NEWS FROM THE FIELD AND BEYOND.

Communities throughout the Zambezi Valley thrive when they are surrounded by people like you. People who are committed to supporting and empowering them to protect their own wildlife and sovereign lands.

The solution to ending wildlife trafficking is much bigger than just fighting poaching in the wilderness of Africa.

‘Fortress-style’ conservation is no longer an effective or long-lasting solution to building relationships or sustainable nature preservation practices. An innovative model is needed: one that brings communities and conservation together. This model is Akashinga.

In remote, dynamic and demanding environments Rangers need access to continuous professional development by their peers, in their own language and their own workplace.

While over the years we have grown as an organisation, above all else right now we remain flexible. Our mission has multiple fronts. Our first priority is protecting our staff in the fight against an invisible enemy that is all around us.

The Greater Lebombo Conservancy (GLC), an area of 2,483 km2, is currently the most critical piece of land on the planet for rhino conservation.

We are pleased to update you with information about several arrests made in recent weeks by the IAPF Akashinga (“The Brave Ones”) ranger unit. Akashinga is our innovative All-Female Conservation Model, a new way of conducting conservation work.

Our Akashinga patrols discovered and immediately removed roughly 200 wire snares.Snares are stealth and torturous killers of wildlife. There are no loud gunshots, no dog chases, and no pit falls that animals plummet into as herds run by.

What a wonderful opportunity we had to share our anti-poaching work – and through such a renown and well-respected platform.

We’re pleased to report that our LEADRanger program graduated another class this year.Our comprehensive LEADRanger Course ran from May 5th through August 23rd. It was directed and supported from IAPF’s LEADRanger HQ in the Kasigau Corridor, Kenya.

Our fight against poaching is gaining momentum.As Akashinga expands, we’re constantly refining existing operations and always looking for methods that will increase our effectiveness. We’ve recently found another way to do both!

I’m here in the field, in Zimbabwe, helping put our next cohort of Akashinga rangers through selection. What is happening here is exciting, and I wanted to share it, so I’ve prepared a short update for you directly from the field in Zimbabwe.