Open Letter: Aussies Stop Killing The Great White Shark

Open Letter to the Honorable Premier of Western Australia, Mr. Colin Barnett

Dear Mr. Premier,

I’m writing to you about the Australian Shark Cull Policy, which targets various shark species, including the endangered great white. This policy was initiated late last year following a spate of fatal attacks in 2011. Despite widespread criticism in Australia, you have refused to back down, claiming your catch-and-kill policy is justified. Continue reading “Open Letter: Aussies Stop Killing The Great White Shark”

Wild Horses of the Bot River: New Kid On The Block

The Bot River Estuary lies on the Southern tip of Africa and is home to a magnificent herd of wild horses. It’s now low tide on the estuary with the river mouth in the background. These magnificent creatures are decended from cavalry stock released by the British administration after WWII.

According to the Cape Nature website, size for size, this 100 000 hectare UNESCO registered Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is home to the most complex biodiversity on our planet. Here we have some 1880 different plant species and the next richest is the South American rainforest with just 420 species per 10000 square kilometres. Continue reading “Wild Horses of the Bot River: New Kid On The Block”

Sunset on The Bot River Estuary #6

It’s 17:53pm as the sun dips behind the Kogelberg mountain range. The windless and warm conditions and the absolute silence magnify the beauty of the Bot River Estuary.

sunset on the Bot River Estuary
The sun dips behind the Kogelberg mountains at sunset on the Bot River Estuary — click to enlarge

This estuarine system lies on the eastern border of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve on the Southern tip of Africa.

Dramatic Changes On The Banks Of The Bot River Estuary

It’s amazing to see the changes that have taken place in the last six months, on the the Bot River Estuary.

Everywhere the banks of the estuary are taking on a more beach-like appearance. On clean white sand, sea shells, sea weed, red-bait and cuttlefish are in evidence. The water tastes salty and it’s not unusual to see large shoals of tiny fish being preyed upon by diving sea birds, kestrels and duikers. Continue reading “Dramatic Changes On The Banks Of The Bot River Estuary”

Sunset On The Bot River Estuary

Just minutes after sunset and two hours after high tide, the skiff in the middle distance lies in shallow water about 50 meters (165 feet) off the shore line.

Sunset on the Bot River Estuary
Sunset on the Bot River Estuary — click to enlarge

The estuary mouth is on the horizon to the left. Another beautiful sunset in paradise! The Bot River Estuary lies on the southern coast of South Africa, in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, 160 kilometers (100 miles) north-east of Cape Town.

Gold In The Sky At Sunset On The Bot River Estuary

Here on the southern tip of Africa it’s 7:50pm and the sun is sinking on the beautiful Bot River Estuary.

Sunset On The Bot River Estuary
Sunset On The Bot River Estuary -- click to enlarge

One can just make out the estuary mouth at extreme left on the horizon. The estuary mouth remains closed to the sea for long periods, sometimes years, before it opens naturally to start a new breeding cycle for the many species of fish that populate the estuary.

Image: John L Bradfield

Southern Right Whale Placenta Washes Up On The Beach

One beautiful sunny morning, a few days ago, while walking the long stretch of beach named Grotto Beach near Voëlklip on the Hermanus coastline, I came across this amazing sight — the after-birth of a Southern Right Whale, washed up on the beach. At least, that’s what I think it was.

The whale that is seen most often in Walker Bay is the Southern Right Whale, so my assumption is that it once belonged to a Southern Right. However, other species do make an appearance occasionally so one can’t be certain.

I didn’t know what this was at first. It looked alien lying there half buried in the sand. I took these photographs and it was only a few days later, after doing some on-line research that it finally dawned on me — it was a whale’s placenta. Continue reading “Southern Right Whale Placenta Washes Up On The Beach”

Fish and Fishing in the Bot River Estuary

fishing-on-the-bot-river-estuary

It seems that Fishing in the Bot River Estuary, one of the largest estuaries in the Cape Province, is not as straight forward as one would think.

This vast expanse of water is the subject of a study carried out by researchers of the Department of Zoology at the University of Cape Town in the mid 1980’s. The estuary teems with over 32 varieties of fish.

Conventional wisdom, and experience, has it that garrik, steenies and large mullet are the most likely catches. These along with leervis, steenbras and elf are popular angling and table fish. Continue reading “Fish and Fishing in the Bot River Estuary”

Ant Fungus Farmers Hold the Answers for Human Farmers

ant-fungus-farmers

With the Earth’s population exploding and nearly every arable acre already cultivated, the future of farming is a looming concern. For inspiration science is looking to the leaf-cutter ant which has mastered single crop agriculture and represents the apex of ant agriculture.

Monoculture crops are the rule in modern agriculture. This is why modern crops are especially vulnerable to disease. A pathogen that can infect one plant will likely be infectious to the rest.

Today the banana industry is being threatened by a fungus known as Tropical Race Four. This infection has resisted every counter-measure and may eventually doom modern bananas altogether. Continue reading “Ant Fungus Farmers Hold the Answers for Human Farmers”

Wild Horses at Sunset on the Bot River Estuary

bot-river-wild-horses

Today at sunset I strolled down to the “lagoon” otherwise known as the Bot River Estuary. Lo and behold, the wild horses were grazing on the grassy banks in the distance about 200 meters (650 feet) away.

The Bot River Estuary lies at the edge of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Hermanus in the Western Cape of South Africa. Fortunately I had my camera with me and I decided to get nearer and take some photos. As I approached them the three stallions in the herd watched me carefully before deciding that I was not a threat. In the fading light I was able to take a few — uploaded here for your enjoyment. Continue reading “Wild Horses at Sunset on the Bot River Estuary”