Marine science in Africa receives only “a drop in the ocean of national budgets”. But new interest in the “blue economy” holds promise, reckons expert. By Kemunto Ogutu Growing up near Lake Victoria, in Kenya, Dr Arthur Tuda had little to do with the huge freshwater body. The distant sea was even more out of mind. “The nearest ocean was over 900km from my childhood home, requiring a two-day bus ride to reach it,” he says. Which is why Tuda’s career has really been a case of marine science choosing him, rather than the other way around. University places were few for dentistry and health sciences, his preferred fields of…

Conservationists can no longer neglect community needs in the pursuit of biodiversity, says SANParks executive conservation manager, Howard Hendricks. By Matthew Hattingh All South Africans will remember 2023 when loadshedding truly hit home, exceeding all previous years and plunging the country into the equivalent of 72.6 days of blackouts. And what about Cape Town’s Day Zero drought, which peaked in 2017/18 when Mother City taps came perilously close to running dry? These are a couple of examples of what are sometimes called tipping points – moments of crisis that force us to re-examine how we do things. There’s a growing view that parts of our natural world, including the rich…

Webinar calls for action to recognise indigenous knowledge as complementary to modern science By Charlene Wandera Indigenous knowledge is not a relic of the past; it is a living and breathing body. However, because it is handed down by word of mouth, it risks being lost. The know-how, practices and understanding that traditional communities have for their land, its plants and animals offers practical solutions to many of the problems we face today. From healthcare, to climate change and sustainable agriculture, indigenous knowledge systems have vast potential to improve our lot. Yet these systems remain poorly understood, its value insufficiently appreciated, and its wisdom neglected in mainstream education. These were…

Deep in the Greater Kruger landscapes, a vibrant, youth led eco- village is uniting community and conservation efforts By Buntu Duku A few years ago, Katekani Martin Mathabele, a young man from the village of Sigagule, found himself in a tense standoff with a pack of African wild dogs. On a crisp winter afternoon, Mathabele and his soccer team took a shortcut near a broken fence line, only to encounter these impressive hunters. “Stay calm, stay together, move back slowly, and never run. You can’t outrun wild dogs,” Mathabele recalled. His quick thinking and calm demeanour helped his teammates navigate the encounter safely. Although their soccer match ended in defeat,…

By Matthew Hattingh and Siziwe Hlongwa Maybe Hollywood or King Kong were to blame, says Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of her otherwise supportive mother’s dread at her daughter working with gorillas. “She thought they would maul me or kill me,” says Kalema-Zikusoka, recalling the fieldwork she first did with the great apes while a student vet. “She was someone who always encouraged me to do things, but she was a little concerned about that particular species of animal.” Years later however, when Kalema-Zikusoka’s mother (the trail-blazing Ugandan politician, Rhoda Kalema) finally joined her to see gorillas for herself in the wild, she changed her tune. “Oh, they are just gentle, vegetarian giants,”…