Conservation blogs
![Cape Avian Influenza and dying seals Cape Avian Influenza and dying seals](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/Cape-Avian-Influenza-and-dying-seals_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
UPDATE: Western Cape Avian Influenza and dying seals
The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre is aware of reports of dead and dying seals in several areas across the West Coast of the province. Between Laaiplek and Dwarskersbos in the Bergrivier Municipality region, 144 seals were buried this morning with another fifty at Elandsbaai.
![Albino Honey Badger De Hoop 1021 Albino Honey Badger De Hoop 1021](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/Albino-Honey-Badger-De-Hoop_1021_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P49-98-38-1.jpg 320w)
Ghosted: First Scientific Record of Albino Honey Badger on De Hoop Nature Reserve
CapeNature granted BirdLife South Africa and Panthera a research permit to undertake a camera trap survey at De Hoop Nature Reserve. Among the images captured was an extremely rare albino honey badger (Mellivora capensis).
![Cormorant 1 Cormorant 1](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/Cormorant-1_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
UPDATE: Cape Avian Influenza outbreak
Over the past few days, the teams have been seeing on average 400 dead birds per day. This has come down from roughly 700 at the start of this outbreak. It’s still not great but we are grateful for any improvement.
![Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/Western-Cape-Avian-Influenza-outbreak_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
UPDATE: Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak
The outbreak of Avian Influenza amongst wild seabirds in the Western Cape continues, with Dyer island in the Overberg the major hotspot.
![Cape cormorant Cape cormorant](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/cape-cormorant_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P48-12-34-31.jpg 320w)
Western Cape Avian Influenza outbreak
An Avian Influenza outbreak amongst wild seabirds continues to affect the coastal regions of the Western Cape with Dyer Island in the Overberg currently an area of great concern.
![Copy of Fire DCM 0372 Justin Sullivan Copy of Fire DCM 0372 Justin Sullivan](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/Copy-of-Fire-DCM_0372_Justin-Sullivan_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
CapeNature urges the public to practice fire safety this fire season
CapeNature responded to 76 fires resulting in 31 198.7 hectares of natural and other veld burnt during the 2020/21 fire season. As we enter the 2021/22 fire season, CapeNature appeals to the public to help prevent fires and report smoke or fire.
![IMG 20210928 114610 IMG 20210928 114610](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/IMG_20210928_114610_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
Meet the winner of our "Interview with a tree" competition
The judges had a difficult decision to make, but the results are in, and we are delighted to announce the winner of this competition.
International Vulture Awareness Day, 4 September 2021
04 September marks International Vulture Awareness Day. Vultures have always had a bad rep – think Lion King? Meanwhile, vultures are nature’s essential workers. As scavengers, they are part of a clean-up crew that mop up carcasses and other organic waste, preventing the spread of diseases such as anthrax and botulism!
![20210826 101218 20210826 101218](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/20210826_101218_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-50.jpg 320w)
African Medicinal Plant Day _ 31st August 2021
Human relationships with plants date back for centuries. Plants support life on earth provides habitat for animals and can be a source of medicine, with many healing capabilities. Many of the African continent’s population rely on traditional medicine for their basic health needs. CapeNature is proud of the relationships it has fostered with local communities surrounding the reserves who source their own medicine via plants
![Interview with a tree 2021 SQUARE 150dpi Interview with a tree 2021 SQUARE 150dpi](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/Interview-with-a-tree-2021_SQUARE-150dpi_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P50-49-35-53.png 320w)
Interview a tree and win big!
Kids – got something to say?
In celebration of Arbour Day 2021, CapeNature is giving away an outdoor solar pack to lucky winners with its Interview with a Tree competition. Kids play the part of the interviewee and get your friends, sibling, parent, or teacher to play the part of the tree.
![IMG 20210417 172836 IMG 20210417 172836](https://www.capenature.co.za/uploads/imager/uploads/files/News/IMG_20210417_172836_W320_H213_Mcrop_upscale1_autoformat-compress_CZ1_I1_P49-12-34-7.jpg 320w)
CapeNature joins the "Plant a million trees" movement
CapeNature has joined a global-urban and community greening movement called ‘Plant One Million Trees’. Typically, these are linked to days on the environmental calendar such as Arbour Day, Plant Appreciation Day, Biodiversity Day, Earth Day and World Environment Day. This initiative seeks to boost these successes and bring them under one banner known as the Plant a Million Trees Campaign.
Estuaries Between Drought and Flood
The Western Cape has just emerged from, in some areas, up to an eight-year drought cycle. This is linked to bigger global oceanic and climatic conditions. The poor rainfall resulted in low freshwater flows in the rivers and very little freshwater reaching the estuaries which are the receiving environment of the freshwater flows left in the rivers after abstraction and use in the catchment.