Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria

New research published in the African Journal of Wildlife Research by Minke Els and Adrian Shrader explored whether an AI-powered species recognition system could accurately identify elephants for use in automated wildlife gates.

Conducted while Minke was a BSc Honours student in Wildlife Management, the study found that the system reliably detected elephants but also revealed important limitations, including misidentifying ostriches as elephants and struggling with certain non-elephant objects.

The findings highlight both the promise and the challenges of applying AI to conservation management and wildlife connectivity.

https://doi.org/10.3957/056.056.0172

New open-access research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology by Chris Weldon and collaborators from South Africa and the USA shows that the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) can flexibly switch between carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism during desiccation and recovery, a capability largely absent in the more desiccation-sensitive Natal fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa).

This metabolic flexibility may help explain the remarkable resilience and invasion success of this globally important pest species.



https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/doi/10.1242/jeb.250861/371889/Flexible-nutrient-oxidation-during-desiccation-is

Whale strike risk rises as international shipping reroutes around South Africa In April this year, two Bryde’s whales washed-up dead-on Dyer Island, a small nature reserve located a few kilometers off the coast of Gansbaai in South Africa’s Western Cape province. Both whales carried severe injuries; their vertebrae had been shattered. “It was very clear that it was [vess...

New open-access research in Oikos by Adrian Shrader and Rachel Stein reveals that black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) engage in far more structured social interactions than previously recognised - with important consequences for survival.

Using 69,920 sightings across 14 reserves in southern Africa, the study shows that association patterns vary by age and s*x, are shaped by prior familiarity, and can carry both costs and benefits. While some sociality may reduce mortality risk in adult males under certain conditions, higher rates of association can increase mortality risk for calves and some adults, likely due to aggressive encounters.

These findings highlight that even largely solitary animals maintain complex social networks that can strongly influence life-history outcomes.

https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oik.12226

WE ARE HIRING! 📢

We are looking for a Senior Technical Director for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) based in Acornhoek, South Africa.

This is a senior leadership role focused on providing strategic and technical oversight across one of South Africa’s most important conservation landscapes. The position plays a key role in guiding large-scale, multi-stakeholder conservation and development programmes, including rangeland restoration, climate resilience, and nature-based solutions.

📅 Application deadline: 25 June 2026 (11:49 PM EST)
🔗 For more information and to apply: https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CONSERVATION&cws=39&rid=2732

Today is ! Here’s something we don’t hear often enough: “We’re not failing conservation, we’re measuring it badly.”

A global study co-authored by the University of Pretoria shows that nature is actually recovering in many places, even if global averages don’t always show it. It’s a powerful reminder that better data helps us see what’s working, so we can do more of it.

Read more: https://ow.ly/RZmH50Z7vn6

From beetles and butterflies to flies and wasps, the 2026 ZEN 355 Insect Diversity students have completed their insect collections, showcasing the remarkable diversity of South Africa’s insect fauna and developing essential taxonomic and biodiversity assessment skills.

These collections highlight the diversity of insects and their lifecycles, and provide valuable hands-on experience for the next generation of entomologists.

Our latest paper has just appeared in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. Working with Professor Andreas Nord at Lund University in Sweden, HBRP team members Marc Freeman and Andrew McKechnie synthesized current knowledge on physiological limits to avian heat tolerance and identified emerging research questions. The paper is featured on the cover of June 2026 issue of TREE, with this stunning secretarybird photo by Marc.

The article can be found here: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(26)00053-4

New research published in Oecologia by Adrian Shrader and collaborators from France, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Namibia, South Africa, and the USA investigated how wind affects the movements of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and elephants across multiple African protected areas.

Using GPS tracking data, the team found little evidence that herbivores reduce long-distance movements under windy conditions. While animals showed a slight tendency to move upwind—potentially to improve access to environmental information—the overall effects of wind on movement decisions were small and inconsistent across species and locations.

The findings suggest that wind may play a more limited role in shaping large-scale herbivore movements than previously thought, highlighting the importance of local environmental conditions and species-specific behaviours.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-025-05860-8

New open-access research by Kevin Malod and Chris Weldon, published in the Journal of Applied Entomology, highlights critical knowledge gaps in the biology of the African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae — an important vector of citrus greening disease (HLB).

Their systematic review found that most research has focused on distribution, monitoring and control, while key areas such as thermal biology, chemical ecology and host plant interactions remain poorly studied. Improving our understanding of this pest is essential for protecting citrus production in Africa and beyond.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jen.70121