Wildlife Protection
Wildlife protection is a multifaceted mission that addresses the urgent need to conserve and protect the wildlife while ensuring the well-being of the communities who live among it. Central to our efforts are robust anti-poaching initiatives, which include supporting and training local game scout officers who are pivotal in monitoring wildlife, enforcing laws, and preventing illegal activities. Equally important is our commitment to mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through innovative and community-driven strategies, such as creating barriers that protect crops from wildlife while ensuring that they are not causing harm to the animals. By integrating these approaches, along with reintroducing critical species back into their natural environment, ZWCF aims to safeguard Zambia's wildlife, so that one of Africa's most beautiful areas remains unspoiled for years to come.
Anti-Poaching Initiative
Eastern Zambia and the South Luangwa Valley faces critically high levels of poaching. The demand for bushmeat and the trafficking of wildlife products have escalated to record highs. To combat this surge in wildlife poaching, the implementation of anti-poaching patrols has become vital. These patrols play a crucial role in safeguarding wildlife by deterring poachers and disrupting illegal activities, thereby protecting Zambia's rich biodiversity and heritage.
We work closely with the DNPW and local communities to combat the poaching epidemic that has spread throughout the region. By educating local communities on the harmfulness of poaching for bushmeat and providing the DNPW with necessary resources to take legal action against poachers, we aim to stop the decline in wildlife numbers.
Game Scout Support
We assist the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in meeting their anti-poaching funding needs in the Luangwa River Valley National Park and it's surronding GMAs. Specifically, the DNPW requires funds for hiring, training, and equipping more game scouts to fight poaching activities in the region.
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We plan to hire, equip, and train an additional 50 game scouts, who will come from the local communities, to patrol the park and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on deterring poachers and intercepting poaching activities. Part of our funds designated for this purpose will also be used to build a second training school for game scouts in another region of the Luangwa River Valley. This will provide the adequate training necessary to maintain high standards of efficiency and safety. This includes following a strict fitness schedule, weapons training, self-defense courses, trauma medical training and radio communication protocols.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
The communities of rural eastern Zambia frequently endure significant challenges due to conflicts with elephants and other wildlife.. As the human population in the region swells, driven by rapid development, incidents of crop raiding, property destruction, and livestock attacks are on the rise.The absence of a coherent land use strategy in Game Management Areas has led to unchecked development, with farms and infrastructure expanding quickly and encroaching on wildlife habitats.
ZWCF is at the forefront of addressing these issues, deploying an array of innovative solutions to deter wildlife conflicts effectively. Techniques such as chili blasting, constructing elephant-proof grain storage, erecting watch towers, and installing elephant-restraining electric fences are being implemented by ZWCF to mitigate the human-wildlife conflicts.
Our proactive approach to urgent threats to the safety and economic well-being of the communities aims to balance human development with wildlife conservation, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between the people of the communities and the native fauna.
