Born Free provided support to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the National Protected Area Agency (ICCN) to protect the largest remaining population of Grauer’s gorillas (also known as the eastern lowland gorilla) – a species endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park was established more than 50 years ago to preserve this endemic species and protect one of the most biodiverse areas in the DRC. In 2022, WCS entered into a “Public Private Partnership” agreement with ICCN to assist in managing the park.
A young gorilla in the Bonane family, Kahuzi-Biega National Park © Gorilla Doctors
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Born Free provided support to ELRECO, an organisation dedicated to the conservation of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cylcotis).
According to the IUCN, more than 80% of African forest elephants have been lost in the last century, so they are classified as Critically Endangered. This is primarily due to poaching, which is still a significant threat. Another threat is the loss of habitat due to agriculture or timber exploitation. Since efforts started in the 1980s, conservation action in Liberia has suffered many setbacks, mainly due to more than a decade of civil war, but also more recently by the biggest Ebola outbreak to date.
Liberia offers one of the best chances of survival for the forest elephant in West Africa. However, very little is known about forest elephants in comparison to savannah elephants. One of ELRECO’s main activities is conducting a nationwide elephant status survey.
Liberia is a priority country for West African forest elephant conservation. Yet there is a lack of information on forest elephant distribution, population size, ranges, seasonal movements (including migration paths and cross-border), hunting pressure and ivory trade, and human-elephant conflict. This information is vital for effective conservation planning and management. The elephant status survey aims to bring this data together.
African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). © ELRECO
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Born Free provided support to the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP), an organisation focused on the protection of Endangered Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis), the most endangered carnivores in Africa and one of the rarest canids on Earth.
Facing severe fragmentation, the largest remaining sub-population of Ethiopian wolves are found in the Bale Mountains, southern Ethiopia, with numbers estimated at fewer than 500 individuals.
Ethiopian Wolf Cubs © Thierry Grobet, Nyala Productions
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EWCP has also helped to attract funds to secure the Bale Mountains National Park and is looking to develop eco-tourism in the area, which will enable the project’s long-term sustainability, as well as bring financial benefits to local communities. EWCP is now a global initiative, drawing together partners and experts from all over the world who work closely together with the local communities.
Born Free provided support to Jaguars in the Fringe, a project that aims to safeguard threatened jaguar populations in Argentina.
The Yungas of northwestern Argentina – the jaguar’s southernmost enclave – has the potential to act as a source to recolonise other habitats where jaguars once roamed. Although fully protected by law, these jaguars are still threatened by persecution and by the degradation and fragmentation of their forest habitats; Jaguars in the Fringe seeks to tackle these threats.
Female jaguar captured on a camera trap © Jaguars in the Fringe
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Additionally, the project works to support local governments to protect the Yungas and its wildlife more effectively, through the implementation of the Jaguar Strategic Conservation Plan for the Yungas. By working with diverse landowners – including state-owed, plantations, large cattle ranches and small farms – Jaguars in the Fringe promotes the recovery of wild prey populations, benefitting the survival of the remaining jaguars.
Born Free provided support LAGA, Cameroon to stop illegal wildlife trafficking.
LAGA is a non-governmental organisation which helps enforce wildlife laws in Cameroon and apprehends and prosecutes criminal networks dealing in protected wildlife species.
A young chimpanzee seized in March 2022 © LAGA
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Born Free provided support to the Northern Lions Project.
The Northern Lions Project operates in Sudan and Ethiopia to survey the northern lion subspecies (Panthera leo leo) populations and initiate lion conservation to mitigate against key threats such as human-lion conflict.
Northern Lions in Cameroon © Northern Lions Project
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Born Free provided support to Freeland Foundation for Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) conservation in Thailand.
Freeland works to protect vulnerable people and wildlife from organized crime and corruption, while revitalizing ecosystems and communities for a more secure world.
Tiger caught on a camera trap in DPKY © Freeland Foundation
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Born Free provided support to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) between 2019-2023 to protect the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Odisha from the illegal wildlife trade.
WPSI works across India to combat illegal wildlife trade, mitigate human-wildlife conflict and conduct wildlife research.
Educational billboard © WPSI
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