Western Cape Standing Committee visits Stony Point
Last month, the Western Cape Parliament Standing Committee on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning visited the Stony Point African Penguin colony. Presentations were given by CapeNature colleagues on the history of the site, penguin population trends, challenges and colony management, and socio-economic benefits of Stony Point and the associated On the Edge Restaurant respectively.
The Mooi Uitsig Community Trust has successfully managed the restaurant for the past 10 years and project has grown from strength to strength. A guided walk was led by a CapeNature field ranger, and the presentations were well received with valuable interactions on the topics discussed. Also in attendance was local Ward Councillor Theresa Els.
In October 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the African Penguin from Endangered to Critically Endangered, underscoring the species’ extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. CapeNature colonies currently support approximately 50% of the remaining African Penguin population, especially since the population at St Croix (in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape) has declined significantly.
Related News
CapeNature's vision - Protecting biodiversity for a sustainable future
Biodiversity forms the bedrock of life on Earth. It is essential not only for sustaining healthy ecosystems but also for ensuring human wellbeing. Last week, on 22 May, we celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity, to raise awareness, educate, and build understanding around biodiversity issues, while inspiring collective effort to conserve it for future generations.
Record-breaking pine clearing operation strengthens water security at Boosmansbos
A successful HeliHack operation has cleared 15 194 invasive pine trees from the rugged slopes of the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area – a CapeNature-managed World Heritage Site and crucial catchment area feeding the Duivenhoks Dam.
From 3–5 May 2025, the latest mission to tackle the invasive alien vegetation marked the most successful pine removal in the initiative’s history.
Why humane euthanasia was the only way out for the stranded Humpback whale at Robberg Nature Reserve
A young female Humpback whale that was stranded on the Island Beach at Robberg Nature Reserve on Monday, 19 May 2025, was humanely euthanised the following morning after multiple failed rescue attempts and a subsequent expert assessment.
The whale appeared to have run aground on a sandbank and Robberg Nature Reserve personnel were on site to monitor the whale and manage public access to prevent further distress or harm.
Elusive Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew recorded for the first time in 46 years!
One of the Western Cape’s most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has made a reappearance, 46 years after it was last recorded! Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists found one of these tiny mammals in CapeNature’s Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.
Celebrating South Africa’s storytellers on International Tourist Guide Day
In celebration of the invaluable role played by professional tourist guides, CapeNature, in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, hosted an interactive event at Walker Bay Nature Reserve to mark International Tourist Guide Day.
Stripy New Arrival to Delight Visitors at CapeNature’s De Hoop Nature Reserve
Visitors to De Hoop Nature Reserve are in for a treat this month as a new foal, born just three weeks ago, joins the reserve’s small but vital population of Cape mountain zebra. The latest arrival is an exciting addition to the herd and for the conservation of this once-endangered species.
How can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?