Bushlife Conservancy

PROTECTING ZIMBABWE'S WILDLIFE FOR THE SAKE OF A HEALTHIER, MORE DIVERSE PLANET. BUSHLIFE CONSERVANCY STRIVES TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES WITHIN THE MANA POOLS AND ZAMBEZI VALLEY AREAS OF ZIMBABWE FROM HUMAN THREAT. ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-POACHING EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECTS ENSURE A FUTURE IN WHICH THE AREA'S ELEPHANTS, PANGOLINS, PAINTED DOGS, AND OTHER WILDLIFE FLOURISH WITHOUT RISK OF HUMAN-CAUSED EXTINCTION.

NO ELEPHANTS WERE POACHED IN MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK DURING THE YEAR. ALL COLLARED ELEPHANTS WERE PROTECTED FROM LEGAL HUNTERS WHEN THEY WANDERED INTO ADJACENT HUNTING CONCESSIONS. FUNDING WAS PROVIDED FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED WITH ZIMBABWE PARKS AUTHORITY IN MANA POOLS AND THE SURROUNDING ZAMBEZI VALLEY OF ZIMBABWE: (1) NEW COLLARS WERE PLACED ON 10 ICONIC BIG-TUSKED BULL ELEPHANTS, INCLUDING 2 NEW ELEPHANTS; (2) A RESEARCH PROJECT TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE AND DETERMINE A CURE FOR THE BABY ELEPHANTS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFORMED LEG WAS INITIATED. TWO BABY ELEPHANTS WERE DARTED, THEIR BAD LEGS WERE EXAMINED, AND SAMPLES WERE TAKEN FROM THE AFFECTED JOINT. WE PLAN TO INVESTIGATE AT LEAST 5 MORE CASES NEXT YEAR; (3) CONSERVATION CLUBS, EACH WITH 20-30 CHILDREN, WERE MANAGED AND LED BY A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR IN 24 SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITIES BORDERING MANA POOLS. TWO BIG SPORTS GALAS AND A WILDLIFE QUIZ DAY WERE CONDUCTED IN THESE COMMUNITIES; (4) HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING COMMUNITY AWARENESS TRAINING, WAS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WORK WE FUNDED. FOUR LIONS WERE CAPTURED AND RELOCATED FROM THE VILLAGES TO THE PARK. ELEPHANT MITIGATION TACTICS USING CHILI BRICKS WERE EMPLOYED; (5) ONE SECONDHAND VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FOR USE IN ANTI-POACHING WORK; (6) THE RANGER STATION WE BUILT ON THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF MANA POOLS WAS FURNISHED WITH BEDS, AND ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS INSTALLED FOR LIGHTING FROM EXISTING SOLAR PANELS. THE FACILITY CAN ACCOMMODATE 14 RANGERS, INCLUDING A SENIOR RANGER AND HIS FAMILY.