CEO's Report

Fundraising: The Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) made a US$100,000 grant for 2018 to expand our law enforcement capability and support our elephant protection efforts in Chinko.We officially raised US$115,000 through an enthusiastic group of donors from Hong Kong and Singapore who responded to the targeted ‘Year of the Dog Campaign’. Liwonde National Park Manager Craig Reid ran the London Marathon on the 22ndof April, through which he raised almost $20,000 to support rhino conservation and law enforcement efforts in the park. 

Communications:The reintroduction of rhino to Zakouma in Chad has been a key event on our media calendar, and in the lead up to its commencement we produced a video featuring the capture of the rhinos in Marakele National Park in South Africa earlier this year, which is available to watch in French and English. We announced the departure of the rhinos from Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa on the 3rdof May and their safe arrival in Zakouma the following day, and also hosted several invited media outlets to cover it from the ground. The translocation generated extremely positive global, regional and national media coverage. In commemoration of Earth Day on the 22nd of April, we shared the remarkable story of Chinko– a forgotten place teeming with hope and possibility, where good governance is creating stability and security for people and wildlife.  Some of the key media we received this month included coverage on the incredible strides being made in Zakouma which was featured by BBC, Chinko was featured by Vice magazine, and Garamba was featured in GQ magazine. 

Recruitment: We’re pleased to formally welcome John Scanlon, former Secretary-General of CITES, who officially joined African Parks in April in the position of Special Envoy, and Dr. Angela Gaylard who joined the Head Office team in Johannesburg as Head of Research and Monitoring. We’re also pleased to welcome Mike Nicholls as General Manager of Greater Chinko, Elisa Scicutella as the Financial Controller for Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and Lawrence Ives as Head of Law Enforcement for Chinko. Lastly, we are delighted to announce the promotion of Jonathan Chisaka to Park Manager of Bangweulu Wetlands. 

Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe: On the 4th of April, the APN  Board officially approved Matusadona as a new project subject to a successful board due diligence visit. This visit was conducted from the 9th to the 12th of April, during which time members of the board met with officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), including the Director General, and travelled to Matusadona to evaluate the project first hand. The visit was successful and the project is now progressing towards signature. African Parks looks forward to launching a project there, in a country with some of Africa's finest wilderness landscapes.

Kafue National Park, Zambia: Following a highly successful visit to Liuwa Plain National Park with Ministers Charles Banda and Felix Mutati, efforts to secure a delegated management agreement for Kafue National Park in Zambia are ongoing. Our representative in Zambia, James Milanzi, is in regular dialogue with authorities in the Ministry and in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and we expect progress to pick up when the Zambian Parliament reconvenes in July.

Benin: The Government of Benin has approved a feasibility study for African Parks to assume management responsibility of W Park in Benin, as part of the W-Arly-Pendjari complex which spans Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin, and is the largest remaining, intact wild ecosystem left in all of West Africa.

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Mozambique: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved African Parks’ registration as an in-country non-governmental organisation, necessary for the establishment of a legal entity in Mozambique. The management of park operations, including the transfer and appointment of staff, is transitioning well from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) to African Parks. Making important foundational steps, African Parks’ Head of Science and Research visited the park to initiate the development of a strategic adaptive management and monitoring framework, and identified priority areas for research and monitoring through an interactive planning process. The AP Head of Law Enforcement also visited the park to perform an assessment for the design of a ranger selection and training course. A partnership for the development and operation of a community lodge on Bazaruto Island was formalised between Thomba Yedo Community Association and Far & Wide Tourism Operatorson the 27thof April, which will contribute both fixed and variable revenue to the park’s communities. 

Chinko, CAR: We were very pleased to welcome Mike Nicholls, who took up the new position of General Manager of Chinko in early April. The 380 internally displaced persons (IDPs), whom Chinko has been providing refuge and basic resources for over a year due to surrounding social instability, were successfully voluntarily relocated from the park and reintegrated into one of the communities outside of its boundaries. By April, the majority of the seasonally-migrating cattle herders had departed the area, easing the pressure on law enforcement teams and enabling them to intensify patrols in the core protection zone, which remained free of poaching activity. Through ongoing surveys, the monitoring team reported a notable increase in wildlife sightings compared with the same period in 2017 – a reflection of the remarkable progress being achieved in securing the park. 

Akagera National Park, Rwanda: A new GPS field data collection system, CyberTracker, has begun being trialled as a means to improve the overall monitoring capacity, including the rangers’ documentation of patrols and species-related data collection. Teams carried out significant road and fence maintenance to repair damage caused by an eight-year record amount of rainfall for April in the park. Akagera was also featured heavily in the PBS documentary “The Royal Tour” which saw President Kagame visit all three national parks in Rwanda, ending with a visit to Akagera and an overnight stay in Karenge Bush Camp with host Peter Greenberg. 

