Planet Earth Chairman John

A well deserved weekend away:

On the weekend of the 29th and 30th October 2005, a group of Brits Rotarians, Anns, partners and family members went away for a short break to Kampersrus.

The main aim was for our members to see the work that is being done at Moholoholo Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Centre and how our club can assist in their many projects:

A honey badger, Stoffel who is the star of the centre and is used successfully in environmental education

Brian Jones discussing the various projects with members of the Brits club to see where the club can assist

Two of the cheetah cubs that will be used in a new project to go out into the district to spread environmental awareness

Members viewing cages recently used to save four cheetah who were about to be shot by a local farmer

Members viewing the ablution block being funded by a matching grant by Letaba Rotary Club and Dalhousie club in Canada with the assistance of Mike Street

A warthog feeding at Moholoholo

This is the last picture of the Brits Rotary group on top of Mariepskop (the mountains above Moholoholo)

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Preserve Planet Earth projects:

1. BIRD LIST - BIRDS OF THE MAGALIESBERG AND ENVIRONS

GOAL:

Market the Rotary Club as an active participant in promoting conservation.
Assist in promoting birding tourism to our area.

FUNDING:

Sell advertising space in the list as well as obtaining sponsorships. Lodges interested in being featured in the list are charged a certain rate.

ROTARIANS INVOLVEMENT:

All interested members can join in on fellowship birding outings to the various participating lodges or areas to draw up their specific list
All members can assist in raising sponsorships.

DURATION:

Try to complete it by September.

2. MOHOLOHOLO REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION CENTRE - FUNDING FOR EDUCATION CENTRE AND MUSEUM

GOAL:

To be part of one of the most important conservation education and rehabilitation centers in our country. The centre is in our district and by setting an example try and get more clubs involved as well as drawing in overseas funding. Have something that members can visit 10/20 years from and show what Brits club achieved in promoting conservation. Our efforts would be ongoing into a sustainable viable project.

FUNDING:

Raise the necessary funding from overseas clubs wishing to get involved with PPE projects in Africa.
No local funds.

ROTARIANS INVOLVEMENT:

Fellowship weekends to visit the project to see and hear about the work being done there. Can be in the form of a camping weekend or bungalows depending on members' needs.

DURATION:

Would be an ongoing project carried over from year to year. As a sub project is completed another would start.

3. INITIATE A FRIENDS OF THE MAGALIESBERG GROUP WHICH WILL BE LINKED TO THE FRIENDS GROUPS IE FRIENDS OF NYLSVLEY

GOAL:

Promote conservation in our area by activating the whole community by providing a forum where all interested individuals can take part. Being backed by Rotary and being part of a larger Friends organization which in turn is supported by WESSA.
Address issues like habitat degradation, alien vegetation removal, snares, conserving vulnerable areas, squatters, lobbying against damaging legislation. Fund raising. etc

FUNDING:

There is an affiliation fee to be paid to the Friends Group by persons joining.
Rotary Brits to pay the affiliation fee to WESSA. Rotary will remain the projects guardian assisting in fund raising as part of an ongoing community project.
The Friends main office bearers could consist of Rotarians which would be written into the constitution..

ROTARIANS INVOLVEMENT:

All interested Rotarians can take part in the various activities providing an ideal forum for community involvement and fellowship. Those members can also serve on the committee of Friends. This project also fits one of the residential citation requirements for this year.

DURATION:

The project as a whole would be part of Rotaries conservation efforts so would be ongoing.
Specific projects would have target dates otherwise they would never be achieved.

4. BIRDING BIG DAY

Members of the club who took part on the day: From L\R John Wesson, Elsje Peake, Alan Newton-Perry, Jenny Wesson and Marj Tumner:

The Brits team won the open section with a count of 253 species recorded within a 24 hour period over an area with a radius of 50 km. May this be a challenge to other Rotary clubs with Birders in their midst. The day makes great fellowship and fun with all funds raised via team sponsorships going to Birdlife SA to fund various conservation projects.

Article and photo as submitted for publication in Rotary Africa

John Wesson

(August 2005)

Rotary PPE Chairman for District 9250 2005/2006

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Moholoholo

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTRE

The aim of the centre is to bring to the attention of the public the plight of our environment. Targeting the children who are our future custodians of the wild and their parents who need to be their teachers. The centre receives in excess of 4000 visitors a month, the half of which are children and many from poor communities.

In the case of these children it is their first encounter with the concept of conservation.

The centre plays an important role in this regard, assisting throughout Southern Africa and further away. It is centrally situated in the Limpopo province near Hoedspruit some 5 hours from Johannesburg.

Apart from their tours they also concentrate on breeding projects especially species that have been lost in most areas. The young are trained to hunt for themselves and are released into such areas. Examples are over 110 Serval cats, 350 Rock Hyrax's, 10 Red Duiker, Side Striped Jackal many bird species including endangered Crowned Eagle to name but a few.

Newly built walk through aviary to be used to educate people about birds and their conservation. Aviary housing a mixed collection of vultures, non of which can be released back into the wild. Used as well to educate the public as to the importance of vultures in the wild and how they are being wiped out throughout Southern Africa mainly due to illegal poisoning of carcasses or water points

The centre also assists when environmental disasters occur for example when animals and birds are poisoned or snared in traps.

If they survive they are nursed back to health and released back into a safer environment. Over 500 vultures have been poisoned with the highest number at anyone time being 200. Only about 2 % could be saved. Other animals affected are Leopard (13), Cheetah, Lynx, Jackal, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Lions, Wild Dog, Birds of Prey, Owls and many more.

One of the many cheetah saved from certain death

Stoffel the honey badger in his enclosure built by the Letaba Rotary Club, Tzaneen

With the above as a background this centre provides an ideal opportunity for Rotary to become involved and help fund the many activities as a P.P.E project. This is a stable ongoing project where all funds are monitored by Rotarians. Funds are needed for day to day expenses right through to capital expenses. Funding can be in the form of direct donations channeled through a Rotary club or a matching grant attainable if a few overseas clubs can pool their donations. Moholoholo provides one with an opportunity to make a difference in the ongoing battle to save our fast dwindling wildlife in Africa .

Rotary clubs have financed a number of enclosures, animal hospital, quarantine cages and recently new toilet facilities. Opportunities for a large project is in the form of a new education centre and museum.

For any further information contact PP John Wesson (Rotary PPE Chairman for District 9250)

Moholoholo website at http://www.moholoholo.co.za/

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2007/2008