THIS is where we would like to be now – with SHANGANI TRAILS
THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE WEARING – KUSHNER CLOTHING
from Cape Town, South Africa
Stylish designer safari wear for the whole family
https://www.kushnerclothing.com/ info@kushnerclothing.com
WE MIGHT BE DISCUSSING – the human-animal conflict, a subject that really needs addressing urgently. Are the rights of animals more important than that of people – and vice versa?
We might also be worrying about poaching statistics that seem to be continually rising, and acknowledging the efforts being made by many people in countries throughout Africa.
Slander by the stream will be heard by the frogs. — Mozambican proverb
Don’t forget your copy of the wonderful pictorial magazine Travel & Leisure Zambia and Zimbabwe https://zambiatravelmagazine.com/
THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE READING
CONTRAST by Chad Cocking
A spectacular coffee-table book with hundreds of amazing photographs taken by Chad Cocking in the Timbavati, adjoining Kruger National Park, South Africa.
https://www.africatalked.co.za/book-reviews/contrasts/
David Hilton-Barber
This is a fascinating memoir of growing up, the influence and mentorship of people along the way, and family history of the days when his forbearers of 1820 Settler stock came to the Cape, South Africa, leaving their footprints on the history of a developing nation. There are many anecdotes of well-known authors and personalities David met along the way.
CHASING LIONS by Amanda Marks
Amanda Marks fills the pages of this memoir with tales of excitement, hardships, developing friendships and discovering different cultures whilst taking small groups of adventure-seekers in a 16 ton, specially adapted truck through the Middle East and Africa. Travelling to areas that only those seeking the unusual want to visit, she also discovers herself and the man to share her future with.
Visit : https://www.africatalked.co.za/memoirs/
CONSERVATION NEWS
GABON. A nationwide systematic survey of forest elephants of Gabon is thought to be the first nationwide DNA-based assessment of a free-ranging large mammal in Africa. Findings offer a useful national baseline and status update for forest elephants in Gabon. It will inform adaptive management and stewardship of elephants and forests in the most important national forest elephant stronghold in Africa. FULL PAPER PDF LINKhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nxAZs1H6jEcmtCoJkNiZq1o1Atp1AJvn/view?usp=sharing
PAINTED WOLVES. Conservationists and scientists from the Painted Wolf Foundation have compiled a comprehensive assessment of the state of painted wolf conservation – from population estimates to conservation strategies – and hypothesise that numbers could double in the best-case scenario. For more information on the report, or on the Painted Wolf Foundation, email info@paintedwolf.org.
ZAMBIA. “God gave us this one planet to tend and be responsible for all that is in it. That includes the land, the water, the wildlife, “wrote TJ Kaunda a Zambian businessman, former politician and civil servant on the proposed Kangaluwi open-pit mine in the middle of the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP). The mine will have a potentially devastating impact on people, water, the land and the environment. Please join the movement to stop the mine and sign the petition today.
OUR ARTIST THIS MONTH IS – FREDDY CHIHOTA. https://www.africatalked.co.za/art/freddy-chihota/
SOME OF WHAT OUR READERS SAID about our January 2022 issue :
Thanks – interesting mix of things – didn’t even know about Storm Ana… or the fact it had wreaked such devastation. Thanks. Enjoyed starting my day with this. Lisa, United Kingdom
Hello There. I loved reading your newsletter with my coffee this morning sitting on my verandah!
Thank you – a great little read and not one mention of COVID! Yay! Thank you and keep up the great work. Michelle, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
This is great, thank you! Mary Berkhout, Melbourne, Australia
Hello! I think it’s really good indeed, it’s looking good in that shape. I personally like it. Thank you! Kind Regards Nicholas Jim, Artist, Cape Town, South Africa
This is great, thank you! Israel Adebe, Addis Abba, Ethiopia
It looks amazing, if we find clients definitely I will reach you also if you have any clients for visit Istanbul Turkey for any reason just let me know. Regards. Ismail Yertüm, Istanbul, Turkey
Hallo – I found your letter very interesting!! Keep up your good work! – Hennie Heymans SA
Great stuff! Hope more to come? Brett, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA
Brilliant newsletter! Very informative please keep them circulating. Best Regards, Don Parks JR. Durban, SA
I shared this with my kids, all enjoyed. Lindi, Manotick, Ottawa, Canada
Ammie Kalan, a primatologist at the University of Victoria, called the study “rare and incredible.” “The implications of such research is therefore challenging our definition of what it means to be human and minimizing the differences between us and nonhuman animals.”(Photo New York Times)
ANTLIONS
When walking in Africa, one often sees the miniature crater-like pits in the sandy soil made by the antlion. They are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae.
Called ‘antlion’ due to the fiercely predatory habits of their larvae, many species dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. These conical pits in the sand are at a depth and shaped to protect them from temperature extremes. The ‘scribble’ lines in the vicinity of these holes are made by the reversing larvae – they always move backwards – searching for a suitable spot to dig these ‘ant traps’. They ‘cork-screw’ into the soil, flicking out the sand with their mandibles until they have formed a smooth-sided, cone-shaped hole.
Antlions generally do not bite humans though if it feels threatened or stressed it will inject a poison causing a sharp burning sensation that may last for several minutes. They feed on ants, small spiders and other insects that fall into their traps. The antlion grabs and stabs its prey with its hypodermic pinchers, injecting it with digestive enzymes that dissolve the victim’s soft tissues, then sucks the nutritious goo back out. The ant lion’s digestive tract lacks an external opening for solid waste, so faeces accumulate within its body for the entire larval stage—up to three years!
Eventually the larva attains its maximum size and undergoes metamorphosis during which it transforms into a winged adult. The entire length of time from egg to adult may take two or three years. Adult antlions resemble dragonflies and damselflies (both members of the insect order Odonata), but antlions differ in having club-tipped antennae and very finely veined wings. Antlions typically fly about in the evenings, while odonates are busy during the day. Hidden beneath the antlions’ shells are wings that allow it to fly several feet making a loud buzzing noise as they take to the air.
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT MATTERS? Then do it with love, honesty and loyalty
(Photo Credit : Unknown)
Lesley & Ian Thomson : AFRICA TALKED.
Email : africatalks@africatalked.co.za
Website : http://www.africatalked.co.za *
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Editors Note : this is a free, not-for-profit newsletter to help create an awareness of Africa. Should you wish to make a donation towards the work that goes into producing this newsletter, it would be very gratefully accepted.
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