This month we bring you our regular writers and as as usual a few surprises!

Tim McClurg has done sterling work in supporting Krantzkloof Nature Reserve whether through his efforts to control bracken infestations, recording wildlife movements or just keeping an amazing photographic record of various species. His stunning photographs are regularly used in the monthly Kloof Conservancy e-newsletter and in this edition he shares with us some of his photographic “tricks” as he illustrates some of the pollinating insects of the reserve.

Neil Crouch is no stranger to The Leopard’s Echo having written an article on the ferns of Krantzkloof (January 2015) and also been the subject of our Eco-impi interview (January 2017). Neil and co-authors recently published what is arguably the definitive field guide on succulents in South Africa and he has kindly agreed to review for us some of the more important and interesting succulents to be found in Krantzkloof. The photographs are stunning and as a bonus we have two copies of Neil’s new book to give away (details in the book competition section below).

Our Eco-impi interview for this edition is with renowned ornithologist and Curator of Birds at the Durban Natural Science Museum, David Allan. David is our “reference” point whenever we need help with bird information and his encyclopedic knowledge and practical advice is much appreciated.

Arend Hoogervorst continues to test our resolve on environmental issues and in this issue he focuses on litter which has been a particular problem on our Aller River Pilot Project!

Robin Lamplough in his look back at history features a well travelled historical artist in Thomas Baines.

Our regular species writers (Marlies Craig, Peter Spence, Pat McKrill and Steve Woodhall) were briefed to write about the “what, where and why” of their species and as usual they have excelled with their selection, descriptions and photographs.

Our goal in this magazine is to expose you, our members to the wealth of biodiversity we have in our area through the eyes of specialists who live here and who are determined to protect our precious biodiversity. Their passion is clearly tangible in their articles!

Enjoy the read and as always we would love your feedback.

Paolo Candotti

Giveaway competition

Struik Nature have been enormously supportive of The Leopard’s Echo and to accompany the article by Neil Crouch on the succulents of Krantzkloof they have donated two copies of the outstanding new book by Neil and co-authors on the Succulents of South Africa: ‘A Field Guide to the Succulents in Southern Africa‘.

To enter the competition please send an e-mail to us and in the SUBJECT line enter the name of any of the succulents mentioned in Neil’s article. Please send your e-mail entries to info@kloofconservancy.org.za.

A lucky draw will be held at the end of February and the winners will be notified by e-mail.

For details of the new book visit: A Field Guide to the Succulents in Southern Africa.