One of Africa's most famous wildlife spectacles, drawing in hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, is the Great Migration. Millions of animals move through east Africa's wildlife-rich Maasai Mara and Serengeti plains, in search of food and water. A new study, however, shows that this ecosystem is under threat from climate change. Joseph Ogutu, one of the study's authors, reveals a dramatic change in weather patterns over the past century, including a temperature rise of 5°C, which is having a major impact on wildlife.

We've included several other articles in this newsletter which reveal how else climate change is affecting wildlife on the continent. 

Nigeria hasn't had any ambassadors in its 109 diplomatic missions worldwide for over a year now. President Bola Tinubu’s government recalled them in September 2023 as part of an initiative to ensure efficiency in the country's foreign service. Sheriff Folarin, an international relations expert, unpacks why countries need ambassadors and what the fallout of this situation could be. 

Moina Spooner

Assistant Editor

Africa’s famous Serengeti and Maasai Mara are being hit by climate change – a major threat to wildlife and tourism

Joseph Ogutu, University of Hohenheim

Over the past 112 years the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem has experienced major changes in its weather.

Nigeria recalled all its ambassadors a year ago and has not replaced them – international isolation looms

Sheriff Folarin, Texas State University

Not having ambassadors representing its interests a year after recalling the previous ones means Nigeria is retreating from the world.

Wretched of the Earth has been translated into South Africa’s Zulu language – why Frantz Fanon’s revolutionary book still matters

Makhosazana Xaba, University of Johannesburg

Fanon’s famous book was translated to isiZulu by South African writer and scholar Makhosazana Xaba.

HIV prevention: why a new injectable drug could be such a breakthrough – podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation

HIV expert Linda-Gail Bekker talks to The Conversation Weekly about promising results from a trial of a new drug for HIV prevention.

From the archive

Giraffes could go extinct – the 5 biggest threats they face

Derek E. Lee, Penn State

Giraffes are vulnerable to extinction, mainly due to habitat loss and killing for bushmeat markets. The good news is human actions can alleviate that danger.

Climate change is causing endangered African wild dogs to give birth later – threatening the survival of the pack

Neil R Jordan, UNSW Sydney; Briana Abrahms, University of Washington; Daniella Rabaiotti, Zoological Society of London; Kasim Rafiq, University of Washington; Rosie Woodroffe, Zoological Society of London

African wild dogs are adapting to rising temperatures using a cue that no longer accurately predicts the best conditions for reproduction.

Serengeti migration: fire and rain affect how zebras, wildebeest and gazelles make the journey

T. Michael Anderson, Wake Forest University

Lessons from the Serengeti herds may help conservationists manage migratory herbivore populations.

Conflict between humans and wildlife in Tanzania is being poorly managed – and climate change is making things worse

Evodius Waziri Rutta, Queen's University, Ontario

Measures to address tensions between wildlife and humans are critical for Tanzania.

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