This April we celebrate Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust’s 15th year in existence! Through the good days, through the bad days, through the highs and through the lows, you have been with us every step of the way. So, as we invite you to take a walk down memory lane with us, we’d like to say a huge thank you – we couldn’t have done it without you!
“We are now 15 years down the road – how time flies! Every day we make a difference in conservation: sometimes it’s the small stuff – rescuing a baby porcupine and, sometimes, big wins – improving rural livelihoods and reducing human-wildlife conflict. Knowing we have helped change the lives of both people and animals is critical for long-term sustainable changes for conservation.”
Jessica Dawson, CEO, VFWT
Our journey has been met with many conservation wins, inspiring collaborations, some heartbreaks, and far too many challenges. There is still a long road to travel, and with your support, we can continue to work towards making a difference in conservation. We hope you’ll celebrate this important milestone with a gift today. Please give wildly as we embark on our next 15 years. With you by our side, we will do great things together.
Reflections on the last 15 years…
Roger Parry: Wildlife & Research Manager
“Looking back over the last 15 years I am most proud of how the Trust has grown into an effective organization, driven by a dedicated and well-respected team within the global wildlife conservation industry. We are leaving a legacy that will continue to protect Africa’s iconic wildlife for many years to come.”
Our Conservation Timeline
Then and now with Bongani Dlodlo,
Community Conservation Manager
“When the Trust first started, we witnessed a lot of retaliation killings and abandoned crop fields due to human-wildlife conflicts within the communities. Over the years we have introduced the community-based coexistence programme which provides non-lethal solutions and education outreach to farmers to reduce the conflict between humans and wildlife, thus promoting coexistence. The farmer perceptions have shifted, positively, towards wildlife, and there has been a 50% decline in conflict cases compared to when we first started.”
And here’s to the next 15 years!
The Trust will extend our Community Outreach and Development project by setting up a base in the rural community. We’re developing a succession plan, including adding and mentoring new team members within research, wildlife forensics, genomics, finance, and community project development.
We will be working towards expanding our laboratory structure, equipment, and capacity so that we can be a regional hub in KAZA TFCA for disease testing and wildlife forensics.
We will elevate and employ advances in technology to improve knowledge and intelligence around wildlife crimes in collaboration with our wildlife conservation partners so we can better tackle them.
And although maybe not as sexy but just as necessary, additional office space is necessary as we enhance our essential operational capacity.
Yours with gratitude,
The entire Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust team!
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
www.vicfallswildlifetrust.org | info@vicfallswildlifetrust.org
