by sending in 100 words on themselves, a recent game experience or some original information on the bush. Entrants are also required to upload a photograph of themselves.
Entry procedures can be found at www.wildranger.co.za
The winning ranger will become the face of 'khaki fever' in Germany for a year, representing South Africa at ITB, Germany's biggest tourism expo in March, as well as other South African promotional events in Germany throughout 2008.
Since not all game rangers will have access to the internet, Bay-Muller says that, "We will be sending invitations to all game reserves and camps, both public and private, requesting camp owners and operators to alert their rangers to the competition as well as help them enter if necessary."
In addition to being the face of South Africa in Germany, the winning ranger will receive a return flight to Europe, R15000 cash, a Lumix camera and designer bush wear. There will also be cash and goods prizes for the two runners up.
The competition kicked off on Saturday 24 November 2007. The website entry form closes for stories and photographs on 14 January 2008. The 5 finalists will be announced and contacted by late January, with the winner and runners-up selected by end January 2008.
Concludes Bay-Muller, "This represents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the knowledge, skills and dynamism of South Africa's game rangers. It will also enable South African Tourism to profile both South Africa and the reserve that the ranger comes from."
Ends
Issued by FD Beachhead on behalf of South African Tourism
For further information contact:
Theresa Bay-Muller, South African Tourism in Germany
Tel: +49 69 929 1291 , Email: theresa@southafricantourism.de
Website www.southafrica.net, Email: stuart.meyer@fd.com
1st Floor, Lumley House, 177 Jan Smuts Avenue
Johannesburg, 2196
T +27112142408, F +27112142405, M +27836187260
www.fd.com
London, New York, Bahrain, Beijing, Bogota, Boston, Cape Town, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Manchester, Moscow, Panama City, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Sydney and Washington D.C.
AFRICAN INDABA
Below you may find some of these topics of interest from AFRICAN INDABA that are too long to include here
The Tanzanian Hunting Crisis: Some Historical Context and Implications for the Future by Fred Nelson
The Kidunda Dam: A Never Ending Story by Ludwig Siege
Botswana: Lion Hunting Suspended Again by Gerhard Damm
Mountain Nyala Populations: Defining the Facts and Unknowns by Paul Evangelista
News from Africa
The Harvest of Wild Raptors by Falconers: A Practical Exercise in Sustainable Use to Encourage Conservation by Adrian Lombard
Ben F. Carter Designated New DSC Executive Director by DSC Staff
Renewing a Culture of Wildlife Utilization Through the Namibia Communal Area Conservancy Program by L Chris Weaver et al
Ten Years of “Conservation Force” Success Story by Gerhard Damm
Human-Carnivore Conflict in Niassa National Reserve by Colleen Begg et al
Selous Game Reserve: Report of the Reactive Monitoring Mission (World Heritage Committee)
Proposed Changes to Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game by Peter Flack
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
Position of general manager of Nambiti conservancy
We are currently searching for a couple or a single person to be the General manger of the above big five Game reserve near Ladysmith in Natal. It is a relatively new project with great prospects for a suitably qualified person. The reserve has 20 x 10 bed private and mostly commercial lodges running on it. The suitable person would have to be extremely experienced at both land and game management as well as Hospitality and marketing thereof, and thus, generally manage all operations of the whole show except of course for the individually owned lodges. This would fall to the owners of the individual private lodges. However, the lodges as such only own the small piece of ground upon which they are built, and thus when their game viewers venture out they are then under the jurisdiction of the General management of the conservancy. The position is offering a commensurate salary in line with commercial norms for a management position of this sort.
I received your email address through a friend and thus must be guided by you how to contact the game ranger fraternity and offer this exiting position for their consideration.
Only a very highly qualified person/s would be considered as this is definitely not a game ranger position but very much more than that as you can imagine although one would assume that the person would have originally done his days as a “ jeep jockey” (excuse the common expression) and graduated up the management ladder to the very top which is where this job would place him.
CV,s can be forwarded to my email address and I will forward them on to our employment consultant who will conduct the interview and recommendation process.
Thanks and regards
Wally Fry [wally@frygroup.co.za]
POSITION(s) Wanted
1. My name is Elize van Helsdingen
I'm looking to find a permanent post in nature conservation.
I'm a 26 year old woman, with no qualms operating in isolated situations.
I'm 2 subjects shy of my National Diploma in Nature Conservation. I have three years experience doing varied conservation and reserve/lodge management work, obtained at Mapungubwe National park, and in the Waterberg area, + 1 year experience as Assistant manager at a Self catering lodge in the Balule Nature Reserve.
If there is anybody who knows of vacancies anywhere in South Africa, please contact me at :
elizevh@yahoo.com for more information or a detailed C.V
Many thanks
Elize van Helsdingen
cel: 083 770 8547
elizevh@yahoo.com
--- 2. Anti Poaching........
Hi there
My name is Harley I’m 27 years old im currently an Infantrymen in the Australian Army
im interested in getting involved with Anti poaching Units I’ve been looking at the GRAA site and others
and see that there is a huge problem over in Africa with poachers.
I was wondering if you would be able to help me by providing me with email/numbers of people who would be able to help in the sort of work I’m looking for.
I have been looking for such work for about 8 months now and have had no luck.
anything will be appreciated.
cheers
Harley (Aust)
hpanagopoulos@hotmail.com
--- 3. Melissa Ncube from Zimbabwe has sent me this. She has just graduated at SAWC.
SUMMARISED CV
Name :Mellissa Ncube from Zimbabwe, age 29 years looking for a job
Professional Qualifications at SAWC
Natural resources guardianship 2003 with First class
Certificate in Nature site Guide 2003
Certificate in Natural Resources Management 2007 with a Distinction.
Work experience: 7 years in Conservation industry.
Current post: Reservations Assistant after being a ranger for 5 years.
E-mail address: mellie.mellissa@gmail.com”
Tailpiece-
Research in South Africa has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take from four days to four years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 5 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical level of concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
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