Shark Protection, is that protecting the sharks, or the humans from sharks!!

It is a debate that has been around for a very long time now, but quite recently an incident in which a number of young tiger sharks and 2 great whites were caught in the shark nets off Scottburgh, has blown it wide open with a few different sides of the story being told.

I will hand out some facts and how I understand the different groups feel about shark nets and will try stay as impartial as possible. Please don't jump down my throat if I misinterpret or relay the info incorrectly (according to you). Post your comments at the end and we can have a healthy discussion.

Now firstly the spark came from a statement being made by some dive operators, conservationists and a few others by having a paddle/ boat ride out to the nets as a sort of 'memorial service' for the unfortunate sharks that lost their lives. However it was the call for the removal all together of the nets at Scottburgh that got some people huffing and puffing.

Firstly most of the people doing the 'protesting' if you will were and are surfers. They are also part of the shark diving community and of course with the Aliwal shoal being so close depend on this for their livelihood. Sharks, like any apex predator are essential for the balance of the ecosystem. Studies have been done and the facts are there, nobody is disputing this, well definitely not the surfers. Straight away the other argument becomes, what about the thousands of people in Scottburgh that rely so heavily on the holiday seasons for their livelihood.

Let's be honest, how much do the nets actually do to prevent sharks coming into the bay? These same researchers and operators know this; they have tracked big tiger's right into the bay within meters of the point. My theory on this is that the older sharks have, after many years of being caught and released in the nets, learnt the dangers and that if they stay clear have nothing to fear. This is why the aforementioned sharks recently caught were juveniles and great whites, lured into the area by what was suspected to be a whale carcass. This would explain their lack of knowledge of the nets, but that is a debate for another time.

What I am getting at and why I mentioned earlier that the people who did the paddle out were surfers, is that a bit of finger pointing was happening because of a rant from a surfer. So immediately it was like the surfers were against the shark nets being removed for their own benefit. Sparking the argument that these surfers will still surf un-netted beaches anyway. From the surfers side this is true, but very rarely alone, in murky/ brown water or if the waves are sub par. I for one have on many occasion surfed Scottburgh alone in all of the above conditions (sometimes all at once), not feeling completely safe but enough so to go 'ace out'. We know that those big sharks come right inside the nets, but adding to the theory that just like they have learnt not to fear the nets; they have learnt that humans aren't on the menu.

So basically it boils down to peace of mind. Removing the nets is not going to stop the surfers jumping in the water; we know the dangers and accept them. But, what about the youngsters wanting to get into the sport, are their parents going to allow them into the water? The inlanders making their yearly pilgrimage to the coast, will they choose Scottburgh? Will it become a ghost town, catering only to the scuba diving fraternity? What about the recent report that a beach in Oz somewhere removed its drumlines and had its first attack in 25 years shortly after, coincidence?   

So then the argument continues with, how come the same people that chum for shark diving, actively bringing more sharks into the area, are calling for the removal? What are the motives? Are they really just concerned with conservation or do more sharks, mean more divers and so more money? That wouldn't really be fair if the rest of the area suffers because the holiday makers dry up. Remember, it is for peace of mind. Most of these people know nothing about the sea and sharks except what the media (who sensationalize attacks to sell) and movies have told them. Some have such a fear that they won't even enter the ocean beyond a certain depth. There is no teaching or compromising with them. The conservationists have tried telling the commercial fishermen not to kill sharks, because they believe fewer sharks, more fish. Dumb theory, but beliefs are beliefs and a lot of them won't stop no matter what! So they think, let's remove the nets instead, we can convince the holiday makers rather and increase shark numbers that way. Ya right! Beliefs are beliefs!!

So to finish, yes the nets dent the shark numbers and yes, they kill other animals too. It sucks and we wish there was another way. Should we go the drumline route, where sharks are actively culled? Of course not, that is ludicrous, actively kill them? Well take out all the sharks and there will be no attacks, problem solved. Many fishermen have taken this approach already. No of course not, all the residents are asking is for a few hundred meters of netting to protect or even create the illusion (what ever your stance is) that the beaches are safe. It is like a fenced game reserve like Kruger, hundreds of animals die every year tying to cross the fence line. It is sad, but what if the fences were not there? Poachers would come and go as they please. Elephants would wander onto neighbouring crop farms and be shot. Wait, we can drop the fences than explain to the poachers that rhino horn has no medicinal properties!! Or tell the farmer that he can take a small loss, it will be fine!! They will listen, won't they?

