Special sightings:
Being witness to a lion hunt is a rare and special sighting few are privileged enough to see. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. On the 3rd of June 2008, some of our guests were lucky enough to see a lioness stalk and kill a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis).

Our Baby Rhino is growing up!

Pic of Aquila's baby Rhino

Did you know?
Bats are the only flying mammals in the world

Who stepped here?

Mystery Footprint

The Water mongoose/ Kommetjiesgatmuishond (Atilax paludinosus)

Black Eagle Project:
The Black Eagle/ Witkruis arend (Aquila verreauxii) is a large, black raptor with a distinctive white V on its upper back. It can be found in rocky hills, mountains and gorges. Its diet consists of mainly rock hyrax, but also hares, monkeys, game birds, small antelopes and other small mammals. Human activities such as farming as well as rural and industrial development poses a threat to its survival, as such developments encroach on its natural habitat. Aquila Private Game Reserve has partnered up with Swartland wineries and started a conservation project to help protect and monitor this magnificent bird.

Monitoring the Black Eagle entails going out into the feld and recording sightings of the bird. These sightings, as well as the number of birds, its location and what it was doing at the time, are logged.
Keeping record of sightings are essential, as this helps to determine the number of eagles in the area as well as to identify breeding pairs. Whether their numbers are increasing or decreasing in the area can then also be monitored by comparing the number of sightings in previous years to the number of recent sightings.

On the 9th of June 2008, a single adult was spotted gliding through the air, most likely in search of prey.

On the 10th of June 2008, a pair of eagles was found gliding along the rock faces deeper into the reserve. Male and females will form breeding pairs and often hunt cooperatively. As their breeding season is roughly from April to June, it is likely that they have a nest somewhere on a cliff ledge in the mountains on the reserve.

Another sighting of an adult was found on the 22nd of June 2008, this time in the complete opposite end of the reserve, more to the south eastern corner of the reserve.

An adult was spotted the very next day, on the 23rd of June 2008, not far from where an eagle was spotted the day before. It is likely that this is the same adult spotted on the 22nd.

On the 1st of July 2008, two of our rangers climbed up the mountains in search of raptors. After 3 hours of climbing up cliffs and hiking up a gorge, their efforts were rewarded. At the highest point on the reserve, they finally spotted a Black Eagle, gliding relatively low overhead. They reported that they could clearly see the white tips on its wings as well as the yellow feet of the eagle as it glided past and out of sight.

Photo of a Black Eagle in flight

Animal of the month: Lion/ Leeu (Panthera leo)
The lion is the largest of the African cats and often referred to as “the king of the African bush”. Males have a thick mane, which the females lack. Lions are very adaptable animals and can be found in a wide range of habitats. Being opportunistic hunters, their diet may include anything from termites to young elephants, although they favour medium to large sized antelope species.

A pride of lions is truly a magnificent site in the wild. Prides consist of a sisterhood of closely related females as well as up to 6 male lions, which are not related to the females. The males in the pride are the pride owners. Vicious fights break out when new comers challenge pride owners. Africa would not be the same without the roar of the lion booming through the night air.

Picture of a male lion

The pen might be mightier than the sword, but not mightier than my love for conservation or Aquila’s conservation efforts!

Aquila went to massive effort and expense to source and re-introduce lions and lion cubs that we saved from a doomed ‘canned lion’ fate. For this we received international acclaim and heaps of positive publicity across all forms of media, as well as industry support. It is true that several years ago we allowed tourists to interact with lion cubs and assist at feeding times as the cubs were too young and too defenseless to be released into their new sanctuary. This practice was stopped many years ago and not because of any complaints as implied.

In a conservation effort, we currently offer free educational introductions to our Cheetahs, highlighting the plight of the free ranging cheetah and their critically diminishing numbers. It’s important to note that our cheetahs were captive bred and not “born free” as the article insinuates. They do not form part of Aquila’s game drive and the experience is strictly controlled and in the interest of cheetah survival worldwide.

Many reputable tour operators world wide including those mentioned support us with confidence, having visited the reserve and having satisfied themselves that our conservation practices meet their high standards and those of respected international conservation authorities.

Whilst this article makes interesting reading, I have no idea why Aquila has been implicated in it as it is common knowledge that Aquila condemns the despicable canned lion hunting industry. Aquila’s lions still thrive on our reserve in their massive sanctuary and enjoy Aquilas mountains, valleys, rivers and kloofs. None have ever been sold or hunted and I have no idea why for the first time ever, our conservation ethics have been challenged. If the journalist in a responsible journalism effort took the time to Google Aquila, I’m sure he would of written a more accurate & complimentary article .

Searl Derman

Owner Aquila Private Game Reserve