A2A Safaris - black rhinohttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/tags/black-rhinoenContributing to the Conservation of Kruger’s Black Rhinoshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/contributing-to-the-conservation-kruger%E2%80%99s-black-rhinos<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>According to statistics released by the national Department of Environmental Affairs last month, 1,028 rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2017. Although this represents a very small decline compared to the previous year, it is no reason to celebrate; poachers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods and expanding their operations across borders to other...</p>
</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/black-rhino" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">black rhino</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kruger-national-park" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kruger National Park</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife Conservation</a></div></div>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 07:00:51 +0000Anonymous2753 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/contributing-to-the-conservation-kruger%E2%80%99s-black-rhinos#commentsHitting the Game Drive Jackpothttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/hitting-the-game-drive-jackpot<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Every month, our field guides write a <a href="http://singita.com/wildlife-reports/" target="_blank">Wildlife Report</a> which details the previous few weeks’ animal sightings, as well as notable birds and plants, rainfall in the region and changes in the landscape. The most recent submission from <a href="http://singita.com/lodge/singita-pamushana-lodge-2/" target="_blank">Singita Pamushana Lodge</a> field guide, Jenny Hishin, included the details of a thrilling encounter with some of the most exciting things you can see on game drive: predators on a kill, endangered species and a member of the Big 5! Here is her account of that exhilarating morning in the bush:</p>
<p><img src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_6.jpg" alt="jenny_6" width="800" height="533" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15643" srcset="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_6-300x200.jpg 300w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_6-768x512.jpg 768w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_6-320x213.jpg 320w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_6.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>It’s pitch black when I set out alone at 4am, with a needle in a haystack hope of finding [very rare and endangered] <a href="http://singita.com/pamushana-pups-caught-on-camera/" target="_blank">African wild dogs</a> in one of their many preferred hunting areas. I’m bumbling along at a snail’s pace, drive around a gentle bend and am faced with an airborne impala flying through the air directly toward me in the vehicle – and a wild dog snapping at its hocks. I reflex brake, swerve, and brace myself as the impala lands in front of the vehicle and clips the edge of the tracker seat. It falls and is stunned by the impact, I’m stunned by the horror, and the wild dog is standing there in the road stunned by its good luck.</p>
<p><img src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_3.jpg" alt="jenny_3" width="800" height="456" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15640" srcset="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_3-300x171.jpg 300w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_3-768x438.jpg 768w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_3.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>All three of us look at each other in confusion. Then we remember our roles of predator, prey and photographer. The impala gets up again and trots off into the thickets. The wild dog, that was a second away from catching it, gives chase. Its hunting partner appears and closes in on the scene and together they catch it in thick bush about five metres in from the road. I wait on the road until I’m sure they’ve killed, then go in to the thickets and watch them feast on their kill. A few minutes later the rest of the pack arrives and the commotion is awesome. A hyena materialises to try its luck and is severely reprimanded.</p>
<p><img src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_2.jpg" alt="jenny_2" width="800" height="400" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15639" srcset="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_2-300x150.jpg 300w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_2-768x384.jpg 768w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_2.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>My heart is racing as I’m frantically photographing this whole scene in low pre-dawn light. Now I can hear a strange crashing about behind me and think there’s possibly an elephant in the area. I’m standing straddled between the foot well and passenger seat, so lift my eye from the viewfinder and turn to look over my shoulder at what on earth could possibly be going on now – and am faced with the horn of a black rhino closing in on my bumper! It’s clear that the black rhino would like to know what this large ‘beast’ is that has crashed into its territory. The hyena is bouncing around irritating the rhino, so the black rhino starts galloping after it in a circle around the vehicle! Then once it has seen off the hyena it returns four times to investigate me, coming right up to the vehicle, only a few metres away, before galloping off<br />
in disgust each time. </p>
<p><img src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_4.jpg" alt="jenny_4" width="800" height="389" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15641" srcset="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_4-300x146.jpg 300w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_4-768x373.jpg 768w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_4.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p>Finally it settles down, and seems to listen to the sounds I make as I speak to it in calm, soothing tones. In the one photo you can see the front bumper of my vehicle with the attentive rhino in front of it and a couple of the wild dogs resting in the sand after eating their fill. Fortunately I was able to radio one of the other guides who had guests, as they left the lodge after sunrise, and they too were able to witness the last few minutes of the wild dog pack finishing the kill.</p>
