Born Free Lions: German lionesses return home to Africa

A few episodes ago, a quick update on the rescue of the two lionesses from a circus in Germany, where they were kept in appalling and abusive conditions, was aired. One of the lionesses had her tail amputated, caused due to a massive infection, threatening to spread into her spine. The response on 50/50’s social media platforms was so overwhelming that they have decided to air the whole story. The dedicated team at Free Me worked tirelessly for months with vets, airlines and wildlife transport teams in order to get these two eight-year-old sisters fit and ready to make the long flight to their new home in the Eastern Cape, where they will start their new lives on African soil.

African Penguins: decline of Africa’s most formal looking bird

In 1900, it was estimated that about 1.5 million birds lived on Dassen Island alone. There are now only about 21 000 breeding pairs of African penguins left in the world and they are listed as endangered’. The reasons for the rapid decline in the population are due to egg harvesting, disease and guano harvesting for use as fertiliser, reduction in food supply due to commercial fishing and oil pollution. Organisations such as SANCCOB are working to halt the decline of the African penguin. Measures include monitoring population trends, hand-rearing and releasing abandoned chicks, establishing artificial nests and proclaiming marine reserves in which fishing is prohibited. 50/50 caught up with the SANCCOB team based in Cape Town to find out exactly what they are doing to curb the population nose-dive of this charismatic and comical species that is so special to South African waters. They also meet a few interesting penguin characters along the way.

Danger files: It can happen in a flash

Even with all the technology, nature’s unbridled power is a harsh reminder of how insignificant human beings can be in comparison to the sheer might of a large fire, a Tsunami or an earthquake. Buildings and bridges can be destroyed in the blink of an eye – proving time and time again, Mother Nature is in command. Flash floods are something that many people in Southern Africa will be aware of, responsible for killing 127 people on average every year, as heavy rains fill catchment areas of rivers further upstream, people further down are unaware of the raging torrent thundering closer. They can happen with no warning, and anyone caught in the river’s path is in real peril. In this week’s Danger Files, 50/50 meet a woman who survived this nightmare, and is lucky enough to share her story.

Rhino Brief
: Orphaned rhino calves

The brutal killing of rhino for the illegal trade in horn is responsible for the death of 1215 rhino in 2014 alone. These statistics are horrifying enough, but there is also collateral damage in the form of the orphaned calves that many of these rhino leave behind. In this week’s Rhino Brief, 50/50 heads to the Kruger National Park to find out exactly what happens to the young animals that are left without protection or food, and how SANParks is responding to the situation.

Veld Focus

In Veld Focus, viewers will witness some amazing meal choices made by a few rather determined animals. One will see a mongoose make short work of a snake, a weasel taking on a mole rat and a honey badger proves once again why he is the real boss of the bushveld.

This episode of 
50/50 airs on Sunday, 26 April at 17:30 on SABC3.