The programme equips young professionals with the hands-on experience they need to lead a better, greener South Africa!

Newlands, South Africa (01 April 2026) – The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in South Africa has been running its Environmental Leaders Graduate Internship Programme for 15 years now. It’s become a bridge for Honours and Master’s graduates as they move into the working world.

The twelve-month-long paid internship programme, which runs every two years, gives recent graduates the experience and professional networking they need to actually build long-term careers in the environmental sector.

The programme responds to real skill shortages in South Africa. While we usually think of conservation in a traditional sense, the programme also places interns in high-demand, emerging fields like green engineering, sustainable architecture, and economics.

By focusing on these gaps, WWF helps build SA’s next generation of green fighters who bring their skills into wide-ranging fields, ensuring we have the right people, in all the right places, protecting the environment.

Over the years, interns have been hosted at leading organisations like SANParks, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

The latest cohort includes graduates from universities all across the country currently completing their internships this month. The celebration was marked with a valedictory in the Newlands.

As the class of 2026 gear up for the next phase of their professional lives, they leave the programme equipped to protect and lead a better environmental future for South Africa! 

Sources: WWF South Africa.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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This video will fix whatever is wrong with your day. You’re welcome!

Nelspruit, South Africa (31 March 2026) – The newest (and perhaps muddiest) member of the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary family has us smiling from ear to ear.

At just over three weeks old, a tiny white rhino calf is already making a big splash. In an adorable video shared by the sanctuary this week, the little bull is captured discovering the absolute joy of a good old-fashioned mud wallow.

“Rose’s baby, now just over 3 weeks old, is already enjoying the delights of a mud wallow. His mom took him to the shallow end, but he made sure to fully immerse himself, rolling onto his side, coating his face, and learning not to inhale the mud and water.” the sanctuary shares. 

While the calf practiced his ‘mud-bath’ skills, his mama, Rose, took the opportunity for a well-deserved break. Being a rhino mom is tough work.

“Meanwhile, Rose rested quietly next to him, enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet while her little boy kept himself entertained for quite a while, as rangers watched in awe close by… How amazing to see such confidence in such a young calf just because Mom is nearby!”

This playful moment is even more special when you know Rose’s history from heartbreak to hope.

“Rose was rescued in 2017 after poachers shot and fatally injured her mother. Left orphaned and alone, she was fortunately found in time by rescuers and brought to Care for Wild. Here, she began her long journey of rehabilitation and grew up alongside fellow orphans…”

Rose is no longer an orphan in need of a mom, but now a mama herself, raising the next generation in a protected space! It’s a beautiful reminder that even after tragedy, there is space for hope, healing, and lots of mud!

Sources: Linked above.

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post White Rhino Calf Wallows in Mud – Cuteness Overload! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

It’s a good season to be a Cape Gannet on Bird Island!

Lambert’s Bay, South Africa (27 March 2026) – It’s like looking at a cloud of white wings. That’s how sublime Bird Island becomes in the breeding season.

Around 43,000 Cape Gannets have made the island their home this year. A thriving colony of this size is a reason to celebrate, as the Cape Gannet is listed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List. Two steps away from extinction in the wild.

Over the past years, the Bird Island colony held steady in the 30,000s. Between last year and this season, numbers have pushed well into the 40,000s. The jump is significant enough to suggest that gannets from other colonies are actively choosing Bird Island as their preferred place to breed.

It hasn’t always looked so hopeful. Just over a decade ago, the entire colony abandoned the island almost overnight after on-land seal predation made it too dangerous. Every single gannet left. The team at CapeNature refused to give up. They implemented predator management measures and, in one of the more creative conservation interventions you’ll ever hear about, used bird decoys to lure the gannets back!!

It worked. The colony slowly rebuilt and today it’s thriving again. In fact, early signs suggest this could be one of the strongest fledging seasons in several years. So far, 7647 young birds have been recorded and there are still several weeks of the season to go.

Gannet fledging is one of nature’s most spectacular events. Young birds leave the safety of the colony to embark on a two to three-year ocean-wide journey, returning only once they are ready to breed. Every fledgling leaving Bird Island right now is heading off on that extraordinary solo voyage…

In an effort to track them and understand their movements, rangers have ringed 750 chicks and 250 adult birds in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. This will bring vital data to national seabird research.

