African Wildlife and Environment Issue 68

GENERAL

EDITORIAL

Dr John Ledger

One of the pleasures of editing this magazine is that I receive, read and review a number of books for each issue. The natural history publishing arena in South Africa is quite remarkable for a relatively small country, with probably a limited number of people interested in nature. The variety and quality of books on animals and plants published locally is astonishing. In this issue, two particular books have stood out for me. The first is by Professor Mike Bruton, one of our leading ichthyologists and a person who has done a great deal to bring science and conservation to South African citizens. As someone who studied at Rhodes University, under Professor JLB Smith and Margaret Smith, and who subsequently succeeded Margaret Smith as Director of the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, there is no better person to recount the story of ‘Old Fourlegs’, the discovery of the Coelacanth, which was thought to be extinct for 66 million years! The book is in an unusual format, because it comprises an exact copy of the original book, Old Fourlegs: The Story of the Coelacanth , but there are wide margins in which Professor Bruton has inserted comments, notes, and photos, which add background and interest to the riveting tale woven by JLB Smith, whose own writing is really fine, and brings to life the dramatic science story in which he became involved, almost ‘science-fiction’ in parts, to tell the truth. What a wonderful book that I hope many readers will get to own and read for themselves. The other outstanding book reviewed in this issue of the magazine is the latest, greatest, completest guide to the frogs of southern Africa. Vincent Carruthers, himself a former CEO of WESSA, has a deserved reputation as one of our leading natural history experts, with a special interest in frogs. His books, photographs, and recordings of frog calls have done much to popularise these charming and interesting animals. It is remarkable that Carolus Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, and one of the great naturalists of his time, had this to say about frogs in 1758: ‘These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale colour, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them.’

In this latest frog book, Vincent has teamed up with Professor Louis du Preez of North-West University, and they have produced a magnificent piece of work. They write: ‘Harmless, colourful, melodious and ecologically vital, frogs are the antithesis of Linnaeus’s disdain. Some 6 000 species of amphibians are known worldwide, and more are discovered every year. At the same time, the decline and extinction of species is occurring at a disturbingly high rate, indicating widespread environmental malaise.’ Thank goodness for enlightened scientists like Louis du Preez and Vincent Carruthers, who can tell the world a much better story about frogs than Linnaeus could! Another highlight in this issue is the tribute to Dr Robbie Robinson, past Director of SA National Parks, and one of South Africa’s internationally recognised conservationists. He was a person of great integrity and courage, and who spoke out against the opening of the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Areas for angling, a decision by a government minister that contradicts the letter and spirit of the whole concept of MPAs. Against the background of Cape Town’s water woes, Professor Anthony Turton shares with our readers his water lessons from Australia. It is often invidious to draw comparisons with other countries that are as water-stressed as South Africa but seem to manage much better than we do. On the other hand, it is silly for us not to learn from those who have themselves learnt to cope with unpredictable rainfall, or at least regular cycles of drought and good rains. We hope you will enjoy this latest issue of African Wildlife & Environment and thank you for your ongoing support of WESSA. We need more people like you to stand up for the fishes, frogs and other wonders of nature. Do consider a gift subscription to WESSA for family, friends or business associates.

Dr John Ledger Consulting Editor john.ledger@wol.co.za

Fish scientists ‘D-netting’ for species in a shallow channel in the Okavango Read the article on page 16

2 |

3 | African Wildlife & Environment | 68 (2018)