Conservation
CapeNature Conservation Review 2024 brings excellence in sustainable conservation practices to the forefront
CapeNature showcased its achievements realised through its dedication to fostering sound governance, innovative eco-tourism offerings, successful conservation operations, and exceptional biodiversity protection at its CapeNature Conservation Review 2024.
Restoration: Helihack
CapeNature participated in the Boosmansbos Helihack to remove invasive species from the Duiwenhoks catchment in the Langeberg Strategic Water Source Area. The Helihack initiative is an extraordinary commitment by volunteers to rid catchments of the most difficult-to-manage invasive alien trees.
Freshwater fish survey, Chanting Ridge Stewardship Site
CapeNature conducted a mini freshwater fish survey through the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust stewardship project at a site on the Touws River. The survey involved landowners from two properties, the Chanting Ridge stewardship site and Bellair.
Guardians of the galaxias: How partnerships are key to identification and conservation of unique fynbos fish taxa
The Cape galaxias, Galaxias zebratus, are a small-bodied freshwater fish with a wide distribution in the Cape Fold Ecoregion. While being described as far back as 1861, it was only recently discovered that the single widespread species is a species complex comprising several unique and genetically diverse lineages.
Herculean Effort to Save Critically Endangered Tortoise During Recent Fire
In late January 2024, CapeNature was alerted to a fire in the vicinity of one of its stewardship partners, and also an area of concern for the critically endangered, geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus) according to IUCN Red List.
Fish and Forests: Sampling the rivers of the Garden Route Nature Reserve Complex
A baseline survey of the Garden Route Nature Reserve complex was completed in January 2024 to provide updated information on the freshwater fish community of the reserve complex and inform future management interventions.
Exciting Frog Monitoring Programme Coming Soon!
Frogs are excellent indicators of environmental change, and CapeNature will be launching a frog monitoring programme at Groenvlei in the spring of 2024.
Guardians of the Sky: Cape Vultures in South Africa's Potberg Mountains
The Cape vultures of the Potberg Mountains are not just ecological linchpins but also cultural symbols in parts of southern Africa. CapeNature has been dedicated to the conservation and monitoring of these majestic birds for many years within CapeNature's De Hoop Nature Reserve, where the Potberg Mountains provide vital breeding habitat for the only population of Cape vultures in the Western Cape.
Cape Zebra Reunites With Family
On July 22, 2023, the CapeNature team from Kammanassie Nature Reserve carried out a critical rescue mission involving a Cape Mountain Zebra (CMZ) on the Diepprivier farm property in the Noll area, situated approximately 30 kilometers from Kammanassie.
CapeNature and a Community Rally to Save More Than a Thousand Seahorses
CapeNature’s marine rangers led a herculean effort with the support of the community and up to now more than a thousand seahorses were rescued and 720 have been returned to their natural habitat. They are being put back into the estuaries where they usually occur and where there is a huge eelgrass bed where they seek refuge and shelter and where they find their food.
Monitoring of Critically Endangered Geometric Tortoise
The geometric tortoise (Psammobates geometricus), classified as Critically Endangered, ranks among the top 25 most imperilled tortoises and turtles globally. Its future remains uncertain, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 3000. This species is highly specialised in its habitat requirements, historically found in the low-lying renosterveld shrublands of the Swartland, Upper Breede River Valley, and Ceres Valley.
Penguins Return to De Hoop for Another Breeding Season
Last year, African Penguins successfully bred at De Hoop Nature Reserve, and this year, a pair is once again nurturing two chicks at the new colony. These chicks were spotted at the end of June, perched just outside the nest that was occupied the previous year. African Penguins display remarkable fidelity to their colonies and often return to the same nest annually to reunite with their mates.