The busy breeding season is good news for the gannets, but also for the ocean!

“This kind of sustained occupancy is a positive sign for the species and for the marine environment that supports them,” says Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature. “Large, stable gannet colonies like the one on Bird Island are important indicators of ocean health along the West Coast. These seabirds rely on healthy marine ecosystems for their nutrition and breeding success, so when we see them in large numbers, it reflects a positive conservation outcome.”

The island hosts Cape, Crowned and White-breasted Cormorants, Common and Greater Crested Terns, Hartlaub’s and Kelp Gulls and, adding a touch of personality, a moulting penguin has taken up temporary residence within the gannet colony.

Bird Island has also updated its interpretive signage, which now gives visitors richer context about the island’s inhabitants, its history, and why seabird colonies matter to the broader marine ecosystem. It is a wonderful stop to make along the West Coast – now especially!

Sources: CapeNature.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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They made room for one more…

Limpopo, South Africa (26 March 2026) – The Rhino Orphanage (TRO) recently welcomed an unexpected new arrival. Not a rhino this time, but a month-old sable calf who needed a family just as much.

The team was called in after the little bull appeared weak, and struggling to nurse.

“The baby was weak, dehydrated and didn’t seem to drink from its mother. The property owner and attending vet Dr Ben Uys, assessed and thought that moms milk may have dried up. They were also concerned about his left eye.” TRO shared.

When he arrived at TRO in Limpopo, a clinical examination confirmed that the calf had been fighting considerable pain.

“It was discovered that the little guy had a very bad, painful cut in his mouth, a swollen lower lip and an ulcer in his left eye.”

The ‘baby’ sable was treated for pain, given antibiotics and received eye treatment. Thankfully after 24 hours of trying, he started suckling and is looking better already.

And so, the crash made room for one more.

While the name might lead you to believe the orphanage only welcomes rhinos, there happen to be a number of other residents, including goats and lambs, at TRO. They are brought in to comfort and companion the calves who are too small to be around bigger rhinos but too fragile to be alone.

TRO’s work follows four careful stages of rescue, raising, rehabilitating, releasing. Each is a step toward giving orphaned rhinos a chance to return to the wild where they belong.

The sable calf is doing well. He’s in good hands, and rare company!

Sources: Linked above.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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The new mural joins two existing pieces created to bring more awareness to wildlife that has the right-of-way in Dana Bay!

Garden Route, South Africa (25 March 2026) – A brand new mural has gone up at the Government Health Clinic on the corner of Distans Street and Comosa Street in Dana Bay, celebrating nine bird species that are endemic and commonly found in the region.

Dana Bay is a legally recognised conservancy where the community commits to protecting and living in harmony with the environment. Its coastal and limestone fynbos support among the highest numbers of endemic species in the entire Cape floristic region!

Bush buck, steenbok, mongooses and Cape francolins all roam freely there, sharing nature’s abundance with prolific bird life.

The new mural – third in an ongoing series – was commissioned by the Dana Bay Conservancy to celebrate and bring awareness to this natural world.

“This is the third mural commissioned to create awareness to the residents, visitors, holidaymakers, and contractors that this is a conservancy where our wildlife have right-of-way.” shares Erika Van Der Westhuizen, Chairperson of the conservancy. “And, that our community should be the custodians to protect and conserve our natural world in Dana Bay.”

Local artist Jacques Schutte from Arts Busted painted the piece, marking his first full mural beyond the still life and landscape paintings he usually creates with oil paint on canvas.

The artwork depicts nine endemic and common bird species found in the region, including the Spotted Eagle Owl, Jackal Buzzard, Burchell’s Coucal, Cape Sugarbird, Cape White-Eye, Helmeted Guineafowl, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Cape Robin-chat, and Southern Double-collared Sunbird.

The third mural joins two existing artworks in the same series. The first was painted on Flora Road, of a mountain landscape highlighting our beautiful indigenous proteas.

The second on Malva Road shines the light on Dana Bay’s endemic fauna in a colourful seascape.

There’s already a fourth mural in the planning, celebrating whales!

Sources: GTG Interview.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post New Mural Shines the Light on the Endemic Birds of Dana Bay! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

To put 81,000 hectares in perspective…that’s roughly 114,000 soccer fields of precious biodiversity now under formal protection!

