Greetings!
It’s been an exciting few months at VFWT! We’ve expanded our offices and strengthened our wildlife forensics work, and we’ve also been busy building capacity among rangers, police, and local communities.
In recent months, we’ve rescued a wild dog and several elephants and buffalos from severe snare injuries – and supported the vaccination of over 2000 domestic dogs in nearby communities – keeping both animals and people healthy.
And together, thanks to all of you and a generous donor, we’ve raised almost USD 26 000 for our forensics work!
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our team and the ongoing support of our partners and donors – thank you for being part of this journey.
For Wild Africa,
Jessica Dawson
Executive Director
Nearly USD 26 000 raised for forensics!
You may have seen our Wildlife Forensics Appeal in September, which included a USD 15,000 match. Thanks to your support – and our generous match funder – we raised a very welcome USD 25 972. These vital funds enable us to continue testing wildlife forensics samples, which is critical for ensuring successful prosecution of bushmeat and other wildlife crime cases.
DNA Analysis Leads to Firm Conviction
Recently, our laboratory received a suspected wildlife product for analysis. The accused claimed it was the tail of a domestic animal. Through DNA testing, our forensics team identified the sample as the tail of a roan antelope – a Specially Protected Species in Zimbabwe that carries a heavier penalty for poaching. The court sentenced the accused to nine years in prison for this offense.
New VFWT Offices!
Earlier this year, we broke ground on an expansion of our office structures. When VFWT began 17 years ago, we had a small team of three people working on many projects. As our team, projects and laboratory have grown, the need for more space has become urgent. With the generous support of two donors, we opened the doors to our new offices in September. Watch this space as we move forward with renovating the structures to support the expansion of our laboratory.
Strengthening Skills, Strengthening Conservation
It has been a busy and immensely rewarding few months of capacity building across many platforms. VFWT has invested heavily in strengthening the skills of ZimParks Rangers, six local anti-poaching units, police and ZimParks investigators, women in our local communities, and our own team.
From training on human rights to wildlife crime scene investigation and evidence collection, law enforcement officers and rangers are gaining important skills to effectively secure, document and protect crime scenes, collect evidence and bring suspects to court.
We have also worked to improve financial literacy among rural women, and provided a month-long training programme for rangers in Zambezi National Park to enhance their operational knowledge and safety on the ground.
Snares, Scares, and Happy Endings
After receiving several reports from concerned citizens about a snared wild dog, we finally managed to track down the animal in Matetsi with the help of an alert from our rangers at Matetsi Unit 7. We darted the injured dog, removed the snare, treated its deep neck wound, and released it safely back into the wild. Watching it rejoin its pack, pain free and snare free was a true high-point for the team.
Healthy Animals and Healthy Communities
Over the last six months, working together with the Department of Veterinary Services, VFWT has supported efforts to counter rabies and distemper in communities adjacent to the Hwange, Kazuma, and Victoria Falls protected areas. Both diseases have been occurring in domestic dogs in these communities. Rabies is 100% fatal in humans if left untreated. Over 2000 vaccine doses have been provided to protect dogs along these boundaries, reduce spillover between domestic animals and wildlife, and help keep both communities and wildlife healthy.
Thank you for reading our news!
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VICTORIA FALLS WILDLIFE TRUST
PO Box 159, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | +263 782 799 006
PO Box 23183, San Diego, CA 92193 | 619-602-1725
9 The Clock Tower, Redlers Waterside, Dudbridge Rd., Stroud GL5 3LH, UK
+44 (0)74 76 227 684
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust | PO Box 23183 | San Diego, CA 92193 US
