Subaru partners with BirdLife South Africa to support European Roller conservation

Every summer, a flash of turquoise sweeps across South Africa’s skies. The European Roller—a striking migratory bird known for its vivid plumage and incredible endurance—travels more than 15,000 kilometres each year from Asia to Southern Africa.

Subaru Southern Africa will help uncover more of this remarkable story through a new partnership with BirdLife South Africa. From November 2025 to April 2026, BirdLife South Africa’s conservation team will use a Subaru Forester as part of its European Roller tracking project, a research initiative that uses solar-powered GPS units to follow the birds’ migration routes across continents. 

The partnership follows a breakthrough earlier this year, when BirdLife South Africa confirmed for the first time that European Rollers migrate between South Africa and China. One European Roller, affectionately named Rory, was tracked from Limpopo to China’s Xinjiang province, completing a 15,000 km journey through 13 countries. The finding was made possible through collaboration with Professor Ma Ming from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, marking a major step forward in understanding global flyway networks. 

“Supporting BirdLife South Africa allows us to be part of something much bigger than mobility,” says Nteo Nkoli, National Marketing Manager at Subaru Southern Africa. “The story of the European Roller reminds us how movement connects the world, and how travel, whether by wing or wheel, can inspire care for the places we share.”For BirdLife South Africa, the Forester will assist researchers in reaching remote locations where Rollers breed and prepare for migration. It’s a partnership that blends technology, exploration, and purpose—enabling fieldwork that deepens our understanding of one of nature’s greatest journeys. 

Launched in August, the sixth-generation Forester brings together the capability and versatility needed for this kind of work. With a class-leading 220 mm of ground clearance, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a 136 kW 2.5-litre BOXER engine, and Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as standard, it’s perfectly suited for tracking birds across varying road and weather conditions.

“The Forester’s spacious cabin boasts ample room for both the BirdLife team and their equipment, while the generously sized boot (1,174 litres with the rear seats folded flat) can double as a makeshift workstation for taking field notes or preparing GPS units,” adds Nkoli. “Rather fittingly, one of the new Forester’s hidden Easter eggs happens to be a bird—a small reminder of the connection between nature and exploration. 

As European Rollers make their way south again next year, BirdLife South Africa and Subaru will be there to follow their flight, connecting continents one journey at a time.