This year, we're celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Tusk Conservation Awards. To mark a decade of shining a light on conservation heroes, we're catching up with the winners of years past to find out what they've been up to since winning their award.
Protected areas are fundamental to achieving climate change mitigation targets, safeguarding biodiversity and supporting sustainable development goals. Wildlife rangers steward these vast tracts of land and water so vital for the future of life on earth. Yet we only have 286k of the 1.5m rangers needed to meet the globally-set protection target of 30% of the planet by 2030. We must do more to support the men and women working in protected areas that benefit us all.
This time last year, Tusk launched the Living with Wildlife appeal in partnership with Send a Cow, to raise funds to protect the people and wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. As we reflect on the success of the fundraising appeal, the difference it will make is more important than ever in light of the extra challenges that have emerged over the past year.
Tusk has recently begun supporting the ground-breaking efforts of IRDNC in protecting Namibia’s spectacular Kunene region through a genuine partnership between communal conservancies and the government.
The Lewa Safari Marathon is returning in Kenya on Saturday June 25, after going virtual for the last two years. Organised by Tusk and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in partnership with Safaricom, all funds raised go towards conserving wildlife and supporting local communities in Kenya.
Signatory countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulating wildlife trade have concluded a 10-day meeting in Geneva, securing stronger protection for many species, including giraffes.
Humankind’s best friend is an invaluable partner to wildlife rangers. Across Africa, a multitude of different breeds support anti-poaching efforts. With their keen sense of smell, canine conservation heroes are game changers in tracking human poaching suspects, locating snares, and finding wounded wildlife.
Last night the fifth annual Tusk Conservation Awards were presented for the first time in Africa at a gala ceremony in Cape Town, and Tusk was extremely honoured that three of the country’s most eminent public figures – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former First Lady, Mrs Graça Machel, and former President F W de Klerk – presented the awards on behalf of Tusk’s Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Cambridge.
Last week, representatives from 45 Tusk-supported projects across 16 African countries assembled at the Mt Kenya Safari Club in Kenya for the Tusk Conservation Symposium. Generously sponsored by ISPS Handa, the 4-day gathering provided a rare opportunity for them to share their impressive expertise and collaborate.
Tusk welcomes today’s announcement by Environment Secretary Michael Gove of the UK Government’s plans to ban sales of ivory of all ages, and the launch of a public consultation to finalise the details.