This year we have been able to invest £8.2m in over 50 projects delivering impactful conservation across the continent. Highlights include the following:
- Zambia’s South Luangwa valley is now home to Zambia’s largest population of African wild dogs – 350 adults and yearlings, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Tusk’s partners Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) and the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP). CSL carry out anti-snaring patrols working closely with Zambia’s DNPW and alert ZCP who respond quickly and rescue snared wild dogs through field-based local vets.
- The Walikale Gorilla and Forest Conservation Project, which has been supported by Tusk almost since its inception, is proving that the few resources they have can make all the difference in protecting 488 Grauer’s gorilla within their community forest. After 16 years, their hard work is paying off, as they are now able to reach previously inaccessible areas of the reserve, and have even managed to photograph one of the incredibly elusive gorillas (pictured bel0w), for the first time ever!
- With the support of Tusk, the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) has continued to deliver environmental education around Malawi. Over 37,500 children from 365 schools have participated in environmental education programmes across the country, receiving education on climate change, wildlife crime, conservation, biodiversity, deforestation and waste management. The modules are delivered in a fun and interactive way, exposing school children to small-scale sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Tusk has also been able to invest in three new project partners:
- African Nature Investors Foundation, for the protection of the critically endangered Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee in Nigeria’s Gashaka-Gumti National Park (top image).
- Honeyguide Foundation, to help secure elephant habitat and migratory routes through sustainable community conservation in Tanzania’s Makame Wildlife Management Area
- Claws Conservancy, to support a ‘first of its kind’ human-lion conflict mitigation tool in Botswana, using satellite collars and “geofences” to send alerts when lions approach the villages.