2022 has proven to be yet flipside inspiring year for Wildlife ACT. Despite contending with the knock-on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, having a strong and unswayable team ensured unfurled successful impact for endangered species conservation in Africa.
We asked a few members of the team to share some of their 2022 highlights and hopes for 2023. We squint forward to standing to make a difference this coming year and to inviting many new and returning volunteers to help us do this!
As flipside rented (and tough) year comes to an end I am reminded, once again, of the importance of a reliable team. We have the privilege of working slantingly some of the most single-minded and passionate humans on the planet. Unchangingly giving their all and going the uneaten mile, whether it’s in the field or in the office, the myriad early mornings and late nights, 7 days a week, is what makes Wildlife ACT who we are. In wing to this, we couldn’t unzip what we do without the support of our numerous partners and supporters. To all of those individuals and organisations that protract to work closely with us, we thank you. Bring on 2023 – with this defended team and network of support, we can take on anything!” – Chris Kelly, Co-Founder and Conservation Director
I’ve unchangingly had a soft spot for Black Rhino and having been involved with the introduction and post-release monitoring of a new Black Rhino population was the most humbling and exhilarating highlight of my year. Collaborative, big-picture operations like these requite me hope for the future of our endangered species, protected areas, and people. I hope to see increasingly such unvigilant ventures making a real difference in 2023. Anel Olivier, Operations Manager North, Research Coordinator & Vulture Conservation Programme Manager
2022, what a jam packed year for the Human-Wildlife Coexistence Programme. From the African Protected Area Congress in Rwanda, to the Earthranger User Conference in Kenya, it has been an incredibly rewarding period. However, one of the most important milestones for us this year is my signing off as a Wildlife Poisoning Trainer with our partner, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, in support of the Zululand Vulture Project. This really allows for a wider reach in terms of Poison Threat awareness, and upskilling field operatives to respond powerfully to these crimes wideness KwaZulu-Natal. Next year holds unconfined promise for some important collaboration in the space of Human-Wildlife Coexistence, and I am optimistic we will be worldly-wise to unzip measurable impact by the end of 2023. – PJ Roberts, Human-Wildlife Coexistence Programme Manager & Applied Research Unit Coordinator
Short version of the Highlight: My highlight for 2022 was stuff part of the successful capture of a dispersal unit of African Wild Dogs in KZN. The team work, both within Wildlife ACT as well as with our strategic partners, ensured that we were worldly-wise to respond and successfully capture the four females within 48 hours without the initial report. Looking to next year, I am extremely excited well-nigh helping to re-establish the Wild Dog population within KZN and see individuals from the KZN Metapopulation protract to contribute to the National Wild Dog Range Expansion program. – Mike Staegenmann, Wild Dog Species Programme Manager
Photo: Tegan Goldschmidt, Priority Species Monitor: Hluhluwe
This year, the Wildlife ACT Conservation Training Undertow on Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) has made unconfined momentum into how to make an impact in the Habitat Management side of Conservation. Combining wildlife monitoring with habitat management is where a big of mine passion lies and stuff worldly-wise to see our contribution in HiP over the last year has been so uplifting. From profitable in some of the first elephant deterrent “tree-wrapping”, to the erosion tenancy of the many roads we traverse and monitor, we have been worldly-wise to witness and assess some of the most trappy scenes wideness the iconic HiP – this has truly made my year. Bring on the new vita of 2023. – Megan Hudson, Operations Manager South, and Conservation Undertow & Training Manager
Having flipside year of successfully completed Leopard Surveys , it’s superstitious to squint when and see some of the highlights . My greatest highlight was while I was working in Eastern Shores and having the most incredible sighting of a sexuality leopard and two cubs – although of undertow I had forgotten my camera that day, thankfully I was still worldly-wise to capture some foggy images on my phone. My hopes for 2023 is to grow the leopard programme and expand our monitoring of leopards throughout KwaZulu-Natal to grow our understanding of this unclear species’ movements and threats to largest manage the species. – Danielle Theron, Leopard Survey Project Coordinator & Manyoni Operations Manager
Photo: Priority Species Monitor: iMfolozi, Chris du Toit
The highlight of 2022 for me has definitely been stuff worldly-wise to finally facilitate bookings for so many individuals who had to sadly postpone their trips due to the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 travel restrictions. We know how disappointing that was for you, so feeling your towers excitement as these trips finally started rhadamanthine a reality, throughout all the planning and questions, was so heartwarming! Thank you to all our loyal and caring volunteers wideness the world, and we squint forward to engaging with all those who will be joining us in 2023! – Bronwen Kelly, Reservations Manager