Cape Town, South Africa (24 March 2026) – Between April 2025 and March 2026, CapeNature and the Western Cape Government formally declared 24 new nature reserves across the province, adding over 81,715 hectares to South Africa’s protected area network in one single year!

That’s the equivalent of more than 114,000 soccer fields of fynbos, renosterveld, mountain and karoo landscapes that now have formal, legal protection.

Two of the reserves, Anysberg and Knersvlakte, are CapeNature-managed expansions. The rest are privately owned, brought into the protected area network through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, which allows landowners to voluntarily declare their properties as nature reserves.

The Cape Floristic Region is one of the most beautifully diverse places on Earth. In fact, it’s one of only 36 recognised global biodiversity hotspots. Our Cape Floral Kingdom is home to thousands of plant species that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth! Sadly, many of them under pressure from habitat loss, invasive species and climate change.

Formal protection doesn’t solve those problems directly but it gives the land a chance to fight back.

“These hotspots are regions that have high levels of biodiversity, but that are also the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. Healthy and resilient ecosystems are essential to sustain livelihoods and economic growth and must be actively protected, managed, and restored.” said Anton Bredell, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

The new reserves cover a wide spread of the Western Cape from the Cederberg and Agulhas Plain to the Garden Route and Little Karoo. They range in size from just under 11 hectares to more than 34,000 hectares.

The expanded Knersvlakte Nature Reserve alone accounts for over 34,000 hectares of succulent karoo, one of the most botanically rich arid regions on the planet!

The 24 declarations made over the past year also contribute to South Africa’s commitments under the ongoing global initiative that aims to formally protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Every hectare declared here counts toward that!

“Our ability to declare these additional reserves is made possible through partner organisations and landowners, working with CapeNature.” adds Bredell.

South Africa is delivering conservation wins that the world really needs. And more importantly, ordinary South Africans have become a big part of that difference.

Most of these new reserves are privately owned. Which means that individual landowners like farmers, families, and property owners made the choice to voluntarily commit their land to conservation through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. That comes with a long-term commitment and responsibility to manage protected land.

“Their commitment ensures that important natural areas receive formal protection, and together we are taking steps toward securing a healthier, more resilient environment for decades to come.” said Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature

Every landowner who steps up to protect their land makes a real difference for conservation.

The 24 Newly Declared Nature Reserves

• Anysberg Nature Reserve (expansion) — 6 918.3081 ha
• Bloutoring Nature Reserve — 4 610.8996 ha
• Buffalo Valley Nature Reserve — 318.3445 ha
• Cedar Rock Nature Reserve — 9 872.7000 ha
• Cederberg Oasis Nature Reserve — 226.664 ha
• Diosma Nature Reserve — 10.7664 ha
• Doringkloof Karoo Plaas Nature Reserve — 209.2027 ha
• Franco Three Fountains — 21.4250 ha
• Fynbosstrand Nature Reserve — 425.6964 ha
• Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve — 3 658.0296 ha
• Haarwegskloof — 547.7954 ha
• Kleiheuwel Nature Reserve — 2 724.5000 ha
• Knersvlakte Nature Reserve (expansion) — 34 084.3925 ha
• Koopmanskloof Nature Reserve — 65.5074 ha
• Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve — 6 922.6114 ha
• Machaseh Nature Reserve — 844.8371 ha
• Mount David Nature Reserve — 713.0000 ha
• Pietersrivier Nature Reserve — 1 151.2790 ha
• Puntjie Nature Reserve — 102,1145 ha
• Silflay Renosterveld Nature Reserve — 1 280.6129 ha
• Voorstekop Nature Reserve — 347.9000 ha
• Waterkloof Nature Reserve — 2 062.9245 ha
• Wilderness — 643.6419 ha
• Zebraskop Nature Reserve — 3 952.2036 ha

Keen to visit? Public access will be determined in line with each reserve’s land-use and conservation requirements. For the privately managed ones, the public is advised to contact the reserve directly.

The Biodiversity Stewardship Programme is open to landowners across the Western Cape. If you own land with conservation value, you can apply to have it formally declared as a Protected Area and nature reserve, joining the growing network of privately protected land in the province.

Want to make a difference? Reach out to CapeNature’s Stewardship Team here to begin the process of formally protecting your land.

