What the Research Says About Elephant Numbers So, how many elephants is too many elephants? It’s a question people have wrestled with for ages. Kruger National Park, home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, has seen their numbers grow from just a handful in the early 1900s to over 31,000 by 2020. That’s a…
Early December 2024 saw the gathering of scientists and managers in Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) for the annual science-management meeting. Discussions and reflections focused on topics or actions outlined in the management plan and/or November 2023 science-management forum. On the regional scale, this included park expansion opportunities towards Rockdale with its thriving mountain reedbuck…
Under the 2022 French-South African cooperation agreement on biodiversity, an expertise and capacity exchange programme between the French Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) and SANParks was established to collaborate on various issues relating to the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This is financed by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for three years under…
Beneath the waves lies a world of curious creatures whose secrets we are still busy uncovering. Unlike taking a leisurely drive through the Kruger National Park, observing marine communities requires specialised tools and techniques. Today we invite you to dive into this hidden world with us, as we monitor the fascinating marine life at Robben…
From following SANParks on LinkedIn to adding it to my LinkedIn experience, this has been a journey I could only dream of. I was always captivated by the content they posted and envied the people who worked there. Everything about the organisation aligned with what I wanted for my career. So, when I received that…
The white steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus), an endemic South African fish, is an important species targeted and caught by recreational and livelihood fishers in coastal and estuarine environments. Due to a combination of overfishing and environmental pressures, white steenbras populations have plummeted, resulting in the species being rated as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List for…
As the Black Friday sales frenzy and the holiday shopping rush surround us, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of buying more “things.” But amidst the seasonal chaos, this is the perfect time to pause and reflect on how we can live more sustainably. Not just for the Earth, but for our…
In September 2019, a dead humpback whale washed ashore in South Africa’s Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA), a hotspot for both tourism and conservation. The stranding highlighted the complexities of managing whale carcasses within protected areas but provided a learning opportunity to further our understanding of public perception, monitor decomposition, and ultimately offer insights into…
A course that brought together researchers from all corners of the globe meant uniting a rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds, each shaped by unique contexts, cultures, and histories. As we gathered to explore social-ecological systems (SES) challenges, this diversity became both our strength and our puzzle. The central question we faced was, “How can we,…
The annual Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) symposium again brought together a global mix of researchers and practitioners to share learnings and generate new insights on protected areas, inclusive conservation and sustainability. Held at Villa Castollini, between Knysna and Brenton-on-Sea, this is a partnership between SANParks, Nelson Mandela University’s Sustainability Research Unit, the French…
Dr. Ian Russell, Senior Scientist: Aquatic Ecology, retired after a long and impactful career in conservation science at SANParks at the end of July 2024. Ian was based in Rondevlei in the Garden Route National Park for over three decades, and leaves a legacy of dedication to aquatic conservation. His time in SANParks spans many…
When asked about my prospective career during my foundational grades, my response was definitive and assured: “I want to be a teacher”. Growing up, we were taught that to ensure stability, one should pursue professions such as nursing, medicine, or education. Stability was emphasised as the primary focus by our parents and teachers to the…