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invasive specieslatest news & developments
Freshwater fish, sharks, rays, endemic plants and iconic mammals are among the country’s fastest-declining species, as invasive species, reduced freshwater flows and pollution intensify. (Wikimedia Commons)

Illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and climate stress driving rapid biodiversity decline in SA

Freshwater fish, sharks, rays, endemic plants and iconic mammals are among the country’s fastest-declining species, as invasive species, reduced freshwater flows and pollution…

The invasive Opuntia stricta flourishing under the canopy of a native tree in the Kruger National Park. (Photo: SANParks)

Study shows growing number of alien plants infesting Kruger Park

Twenty-one species in the national park are invasive, five of which are among the 100 worst invaders globally

Without biocontrol, Hartbeespoort Dam could be 70% covered in superweed

Tiny bugs winning the fight against invasive water hyacinth in Hartbeespoort Dam

Without biocontrol, Hartbeespoort Dam could be 70% covered in superweed

CapeNature warns against ferret ownership after concerns about a growing environmental threat. (Belinda Speed)

Ferrets: Adorable companions or ecological threats in South Africa?

CapeNature warns against ferret ownership after concerns about a growing environmental threat This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free…

Yellow Oleander, Thevetia peruviana. Single open flower and buds growing in Phrao, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Photo by FlowerPhotos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Invasive alien plant species in eThekwini parks need to be removed

KwaZulu-Natal’s urban spaces are filled with invasive alien species that need to be removed, according to a study by a master’s student employed by the Natural Science Collection…

Committed: Volunteers scrape the invasive weeds and litter, which have been dragged in by members of the rowing and canoeing clubs, onto Wemmer Pan’s banks. Photos: Madison Bannon

Restoring Wemmer Pan’s glory

A diverse community of rowing enthusiasts and local residents who volunteer their time is working tirelessly to clean up the historic pan

Encounters with Palestine and the environment

These subjects take centre stage at a festival showcasing nearly 50 documentaries

An oak tree infested (left) with the invasive shot hole borer will eventually die.

Invasive beetle fells mighty oaks

The trees were first introduced to South Africa in 1656 and have become cultural icons

In early February, AfriForum, together with several other organisations, businesses and community members, removed more than 1 623 tonnes of water lettuce from the Vaal River. Photo: AfriForum

Spraying toxic herbicide on Vaal River to rid it of water lettuce ‘is criminal’

Water specialists have said the use of glyphosate is in contravention of the National Water Act and is a risk for humans and toxic for aquatic life

In early February, AfriForum, together with several other organisations, businesses and community members, removed more than 1 623 tonnes of water lettuce from the Vaal River. Photo: AfriForum

Vaal River residents say water lettuce is ‘national crisis’

If allowed to pass the Vaal River Barrage, the plant has access to a journey of about 1 000km of the middle and lower Vaal river, the Bloemhof Dam and then into the Orange river

Australian crayfish, carp from Europe and Asia, silver carp from China, Nile tilapia, the North American largemouth bass and mosquitofish, suckermouth catfish from South America and alien snails have invaded the park

Invasive fish, snails found in Kruger National Park

Australian crayfish, carp from Europe and Asia, silver carp from China, Nile tilapia, the North American largemouth bass and mosquitofish, suckermouth catfish from South America…

Tree breeding and sustainable intensification (planting more productive trees on less land) are actively being practised in South Africa. (Mondi South Africa)

The little invasive beetle causing big problems for SA’s trees

The search for biological control agents is underway

Invasive: The red-eared slider turtle, made popular by the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ and ‘Rocky’ films, have escaped or been released, creating a problem for wildlife

Red-eared slider turtles slip into SA, another invasive species

The turtles, native to the US, are listed as one of the world’s ‘Top 100’ worst invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

House crows were introduced to South Africa in the 1970s. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)

Invasive animals on the 2023 watchlist

Covid lockdowns only applied to humans, while these five invasive species took advantage of the lack of activity to spread their wings

There is no control programme for common mynas and popular rose-ringed parakeets because of ‘budget constraints’ . (Photo by Fatih Kurt / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP)

These are SA’s four worst invasive bird species

There is no control programme for common mynas and popular rose-ringed parakeets because of ‘budget constraints’

Rose-ringed parakeets were first introduced to South Africa in the 1900s as part of the pet trade. Photo: Supplied
Video

Invasion of rose-ringed parakeet in South Africa ruffles feathers

People who had them as pets, released them into the wild in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town

The Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis) chick is eating rice from its mother on the day of Mother’s Day at Tehatta, West Bengal India on 08/05/2022. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How Kruger Park is tackling one of the world’s most problematic birds – the myna

In South Africa, the gregarious aerial invaders are ‘here to stay’ for the next few million years, scientists say

One of the world’s worst invasive species, the pesky Indian myna, has rapidly infiltrated the Kruger National Park over the past 20 years. (Photo by: David Tipling/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Indian mynas are taking wing in the Kruger National Park and scientists are concerned

Rate of spread of invasive species has ‘dramatically increased’

The invasive bug could unleash R275-billion in economic damage in next decade and urban areas stand to lose 65 million trees. (Photo by Ilan Godfrey/Getty Images for Lumix)

Tiny tree borer beetle could dig up billions in economic damage

The invasive bug could unleash R275-billion in economic damage in next decade and urban areas stand to lose 65 million trees

Water hyacinth being controlled by bio controll measures at hartebeesport. (Delwyn Verasamy)

Insect army winning fight against invasive water hyacinth

The coverage of the invasive superweed has been reduced to 12.5% from 40% in February