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NEW CO-BRANDING ALERT: WEAR THE MISSION, FUEL THE FLIGHT ‼️
I’m thrilled to announce a special conservation collaboration between LensTraveller and The Bateleurs — a South African non-profit that uses volunteer pilots and aircraft to assist with critical conservation missions across Africa.
We’ve co-branded a limited range of merchandise — hoodies, tees, caps — available now through Bonfire.
🛒 https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-bateleurs-africa/
100% of profits go directly into conservation.
That’s not a slogan. That’s a promise.
I partnered with The Bateleurs because I’ve flown with them. I’ve witnessed their impact first-hand — from relocating endangered vultures to transporting injured marine animals, to supporting anti-poaching teams with aerial intelligence.
This isn’t just about clothing. It’s about visibility. About solidarity. About choosing gear that doesn’t just say something — it does something.
As a conservation journalist, I’m often embedded in the field. I document the quiet heroics, the urgent calls, and the relentless work of those fighting to preserve what we have left. The Bateleurs embody that spirit — selfless, skilled, and sky-bound.
By purchasing from this co-branded line, you’re helping to:
# Keep endangered species in the wild.
# Support wildlife crime investigations.
# Assist in medical rescues and environmental disasters.
# Protect South Africa’s natural heritage from the air.
Whether you’re in conservation, aviation, storytelling, or just someone who cares — this is your chance to wear your values.
Let’s make sure the missions continue to fly.
Shop here : https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-bateleurs-africa/
THANK YOU
2 days ago
BREAKING: RHINO HORN BUST ON N2 – POACHING SYNDICATE UNDER INVESTIGATION ‼️
An undercover operation spearheaded by the Hawks’ Bellville Economic Protected Resources (EPR) unit, together with SAPS Overberg K9 and Swellendam Stock Theft & Endangered Species teams, ended with three men from Gqeberha in cuffs and three rhino horns valued at R258,270 recovered.
The operation was carried out in a quiet stretch of the N2 near Buffeljagsrivier—an ideal drop-off point for illicit wildlife sales.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Siyabulela Vukubi, one suspect was arrested on the spot; the other two tried to flee but were immediately pursued and apprehended.
Although poaching has dropped since 2023; 2024 marked a 15% decline in poaching — from 499 to 420 rhino deaths.
Yet, early 2025’s figures show that the poaching rate is holding steady, — mirroring the 2024 average.
The pressure remains concentrated in national parks, accounting for over 60% of poaching so far this year.
Rhino horn traffickers still exploit the demand from Traditional Chinese Medicine, status symbolism, aphrodisiac myths, and even speculative investment in valuable horn stockpiles.
This bust exposes just a sliver of a vast, cross-provincial criminal network.
DNA testing is likely underway to trace the horns to their origin—possibly linking to poaching hotspots in the Eastern Cape or Limpopo.
As CapeNature CEO, Dr Ashley Naidoo, said, “Tackling wildlife crime isn’t just about seizures—it’s about dismantling the global syndicates behind them”.
⚠️ Questions:
*Where did these horns originate?
*Who financed this transaction—local go-betweens or international buyers?
*Will this bust open the lid on a larger trafficking network?
Stay tuned. This investigation has only just begun.
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#wildtruthfoundation #investigativejournalism #journalist #reportera #wildlifecrime #southafrica #lenstraveller
3 days ago
Just a couple of tuxedoed lovebirds heading for their morning dip — flippers held high, hearts full, and no need for a weather report. There’s something magical about watching penguins waddle with purpose.
Tag your penguin partner-in-crime — the one who’d brave the chill with you, one shuffle at a time.
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#noow #happyfeet #inthewater #wildlove #wildtruthfoundation #lenstraveller
6 days ago
From the scorching sun of South Africa to the wind-swept cliffs of Ireland, today’s post is feathered in contrast and connection.
Meet the Atlantic Puffin — nature’s sleek little mariner. With that unmistakable technicolour beak and tuxedo flair, it’s easy to forget this seabird is fighting to stay afloat in an ocean of challenges.
