For 4 weeks in August 2017, I travelled to and around South Africa, filming and photographing wildlife conservation volunteer programmes for Oyster Worldwide. Now, I know many people don't need an explanation as to why South Africa's wildlife needs conserving but here is a quick summery of figures over a number of years:
African Penguin: Due to the over-fishing of our oceans by commercial fisheries, the African penguin has seen a very rapid population decline with a trend that shows no sign of reversing. This massive decline is put down largely to food shortages and environmental fluctuations. Additional threats come in the form of human disturbances which have a negative impact on breeding birds as well as nesting sites. Egg-collecting and mortality from oil spills also pose serious risks and with harbours continuing to be built alongside breeding colonies this problem is only on the increase. The present African penguin population is confined to areas near to major shipping ports.
African Lion: While these magnificent beasts once roamed large tracts of Africa and beyond, populations have crashed dramatically to an estimated 450 000 in the 1940s and less than 20 000 animals today. Extensive trophy hunting, persecution in defence of life and livestock, prey base depletion, habitat loss and isolated breeding populations place increasingly downward pressure on populations.
Black Rhino: Throughout most of the 20th century, the black rhino boasted the largest population numbers of all the world’s rhinos with estimations lying at about 850 000 individuals. However by 1960 only about 100 000 individuals remained due to land clearances for human settlement and farming, large-scale poaching and relentless hunting of the species and between 1960 and 1995 the population decreased by a dramatic 95.6%. While numbers are steadily on the increase today, current estimations are still 90% lower than three generations ago with one of four sub-species now considered extinct.
I really hope that these images show the beauty of these animals.
African Penguin: Due to the over-fishing of our oceans by commercial fisheries, the African penguin has seen a very rapid population decline with a trend that shows no sign of reversing. This massive decline is put down largely to food shortages and environmental fluctuations. Additional threats come in the form of human disturbances which have a negative impact on breeding birds as well as nesting sites. Egg-collecting and mortality from oil spills also pose serious risks and with harbours continuing to be built alongside breeding colonies this problem is only on the increase. The present African penguin population is confined to areas near to major shipping ports.
African Lion: While these magnificent beasts once roamed large tracts of Africa and beyond, populations have crashed dramatically to an estimated 450 000 in the 1940s and less than 20 000 animals today. Extensive trophy hunting, persecution in defence of life and livestock, prey base depletion, habitat loss and isolated breeding populations place increasingly downward pressure on populations.
Black Rhino: Throughout most of the 20th century, the black rhino boasted the largest population numbers of all the world’s rhinos with estimations lying at about 850 000 individuals. However by 1960 only about 100 000 individuals remained due to land clearances for human settlement and farming, large-scale poaching and relentless hunting of the species and between 1960 and 1995 the population decreased by a dramatic 95.6%. While numbers are steadily on the increase today, current estimations are still 90% lower than three generations ago with one of four sub-species now considered extinct.
I really hope that these images show the beauty of these animals.
http://www.southafrica.com/maps/
The black stars on this map show where I went during my time in South Africa. I landed in Capetown where I then got a connecting flight to George. I then drove to Knysna to which I started on the first project - ELEPHANTS! This was such an amazing project which focused on research to better protect these incredible gentle giants. My 4 days here were truly amazing and the photography and film opportunities I had were perfect. I was so overwhelmed and in awe of the people who ran, volunteered and researched on this project, as they worked so hard and their passion was contagious.
After this project, I travelled back to Cape Town where I then drove 2 hours to Gansbaai to where I started work on the second project and my biggest passion... SHARKS! This project was also for a great cause, tagging sharks, monitoring the ocean conditions as well as spotting whales and keeping records. A well as all this, they even helped protect the African penguins who are found injured on the beach from storms, shark attacks and malnutrition. They are brought back to health and later released! What a feel good programme!
From here I flew to Port Elizabeth where I stayed for 5 days to film and photograph sports coaching and teaching/childcare in schools. This is one of the most impoverish areas of South Africa and the children really benefited from everything the volunteers did here. It was very rewarding to the smiling faces of the children everyday.
I then went to a game reserve in Kwantu which was an hour from Port Elizabeth. This was 6 days and it was truly amazing to be able to see so many wild animals so closely. The volunteers here were helping with conservation, maintenance, vet experience and had the opportunity to study for their level 1 course in animal tracking!
I then attended a Vet Internship which basically does what it says, These volunteers usually were in their early stages of studying veterinary science at their home universities and simply getting more experience out here, carrying out procedures on farm animals, small animals in the vet practice, and of course, game including lions, zebras elephants springbok etc. I really enjoyed this project!
My final project was in Phalaborwa which is right on the border of Mozambique. This project was all about protecting orphaned baboons. However they also raised orphan Vervet monkeys, bush babies and wildlife such as owls that come in injured. The main reason for these orphaned primates is because their mothers are often shot by farmers as they steal their fruit and other produce. The are extremely clever and it is very sad when a baby becomes abandoned. This project raises these babies, integrates them back with older baboons, establish a family group and eventually releases them off in to the mountains, out of the way of farm lands. This project was incredible, and as you can see from my images, all the primates here were very photogenic!
I hope you like all these images!! If you would like to purchase any, please do leave me a comment on my 'Contact Page'!
After this project, I travelled back to Cape Town where I then drove 2 hours to Gansbaai to where I started work on the second project and my biggest passion... SHARKS! This project was also for a great cause, tagging sharks, monitoring the ocean conditions as well as spotting whales and keeping records. A well as all this, they even helped protect the African penguins who are found injured on the beach from storms, shark attacks and malnutrition. They are brought back to health and later released! What a feel good programme!
From here I flew to Port Elizabeth where I stayed for 5 days to film and photograph sports coaching and teaching/childcare in schools. This is one of the most impoverish areas of South Africa and the children really benefited from everything the volunteers did here. It was very rewarding to the smiling faces of the children everyday.
I then went to a game reserve in Kwantu which was an hour from Port Elizabeth. This was 6 days and it was truly amazing to be able to see so many wild animals so closely. The volunteers here were helping with conservation, maintenance, vet experience and had the opportunity to study for their level 1 course in animal tracking!
I then attended a Vet Internship which basically does what it says, These volunteers usually were in their early stages of studying veterinary science at their home universities and simply getting more experience out here, carrying out procedures on farm animals, small animals in the vet practice, and of course, game including lions, zebras elephants springbok etc. I really enjoyed this project!
My final project was in Phalaborwa which is right on the border of Mozambique. This project was all about protecting orphaned baboons. However they also raised orphan Vervet monkeys, bush babies and wildlife such as owls that come in injured. The main reason for these orphaned primates is because their mothers are often shot by farmers as they steal their fruit and other produce. The are extremely clever and it is very sad when a baby becomes abandoned. This project raises these babies, integrates them back with older baboons, establish a family group and eventually releases them off in to the mountains, out of the way of farm lands. This project was incredible, and as you can see from my images, all the primates here were very photogenic!
I hope you like all these images!! If you would like to purchase any, please do leave me a comment on my 'Contact Page'!