by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SUBARU Southern Africa has announced a new partnership with BirdLife South Africa to support vital field research on the European Roller, one of the most vibrant migratory birds to visit the region each summer.
From November 2025 to April 2026, BirdLife South Africa’s conservation team will use a Subaru Forester to reach remote tracking sites across the country as part of its ongoing European Roller tracking project.
The initiative uses solar-powered satellite transmitters to monitor the birds’ epic journeys across continents—helping scientists map one of nature’s most remarkable migrations.
The collaboration follows a major scientific breakthrough earlier this year, when BirdLife South Africa confirmed the first documented migration of a European Roller between South Africa and China.
One tagged bird, affectionately named Rory, travelled more than 15,000 kilometres from Limpopo to China’s Xinjiang province, crossing 13 countries along the way.
The discovery, achieved through a partnership with Professor Ma Ming of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has shed new light on global migratory flyways.
“Supporting BirdLife South Africa allows us to be part of something much bigger than mobility,” said Nteo Nkoli, National Marketing Manager at Subaru Southern Africa.
“The European Roller’s story reminds us how movement connects the world—and how travel, whether by wing or wheel, inspires care for the places we share.”
For BirdLife South Africa, the Forester’s all-wheel drive, 220 mm ground clearance, and versatile cabin make it ideal for navigating remote landscapes where Rollers breed and forage.
With 1,174 litres of cargo space and Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, the Forester doubles as both a rugged field vehicle and a mobile research station.
Through this partnership, Subaru and BirdLife South Africa aim to combine technology, exploration, and conservation—helping to protect one of nature’s most extraordinary travellers for generations to come.
– CAJ News