MISSIONS & NEWS

Last Saturday, The Bateleurs received an urgent request from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Head of Coastal Care, Santosh Bachoo, following reports of significant oil deposits appearing on South Coast beaches.

A 250kg adult male lion has been safely translocated from Kariega Game Reserve (Eastern Cape)  to Somkhanda Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal) —a carefully coordinated conservation move supported by The Bateleurs, and sponsored by Ivan Carter and Brooke Carter . With tight weather and timing windows, the team flew the mission on an AceJet Citation with Capt. Walter Waldeck and Capt. Louis Van Wyk, while Ivan—renowned for his conservation work and Carter’s W.A.R. —and Brooke, host o

Bateleurs pilot Martin Schulze flew a specialist team into Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to fit tracking units to two Lappet-faced Vulture chicks, supporting Wildlife ACT and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife conservation work.

Discover the inspiring journey of a rehabilitated Secretarybird, an Endangered species, as it returns to the wild.

Pangolin Rescue mission: The Bateleurs and pilot Lloyd Rogers flew Schumi the pangolin from Musina to Hoedspruit for urgent veterinary care and relocation.

Explore the 2025 Wildlife Act Zululand Vulture Survey, a vital initiative to monitor vulture populations. Learn about the 2025 Wildlife Act Zululand Vulture Survey.

The southern right whales survey 2025 recorded 322 whales along South Africa’s coast between Hermanus and Witsand. Led by Dr. Els Vermeulen and the UP Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, with Bateleurs pilot Jean Tresfon, this aerial survey provides vital insights into whale numbers and conservation.

On the 10th July 2025, The Bateleurs flew an injured female cheetah from the Eastern Cape to a specialist veterinary and rehabilitation...

a pangolin sting operation took place at the border in Musina, South Africa. The operation focused on poachers suspected of smuggling a pangolin from Zimbabwe. Intelligence gathered indicated that the pangolin was severely compromised and needed immediate medical attention. With the animal's life at risk, swift action was required to ensure its survival.

Meet Moai – a critically endangered juvenile Hawksbill turtle with a remarkable story of rescue, resilience, and an unexpected journey through the skies - from Bayworld to uShaka Marine World. After stranding near Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, Moai was taken in by the Bayworld Sea Turtle Rehab Section, where he received months of dedicated care and healing.

A critically endangered White-headed Vulture was stabilised in KZN by African Raptor Centre, following injuries that sadly render it unreleasable into the wild. To ensure its long-term care and contribution to the survival of its species, the vulture now requires urgent relocation to the specialist vulture breeding facility at Vulpro Shamwari, Eastern Cape.

EWT Cheetah Relocation. On Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, a collaborative conservation mission led by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and The Bateleurs saw the successful aerial relocation of a female cheetah from Buffelsdrift Game Reserve (Western Cape) to Ukuzwana Game Reserve (Mpumalanga). The mission was coordinated by Olivia Sievert (EWT Cheetah Range Expansion Coordinator) and flown by Bateleurs volunteer pilot Nick Lincoln  in his Baron G58 Beechcraft. 

In a mission guided by Easter weekend weather windows, a juvenile secretary bird took flight - figuratively - with The Bateleurs on a rescue journey from Orania to Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre.

Addo, SA’s third-largest national park, recently faced a crucial challenge—introducing fresh genetics into its aging lion population.

A mission was flown to transport a rehabilitated juvenile White-Backed Vulture from a remote settlement near Klein Mier Pan to Hartebeesport

In December 2024, The Bateleurs facilitated a special wildlife rescue mission, flying two meerkats to Kalahari

Author: Cole du Plessis, Endangered Wildlife Trust African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) have disappeared from 25 of the 39 countries that...

This story of teamwork shows the incredible effort of individuals and organizations who came together.

The Bateleurs joined a sting and rescue operation near the South Africa/Botswana border.

The only Egyptian Vulture pair in South Africa has safely arrived at VulPro@Shamwari! VulPro (https://www.vulpro.com/) has launched an ambit