Their charm misrepresents a crisis. Climate change is scrambling their food chain. Overfishing and warming seas are pushing their favourite snack — sand eels — further out of reach. Plastic pollution? Check. Nesting habitat loss? Also check.
Why would a conservation journalist based in South Africa care about a puffin in Ireland?
Because ecosystems don’t carry passports.
Because the fate of species — from African Penguins in the cold Benguela Current to puffins on the Saltee Islands — is tangled in the same net of human impact.
2 weeks ago
Monday morning mood: floating, unbothered, and glowing.
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#wildlife #southafrica #wildlifephotography #lenstraveller #hippolife
2 weeks ago
That moment when the cheetah freezes, laser-focused… and so do you—finger hovering over the shutter, holding your breath like you’re about to pounce.
Is it hunting dinner? Am I hunting a Pulitzer? Who knows. But neither of us is blinking.
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#wildĺifephotography #safari #nikoncreator #lenstraveller #bushlife #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove
2 weeks ago
—International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking .
Today is not just a global observance—it’s a moment to confront the human cost of addiction and trafficking. In South Africa, the crisis runs deeper than drugs. It’s rooted in trauma, poverty, inequality, and corruption.
From Johannesburg’s streets to Cape Town’s townships and Durban’s back alleys, substances like tik (crystal meth) and nyaope—a toxic blend of heroin, marijuana, rat poison, and detergents—are devastating communities. These aren’tjust drugs. They’re weapons used by syndicates to destabilise and control. The same networks trafficking narcotics are also smuggling humans, firearms, and endangered wildlife.
The impact is catastrophic. Children barely in their teens are pulled into this underworld as mules, soldiers, or addicts. Families are ripped apart. Whole communities crumble under the weight of addiction and criminal violence.
What makes it worse is how we treat those caught in this web. Drug users—many of them victims of violence, unemployment, or neglect—are punished instead of helped. Stigma is often harsher than any substance. It isolates, criminalises, and silences people who need care, not condemnation.
Yet in the heart of this crisis, there is courage. Across South Africa, grassroots heroes—community leaders, mentors, and reformed addicts—are choosing compassion. They offer shelter, counselling, clean needles, and above all, dignity. Their message is clear: addiction is not a moral failure. It’s a health issue. And healing is possible.
This June 26, we honour the lives lost and those still fighting. Behind every hit is a human story. The war on drugs should be a fight for healing—because saving lives matters more than seizing narcotics .
#stopoeganizecrime
*full story available soon @brokenchalk_ website #unitednations
2 weeks ago
One foot in the water, one eye on the wild.
Caught mid-stalk, this Water Thick-knee blends perfectly with its surroundings
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#birding#wildlifephotography #birdsofafrica #nikoncreator
3 weeks ago
The Soft Strength of Queens.
Where staying alive takes instinct and strength every day, these two lionesses pause—not to fight, not to hunt, but simply to feel.
In a world that rewards hardness, this moment dares to say: softness is power. Connection is resilience. And tenderness? That’s the real roar.
So whatever you’re facing this week—lead with purpose, and don’t be afraid to show your heart. Even the fiercest know: love is a weapon too.
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#lionqueen #wildlifemoments #lenstraveller #wildteuth
3 weeks ago
Soaking up the sun in style!
But behind the sheen lies a species struggling for survival.
Once numbering in the millions, fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remain in the wild today. Habitat loss, overfishing, oil spills, and climate change are pushing them to the brink of extinction.
It’s not just about saving a species; it’s about preserving the balance of our oceans.
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#noow #conservationmatters #africannature #africanpenguin #wildtruthfoundation #wildtruth
3 weeks ago
Ever locked eyes with something that could beat you to your car—and still have time to judge your life choices?
Cats— wild or couch-train— they all have that same glare!!
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#lenstraveller
#nikoncreator
#cheetah
#eyesonyou
3 weeks ago
HAPPY WORLD GIRAFFE DAY!
