Blog
CITES' latest report on the results of the MIKE (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants) programme has some good news in it for elephant populations and some not so good. The overall number of elephants being killed for ivory has stabilised, after a peak in 2011, but there are still more elephants killed every year than are born (see BBC story).
I posted an article on my Facebook page from National Geographic last week about young gorillas seen dismantling poachers' snares for the first time. It suggests that the youngsters knew how dangerous the traps were and researchers said they may have done it before, given how quickly they dismantled it. For a critically endangered species with less than 900 left in the wild, this is a good sign because with such low numbers we really can't afford to lose any wild gorillas, especially the next generation.
- Comment Thread:
- Comments: Maggie Knewstub | Yes! Confirmation.
- Comments: Tammie | Excellent news Mags! First Namibian dunes, second gorillas!
Happy new year and here's hoping your year has lots of inspiration and adventures of the African kind in it!
It's that time of year again, and it seems to have crept up so quickly (or maybe I'm just getting old!). Now at the end of our second year in business at Matson & Ridley Safaris, Andy and I wanted to thank you for your support and to wish you a wonderful Christmas and new year. I've put together this short video (scroll down to see it), which I hope you'll enjoy, sharing a few special memories of my adventures with you in the last couple of years in Botswana, Kenya and Namibia. Thanks to all who shared their photos for this, but in particular a big thanks to all the people who made these journeys so wonderful in Africa's most incredible wild destinations!
Ever dreamed of getting up close to endangered Mountain Gorillas? This has always been on my 'wish list' to do one day, ever since I read Dian Fossey's 'Gorillas In The Mist'. Such close relatives to us, I really can't imagine what it will be like to be eye to eye with wild gorillas, but I imagine it will feel a lot like meeting a long lost family member!
- Comment Thread:
- Comments: Maggie Knewstub | Damn you TAMMIE MATSON! Seems I am destined to hang out with you every year.You are reading my mind, AND my Bucket List, I am sure. Sounds amazing, looks amazing, and WILL be amazing. xxxx
- Comments: Tammie | Great minds think alike Mags! Now what will we conspire to do in 2018...?!