Sources: CapeNature.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Over 81,000 Hectares Protected With 24 Newly-Declared Nature Reserves in Western Cape! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

This Easter, SANCCOB is asking you to adopt an egg. A penguin egg!

South Africa (23 March 2026) – With over 500 African penguin eggs admitted to the nursery this year and chicks hatching every day, SANCCOB could use all the penguin love you can muster!

While most of our minds are drifting ever-so-closely toward marshmallow and speckled eggs around this time of year, the dedicated crew at SANCCOB are focused on eggs of its own.

Following the record-breaking news of 150 hatchlings in February, numbers have continued to climb in the seabird nursery, which is officially ‘cheeping’ at max capacity.

The nursery is the busiest its ever been, currently home to approximately 180 hungry, growing chicks, and there are over 100 more are still tucked away in incubators.

The ‘hatchday’ celebrations keep on coming. With fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left in the wild, it’s the happiest news! But it also brings massive demand for time and resources.

“This hatchling season has been the most demanding in SANCCOB’s history, with the highest number of eggs and hatchlings ever admitted. Our dedicated staff and interns have been working around the clock to provide the specialised care these vulnerable chicks require. Each chick is weighed daily, assigned a unique identification number, and placed on an individualised feeding plan tailored to its development and nutritional needs.” says Romy Klusner, SANCCOB’s Senior Conservation Manager.

Keeping that many critically endangered African Penguin chicks healthy is a huge undertaking that requires 24/7 dedication. Feeding is a task on its own, but so is maintaining a safe, sterile environment where these little ones can thrive. The team is working day and night to manage everything from strict biosecurity to individual care for every single bird.

“The team has done an exceptional job managing this unprecedented intake…It remains an ‘all hands-on deck’ effort, and we anticipate several more months of intensive feeding, monitoring, and care.” says Romy.

 

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A post shared by SANCCOB (@sanccob)

To help meet the demand, SANCCOB has launched the ‘Adopt an Easter Egg’ campaign. For R300, supporters can become an official African penguin ‘egg parent’ and help a chick that needs support.

“Purchasing a SANCCOB adoption directly supports the artificial incubation and hand‑rearing of endangered African Penguin chicks.” says Romy.

Adopting and sharing the news also helps raise awareness about the challenges facing the species while providing essential funding for SANCCOB’s daily operational needs.

“This includes feeding, medical care, and the specialised equipment required to give each chick the best possible chance of survival before release back into the wild.” says Romy.

Because the intake is so high, SANCCOB is also looking for some extra hands to join the mission and help give these chicks the best possible start in life.

“We also urgently need long‑term interns who can assist with feeding and caring for the chicks. SANCCOB offers structured four- and six-month internships, with all training provided onsite, giving interns hands‑on experience with critically endangered African Penguin chicks.”

Every single egg that hatches represents a massive glimmer of hope for the species. Every bit of help along the way makes a difference.

Click here to Adopt an Egg or support SANCCOB today!

Sources: GTG Interview.

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Swap the Choccie for a Penguin Egg and Save a Chick at SANCCOB appeared first on Good Things Guy.

‘He looks like a pine-cone dipped in chocolate!’

South Africa (22 March 2026) – The Pangolin Crisis Fund posted a video of a pangolin taking a mud bath and it’s one of the most wholesome things we ever did see!

Pangolins roll and twist to get mud underneath all those overlapping scales, it’s skin and scale care that also smothers parasites and keeps them cool in the heat.

We’re adding this one to our archive of cool pangolin sightings!

The wholesomeness was shared by the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Pangolin Crisis Fund, which works to eliminate the poaching, trafficking, and demand crisis threatening all eight of pangolin species. They fund over 100 projects across 28 countries worldwide to stop poaching, disrupt the trade, and create more awareness about the world’s eight pangolin species under threat.

Locally, heroes like the team at the African Pangolin Working Group work to protect the species. Just this week, a documentary telling the story of one of their rescued pangolins scooped not one but two Golden Horns at the SAFTAs!

Then there are other drives like the one from the Habitat Nature Parks Foundation and the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, who created a free augmented reality app that lets you project a life-size pangolin right into your living room and actually chat with it…

There’s even a worldwide drive to get a pangolin emoji, and everyone can get involved — all it takes is a quick Google search for ‘pangolin’ to help the cause. There’s even a chance to design the emoji yourself if you’re feeling creative!

