The charismatic true chameleons belong to the family Chamaeleonidae and are found throughout much of Africa, Madagascar, southern Spain, southern India, Sri Lanka and the southern Arabian Peninsula. There are more than 160 species globally, which belong to eight genera. The South African endemic genus of Dwarf Chameleons Bradypodion (meaning “slow-

Join CapeNature and SANCCOB for an unforgettable day at the annual Penguin Palooza on Saturday, October 26, 2024! Set in the beautiful Stony Point Nature Reserve, this free event starts at 10:00 and is dedicated to raising awareness about the Endangered African Penguin. This year, the event will see two lucky people win the opportunity to release a penguin back into the wild. The public is encouraged to enter this incredible competition and will need to enter on the day of the event. Entries will close 30 minutes prior to the release.

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, wants to inform communities from baboon-affected areas that processes are underway to secure the services of baboon rangers for December 2024, including the upcoming transitioning period starting on 1 January 2025. Read more below:

A new and healthy sub-population of the Critically Endangered, Northern moss frog was recently discovered in the far south of the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area during a targeted biodiversity survey. With a maximum size of only 14mm, the Northern moss frog, Arthroleptella subvoce, was previously known from only three locations in South Africa, all within the mountains of the Groot Winterhoek Reserve and Wilderness Area.

The Western Cape’s continued commitment to combatting wildlife crime is seeing results after a forty-two-year-old from Durbanville was sentenced on Friday, 27 September, at the Bellville Regional Court to six years imprisonment and ordered to pay R100 000 after being convicted on all 16 charges relating to the illegal trafficking and possession of 56 protected birds, snakes and spiders.

Hey kids. Today Siya the Orange-breasted Sunbird shows Kai just how special the Western Cape is. Find out about our beautiful fynbos by checking out this short version of the story or click here to download the full story.

CapeNature has taken the difficult decision to close its much loved and popular Algeria campsite in the Cederberg Complex for an extended period following devastating flood events in 2023 and 2024. The rest of the Cederberg Complex remains open, including accommodation and hiking trails.

The Whale Festival in Hermanus is an annual celebration to showcase the town’s unique coastal beauty, marine life, and environmental conservation efforts. The festival aims to raise awareness about whale conservation, promote sustainable tourism, and provide an engaging and entertaining experience for visitors of all ages. The event will span over a weekend from 27 September to 29 September and is always a major crowd puller for the Overstrand region.

CapeNature and Captain Fanplastic are teaming up to redefine environmental education through an immersive and impactful five-tier waste education program for primary school pupils. This collaboration is a testament to ongoing creative strategies and strong partnerships, which drive impactful environmental change.

CapeNature is proud to announce the launch of its new podcast and video series, Green Noise, for World Tourism Day, September 27, 2024. The series aims to create a bold and impactful platform to explore the intersection of nature, conservation, and tourism, celebrating the rich biodiversity of the Western Cape while fostering critical conversations about sustainability, ecotourism, and community empowerment.

A major conservation milestone was reached with the successful translocation of Cape mountain zebras (CMZ) to Zebraskop. This project aimed to mix three CMZ lineages—Gamkaberg, Kammanassie, and Cradock. After delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and several logistical challenges, the operation was finally completed on September 6, 2024.

Ferrets (Mustela furo) are becoming increasingly popular as “pets” in South Africa. Relatively new to our country, people who are adventurous in choosing a furry friend have shown an interest in ferrets. However, there are several reasons why they do not make ideal pets.