It is about balance, just like we want and need balance in our oceans and other reserves; we too need balance between humans (who after all, like it or not are part of this world too) and the wildlife they share the world with. Fight the balance at your peril, it is about co-inhabiting and co-operating, without it we are all doomed, man and beast both..........


Endless Summer Shark Cage Diving Tour

Foot note: I am a surfer and a tour operator. The shark cage diving as seen in the video, provides me with revenue. As does the town of Scottburgh. I am not sure what the right route is, but hope I have at least provided some insight. 

The road less travelled

Last week I finally got to do something that had been eating at me for a very long time. I took the usual trip up to Umfolozi Game Reserve, but with one difference, a new route. Well different. Instead of heading all the way up along the N2 highway until Matubatuba and then heading to the Nyalazi gate midway up we went off at Eshowe. We headed through Melmoth and then onto Ulundi before entering the reserve at the bottom, Cengeni gate. As I was hoping it was only a little bit further than going around, about 20km and even though not along a freeway, about 15min longer.

So why all the fuss? Well, the southern section, the main section of Umfolozi is directly accessed through this gate. A larger network of roads, more savanna type bushveld and in my experience more game. Remember one of my posts late last year about the fantastic run of sightings I had, the self named 'Magic Marker 17'. This is where it is situated and why I have been wanting to access this section of the park as early as possible. Giving us the best opportunity to catch the cats moving about before the heat of the day.

Ironically on this day, the plan sort of worked. We saw hyena, a large herd of buffalo and a lot of other game, but the cats eluded us. That is until we made our way to the central section, pretty close to the gate we usually use!

Well isn't that why we love the bush, you can try all you want to control the variables, but it is probably better to just sit back and enjoy.........

Kruger in April and half a leopard kill.....

A young leopard pouncing

Kruger in April:

I got to enjoy a wonderful few days traveling SA at the begining of April, with my two guests Jennifer and Louise of the USA. Namely From JHB - Kruger - St. Lucia - Durban.

It was a fantastic trip and a great time of the year to travel the east coast. We were blessed with amazing weather and great sight-seeing, with wonderful wildlife encounters. We were lucky enough to see the Big 5 in one day and the young leopard above within the first hour of entering Kruger. As usual prolific birdlife was seen both in Kruger and the St. Lucia estuary. The animals we saw from Kruger to Phinda to Cape Vidal were healthy and in great condition. We also witnessed a hyena trying to run down an impala, unfortunately the chase continued off into the bush and so the outcome of the hunt will never be known. 

We in fact saw this young leopard twice in the 3 days we were in the Skukuza area, at N'waswitshaka dam on the S65, to be exact. A dam, river and trough combination well know to the regular Kruger visitor. The first encounter he was in the dam area, before walking up the dam wall and right into the parking lot where some 10 vehicles were parked. He nosed around, quite unsure of where or what he wanted to go/do. I suggested to my guests that he was young and had most probably recently left his mother and would be spending the next few years building his strength and avoiding the resident males, before he could challenge for a territory of his own.

My views were confirmed when 2 days later he once again was hanging around the dam, this time pacing up and down trying to figure out a way to catch the African Jacana (in foreground of photo). He kept putting his front paw in the water before shaking it off vigorously when he realised it was too deep and the Jacana was safely out of reach on the lillies. Just as he lay down on the edge of the dam an unsuspecting wagtail landed a few meters off. After a stalk and pounce, he caught the poor little thing, but then had an even harder time trying to figure out where the meat was.

The 2 encounters with this unsure yet at the same time seemingly comfortable young leopard,  got me thinking about a conversation I had a few years back with a friend of mine, who was working in a private reserve bordering Kruger. He told me of a theory amongst his peers that the leopard sightings were improving each year because of how the young leopards in these reserves are practically brought up in the presence of landrovers. Then when they leave to find there own way, they wonder into Kruger, and after a small adjustment to the quantity of vehicles, become comfortable to the extend that they pay hardly any attention at all. To me here is proof, Facebook fan page (for the whole gallery), of an exact case. This young guy walked up the dam wall towards the vehicles, heading directly past the open vehicles parked there and if anything only showed a little concern only when he saw my big silver bus. Maybe he even felt a little safe by the vehicles after being left in the 'big bad bush' all by himself........

