News Snippets from Tracker Academy

We have 8 trackers in training at Samara, 8 at Londolozi and 7 at Lapalala. They represent Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Botswana and Chad. Wish them luck in their final practical tracking assessment later this month! All will be looking for jobs upon graduation.

A few news snippets from us..

But first, watch this video of Renias mimicking animals’ alarm calls. The accurate interpretation of bird and animal alarm calls is vital to successful predator tracking, especially leopards. 

The leopard habituation project at Lapalala Game Reserve is into its second year now. The monthly report reveals a steady increase in the leopard sightings. Thank you to David Jacobs and Tintswalo for your able management!

The tracking efforts are resulting in a growing number of sightings at Lapalala.

The Ju/’hoansi people from Xai Xai in north-western Botswana represent one of the last strongholds of traditional trackers in southern Africa. Next year we will be working with this community – to enroll their young members at Tracker Academy. 

Thank you to Robyn and David Foot for introducing Tracker Academy to this important group of people.

Hilton College invited Tracker Academy alumni, Innocent Ngwenya and Andrea Sithole, to spend two days teaching tracking to grade 8’s – which was such a hit! Lifelong friends were made that weekend.

Innocent and Andrea say we can expect a few skilled trackers out of Hilton in the years to come! Thank you Hilton College.

There is an increasing demand from the anti-poaching industry for our tracker graduates. Our partnership with Tom and Linda Rawles from Operation Pachamama has enabled Tracker Academy to further train graduates in specialised Field Ranger services. 

Donations are also used to cover the trackers’ salaries – once employed in anti-poaching jobs. A massive thank you, Tom and Linda.