The Khoi are traditionally very strongly connected to our natural world, the environment and the wild animals who live in this environment.
BABOONS OF THE WESTERN CAPE
Chief Stephen Fritz is working with concerned conservationists regarding the ongoing human baboon conflict and the management of baboons in the Western Cape. He hopes that a new management plan will be be beneficial to the baboons whose natural territory is being lost because of the urban spread.
WHITE LIONS
Chief Fritz was awarded a scholarship to the annual Academy for Lion Hearted Leadership, which is a leadership program organised as part of the Global White Lion Trust. Chief Fritz is a lion tracker and communicator. He has also participated in the Global White Lion research project which took place in the UNESCO Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. The research project highlighted the importance of combining indigenous knowledge systems with cutting-edge scientific findings.
LIONS IN CAPTIVITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
In 2018 Chief Stephen Fritz was invited to address the Portfolio Committee on the Environment in Parliament in Cape Town. His presentation was part of a two day colloquium that was held about the South African Captive Lion Industry and the Lion Bone Trade.
Chief Fritz reiterated the Khoi interpretation of the important role of the Lion in the wild.
TROPHY HUNTING OF LION IN GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Chief Stephen Fritz publicly voiced his outrage at the killing of “Skye” on the 7th July 2018 by trophy hunters. A much loved and photographed lion who lived in the Umbabat Reserve, an associated private nature reserve which is situated next to the Kruger National Park.
ELEPHANTS IN CAPTIVITY
In 2019 Chief Fritz was asked to open the “Taking Elephants Out of the Room” Indaba. This conference was held in Hermanus in the Western Cape of South Africa. The conference was attended by elephant specialists from around the world, some of whom attended the conference in person and some who attended and took part virtually. The conference was organised to highlight the captive elephant.
CHARLIE THE ELEPHANT AT THE PRETORIA ZOO
On the 31st March 2021 Chief Stephen Fritz was invited to attend an online meeting which was held between representatives of the Pro Elephant Network, representatives of the South African National Biodiversity Institute and administrators of the Pretoria Zoo. The meeting was held to discuss Charlie, the solitary male Elephant held in captivity at the Pretoria Zoo
WILDLIFE ANIMAL PROTECTION FORUM SOUTH AFRICA
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa was initiated in 2017 as a collaborative network representing the interests of wild animals and as a vehicle to engage with the South African government on animal protection, ethical and compassionate conservation, welfare and biodiversity loss issues amongst others.
Chief Stephen Fritz is a member of WAPFSA.
THE PRO ELEPHANT NETWORK
https://www.proelephantnetwork.org./
PREN’s vision is a future in which all Elephants can thrive in freedom and dignity in their protected natural habitats, as part of naturally functioning, evolving ecosystems.
Chief Stephen Fritz is a member of PREN.
IMAGE CREDITS:
Lammie the Elephant photographed at Johannesburg Zoo by Ban Animal Trading
Skye photographed by Charlie Lynam
Captive Lions and Ligers at Letsatsi La Africa photographed by EMS Foundation
Wild White Lion photographed by the Global White Lion Protection Trust
Charlie photographed by Ban Animal Trading
Kataza photographed by Baboon Matters
© 2019 Chief Stephen Fritz. All rights reserved