News Report: Logistical support for SARCA
SARCA Newsletter: Latest

4x4 Eco Challenge In search of reptiles!

The 4x4 Eco Challenge joined forces with SARCA (Southern African Reptile Conservation Assessment) to map the distributions of reptiles throughout South Africa , Swaziland and Lesotho . This exciting new project was launched on 10 May 2005, and will run for the next four years. As a 4x4 enthusiast, you and fellow club members are in an excelent position to contribute to this project. As a competitor of the 4x4 Eco Challenge, it is expected of you to brush up on your reptile general knowledge - because you are likely to find several reptile-related questions in your exam papers. Below are detailed instructions of how to contribute to this project.

How to participate in the Southern African Reptile Conservation Assessment

SARCA depends on the participation and collaboration of a large number of people, including volunteer participants. By volunteering to help you can make a contribution to the conservation of southern Africa 's wonderful reptiles. Even if you cannot tell a gecko from a crocodile, you can make a useful contribution to SARCA, provided that you have a digital camera and GPS (or a set of maps) , and access to an internet connection. Our intention is to create a "virtual museum collection" of digital photographs that are linked to an accurate set of coordinates, a date, an observer's name, and a reliable species identification. Here are seven easy steps to making a contribution to SARCA's virtual museum:

Step 1 - Find a wild reptile: Do NOT kill it or harm it in any way. Do NOT remove it from the wild or transport it away from its natural habitat. If it is a venomous snake in a place where it poses a danger to people, obtain the assistance of an expert snake catcher to move the animal to a safe place. If the animal is already dead, e.g., a roadkill, it can still be useful, provided that the head is not unrecognizably squashed.

NB: SARCA covers South Africa , Lesotho and Swaziland only. However, you may submit photos from anywhere in Africa .

NB: The degrees and minutes must be absolutely accurate and the seconds estimated to the nearest whole second. Degrees and minutes alone, or a grid cell reference code, are NOT enough!

NB: It is critically important that this information be recorded accurately because the record is useless without its location, and positively misleading if the location is incorrectly recorded.

Step 3 - Describe the location in words: For example: "Vrekbok Farm, 20 km north of Pofadder , Northern Cape ". This information allows us to cross-check the accuracy of the coordinates.

Step 4 - Record the date: Use the format YYYY/MM/DD. This must be the date of finding and photographing the animal, not the date of submission of the record. The time of day is not necessary.

Step 5 - Take pictures of the animal: Get as close as possible while keeping the picture sharp (in focus). At least one picture should include a good view of the head. If possible, get a dorsal (the back of the animal), lateral (side) and ventral (the belly of the animal) views.

NBNB: Be extremely careful when photographing venomous snakes. Do not get within striking distance (or spitting distance, in the case of spitting cobras). It is very easy to loose track of distance when looking through the lens of a camera - BE CAREFUL! SARCA will not accept any responsibility for accidents.

NB: Pictures that are badly out of focus cannot be used.

NB: All picture files must be in JPG (jpeg) format.

NB: If your picture files are larger than 1 megabyte each, please reduce their size, otherwise they may cause the email not to send or receive properly. Start by cropping away unnecessary background.

NB: Your photographs will appear on the project website and will not be subject to copyright, i.e., people will be free to download and use them, with appropriate acknowledgment.

Step 6 - Send an email to SARCA: Attach your jpeg files, FOR ONE ANIMAL ONLY, to the message. The covering message MUST be according to the following format. Cut and paste the following lines into your email and replace the examples (outside the square brackets) with your own information. The [begin] and [end] lines remain unchanged.

[begin]

[observer name] J. Bloggs

[coordinates latitude] 33 55 19 S

[coordinates longitude] 20 31 05 E

[locality] Vrekbok Farm, 20 km north of Pofadder , Northern Cape

[country] South Africa

[date] 2005/11/04

[number of photos] 3

[end]

ALL of the information listed above MUST be provided, otherwise your photos cannot be used. The Project Coordinator will acknowledge your submission by email.

The address for submissions is sarca@adu.uct.ac.za

NB: Do NOT send prints by post. It is too labour intensive to scan prints - we can only use digital photos. If you do the scanning yourself and email us the jpeg files, that's fine.

NB: Send no more than three pictures of any particular animal - select only your best pics.

NB: For every animal photographed, send a separate email. This is important because it avoids confusion between animals, and between the coordinates, dates and locality information for each animal.

Step 7 - Check the website : www.saherps.net - Check for acknowledgement of your record and an identification of the animal. This should be available on the relevant page of this site within 30 days of submission.

NB: Do NOT email the Project Coordinator to request feedback about your submissions - check the website. Only email if you have a major problem that is not addressed by the information provided on the website.

NB: Check the "What's new?" page on this website for news and possible changes to procedures.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN SARCA!