As Cape Town residents ‘feel the pinch’ of the current drought and water restrictions, demand for backyard boreholes is on the increase (1). While Western Cape surface water levels continue to drop and the future of municipal water supply becomes progressively uncertain, the opportunity for
The Table Mountain Beauty (Aeropetes tulbaghia), otherwise known as the Mountain Pride butterfly, is a proudly South African resident that we should all know more about. An exquisite picture of natural beauty with blue ‘eye’ spots on its nutty brown wings, this butterfly is not
With Level 3 water restrictions enforced by the City of Cape Town on Tuesday, water saving should be top of mind for all Capetonians. Following unsatisfactory rains this winter, officials estimated that, should the city’s current water usage trend continue, the dams that provide the
Any creature that can change colour and look in two different directions at the same time is certainly worth learning more about. Chameleons are remarkable animals, known mostly for their uncanny ability to adopt an entirely different hue within a matter of seconds, but also
We woke up in the cloud. Unzipping the tent after a chilly night on the mountain (and an unrelenting scuffle with a persistent bush rat), we stepped into an icy breeze with mist all around us. First, warm tea, coffee and oats – then the
One of the most encouraging aspects to emerge from the Tokai plantation felling debate is the immense energy with which our local citizens tackle issues around nature and the outdoors. The people of Cape Town should feel proud, particularly in the wake of Heritage Day,
Flies are such tiny creatures - at a glance, just wings and eyes. Yet these seemingly simple insects are among the most important pollinators on the planet. As they have evolved to fulfil this fundamental role in ecosystems across the globe, many species have adapted
The Greek God The word Protea is believed to have been derived from the name of the Greek God ‘Proteus,’ who was able to take on many different forms. This is not surprising, given the huge variety of Proteas to be found across South Africa
As we gear up to celebrate Heritage Day tomorrow it seems fitting for us to think back across the centuries to what has shaped our nation. We have a diverse and often volatile history which has,over the centuries, seen a number of wars (generally disputes
In this week’s #SpeciesInFocus we celebrate World Rhino Day by looking back at the sad history of the southern black rhinoceros (D. b. bicornis) in the Cape. Few are aware that the southern black rhinoceros was once abundant in the Cape of Good Hope, but