Zakouma National Park, Chad: The past few weeks have been a critical period for concluding final preparations for the translocation of black rhinoceros to the park. The process got underway at the start of May, and following a 3,000-mile journey from Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, six black rhinos arrived safely in Zakouma on the 4thof May, hailing the successful reintroduction of the species to Chad after almost a 50-year absence from the country. It has also been a significant month for law enforcement, with 49 new ranger recruits for Zakouma and Siniaka Minia Faunal Reserve graduating from the basic field ranger course on the 19thof April. The biannual aerial survey was completed, just before the arrival of the first rains of the season, and two new ‘secko’ grass schools were constructed to extend educational opportunities to villages to the north and south of the park.

Garamba National Park, DRC: A new giraffe population assessment, using unique coat pattern data collected over 2017 and 2018, has suggested that their number has increased to 48 individuals in Garamba. These Kordofan giraffes are the last remaining population of the species in the country. A National Giraffe Strategy and Action Plan was approved by both African Parks and the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), and will be implemented once funding has been secured.  There were good developments for the law enforcement team this month, with two new intelligence officers recruited and undertaking training, and 69 candidates undergoing a selection process for the 2018 basic field ranger course. Teams also completed construction of a bridge over the Kasi river, improving accessibility for operations in the north of the park. The park was also featured in the online version of GQ Magazine

Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia: We’re pleased to report on the near completion of Shoebill Island Lodge, which now only requires installation of geysers and a solar power system and will open for its first visiting group shortly thereafter. We’ve seen very positive results from the communities’ adherence to the 2018 seasonal fishing ban, which has enabled fish stocks to replenish and increased the local fishermen’s catches out of season, contributing to income and improved livelihoods. Bangweulu’s teams have reported positively on reduced poaching activity, good sightings of shoebill storks, and growth in the populations of translocated animals. Park staff also participated in World Malaria Day on the 25thof April by engaging local communities to raise awareness around the correct use of mosquito nets distributed by the Ministry of Health. Jonathan Chisaka, the previous Community Manager was promoted to Park Manager. 

Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia: Induna Angulu, arespected board member of Liuwa Plain National Park, sadly passed away on the 24thof April. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family during this time. African Parks supported the Kuomboka ceremony, a nationally-important traditional event in which the Lozi paramount King (Litunga) moves from his dry-season palace to his wet-season palace, which was successfully held on the 28thof April. Good progress was made on the construction of Liuwa’s new headquarters at a well-located site within the park, as receding water levels allowed the first foundations to be laid. Liuwa’s quarterly law enforcement results were received very well by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Senior Warden for the Western Region. The Ministries of Tourism and Education also provided extremely positive feedback on the park’s educational ZeduPad project, screen tablets preloaded with educational material, following a visit for assessment. 

Liwonde National Park, Malawi:Park management has started planning its operations in Mangochi Forest Reserve, and is engaging with the Department of Forestry on the hand-over process. It has been a particularly productive month for law enforcement, with the first of three intelligence training courses initiated at the training centre, which received specific fit-for-purpose infrastructural upgrades. Four ranger medics also received mentorship training in primary medical care at a district hospital to ensure skills’ maintenance. Notably, Panthera’s ‘PoacherCam’ camera trap technology recently trialled has shown good promise, as it aided the team and the Malawi Police in effecting an arrest of a poacher and provided valuable photographic evidence for testimony in court. A primary school classroom block was completed and its hand-over to the community was extremely well-received by them. Finally, the Park Manager Craig Reid raised almost US$20,000 for Liwonde’s rangers and rhino conservation from running the London Marathon on the 22nd of April. 

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Malawi: The park’s law enforcement team acted efficiently on information relating to an elephant poaching incident, and conducted an operation alongside the Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit which led to the arrest of a poacher, the recovery of tusks and a firearm. There have been several cases of elephants breaking out of the fence, all of which were swiftly attended to by the park rangers and fence maintenance teams. With exceptionally heavy rains, significant maintenance work on the new fence line has been required. Staff from Nkhotakota participated in the International Tourism Expo organised by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism in Lilongwe, where they also represented Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park. Maintenance work was completed on the airstrip, readying it for inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority – this will contribute to the improvement of accessibility to the park. As a nice highlight for wildlife sightings, the buffalo herds have dispersed further from their original release site, and have been seen near Bua Lodge. 

Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi: We received lovely news of the birth of a rhino calf during the month. The new ranger recruits, who graduated last month from basic field ranger training in Liwonde National Park, have been successfully deployed as part of the law enforcement team in Majete. As an additional development for law enforcement, a monthly ‘ranger day’ has been implemented, during which the park instructor carried out fitness testing and refresher training. Majete hosted three rangers from Zakouma National Park for a second consecutive month to build their skills in rhino tracking in advance of the reintroduction of rhinos to Chad. In community development, good progress was made on the bee-keeping project and 564 students participated in the park’s environmental education outreach activities.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo: There were several constructive developments for law enforcement in April. Another tented camp base, sponsored by the Elephant Crisis Fund, is under construction in the north of the park to increase the area of reach for law enforcement. A Community Development Officer will also be based at the new camp. An illegal mining site located within the park was given notice and subsequently successfully closed by rangers in coordination with officers and the Ministry of Forestry. Significant staff training was undertaken, including the training of eco-monitors in caring for confiscated animals, and training the park’s team of health workers who assisted 115 people with consultations and treatments in April alone. Monitoring of baies and camera traps continued to contribute to conservation and research efforts. The gorilla treated last month for a wire snare injury was observed several times at a gorilla habituation site and appears to be in good health.                                                                                                            

Pendjari National Park, Benin: Pendjari is progressively growing its law enforcement team through the local recruitment of rangers to build a strong foundation for the protection of the park. The third basic field ranger course was initiated in April, with 32 candidates currently being trained to graduate as rangers for deployment in the park. Conducting rigorous patrols to reduce pressure on the park’s resources, rangers made 29 arrests for various poaching and illegal fishing activities. Having engaged positively with communities to demarcate the fence line, the park concluded the first public awareness campaigns ahead of its construction. One of the key community tribunals, the Tribunal of Natitingou, visited Pendjari to engage in discussions around wildlife crime and to review the severity of sentences for committing them. Furthermore, the law enforcement and management teams connected with the Manager of the adjoining Arly National Park to coordinate anti-poaching efforts and reinforce communications. One of the collared elephants unfortunately appears to have died of natural causes, with its tusks intact and no evidence of poaching. 

Media highlights for African Parks for April 2018 included coverage by BBC, Vice magazine, GQ magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, All Africa, City AM, the Maravi Post among others. 

LIUWA PLAIN IN NORTHWEST ZAMBIA IS ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE SAFARI PARKS IN THE WORLD, HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND THERE| City A.M., 6 April 2018

Zambia’s Liuwa Plain National Park is remote by anyone’s definition. It’s in the northwestern corner of the country, up by the Angolan border… The Barotse Royal Establishment (the Lozi monarchy), NGO African Parks, and lodge-operator Time+Tide have joined forces to introduce a sustainable, low-volume, high-value tourism model.

SAVING A PRISTINE WILDERNESS FROM MILITARIZED POACHERS AND A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS| Vice magazine, 9 April 2018

Chinko, in the Central African Republic, "portrays hope in a situation where everything is stacked up to be doom and gloom. We are not allowing Eden to be lost. We are in the process of bringing Eden back."

IN REMEMBRANCE: TWO OF WEST AFRICA’S GREAT CONSERVATIONISTS, PHILIPPE BOUCHE AND DR FRANCIS LAUGINIE| African Parks, 9 April 2018

It is with great sadness that African Parks relayed the news of the passing of two of West Africa’s great conservationists, Philippe Bouché and Dr Francis Lauginie.

JOHN SCANLON, FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF CITES, JOINS AFRICAN PARKS AS ITS SPECIAL ENVOY| African Parks, 9 April 2018

John Scanlon, who has served as the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 2010, joins conservation non-profit African Parks full-time to help advance their mission.

WILDLIFE IN ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK, CHAD| BBC, 15 April 2018

Reporting for the BBC, Journalist Michelle Chan recently visited Zakouma National Park to cover its extraordinary resurgence, highlighting its astonishing abundance of wildlife which has rebounded after decades of poaching.

THE BLOODY TOLL OF CONGO’S ELEPHANT WARS| GQ magazine, 16 April 2018

Correspondent Tristan McConnell was in Garamba in 2016, and writes of the tragic 2016 encounter between rangers and armed poachers, the challenges for law enforcement and the strides that have been made in improving protection of the park and its elephants.

AFRICAN PARKS CONTINUES MALAWI’S WILDLIFE TRANSFORMATION THROUGH 2018| The Maravi Post, 17 April 2018

African Parks have been responsible for transforming Malawi’s wildlife in recent years, helping it to emerge as one of Africa’s most complete destinations as the quality of its safaris develops to match the cultural, scenic and adventure experiences already well established. 

CENTRAFRIQUE: AIRES PROTEGEES – AFRICAN PARKS REHABILITE LA RESERVE DE CHINKO| All Africa, 24 April 2018

En trois ans, depuis que l'ONG sud-africaine African Parks a commencé à gérer Chinko, le buffle, le bubale et l'hippopotame ont fait leur apparition. Les espèces animalières comme le bongo, l'antilope rouge et les éléphants sont à nouveau repérables par les unités de patrouille. Par ailleurs, les rugissements des lions peuvent être entendus la nuit autour du quartier général du parc, des léopards et des chimpanzés sont documentés.

5 SAFARI-TO-BEACH TRIPS TO BOOK| Conde Nast Traveller, 26 April 2018

The lesser-known Majete Wildlife Reserve, which is part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley in South Malawi, is a protected area that was once rife with poaching until park management was taken over by African Parks in 2003. It's now crawling with game, and serves as one of Africa’s biggest conservation success stories.