Fri, Dec 17, 2010
It is possible to protect wildlife and livestock on the same farm. For this, an unusual turn of events takes place -- the dog steps up, to save the cat. Anatolian shepherd dogs guard herds and flocks with which they have bonded, to protect them from wild predators during the day, sleeping with them at night. Farmers who have participated in the Endangered Wildlife Trust's project have reported that they have seen almost a complete reduction in stock losses caused by predators. As a result, rifles and gin traps have been returned to the sheds and leopards, serval and caracal coexist in the same area with sheep and cattle. To get the dogs to bond with a herd, they have to be placed on farms while they are young pups. This can be a little traumatic to begin with as both sheep and hound must get to know their new bedfellows. It all begins in a small camp, with only a few sheep. Later on, once the pup has grown in size, it will move around with the herd. Bonné checks out the tear-jerking process.
Sun, Jun 19, 2011
Bruma Blues: On the 1st of November 2010 50/50 broadcast a story on the shocking condition of Bruma Lake in Johannesburg. During that program statements were made by the City of Johannesburg's Environmental Department concerning plans to combat the foul toxic sludge that is choking the lake. Over the last seven months our cameras have been monitoring the state of Bruma Lake. We have also filmed potential methods of cleaning the lake up. In this follow up story, we see if the City of Johannesburg has kept its word regarding the cleaning of Bruma Lake and we investigate the use of environmentally friendly methods to clear away the sludge.
Sun, Oct 21, 2012
With the moratorium on shale gas exploration in the Karoo lifted, fracking is back on everyone's minds. There are more lobby groups than ever before and many of them are citing the dire consequences of fracking experienced in the USA. Fracking is banned, or under some form of restriction in more than 140 places around the world. The biggest fear is that fracking will contaminate the already scarce water sources in the Karoo -- many farmers' lifeblood. Economists see the potential wealth in the thus far unexploited natural-gas resource and the idea of job creation is frequently suggested as a benefit to uplift poor communities in the Karoo. With the release of the task team's report, many new questions have been raised and people generally feel left in the dark with regards to what will happen to their properties and the environment, now and in the future. Shell has apparently launched a charm-offensive to woo municipalities into their quarter but with the lack of a regulatory body or appropriate chemical testing facilities in SA, who will regulate fracking -- in the exploration phase and if fracking is eventually approved? 50/50 goes in search of the latest on fracking and speaks to those for and against.
Top-rated
Tue, Oct 30, 2012
Tori Lines: An extraordinary story of how the Ocean View Centre for Persons with Disabilities (together with BirdlLife and WWF) is helping to save the albatross and other seabirds from extinction. Research shows an astonishing reduction of more than 95% in the number of albatrosses that are killed accidentally during normal fishing operations.
Top-rated
Sun, Nov 18, 2012
Mammal Map: The Animal Demography Unit (ADU) in Cape Town has embarked on a continent-wide search for our mammals. The creation of MammalMAP aims to update the distribution records of all African mammal species. But this is not just for zoologists and other scientists-its for people like you and me.
Top-rated
Sun, Feb 24, 2013
Secretary Birds: The iconic secretary bird is disappearing. In recent years, their numbers have dwindled so substantially that they have been listed as vulnerable. Faye went along with BirdLife South Africa to tag a fledgling and fit it with a satellite transmitter to learn more about the secretary bird's movements, in the hope that this will help us to save it.
Tue, Sep 3, 2013
In the 30 years that 50/50 has been on the air, the way researchers work has changed considerably. To document wild dog behavior and population statistics, researchers used to have to rely on newspaper surveys or museum records. Nowadays, cutting edge technology and social media has changed things considerably. With only 130 wild dogs remaining in the Kruger National Park, these rare predators are facing a crisis in South Africa. Bonné joins wild dog researcher Grant Beverley to see if they can determine the cause of the wild dog population decline in Kruger by learning more about the pack dynamics and movements of these highly social animals. To track down the wild dog pack, they must employ the help of the thousand visitors Kruger receives per day. Buzzing social media, adventurous river-crossings and a team of well equipped vets taking samples and attaching GPS collars to darted dogs, makes for an exciting wildlife expedition worthy of the opening night of 50/50's 30th anniversary season.
Wed, Jan 8, 2014
On the 10th of September 2013, a Transnet pipeline was ruptured in KZN, spilling hundreds of thousands of litres of unrefined petrol into the adjoining wetland, which feeds the Mooiriver. This has devastating ecological consequences for the wetland system which is of high conservation significance and harbours endangered species such as the Blue Crane and endemic frog and butterfly species. Reports have shown large vegetation die off with suspected fauna mortalities to follow. The damage looks to be irreversible and it is expected that much wetland sediment will be removed for offsite treatment resulting in non-existent wetland that will have to be recreated. Who is responsible for this tragedy and who is going to pay for the clean-up which could run into millions of rands? How and why was the pipeline breached? Bonne investigates these questions.