Sources: Linked above.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post That’s Not a Pinecone, It’s a Pangolin – Cutest Mud Bath Evs! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

With fewer than 7000 wild dogs left in the world and fewer than 650 in South Africa, conservation efforts like this one bring real hope for an endangered species.

Waterberg, South Africa (18 March 2026) – Four years ago, conservationists helped establish a pack of African wild dogs in Mabula reserve.

It started in 2021 when two male wild dogs naturally dispersed from northern Limpopo. They walked for 330 kilometres until they arrived at Mabula Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg. Ivan Killian, the reserve manager, knew that two males without a pack could be a great starting point to establish a new breeding pack.

So the team contacted the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Waterberg Wild Dog Initiative, and together they identified two females from the free-roaming Waterberg population. The four dogs were carefully introduced, given time to settle and bond with each other, and released onto the reserve in May 2022.

They’re a breeding pack now – one of only two in the Waterberg region.

Globally, fewer than 7000 wild dogs remain. South Africa is home to less than 650 of them. Every wild dog pup born from a breeding pack is a positive step in turning the odds around for an incredible species.

The reserve is an ideal spot for them, giving the pack ample space and prey to hunt without the risk of threats like human-wildlife conflict, disease and habitat-loss.

“Wild dogs are highly social species and require large ranges to hunt successfully,” says Killian, “Their survival is complex, as they face threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and disease. Conservation efforts that create safe, connected habitats are critical to maintaining viable populations and supporting national metapopulation strategies.”

Prof. Peet van der Merwe from North-West University says that South Africa is well-placed to make wild dogs a strong attraction for responsible wildlife tourism, beyond the ‘Big 5’ experience.

“South Africa is in a fortunate position in this regard. The country already hosts several reserves and protected areas where wild dogs occur, which provides a strong foundation for positioning the species as a strategic tourism drawcard.”

People who have watched wild dogs hunt, socialise, and care for their pups don’t forget it. These encounters also help visitors understand the important role of protected areas and conservation programmes like this one, which aim to establish new breeding packs.

“Responsible wildlife tourism is more than observation – it helps sustain the programmes that ensure species like wild dogs survive for generations,” Killian says. “Every guest who witnesses our wild dogs contributes to long-term conservation impact.”

Tourism – people, actually visiting the bush to see these rare and fascinating predators in action – is what makes the conservation aspect financially viable, too. Reserves, wildlife organisations, and visitors are all part of the drive to boost wild dog numbers.

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Waterberg Wild Dog Initiative, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and Mabula Private Game Reserve are among several organisations working toward protecting the species in South Africa.

Sources: PR Worx.

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Hope for a Species – The Wild Dogs of the Waterberg Are Thriving! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Michael Jackson might’ve brought the moonwalk to the world, but this little zorilla outperformed all.

Western Cape, South Africa (16 March 2026) – African polecats – otherwise known as Cape polecat, striped polecat, or zorilla – aren’t commonly spotted by humans in the wild.

They’re nocturnal, secretive and solitary critters. Under the cover of nightfall is when they do their best work – and, as we’ve just learned, when they bust out their best dance moves.

The Landmark Leopard & Predator Project, a local conservation NGO that promotes and facilitates conservation land uses and rewilding, recently shared a video of an African polecat caught on a camera trap.

It moonwalks!

“Looks like the moonwalk didn’t start with Michael Jackson after all! This African polecat seems to have perfected its own version, smoothly sliding out of the camera trap,” the organisation shared.

Occurring across many different habitats on the continent, the African polecat looks very similar to a skunk – even when threatened, it can let out a foul-smelling secretion from its anal glands, almost like skunks do – but they’re actually part of the weasel family, and much smaller than America’s skunks are.

They’re carnivorous little hunters – of rats, mice, insects, lizards and even snakes – and seek shelter in other species’ burrows, in rocky outcrops, or among thick vegetation.

Moonwalking isn’t the only skill these little guys have in their wheelhouse. Apparently, they also have fascinating habitats during breeding season. Males will spray their environment with a strong-scented chemical to mark their territory and vie for a female’s attention. If successful in his courting, a rather unusual mating ceremony begins, where he and the female stand on their hind legs and rotate around each other in tight circles. Almost like they’re dancing!

Sources: Linked above.

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