<p><img src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_1.jpg" alt="jenny_1" width="800" height="400" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15638" srcset="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_1-300x150.jpg 300w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_1-768x384.jpg 768w, http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jenny_1.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><em>You can read the full Wildlife Report from Singita Pamushana in Zimbabwe <a href="http://469uj5355hpj1cwksq2n1n1a.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Singita-Pamushana-Wildlife-Report-Feb-2016.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>, and catch up on the journals from our other regions <a href="http://singita.com/wildlife-reports/" target="_blank">on our website</a>. </em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://singita.com/hitting-the-game-drive-jackpot/">Hitting the Game Drive Jackpot</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://singita.com">Singita</a>.</p>
</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/general" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">General</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/black-rhino" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">black rhino</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/malilangwe-wildlife-reserve" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/singita-pamushana-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Singita Pamushana Lodge</a></div></div>Tue, 29 Mar 2016 08:29:29 +0000Anonymous1919 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/hitting-the-game-drive-jackpot#commentsRhino Relocation at Singita Pamushanahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/rhino-relocation-singita-pamushana<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>In an age where the destruction of pristine wilderness continues to accelerate, Singita is making a profound difference in many parts of Africa. Orchestrating an interdependent relationship between communities, wildlife and tourism that ensures true sustainability, Singita is blazing a trail which is seldom achieved on this scale anywhere else on the continent.</p>
<p><a href="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12378" alt="Black rhino - Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve" src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_3.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>One recent example of this ongoing effort took place last week, when eight, critically endangered black rhinos were safely relocated by the Malilangwe Trust, Singita’s conservation partner in Zimbabwe. The black rhinos were sent from the <a href="http://singita.com/regions/singita-malilangwe/" target="_blank">Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve</a> to the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana to help rebuild the local population and battle the devastating effects of poaching.</p>
<div id="attachment_12379" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 640px"><a href="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_4.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-12379" alt="Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve" src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_4.jpg" width="630" height="420" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve</p>
</div>
<p>The rhinos were bred from a group that was released onto the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve as part of a range expansion programme in 1998. After originally being relocated from South Africa, their numbers had grown rapidly in the Reserve, which is also the home of <a href="http://singita.com/pamushana-lodge/" target="_blank">Singita Pamushana Lodge</a>. A decision was made to relocate a small group of animals in order to reduce competition for space and food, while helping to establish a new population north of the border.</p>
<p><a href="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12377" alt="Black rhino - Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve" src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_2.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Following a call from the Zimbabwean government to donate 10 black rhinos to Moremi in late 2014, ecologists determined that the habitat in Botswana was both suitable and adequately protected. So on June 14 this year, the rhinos were successfully moved to their new home with the assistance of the Botswana Defense Force.</p>
<div id="attachment_12380" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 640px"><a href="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_5.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-12380" alt="Singita Pamushana Lodge, Zimbabwe" src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_5.jpg" width="630" height="420" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">Singita Pamushana Lodge, Zimbabwe</p>
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<p>Singita’s 100-year purpose – to protect and preserve large tracts of wilderness for future generations – is supported by the Trust, whose central aim is to promote the conservation of rare species, including black rhino, and to add value to its neighbouring communities. The Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, home to an unrivaled gathering of birds with more than 400 species, including many raptors, remains virtually untouched by humankind. Through eco-tourism, Singita Pamushana Lodge helps in fostering the sustainability of the wildlife and broader ecology, while enabling guests to share the magic of the lodge and the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve.</p>
<p><a href="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12376" alt="Black rhino - Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve" src="http://singita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/rhino_relo_1.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><em>Focused on eco-conscious hospitality, sustainable conservation and evolving local communities, Singita’s vision is to share a unique part of the world while respecting the natural environment and challenging today’s notion of luxury. Find out more about this commitment to responsible tourism on <a href="http://singita.com/about/" target="_blank">our website</a> or visit the <a href="http://singita.com/blog/category/conservation/" target="_blank">Conservation category on our blog</a>. </em></p>
<p>The post <a href="http://singita.com/blog/rhino-relocation-at-singita-pamushana/">Rhino Relocation at Singita Pamushana</a> appeared first on <a href="http://singita.com">Singita</a>.</p>
</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lodges-and-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lodges and Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/malilangwe-wildlife-reserve" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/singita-pamushana-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Singita Pamushana Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/sustainable-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sustainable Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/black-rhino" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">black rhino</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/zimbabwe-wildlife-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Zimbabwe wildlife conservation</a></div></div>Fri, 03 Jul 2015 07:00:17 +0000Anonymous1423 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/rhino-relocation-singita-pamushana#comments