Big City Lights

The start of this week saw 2 of our Venetia staff braving the big city. As one billboard asks “traffic jams or a bustling metropolis?” we can unanimously reply traffic jams!

If you’re wondering what could have possessed us to leave the mopaneveld for the lights of Jo’burg… the first annual De Beers research conference.

Scientists and reserve managers from across the Diamond Route came together to share their findings and discuss future research opportunities. GVI was lucky enough to attend and to present a poster on the space use of an elephant (Loxodonta africana) breeding herd in relation to season.

The Diamond Route links eight reserves across the country stretching from the sand dunes of Namaqualand to our well-loved Venetia. The topics presented were similarly diverse; from flowers to bumblebees, adders to aardwolves, archeology to climate change, all, however, equally fascinating.

It was a huge privilege to have been there and one from which we gained a great deal. We can only say how much we’re looking forward to next year’s event!

Julie Kern

Science Officer

Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve

Big City Lights