Conservation News July 2025

conservation news

July 2025

CITES Recommendations for 2025

Read more about the South African government’s proposals to the CITES conference taking place in November. Currently, there are no proposals regarding the trade in rhino horn. However, responsible hunting has contributed to the healthy populations of giraffes and bontebok in South Africa. The government will submit proposals for both species to be removed from CITES’s listing in South Africa.

Members assist in pangolin rescue: two smugglers sentenced

Three members of SA Hunters played an important role in rescuing a pangolin from the illegal trade and ensuring the smugglers were sentenced to eight years. However, it was partnerships between various role players that resulted in the success!

BEE KIND initiative saves our bees

Congratulations to the Centurion Branch on their new logo for the BEE KIND bee project, which was launched to promote the conservation of bees. Through this project, unwanted swarms are removed, and hives are relocated to natural environments, where they fulfil a vital ecological role in pollination. The project also aims to raise public awareness about the important role of bees in nature.

It was 11-year-old James Song’s suggestion for the new name, BEE KIND, that impressed the judges so much that he was chosen as the winner of the competition. James saw the competition advertised on Facebook and decided to enter.

The name BEE KIND was chosen because it refers to bees in a particular way, alluding to the kindness of people who care for the well-being of bees and rescue and relocate unwelcome swarms. It also suggests that the pollination role of bees benefits the ecosystem and that they produce honey for human use. The Centurion Branch’s initiative reflects the kindness and goodwill they show toward bees.

Giraffe Survey

Thanks to our members who contributed to the national giraffe survey. The results have been published in the African Journal of Wildlife Research. By participating, members contributed to the most up-to-date estimate for the southern giraffe, which was also used in the motivation of SA to remove giraffe from CITES. It is also the first time that the private sector’s contribution to giraffe conservation in particular was highlighted, with a minimum of 913 private properties with giraffe, which represents 49.4% of the total population of 29,536 giraffes in South Africa. The largest populations of giraffe occur in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
Read the full article here

Data on Serval

Members are requested to report sightings of servals on SA Hunters’ Sightings App as part of a nationwide survey to determine the conservation status of this cat species. There is limited data for the Western Cape in particular. SA Hunters will forward members’ data to the project’s researchers. Anyone who has ever seen a serval can contribute to conservation in this way. SA Hunters’ members can install the Sightings App on their mobile phones.