In the heart of Betty’s Bay lies the Stony Point African Penguin colony, a critical breeding ground for these beloved seabirds. This colony has become a beacon of hope thanks to the collaborative efforts of several key partners: CapeNature, SANCCOB, Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT)/African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA), and the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Together, these entities have implemented an integrated programme that has positively impacted the local penguin population.

The Cape mountain zebra known as GB42 has had an exciting year! In January, this stallion from Gamkaberg Nature Reserve sired a foal with genetic material from two of the three genetically distinct stocks of the species. In March, there was proof that 2023 was a busy year for GB42 after a second foal was born with genes from all three stocks.

World Travel Market (WTM) Africa concluded with impressive momentum, reflecting a 53% increase in attendees, indicating robust growth in African tourism.

With the help of six members from the Stanford Bird Club, 12,233 waterbirds belonging to 41 species were counted on De Hoop Vlei this month. Of these, 70% were Red-knobbed Coot and 11% were Egyptian Geese. Two threatened species, the Great White Pelican and Caspian Tern were recorded – both are classified as Vulnerable on the South African Red List.

CapeNature and its partners has experienced a grueling Summer fire season which ravaged a substantial number of hectares throughout the Western Cape.

CapeNature would like to shed light on a matter of growing concern within the region, especially the areas surrounding Cape Town - human-wildlife interactions, specifically those involving Cape fur seals.

The Western Cape is home to an array of freshwater habitats, from serene mountain streams to picturesque dams. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a novice looking to cast your first line, understanding the regulations, and acquiring the necessary permits is crucial for an enjoyable and sustainable fishing experience. Before embarking on your freshwater fishing adventure, it's essential to comprehend the significance of obtaining a permit.

Spotting a zebra is something of a wonderous task for admirers of wildlife’s beauty, but monitoring of Cape mountain zebra populations provides vital information that is used to inform management decisions and actions and is one of the objectives of the gazetted Biodiversity Management Plan for this species.

When NASA isn’t spending its time exploring the depths of outer space, its lending its technology for the ambitious BioSCape project, which seeks to detect patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem health in the fynbos biome.

Three months ago, on 1 August, leading conservation, animal welfare and volunteer organisations in the Western Cape joined forces to launch Snare Free – a multi-component initiative aimed at providing a coordinated response to snared wildlife incidents in the province. A lot has happened since!

On July 22, 2023, the CapeNature team from Kammanassie Nature Reserve carried out a critical rescue mission involving a Cape Mountain Zebra (CMZ) on the Diepprivier farm property in the Noll area, situated approximately 30 kilometers from Kammanassie.

CapeNature’s marine rangers led a herculean effort with the support of the community and up to now more than a thousand seahorses were rescued and 720 have been returned to their natural habitat. They are being put back into the estuaries where they usually occur and where there is a huge eelgrass bed where they seek refuge and shelter and where they find their food.