NEW BOOK (published March 2022) - Stuart's Field Guide to National Parks and Nature Reserves of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia

Title of Book:

Stuart's Field Guide to National Parks and Nature Reserves of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia

 

ISBN:

9781775847205

Format:

Paperback

About the book: 

The first guide ever to document and explore the diverse parks and reserves of Africa’s ‘middle belt’, it covers Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. The region contains prized spots such as the world-famous landscapes of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi, and some of Africa’s best-known conservation areas, including Etosha, Chobe, Mana Pools, Hwange, Kafue and Nyika.

 

For more information:

Penguin Random House South Africa

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/stuarts-field-guide-national-parks-and-nature-reserves-namibia-botswana-zimbabwe-zambia/9781775847205

 

Pinpointing how elephants use scent trails may help humans protect them [Anthropocene Magazine, June 2021]

Title:

Pinpointing how elephants use scent trails may help humans protect them 

 

Author:

Berly McCoy

 

Published:

Anthropocene Magazine, 16 June 2021

https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/pinpointing-how-elephants-use-scent-trails-may-help-humans-protect-them/

 

From the article:

Researchers found that male African elephants pay close attention to each other's urine scent on shared trail systems. The results open the possibility of manipulating scent trails to better connect elephant populations and prevent conflict.

Botswana begins medical drone delivery service to prevent maternal deaths [DroneDJ, May 2021]

Title:

Botswana begins medical drone delivery service to prevent maternal deaths

 

Author:

Ishveena Singh 

Published:

DroneDJ, 31 May 2021

https://dronedj.com/2021/05/31/medical-drone-delivery-botswana/

From the article:

This month, Botswana became the first country in southern Africa, and the third in Africa, to begin the use of medical delivery drones. Their aim? To bring down maternal mortality by delivering life-saving health supplies to hard-to-reach communities in a timely manner.     

 

The initiative, called “Drones for Health,” has been made possible through a collaboration between Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

University of the Free State (M.Arch., 2020) - A wildlife photographic hub in Kasane, Botswana: creating awareness of wildlife conservation by means of wildlife photography using the concept of exposure through architecture

Title:

A wildlife photographic hub in Kasane, Botswana: creating awareness of wildlife conservation by means of wildlife photography using the concept of exposure through architecture

 

Author:

Barkhuysen, Francois Albertus

 

Published:

University of the Free State, 2020

Dissertation (M.Arch.) in Architecture

https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/10956

 

Abstract:

The foundation of this dissertation derives from a personal love for nature; specifically, wildlife. This coupled with a great passion for photography leads to the reasoning and idea behind this project. Using Wildlife photography as a tool for creating greater awareness of conservation and the need for humans to enhance their support of nature (or then wildlife) conservation. The client is a company that attempts doing exactly that, photography as a means of giving exposure to wildlife conservation, this makes them the ideal client; Pangolin Photo Safaris. They already use their photographic networks and powers to raise money for wildlife conservation through their non-profit pangolin Africa. This dissertation aims to equip them better with their required services needed to enable their efforts of conservation. This leads to the idea of a new central hub for their operations base in Kasane, Botswana. The new architectural intervention aims to improve the workings of Pangolin Photo Safaris, to optimise and allow them to further their efforts in conservation through Wildlife photography. This dissertation starts with the gathering of information about all relative subjects as per chapter one. Chapter two leads to a more detailed analysis of said information and relating it to architecture. Chapter three involves the exploration of possibilities by means of touchstone and precedents which is then grounded by a theoretical underpinning. Chapter four is the technical investigation into structures, materiality etc. Chapter five tries to tie in the investigations and research to a design methodology to approach the design process. Chapter six is the design process combined with the final design iteration and this is followed by a conclusion and personal reflection of the process of this dissertation. 

Research led by University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa - Fencing-in of Botswana elephants could explain why 350 elephants died in one area

Title:

Fencing-in of Botswana elephants could explain why 350 elephants died in one area, reveals UP-led study

By:

Prof Rudi van Aarde /story by Primarashni Gower

Published:

University of Pretoria (UP), 25 January 2021

https://www.up.ac.za/research-matters/news/post_2948402-fencing-in-of-botswana-elephants-could-explain-why-350-elephants-died-in-one-area-reveals-up-led-study

From the article:

An international study led by the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Professor Rudi van Aarde suggests that the mass die-off of 350 elephants in one area of northern Botswana last year could be attributed to the fencing-in of these animals.

On a sad note - Why Elephants are Dying in Botswana! A lot more elephants are going to die before the end of the current dry season

Title:
Why Elephants are Dying in Botswana!

Author:
Ron Thomson

Published:
The True Green Alliance (TGA), 4 July 2020
https://www.mahohboh.org/why-elephants-are-dying-in-botswana/

From the article:
Over the last several weeks some 400 elephants have (so far this year) died mysterious deaths in Botswana; and the reports suggest that there are many more sick animals wandering about the game reserves. I feel confident enough, at this stage, therefore, to predict that a lot more elephants are going to die before the end of the current dry season. Anthrax and poison have been ruled out as the cause of these deaths. No tusks have been removed from the carcasses. So, poaching seems not to be the reason, either.

I believe the cause of these deaths is, purely and simply, starvation. I say this with some conviction because I have been predicting that this was going to happen for many years.

Note from blog owner:
* Fascinating and logical explanation provided by the author