As usual, would love to hear your comments? Do you think the leopard sightings are improving? Becoming more frequent? Does this theory hold true for you?

   

                                     He came within a meter of the familiar green landy......  

Thanks for reading, look forward to hearing from you.

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What a way to end 2011!!

We had some great trips to the reserves in 2011, but it was the extreme run of luck we had toward the end of November and into December that had us scratching our heads and looking forward to 2012!

Over this time we had an 8 day streak where the cats and dogs were literally dancing about us despite the incredible heat and at other times pouring rain. It didn't seem to matter what area we were in, the predators just kept entertaining us. Many of you would've seen the mobile uploads on twitter and FB, I have loaded these and the videos on the FB group HERE.



(Just as a side note, you guys don't have to post such nasty comments when all I am trying to do is keep you informed of the cheetahs, lions and things we're seeing, hahahaha!)

However the best area by far was the the small section on the Umfolozi River, down by marker 17 on the map. Or as it is now known 'Magic Marker 17'. We had an amazing run of luck around this section, but none better than on 1 of the overnight trips, probably my best ever!

The 2 day event went like this, in my shortest version:
Code - photo on Face Book = P.F.B
- video on Face Book = V.F.B
- Magic Marker 17 = mm17

Entered the Nyalazi gate around 11:30 already scortching hot, as we just about to decend into the Umfolozi River valley, sighting of wild dog in the shade, but next to road (P.F.B). See buffalo, white rhino and usual common game. Do Sontuli loop and end at mm17, prob around 3pm, vehicle stopped. Inform us lions in the bush but on the move, we wait and drive up and down, nothing. Just as we leave and go over the rise, we see a family of warthog running towards where the lions were supposed to be. I suggest we do 1 last drive by. We round the bend just in time to see a lioness corner the family in some burrows just 30m from the road, eventually causing one to try run for it, but she pounces and snaps it up in her jaws. The noise tempts the rest of the lions out the bush, about 6 in total, some young, some old. (As luck would have it, blackberry freezes, don't get it on video, aaaargh!!)

They eventually move off to go feast and we continue, of course quite chuffed by now. 10min later black rhino, 40m in (P.F.B). I mention what a day it has been and that if we just see some elephant it would be a complete success. You guessed it, 15min later elephant bull on the side of the road. So now we are laughing and start heading for memorial gate, about a 3 hour drive. Go past the wild dog spot and they are now active as it is cooling considerably and threatening to rain. (P.F.B & V.F.B). We carry on and not much else happens and we certainly not complaining, until it starts to rain and we have a rhino road block. 2 young males who refuse to move and because of the gulleys on either side I am a bit reluctant to try push them off. Eventually I have to as we are in danger of being late. So I manage to nudge them off but not before 2 hyena decide to cross right in front of us for 1 last highlight for the day.

Next morning we enter and head straight for the Umfolozi section. We get there about 8am and ready to try our luck whilst it is still cool, but yet another road block. This time a young bull elephant in musth, he was grumpy and letting the some 30 cars wanting to pass know about it. Double cabs, 4 by 4's, kombi's you name it, weren't going to chance it. We get stuck for almost an hour until an old man and women in a Getz drive past us all, right up to the brute and park but a metre from him (P.F.B), but still he doesn't budge. Eventually he gives the car enough space to pass (V.P.B), but in the classic elly move, he is just setting the trap. He doesn't want the Getz it is small fry, but as the second vehicle shoots past, he turns and chases, trumpeting and basically just showing his power (V.F.B). Anyway it was quite fun and we finally get past and continue.

We make it to the bottom section, but by now it is blistering hot and we coasting, not expecting much. Then, and I have to claim it, while chatting away I spot 5 cheetah sleeping under a bush about 60m in. We watch them for a bit and are lucky enough to see them stand up occasionally and move about. We of course are so content by now and head for home, after cooking a good old bush brunch. Except the bush has another twist for us........

