The purpose of the EWT’s Wildlife and Energy programme is to reduce the impact of energy infrastructure on wildlife.
Energy infrastructure can have a devastating effect on wildlife. We believe we can have a positive influence on the wildlife management policies of utilities, reduce the impact on wildlife, improve quality of supply to customers and ultimately phase out problematic processes and hardware to substantially minimise wildlife interactions with electricity infrastructure in Africa.
We achieve this through the following projects:
• Eskom/EWT Strategic Partnership: Generation, Transmission and Distribution
• Eskom/EWT Strategic Partnership: Training
• Eskom/EWT Strategic Partnership: Research
• Eskom/EWT Strategic Partnership: Renewable Energy
• Off the Grid
• Conservation Drones
Target species:
• Lesser Flamingo
• Ludwig’s Bustard
• Blue Crane
• Martial Eagles
• Vultures
• Other birds and wildlife affected by energy infrastructure
For more information, contact Lourens Leeuwner
What we've been up to
Making waves – a wacky new way to whale watch
In a game-changer for marine conservation research, the EWT recently partnered with the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit to use drone technology to conduct critical research on the body conditions and behaviour patterns of Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis).
African conference for linear infrastructure and ecology
The second African Conference for Linear Infrastructure and Ecology (ACLIE), co-hosted by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT), and Ewaso Lions (EL), took place between 12 and 17 August 2021.
Drone technology is successfully used to attach bird flight diverters to a live powerline
Through innovative 3D design and printing technology, the EWT developed a working prototype of a remote attachment system mounted on a drone that can attach flappers to powerlines safely.
Technology taking conservation to new heights
The Karoo is an iconic and timeless landscape that has been farmed for large-scale small stock production for almost 400 years.
A prickly situation
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife and Energy Programme (WEP) and the Eskom Transmission team (Central Grid) have been working determinedly to capture porcupines that have been burrowing close to a transmission line tower foundation near Delmas.
Powering partnerships in Africa
The EWT’s Wildlife and Energy Programme (WEP) was recently contracted by Power Africa, a USAID-funded development programme, to set up utility and NGO partnerships in Africa. The focus of this project is to optimise electricity supply through reduced wildlife interactions, and is modelled on the long-standing partnership between the EWT and Eskom.
All’s well that ends well for breeding cormorants
Recently the EWT’s Wildlife and Energy Programme (WEP) received a request for urgent action from Eskom Transmission’s North-East Grid to help deal with nesting cormorants causing problems for Kriel Power Station.
