It was early one morning when Craig Schraibman went on what could have been just another game drive in Kruger National Park. Instead, he witnessed a very interesting little dispute between a leopard and a porcupine and he was able to catch it all on camera. Needless to say, it was the leopard that walked away defeated.

Here is Craig’s story:

One early morning in April on my morning drive, I left the Lower Sabie Rest Camp in Kruger National Park and headed down south towards Crocodile Bridge on the main road. After about 3km into my drive I came across a male leopard walking in the road. The leopard continued on his morning walk and then casually veered off the road into the bush. I decided to wait and see if he would reappear, and during the wait a porcupine came out of the bush.

The leopard caught smell of the porcupine’s presence and came out of the bush in an assertive manner. The leopard continued to try and attack the porcupine while the porcupine defended himself by shooting out quills at the leopard. This scene of the leopard attacking the porcupine went on for about an hour until eventually the leopard realised that he could not defeat this determined porcupine and made his way back into the bush.

All photos courtesy of Craig Schraibman.

Happy 94th Birthday Nelson Mandela

                

Happy Birthday Madiba - July 2012

Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite extreme provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration, in South Africa and throughout the world, to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation. Mr Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. We are all challenged today to give 67 minutes of our time today to serve others. We can all make a difference in South African and the world, we can lead and influence the lives of others positively to create an awesome future!

Nelson Mandela one of the wordls greatest heros yet a humble man.

Rhino Poaching up date

The number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of this year now stands at 281, according to a statement released by the Department of Environmental Affairs on July 17.

The Kruger National Park has lost 164 rhinos to illegal killings. Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal account for 110 of the total rhinos poached since the beginning of the year.

A total of 176 arrests have been made, of which 153 were poachers; 10 receivers or couriers; six couriers or buyers and seven exporters.

In response to the poaching scourge, a number of organisations and campaigns have been developed countrywide in an attempt to raise funds to for anti-poaching initiatives. One such organisation is Skydive for Rhinos, a South African conservation trust campaign.

In August 2011, 40 people skydived for rhinos for the first time, raising R500 000 for rhino anti-poaching efforts in KwaZulu Natal.  This year, the Trust has set a target of 448 people throughout South Africa to ‘Skydive for Rhino’ with a fundraising target of R10 million to help improve anti-poaching measures across the country. About R4 million has been raised so far.

The organisation also emphasised the crucial role of aerial support in the rhino poaching crisis.  “Aerial surveillance and the skills of helicopter pilots in rhino conservation is critical work and is one of the key issues this campaign is going to fund again,” said Sheelagh Antrobus,  leader of the Skydive for Rhinos campaign and co-ordinator of the Project Rhino KZN group.

Follow the campaign on www.facebook.com/skydiveforrhinos or on Twitter @RhinoSkydiver.