About Wildlife ACT
CONSERVATON PROJECTS
Wildlife ACT actively advances conservation by initiating, implementing and managing monitoring projects on reserves which do not have the means to do so themselves, and we do so FREE of charge. We're currently focused in Zululand, an area that resounds with the heartbeat of Africa and one of the most diverse and productive wild lands on the planet . We are 100% reliant on your support.
To fund our projects, Wildlife ACT runs a wildlife volunteer program. Volunteers who join in important conservation work get both a wildlife experience and make a contribution through their time, efforts and funds at the same time. Wildlife volunteers assist our monitors in their daily tracking and monitoring of endangered wildlife species such as the African wild dog, cheetah, black rhino, as well as priority species like the elephant, lion, leopard and many more. Wildlife volunteers get far more than the typical safari experience, playing a active role in conservation. Many are lucky enough to experience anything from trapping and radio collaring or tagging animas to their relocation or re-introduction.
Wildlife tracking and Monitoring
Tracking and monitoring of these endangered animals and wildlife species is a critical step in their conservation. Unfortunately, many African game reserves do not have the capacity to run effective wildlife monitoring programmes and require assistance to ensure this vital component of conservation is carried-out. Wildlife Africa Conservation Team (Wildlife ACT) assists such game reserves based in Zululand, South Africa by providing free tracking and monitoring services. Wildlife ACT is unique in that we actively advance conservation by initiating, implementing and managing wildlife conservation projects on reserves which do not have existing monitoring programmes in place; or by taking over existing monitoring projects on reserves that can no longer fund or manage them.
The Team
DEDICATED CONSERVATIONISTS
We are a passionate and professional team of conservationists actively protecting the future for endangered animals. The Wildlife ACT founding members are Dr Simon Morgan, Chris Kelly and Johan Maree, together having over 25-years of ecology experience. We are competently assisted by wildlife monitors that run the day-to-day activities at the reserves - these people are charismatic conservationists who are mostly from research or field guide backgrounds. We all share a love for animals, adventure and preserving the unique environment in South Africa within which we are able to work.
The reserves we work on
Wildlife ACT has initiated monitoring projects on various Reserves across Zululand, South Africa. The Zululand ecosystem is among the most diverse and productive wild lands in the world, yet amid its gallery of wildlife, conservation efforts face tremendous challenges. Some of these challenges include: rapid encroachment and fragmentation of natural habitat; poaching; insufficient research and inadequate funding for monitoring and research; coupled with the occurrence of many endangered species. Zululand makes a dramatic backdrop to our initiatives as it is a place of unspoilt beauty with cultures as diverse as its landscapes. The rolling hills are disturbed only by the zig-zagging of rivers, and the picture-perfect coastlines are framed by abundant forests. Zululand is a rare place where age-old cultures and traditions live hand-in-hand with modern culture, living and conservation efforts.
[h3]Current wildlife monitoring & tracking locations[/h3]
Because we work across so many Reserves, volunteers have the potential to experience the different approaches used to meet each Reserves’ unique conservation goals. Please note: The opportunity to work on multiple Reserves depends on the length of your stay. If you stay for only 2 weeks, you will work on only 1 Reserve, but for every additional 2 weeks you stay, the better your chance of experiencing another Reserve.Â
The fact that we work in small teams of no more than four volunteers per Reserve ensures that you will have one-on-one time with the monitors, gaining hands-on conservation experience. The Reserves we focus on at the moment are:
Donate to wildlife conservation
Scientists believe that the figures regarding endangered animals will increase dramatically in the next twenty years unless serious counter measures are put into place. This means that the next generation and those to follow, will not be fortunate enough to see critically endangered animals like the African Wild Dog or Cheetah in the flesh.
