Our Investments
We invest in projects and initiatives that are designed to bring about transformational change either for a local population or across the entire species.
Understanding West Africa’s
last remaining painted wolves
| Grantee | Zoological Society of London |
| Strategy | Collaboration / Spreading best practice |
| Location | Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal |
| Grant Amount | US$25,000 |
| Duration | 1 Year |
| Description | This project will initiate the “emergency programme for the lycaon” demanded by UNESCO. The project’s overall goal is to avoid the extinction of West Africa’s last painted wolf population, by identifying and mitigating threats. To meet this goal, it has four objectives: (i) Assess the status and distribution of painted wolves in South-East Senegal (ii) Identify the key threats to Senegal’s painted wolf population (iii) Raise awareness and encourage coexistence of people with painted wolves and other wildlife (iv) Develop an evidence-based National Action Plan for painted wolves in Senegal. |
| Why Transformational | The estimated three/four packs represent the last remaining free ranging painted wolves in Western Africa. This project will identify their conservation needs and lays the foundations to establish the necessary mitigating conservation measures required to avoid their extinction. Collaborating with University College London, the project will seek to establish the genetic uniqueness of this population relative to other parts in Africa. This could have significant implications for relocation strategies. |
Building conservation capacity
in the Maasai landscapes
| Grantee | South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) Kenya Wildlife Trust (Mara Predator Conservation Programme) |
| Strategy | Collaboration / Spreading best practice |
| Location | Southern Kenya |
| Grant Amount | US$45,000 |
| Duration | 1 Year |
| Description | The project’s overarching goal is to catalyse painted wolf conservation efforts across Kenya’s Southern rangelands. Our project aims to improve community perceptions and tolerance of painted wolves and enhance community-based painted wolf monitoring and conflict prevention. To ensure project activities are designed using a blend of expert and local knowledge, the project will take a three-phased approach consisting of (i) development phase including capacity building, (ii) implementation, and (iii) scaling painted wolf conservation efforts across the landscape. |
| Why Transformational | Tolerance for painted wolves in the South Maasailands of Kenya is very low. While populations exist, their survival rates are poor and packs migrating from the Serengeti have limited life expectancies. By working with the Maasai to improve tolerance and understanding of the species, this area of 20,000 KM2 has the capacity to increase the population significantly over time. This is the inaugural step to creating a significant area where painted wolves might thrive. |
Evaluating former painted wolf rangelands in Central Africa for potential reintroductions.
| Grantee | South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO) Kenya Wildlife Trust (Mara Predator Conservation Programme) |
| Strategy | Collaboration / Spreading best practice |
| Location | Southern Kenya |
| Grant Amount | US$45,000 |
| Duration | 1 Year |
| Description | The project’s overarching goal is to catalyse painted wolf conservation efforts across Kenya’s Southern rangelands. Our project aims to improve community perceptions and tolerance of painted wolves and enhance community-based painted wolf monitoring and conflict prevention. To ensure project activities are designed using a blend of expert and local knowledge, the project will take a three-phased approach consisting of (i) development phase including capacity building, (ii) implementation, and (iii) scaling painted wolf conservation efforts across the landscape. |
| Why Transformational | Tolerance for painted wolves in the South Maasailands of Kenya is very low. While populations exist, their survival rates are poor and packs migrating from the Serengeti have limited life expectancies. By working with the Maasai to improve tolerance and understanding of the species, this area of 20,000 KM2 has the capacity to increase the population significantly over time. This is the inaugural step to creating a significant area where painted wolves might thrive. |
