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Reserve Events

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN red data list. The global population has shrunk dramatically in recent decades and numbers that used to span across Africa, India, southwest Asia and the middle-east are now much reduced and restricted to just 9% of their former range. Thankfully, South Africa has one of the few expanding populations in Africa (along with Botswana and Namibia). This is due to huge conservation efforts from numerous organisations and more recently, a little thinking outside the box and trying the unexpected! [caption id="attachment_4884" align="alignleft" width="300"] Female cheetah arriving to the boma[/caption] Askari Wilderness Conservation Programme is based on Pidwa Wilderness Reserve. We are in the Limpopo province of South Africa on a 17,500...

18 January, 2021 /

This was my second time at Askari and like I thought, it was as extraordinary and meaningful as the first time. Just the fact that there are so many returnees really shows how Askari has impacted all of us. The thirst for Africa is in the little things. It starts when you wake up to see the sunrise and hear the birds singing their daily lullaby. It’s in the eyes, filled with passion for the bush of the amazing people that are Katie & Robbie. It’s at the end of a long day, when you can feel the ache in your arms, but still smile knowing you made a difference. It’s in the sound of the lions at night, roaring...

01 August, 2019 /

Author: Sam Short @samconservationphotography The Askari team were treated to a special sighting on a recent Saturday morning drive, when a trio of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) traversed the Pidwa fence line! As a nomadic species with an expansive home range, African wild dogs often utilise multiple reserves, outside of denning season, making viewings both rare and fleeting. With two identified as young males, the group were most likely to be sexually mature individuals leaving their natal pack in search of mates. After a short scout around, the dogs quickly disappeared into a neighbouring reserve, staying true to their roaming nature. Following protocol, the Askari team reported the sighting and shared images with The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) who coordinate...

11 June, 2019 /

So people like to believe Askari is some kind of special place 2. But those people are dreaming 3. There were too many roads that lead to nowhere 4. And the view wasn't even worth it when we got there 5. Neither were the sunsets 6. It was pretty boring most days 7. We didn't have much to do 8. There was nothing to be inspired by 9. No opportunities to try new things 10. We didn't meet new people 11. Or have the chance to make life-long friends 12. There were no colourful birds 13. So birding certainly didn't "change my life" 14. All the animals were pretty much the same 15. We didn't accomplish anything 16. Or make a difference 17. It was all very boring really 18. Elephants aren't even that impressive up close 19. The...

25 October, 2017 /

In late 2016, Pidwa was approached by the 'Endangered Wildlife Trust' (EWT) to take on the project of re-wilding a young cheetah female. Down in Mountain Zebra National Park, her mother was killed by lions when she was just 10 months old leaving her orphaned. In the wild, cheetah cubs only leave their mother between 16 and 18 months old. Now too young, and unable to hunt and fend for herself, she was captured and placed in a holding boma. Work then got underway with the process of moving her to Pidwa.  As many of you will know, we had a very successful (and similar) story with female cheetah ‘Kusala’. After her re-wilding and release she is now rearing her second cub,...

11 August, 2017 /

7 weeks ago, reserve assistant manager Andrew was called to the Sable breeding camps. Cedrick, who checks on the herds every day, had noticed that one small calf could not keep up with the herd. When it tried to suckle from mum it couldn't manage as it's neck wouldn't bend that way. Having found a dead calf just a few days earlier, the decision was made to catch this one and see what was wrong. The capture was very easy...

13 June, 2016 /

We had been expecting it for a while - since her last male cub 'Khinga' went solo and left the protection of his mother. It was only a matter of time before super star cheetah mum 'Kusala' was pregnant again but seeing the cubs, now that's a different story. Luckily for the team that time came last week when 'Kusala' was spotted with 3 gorgeous little cubs estimated to be around 10 weeks old. To still have 3, so late on is a great sign. Life as a cheetah mum is tough. There are no males around to help out, you are at the bottom of the predator food chain already and now you have to protect yourself, your cubs...

14 May, 2016 /

We had driven all the way to the South of the reserve - we should know better. Whenever we do that, all the action is in the north! We had a call on the radio to say that the whole lion pride were enjoying a wildebeest breakfast so we picked up the pace to reach the sighting. It was a great scene, the 2 big males, females and cubs all gathered on a mound in the open under the shade of a single tree. Now it has to be something special to leave a sighting like that in under a minute but on this day it was! A call came over the radio, Issac our fence guy had spotted wild...

06 April, 2016 /

We had known that there were new cubs in the pride but for the first little while their location is guarded as a well kept secret by their mother. Once a little older, lion cubs start to venture out more and join the rest of the pride on adventures. We were on one of our herbivore research routes when the call came over the radio that a lioness had been spotted with youngsters. We raced to the area to find female 'Intombi' with 3 small cubs that we estimated to be around 8 weeks old. Lion cubs are great to watch, they are always curious and these 3 were no different. They rolled around and chewed sticks on the game path...

11 February, 2016 /

This morning the team were lucky enough to join with an elephant relocation operation. This particular bull elephant broke onto Pidwa a few weeks ago and has been having all sorts of fun breaking fences and causing havoc. Today it was time to return him home, a combined organisation effort between the Greater Makalali & Pidwa Nature Reserve and 'Elephant's Alive'. The Askari team were able to locate the bull first thing this morning and give coordinates to the helicopter pilot. Flying low to the elephant a tranquiliser dart is shot by a vet in the helicopter. The skilled pilot then uses the aircraft to steer the elephant towards a road. This bull fell about 50 metres into the bush...

10 February, 2016 /
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