© 2023 All Rights Reserved.
Menu
Monthly newsletters
Sponsored by FARMRanger – www.farmranger.co.za
April 2024 Newsletter
The April newsletter confirms that monitor farms who evaluate control methods to support predation management training is in fact a long-term investment in predation; Niel Viljoen’s report highlights that stray dogs are indeed the main cause for predation losses in communal areas; the introduction of Dr. Beanelri Janecke who is leading the Predation Management Centre (PMC) at the University of the Free State.
March 2024 Newsletter
In the March edition, there is a call for innovative minds to design a mobile predator-proof kraal to secure livestock; PMSA executive says goodbye to Leon de Beer, NWGA general manager, who retires at the end of April 2024; PMSA welcomes the wide representation of SANParks at their recent Executive meeting and a call to register as accredited DCA managers.
February 2024 Newsletter
During February, nearly 100 communal farmers received predation training from Niel Viljoen. The geographics of the 27 monitor farms in all 6 provinces are detailed. News from the Predation Management Centre (PMC) whereby Dr. Quinette Kruger, who has been managing the PMC since 2017, will hand over the management duties to Dr. Beanélri Janecke.
Stakeholders are called to complete a survey to determine a non-detriment findings (NDF) status for baboon and velvet monkey populations across South Africa.
January 2024 Newsletter
Enter the Conservation Kraal Challenge by designing and developing “Mobi Kraal” – an affordable, safe, durable and portable predator-proof enclosure. Coffee table book on Caracal, which aims to increase awareness of the ecology and behaviour of this cat specie.
December 2023 Newsletter
Merry Christmas.
November 2023 Newsletter
PMSA provided public comments for the draft revised Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS)) regulations and lists; ECPMF provides feedback on their meetings during the past year ; caracal cages are sponsored for communal farmers taking part in the monitor farm project ; predation information day in Loeriesfontein overflows into another day planned for 2024;
The Predation Management Centre continues to provide leaflets on their website on the brown hyena. Young farmers attend a 4-day course at Maritzdam Training, close to Britstown.
October 2023 Newsletter
Public participation required for draft NEMBA legislation (Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS)) regulations and species list; consultation workshops to draft conservation policies; the EC PMF’s attempt to crack down on illegal dog hunting in the EC ; crow problem in the Overberg; the Predation Management Centre provides leaflets on their website on the brown hyena. Coming soon: Conservation Kraal Challenge.
September 2023 Newsletter
PMSA says goodbye to Gerhard Schutte, RPO; the Northern Cape adds crows and warthogs to their list of predators; monitor farms show reduction in predation losses ; the Predation Management Centre provides leaflets on their website to manage jackal.
August 2023 Newsletter
If you wonder what the difference is between PMSA and PMF, the August newsletter will provide that detail. Feedback on the PMSA general meeting and annual predation management forum. A one-day predation course in Fraserburg proves to be highly successful. A prompt to get involved in providing information on cheetahs to implement better policy. The Predation Management Centre features caracal leaflets on their website.
July 2023 Newsletter
Predation specialist, Niel Viljoen trains farmers, farm workers and stock managers in Steytlerville and Colesberg; go and listen to the interview between RSG Landbou and Niel Viljoen on the results of his predation project, that stretches since 2008; Leopard management leaflets by the Predation Management Centre and the anticipated EC Provincial Hunting Proclamation was released on 24 July 2023.
June 2023 Newsletter
More regular spotting of leopards and cheetahs in the Northern Cape, prompted the call for implementing the correct procedures. An article by Tisha Steyn, Landbouburger, regarding the first communal monitor farms in Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape.
May 2023 Newsletter
The May newsletter directs you to the current TOPS regulations and lists; provides a testimony on the FarmRanger, the first step in preventing stock theft and predators and gives a preview into the launch of the new PMSA website.
April 2023 Newsletter
The April newsletter details the secure withdrawal of the new TOPS regulations by WRSA & PHASA ; reports on “Battle of the Bullets” Information day, held outside Steytlerville by the SA Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association and provides link to the Livestock and Predation Management report by Niel Viljoen.
Information leaflets on the non-lethal and lethal control methods to reduce predation losses by Caracal, also features in the April edition.
March 2023 Newsletter
The March newsletter presents the report of Niel Viljoen, highlighting findings and results formulated over 15 years using monitor farms in predation management.
The Cape Leopard Trust is a non-governmental organisation that specifically looks after leopard conservation in the Western Cape. Listen to their interview with Landbou Radio about cooperation with farmers, should livestock losses be experienced as a result of leopards.
The Northern Cape Predation Forum reactivated their platform to address the needs of producers in terms of predation management.
The Predation Management Centre (PMC) uses the monthly newsletter to communicate updates on various leaflets relating to predator species and this month, they focus on domestic dogs.
February 2023 Newsletter
The February edition focuses on predation training in communal areas, documents a published paper highlighting the benefits of shepherding, lists the economic consequences of predation, which was extracted from PMSA commentary that was submitted as consultation on the Draft White Paper on conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity.
The Predation Management Centre (PMC) uses the monthly newsletter to communicate updates on various leaflets relating to predator species and this month, they focus on the Caracal.
January 2023 Newsletter
The January edition makes mention of Permits for accredited predation managers in the Eastern Cape, Niel Viljoen’s predator training and monitor farms and the Predation Management Centre refers to the updating of document “Predation management in South Africa – historical milestones”.
November & December 2022 Newsletters
The November newsletter reports on progress when PMSA presented their framework for predation management to the Permit and Enforcement Planning Committee (PEPC), lists the main issues that was discussed by East Cape PMF during the past year, refers to attempted pressure by East Cape PMF on DEDEAT to implement the ePermit system to accommodate hunting permits and an updated leaflet on black-backed jackal.
