Above: The rains have arrived – boosting the flow of water over Victoria Falls and, most importantly, bringing much-needed relief to people, livestock, and wildlife.
Dear Jessica,
As you will see from the photo of our very own Masuwe River (below) – the rains have finally arrived! While our drought-stricken region is still below average rainfall, these much-needed showers have brought relief, replenishing water sources for wildlife and livestock and offering hope to local farmers. Forecasts suggest more rain in the coming months, which will help sustain our grasslands and top up critical water pans.
And that’s just the beginning of our good news! Below, we share exciting updates on some of our team members’ personal conservation education highlights, introduce new staff members, and share more on the latest developments in our Vulture Research Program.
For Wild Africa,
Jessica Dawson
C.E.O
Celebrating the rains in our backyard
Our media co-ordinator, Theodore Pepuke, went out to capture some current rainy season scenes. The Masuwe River (below) flows through Victoria Falls Game Reserve, Zambezi National Park (Chamabondo Vleis), and Victoria Falls National Park before feeding into the eastern part of the Zambezi River. It is one of the main water sources for wildlife in these protected areas.
Updates on our own in-house conservation education + collaboration!
Our teams continue to grow their skills to enhance our work in Zimbabwe’s communities and conservation efforts. We’re especially proud of our lab technician, McDonald Shiri, who recently earned his MSc in Applied Conservation Genetics with Wildlife Forensics from the University of Edinburgh. Over three years, he studied remotely while applying his learning directly to his daily work here at VFWT. We learnt more in a Q&A (right) with this inspiring young conservationist.
| In more conservation studies news, our Community Development Coordinator, Edith January (below left), is in her first year at the University of Kent, pursuing an MSc in Conservation Science through the Burnett scholarship program. Reporting from rainy, snowy Kent in the UK, Edith says undertaking the degree is allowing her to acquire more knowledge on what she has already been practicing in Zimbabwe and a special favorite has been the weekly DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology) talks where DICE members, students and alumni showcase their work. |
Lastly, veterinarian Dr. Harley Peacocke (above right) recently spent three weeks at the San Diego Zoo in a collaborative exchange, gaining insights from their world-class veterinary clinics and labs. “Collaborating with such a respected institution, with their state-of-the-art facilities, keeps us updated on best practices,” he shared, citing the latest research influencing animal drug choices as one key takeaway.
Rescue + Rehab: No news is good news!
On the Rescue and Rehab side, we are happy to report very little news! We’ve had a welcome decrease in rehab cases and some good news is that Connie, our orphaned bushbuck is now eating solids (below). We’ve successfully rescued a few animals from snares – mainly warthogs and buffalos, but otherwise things have been quiet.
Doubling our insights with our Vulture Research Project
Our Vulture Research Project is making great strides. In October, we deployed tracking devices on ten white-backed vultures between Hwange and Zambezi National Parks. Currently, eight devices remain active, adding to the eight previously deployed in Victoria Falls. This data helps us understand their movements, breeding, and threats. One vulture has traveled as far as South Africa, and we’ve identified nine nesting sites. The tracking also aids in detecting potential poisonings or illegal activity (clusters of vultures), and we are collaborating with ZimParks on cluster investigations. For more insights into another aspect of our vulture conservation work, check out the below video.
Welcome Lesley!
We are thrilled to welcome Lesley to the VFWT team as our US Philanthropic Advisor. With a background in animal science and ecology, Lesley has dedicated her career to animal welfare, conservation, and philanthropy. Lesley brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for wildlife protection and her expertise in fundraising and philanthropy will play a vital role in advancing our mission. We look forward to the impact she will make, and we invite anyone in the US who would like more info on what we do to reach out to Lesley.
The 10th Zambezi Cycle Challenge!
| Lastly, for all the mountain biking enthusiasts out there – social weekend warriors and racing snakes alike – the Zambezi Cycle Challenge 2025 is now open for registration online. The big news is – this is its 10 year anniversary! Register now and explore some of the most beautiful views of this area – and support VFWT while doing it! www.zambezicyclechallenge.com |
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust | PO Box 23183, San Diego, CA 92193 www.vicfallswildlifetrust.org
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