After getting past the elly and crossing the Umfolozi River at the low level bridge, the rain that fell inland reached the reserve and put the bridge under water and so we could not get out. So we decided to drive the loop one more time beacuse the river would take a few hours to subside. Just when we actually started regretting the decision because it was just so hot, we approached mm17!! I could hardly believe it when we rounded the bend and in the road stood a mother cheetah and her 3 cubs. They went onto give us a great display (P & V.F.B) and eventually with sad hearts we had to drive off and leave them there on the side of the road.

All in all it was absolutely fantastic what we saw in such a short time. I could not believe that I only had a crummy Black Berry camera to film with, I could've had some amazing pictures and video with a better camera. But makes you think, would we have seen all that if I had.............

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2012, the best yet??

Happy new year to you all, I trust you had a great festive season.

2012 is upon us, well actually it is halfway through the first month already and here is hoping it is our best yet! I say hoping, as who really knows? The last few years have been 'drenched' in recession and still we hear talks of another one. Will we all survive another one??

The climate is changing? For the worse? And even after hosting a by all means successful COP17, nothing has been cleared up. Our game parks are fast becoming a war zone, with blood sucking poaches committing acts of incredible cruelty, to satisfy the need for rhino horn of some limp d***ed Asian gentleman?? And the list goes on and on......

So why do I feel so positive for 2012? Well, because what else is there? You have to keep on keeping on and realise nothing has changed over the last 200 yrs. There is always an issue, a tragedy, a fight to be fought!!

So this year what will be different? I say stand up and let the good guy be counted. I mean by that you and I. Lend our support to the right causes, by getting involved in a positive way. Use the power of the internet and social media to give exposure to the people who are out there on the front line. Lets not focus on the problems, but the solutions! Lets make the media bend to our will, because we want to hear stories of truimph and success. There are hundreds of people dedicating their lives to many of these worthy causes and if we can't physically help lets at least recognise them for it and prove once and for all that there is more good in the world then evil. If we all unite as one, using the most powerfull networking tool the world has ever seen, good will prevail!! It is a simple case of letting the minority know, that we have had enough!

I will make my pledge this year, to spread good news where ever I see it, I hope you will too???

Have a great year everybody, it is going to be a cracker........

Winter in the bush

It has been a long while since I have visited Kruger in the winter months. I had almost forgotten why it is still considered the best time of the year to visit the bush.

Besides the magnificent game viewing, it is just more comfortable in many respects. The mornings can be quite chilly, especially on the back of an open game viewing vehicle, but otherwise very pleasant.

I was also very fortunate to have my longest continuous stay since before I can remember. 16 days in total I was out in the bush and I loved every second of it. I worked for some of it, showing some new Italian friends of ours all there is to see. Spent some time with family and got to enjoy a 3 night wilderness trail, the highlight for me.

There is something special about walking out in the wilderness, at grass root level, so to speak that just can't be explained. There is so much that is missed when you are in a vehicle. Tracks and signs that tell a story of a different world, but yet right on our door step. Suppose that is just it, you can stand there and look around and think to yourself, this could be a century earlier and you wouldn't even know. Untouched wilderness, using animal paths to make your way through the veld. It is an experience I highly recommend to any one!

Hopefully in the near future I can get the chunk of footage I have, edited and up for you to see, it just can't be explained in words, so watch this space.

Keep well, cheers.

Leopard (panthera pardus)

This young lady sat in this tree right next to the road in Kruger. Giving us an excellent view and photo opportunity.

• Leopards hold territories and will defend them against others. However only against members of the opposite sex. A males territory can overlap with 3 - 4 female territories.
• Occupation of a territory is shown using urine and faeces, clawing trees and vocally.
• They eat almost any animal, fish, reptiles, amphibians and eat more other carnivores than other predators. They are especially prone to eating jackals.
  
• Its hunting methods are classically feline, stalking to within 10m of its prey. They will stalk prey that is slowly moving away over a couple of 100m, or wait in ambush if prey is moving toward it.
• Leopard cubs are bought solid food within 6 weeks of birth and at 4 months will leave the den to hunt with the mother. A month later they make their first kill, but still remain with their mother for another 18 months.