The new year has brought a wave of excitement and challenges for the Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF) as we continue our mission to protect South Africa’s endangered wildlife.
From collaring predators to rescuing animals and dismantling poaching camps, January 2025 has been a powerful reminder of why our work matters.
👉 Read the Full January 2025 Newsletter Here
January Highlights: What We Achieved This Month
🔍 Collaring a Spotted Hyena
Late in 2024, we launched a predator monitoring project with the aim of collaring between four to six key predators, including spotted hyenas and lions.
This January, we collared a pregnant female hyena with a scar around her back foot from a previous snare injury.
In just 55 days, she traveled over 547 km and revealed critical insights into her territory, home range, and den location.
With this information, we can better protect her and her clan from future threats.
🦌 Impala Rescue: A Second Chance at Life
One of the most heartwarming moments this month was the rescue of an impala ram found in a residential area with a snare cutting into his abdomen.
The wound had caused severe swelling and internal damage, but thanks to the quick intervention of our team and veterinary care, the impala made a full recovery and has since been spotted grazing freely once again.
🔥 Dismantling Poaching Camps
Our patrols led to the discovery of multiple poaching camps hidden deep in the bush. These camps, used by poachers to store weapons and dry meat from snared animals, were destroyed to disrupt their illegal activities.
By removing equipment and supplies from these camps, we’ve taken another step toward reducing wildlife losses in our region.
🦅 Saving Critically Endangered Vultures
Vultures are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, but they remain a target of poachers who poison carcasses to hide their illegal activities.
This month, we rescued a white-backed vulture that had been captured by poachers, but despite our efforts, it had sustained severe injuries and had to be euthanized.
This tragic outcome is a stark reminder of how urgent vulture conservation has become. With eight species of vultures in Southern Africa, most of which are critically endangered, we are ramping up efforts to protect these essential scavengers.
Key January 2025 Statistics
- 278 snares removed
- 113.38 km patrolled
- 2 animals rescued and treated
Looking Ahead: February Environmental Days
Mark your calendars for these important days in February:
- 2 Feb: World Wetlands Day
- 15 Feb: World Pangolin Day
- 18 Feb: World Whale Day
These observances are a chance to reflect on the critical role wildlife and ecosystems play in our world and why conservation is more important than ever.
How You Can Make a Difference
💚 Volunteer: Join us on the ground through our Voluntourism program and experience conservation firsthand.
📥 Download the Volunteer Info Pack
💚 Donate: Every donation helps us save lives and protect wildlife from poachers.
Support us on GlobalGiving ➡️
💚 Spread Awareness: Share our newsletter and stories to help raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
Together, we can make 2025 a year of action, hope, and impactful change. Thank you for standing by our side as we work to protect the wildlife and ecosystems we all cherish.
With gratitude,
The PNHF Team