October & September 2022 Newsletter
The October & September newsletter details the public comments by PMSA on the draft White Paper for Conservation and Sustainable use of SA’s biodiversity. Predation specialist Niel Viljoen shares on annual predation training for students from Marlow Agricultural School and SA Hunters presented an address on the negative impact of lead on wildlife.
We revisit the September workshops conducted by the Cape Leopard Trust in conjunction with Cape Nature.
August 2022 Newsletter
The August newsletter reports on the AGM of PMSA, looks at predation issues in the Karoo National Park, reports on communal monitor farm in Mount Frere and reports of developments within Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
Cape Leopard Trust, in conjunction with Cape Nature have scheduled workshops in the Western Cape on Predator conflict relief and farming practice methods.
Cape Nature Conservation manager highlighted Cape Nature’s role in predation management.
Leaflet on Leopard hunting techniques and feeding signs, provided by the Predation Management Centre.
July 2022 Newsletter
The July newsletter informs interested parties to send public comments on the draft White Paper for Conservation and Sustainable use of SA’s biodiversity. PMSA thanked AgriSETA for their support of the extensive predation training programme of the National Woolgrowers’ Association to train livestock producers, farm workers, and professional predation management specialists. We track all the monitor farms in 6 provinces of South Africa. We remind you that the Predation Management Manual is available on PMSA website and you are informed that over 40 problem animal hunters in the Eastern Cape were invited to apply for assessment for accreditation for Call and Shoot Assessment for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Advanced.
June 2022 Newsletter
- Slow progress with legislation at the most recent Wildlife Forum meeting, held 13 June 2022.
- SA Hunters manager Lizanne Nel report on Leopard Forum meeting.
- In an attempt to inform consumers that livestock producers approach predation in a responsible, scientific and sustainable manner, the June 2022 newsletter continues to address preventative control measures, focusing on Collars and highlighting the pro’s and cons for Protective-, Deterrent- and Odoriferous collars.
- Producers often ask why they should apply conservation farming or conservation in general to their properties, since their primary activity is agriculture or agricultural production. In the last of three-part series, Jaco van Deventer of Cape Nature seeks to encourage farmers to apply holistic farming management.
- National Museum publication focus on predation.
May 2022 Newsletter
- Predation monitor farms, a 14-year journey through the Integrated Livestock Predation Management Programme, is projected in the annual report by Niel Viljoen.
- In an attempt to inform consumers that livestock producers approach predation in a responsible, scientific and sustainable manner, the May 2022 newsletter continues to address preventative control measures, focusing on light- and large-scale odour deterrents. The Modern Shepherd, which works on animal senses by keeping predators away from livestock through sound and smell, is part of the toolbox of predation methods.
- Producers often ask why they should apply conservation farming or conservation in general to their properties, since their primary activity is agriculture or agricultural production. In the second of a three-part article, Jaco van Deventer of Cape Nature seeks to encourage farmers to apply holistic farming management.
- Eastern Cape Predation Forum
- National Museum publication focus on predation.
April 2022 Newsletter
- In an attempt to inform consumers that livestock producers approach predation in a responsible, scientific and sustainable manner, the April 2022 newsletter continues to address preventative control measures, focusing on sound deterrents such as the Modern Shepherd, which works on animal senses by keeping predators away from livestock through sound and smell.
- Producers often ask why they should apply conservation farming or conservation in general to their properties, since their primary activity is agriculture or agricultural production. In this first article of three, Jaco van Deventer of Cape Nature seeks to encourage farmers to apply holistic farming management.
- Who is PMSA and what are they busy with ? Powerpoint presentation for download.
- Check out the website of Niel Viljoen, which gives comprehensive guidelines that help farmers to choose lambing areas, lambing times as well as management strategies for the erection of fences.
- National Museum publication focus on predation.
March 2022 Newsletter
In an attempt to inform consumers that livestock producers approach predation in a responsible, scientific and sustainable manner, the March 2022 newsletter addresses preventative control measures of micro camp systems and kraals, under the FENCING banner. Predation specialist, Niel Viljoen further provides practical and workable tips on the methods.
PMSA participated in their first meeting of the Wildlife Forum, where they indicated their willingness to participate in the Global Environment Facility (GEF 7).
The availability of leopard cage traps, sponsored by CHASA, to the East Cape Department of Conservation and permit holders in the Eastern Cape.
The Western Cape Predation Management Forum held a meeting recently and are investigating alternative control methods for jackals.
The National Museum in Bloemfontein published a special predation issue in their journal Indago.
February 2022 Newsletter
The February 2022 newsletter announces the membership of animal welfare grouping, Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC), to the PMSA.
PMSA aims to inform consumers that livestock producers approach predation in a responsible, scientific and sustainable manner, therefore the following newsletters will dictate itself to a series of preventative en remedial measures. This month addresses FENCING, relating to Jackal-proof mesh fence and electric fencing.
WRSA shares an interesting concept of a warthog “pass-through”, reducing regular fence repairs drastically and if coupled with a slightly modified electrified fencing, could be very effective.
A new procedure on data collection of large predators have been developed and is contained a recent paper written under the auspices of the African Large Predator Research Unit (ALPRU).
January 2022 Newsletter
The January 2022 newsletter refers back to February last year, where PMSA zoomed into proposed research on bush pigs in protected buffer zones in the Garden route, and tracks some progress in this edition. The Predation Management Centre, based at the University of Free State, provides preventative strategies in managing predation by leopards. PMSA is represented on the Leopard Forum, whose overall objective is to work towards ecologically sustainable conservation of the leopard across the landscape for the socio-economic environmental benefits in line with the constitution.