Photo: Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
Having just joined Wildlife ACT this older year, my highlight has been meeting the members of this defended team and watching them in action. Witnessing African Wild Dogs stuff collared and released was surreal and experiencing the extent of nonflexible work and expertise of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Game Capture Unit during a Black Rhino relocation was humbling. I will never forget my first monitoring session and the feeling of stuff on the when of a Wildlife ACT vehicle with a flask of tea in hand at sunrise. In 2023, I hope that first monitoring session comes full whirligig and I finally reservation a glimpse of the elusive CF9. – Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
Photo: Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
It’s nonflexible to pinpoint the highlights of a year filled with so many unconfined memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know so many new people and friends all over the world. I’ve had the endangerment to work hands-on with wildlife with an wondrous team from Wildlife ACT, as well as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. I plane had the endangerment to fly in a helicopter! But I think the thing that stands out for me was seeing a wild Honey Badger for the first time. 2022 has been veritably wondrous and if 2023 is plane half as good as this one, it will be a unconfined year superiority for us all. – Gareth Robinson, Priority Species Monitor: iMfolozi
Photo: Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
Having been exposed to the wonderful world of Vulture Conservation early this year, my vision have been opened to these majestic and wonderful creatures. Working with people that have such a huge passion for conservation has really energised me to try my weightier to make a difference. 2022 has been filled with wondrous close-up sightings of Bearded Vultures and with visits to Lesotho to do nest monitoring on the Bearded Vulture population. My hopes for 2023 are to protract with the important work that we do and make an plane worthier conservation impact on the species we monitor and be part of a big Vulture tagging event! – Phillip Swart, Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project Priority Species Monitor
Earlier this year, I made the move from South Africa to Seychelles, and took up the position of Conservation Coordinator on North Island. It has been such a privilege to contribute towards returning the Eco-tourist programme to its former glory while learning and experiencing everything the incredibly trappy and unique natural world that Seychelles has to offer. I have once met some truly inspirational and enthusiastic eco-tourists and shared many trappy sunsets on the waterfront watching victual turtles inward the sea for the first time. I squint forward to all the heady and diverse experiences still to come. – Kaeleah Andrew, Conservation Coordinator: North Island
Having been with the visitor for over a decade, I have met variegated people, learnt well-nigh variegated cultures, and enjoyed variegated food. I have seen colleagues come and go and have faced lots of challenges. I’ve helped make a difference, felt such love for the species we work with, and have cried so many tears. I have shared knowledge with many people and have loved doing so. Thanks to everyone who has made Wildlife ACT what it is today, thank you for yoyo in us. – Marumo Nene, Priority Species Monitor: Hluhluwe
2022 has been good to me. Without joining the Wildlife ACT team older this year, I have been so privileged to have witnessed some once in a lifetime sightings, met some incredible volunteers and students, and forged some lifelong friendships with this wonderful team. Without all I’ve experienced this year it’s nonflexible to imagine much largest can be on its way, but I’ve come to learn that the small-time never ceases to surprise me. In 2023 I squint forward to growing increasingly with Wildlife ACT, as a conservationist, and as a person. I can’t wait to meet increasingly incredible volunteers and students and to welcome when some familiar faces too! – Tegan Goldschmidt, Priority Species Monitor: Hluhluwe
Photo: Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
Joining Wildlife ACT older this year was a dream come true. Stuff a full-hearted conservationist, I enjoy working on Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Working so closely with Cheetahs and monitoring them daily is so rewarding. I got to witness them with their new cubs and watch them grow up. The highlight of the year so far was to watch the teams at Manyoni do wonderful work to help conserve our Rhino population. I am looking forward to working with all of you in 2023 and preserving our trappy wildlife for future generations. – Corrie van Greune, Priority Species Monitor: Manyoni
Corrie van Greune, Priority Species Monitor: Manyoni
I only joined Wildlife ACT in September but I once finger like part of the team and I am so grateful to everyone for how welcome they have made me feel. My highlight has been getting to know the African Wild Dog pack on the reserve I’m based on so well that I know each of their individual personalities. I cannot wait to go when in the New Year and see increasingly of them. – Lucy Chimes, Wildlife ACT Intern
Photo: Megan Whittington, Marketing and Communications
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