A tall reminder that being iconic doesn’t always guarantee protection.
Did you know?
Giraffes are nearly extinct in some regions. Populations have dropped by up to 40% in the past 30 years, a “silent extinction” often overshadowed by louder conservation headlines.
There are four distinct species of giraffe, not just one! This revelation came as late as 2016.
Scientists once believed all giraffes belonged to a single species—but that changed. Research revealed that giraffes actually consist of four distinct species, five subspecies, and two ecotypes.
The four recognised species are:
Northern giraffe
Southern giraffe
Reticulated giraffe
Masai giraffe
This discovery has significant conservation implications—each species faces different threats and requires tailored protection.
*The Masai giraffe —the heavyweight champion of height. It’s not just the tallest giraffe species, it’s the tallest land animal on the planet.
#worldgiraffeday #silentextinction #wildtruth #giraffeconservation #conservationmatters #biodiversitycrisis #lenstraveller
3 weeks ago
The world’s most trafficked mammal—the pangolin—is finally getting louder backup.
This week, the U.S. announced plans to list seven more pangolin species as Endangered under the ESA. That means tighter restrictions, stronger enforcement, and fewer excuses for traffickers who treat these scaled wonders like contraband handbags.
Meanwhile, China’s 2025 pharmacopoeia has quietly axed pangolin-based medicine. About time. The scales belong in forests, not pharmacies.
In Africa, Namibia is drafting a National Plan to protect these shy, snuffling insectivores. And down here in South Africa, pangolins now have their pangolinarium. Yep. Spa day for scale-babies rescued from the black market.
🎬 Also—Netflix just dropped Kulu’s Journey. It’s about a rescued pangolin pup.
You will cry. I promise.
Dive deeper into pangolin trafficking and why we must fight for their future in my investigation/article:
👉 https://lenstraveller.net/silent-scales/
3 weeks ago
“Nap like nobody’s watching.”
There’s nothing quite as heart-melting as a cheetah mom and her cub curled up in peace. Behind those sleepy eyes lies the fastest land animal on Earth — but in this moment, it’s all about warmth, safety, and the bond that keeps them going in the wild.💚
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#cheetahlove #mothernature #w#bigcat #conservationmatters
4 weeks ago
Trunkloads of Joy. If there’s one thing I’ve learned chasing stories and wildlife, it’s this: elephants are the ultimate water lovers. These giants dive trunk-first into nature’s best splash zones like it’s a daily ritual.
Water isn’t just for thirst. It cools them down, brings the herd together, and sends bugs packing with a well-aimed splash. No matter how massive or majestic, elephants share one simple joy with us all: playful, messy, glorious water fun.
Here’s the splashy scoop:
•One adult elephant can drink up to 200 litres a day. That’s about 800 cups of coffee—minus the jitters.
•Their trunks can hold about 8 to 10 litres at a time, which they spray straight into their mouths or onto their backs like a built-in showerhead.
•And mud? That’s sunscreen, bug repellent, and skincare in one glorious wallow.
Scientists say elephants can even smell water 12 miles away. That’s not just survival—that’s a sixth sense.
So next time you see an elephant at a watering hole, know this: it’s not just about drinking. It’s about joy. Bonding. Wild freedom. And getting gloriously muddy while doing it.
#elephantfacts #bushlife #conservation #storyteller
4 weeks ago
“When you told your offsprings ‘Don't make me say it again’… and they made you say it again”
#nottodayjunior #motherhoodunfiltered #caracal #monday
4 weeks ago
Bushveld’s ultimate power duo: the Rhino and its feathered sidekick, the Cattle Egret!
While our bulky buddy trundles through the savanna, the Egret enjoys an all-you-can-eat buffet of ticks, flies, and pesky parasites living on the Rhino’s skin—snacking on bugs stirred up by its mighty Uber.
But there’s more! When danger approaches, these sharp-eyed birds take flight, giving our big friend an early warning signal — savanna’s winged alarm system with style!
#conservation #rhino #lenstraveller
4 weeks ago