Geographical

Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Tommy Trenchard

The people saving South Africa’s last penguins

9 minutes

Tommy Trenchard spends time with the conservationists working hard to protect South Africa's last penguins On a breezy summer day at the southern tip of Africa, David Roberts places the end of his stethoscope gently against the beating chest of his latest patient. Listening for a moment, he nods in apparent satisfaction before moving over to inspect the patient’s feet, … [Read more...] about The people saving South Africa’s last penguins

The rise of life-changing social circuses

7 minutes

Zip Zap circus in South Africa is one of a growing number of 'social circuses' that are transforming the lives of marginalised youths In a squat concrete warehouse outside the national football stadium in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, the performers of the Tinafan Circus are busy practising their routines. A contortionist dangles gracefully from a hoop suspended from the … [Read more...] about The rise of life-changing social circuses

South Africa’s plant poaching epidemic

10 minutes

In South Africa, a new wave of poaching has taken off – this time it isn’t big cats, elephants or rhinos in the firing line, but tiny succulent plants On 14 July 2015, Melita Weideman, a park ranger in South Africa’s Knersvlakte Nature Reserve, was sipping coffee at her home in the town of Vanrhynsdorp when she received an urgent phone call. Two trespassers had been seen … [Read more...] about South Africa’s plant poaching epidemic