Media were recently invited to take part in an extraordinary conservation initiative hosted by the Ford Wildlife Foundation in partnership with freshwater ecologist Dr Jeremy Shelton and his dedicated research team. The event centred on the catch, transport, tagging, and release of the endangered Witvis - a rare fish species endemic to South Africa - and offered participants a unique, hands-on opportunity to engage with real-time ecological restoration.
The journey began near Worcester, where researchers had cast nets into the Bluegum Dam the evening before to capture as many Witvis as possible for relocation. The media were actively involved in retrieving the fish from the nets and transferring them into large, water-filled buckets. These were carefully loaded onto the back of Ford Ranger Double Cabs - vehicles provided by the Ford Wildlife Foundation to support the team’s mobility in reaching remote and often inaccessible conservation areas.
The group then made their way up a steep dirt road to the dam site, where the Witvis had been residing for over a year as part of a preparatory phase before release. The excitement of the researchers was infectious, with their passion and long-standing commitment to the project clearly evident. Dr Shelton, who has been working in partnership with the Ford Wildlife Foundation for several years, explained the significance of reintroducing the species to its native waters.
The convoy travelled to Babylonstoren, a beautiful estate in Paarl, in the Western Cape, where the Witvis were tagged and released into a private section of the Berg River, selected specifically for its ideal conditions to encourage breeding and ensure the long-term survival of the species in the wild.
The immersive field experience left a lasting impression on the attending media, many of whom expressed appreciation for being able to actively participate in a conservation effort of this nature. For many, it was a rare opportunity to contribute directly, however briefly, to the preservation of an endangered species, while gaining first-hand insight into the broader ecological value of such interventions.
The result was widespread media coverage that successfully highlighted both the significance of the conservation project and the vital role the Ford Wildlife Foundation continues to play in supporting environmental research and the protection of South Africa’s natural heritage.