Protecting Endangered Species with Wildlife ACT

As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back and reflect on our impact this year. Whether in the field or behind a desk, we always strive to keep our purpose front of mind: to restore and protect natural ecosystems, ensuring that wildlife thrives for future generations.

None of this would be possible without our exceptional, hard-working team, the incredible partnerships we’ve formed over the years, and our valued network of supporters and volunteers. It goes without saying that this work would be impossible without such passionate and dedicated people in our corner.

Here are just a few of our accomplishments from 2024 - we hope they will inspire you as they have us.

Vulture Conservation Programme News

The key focus of Wildlife ACT’s Vulture Conservation Programme in 2024 was to raise awareness surrounding Vultures and their environmental importance, as well as, in our Zululand Project, forming a better understanding of the extent of lead exposure in KZN’s Vultures.

Also, a new project has been initiated in Zululand to deploy tracking units to Hooded Vultures for the first time in the province, to determine where they are breeding and inform conservation action.

Another great success was that in May, along with partners Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and FreeMe Wildlife, Wildlife ACT was able to assist in the release of four rehabilitated Cape Vultures into the southern Drakensberg region.

Mzimkulu Vulture Hide Launch a Success
This year marked the opening of the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide in the Southern Drakensberg, in collaboration with Riverlea Farm, providing the Southern Drakensberg with a sustainable safe feeding site for vultures.

Important partners include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

The creation of the hide was made possible by Invicta Wildlife, CHEP, the European Outdoor Conservation Association, and Laetitia Steynberg. The support of local Underberg farms was also crucial to making this important Vulture Safe Feeding Site possible.

Now, having been open to public bookings for nine months, the hide has had over 180 visitors and is also the site of important educational programmes.

Rhino Conservation News
Along with our vital partners in conservation, Wildlife ACT is dedicated to supporting the mitigation of the ever-present threat of poaching through adaptive monitoring as well as assisting in the provision of preventative measures such as dehorning operations.
Somkhanda Dehorning Success

In July this year, a three-day dehorning operation took place in July on Somkhanda Game Reserve, funded by Rhino Recovery Fund and others, with the aim of protecting this vulnerable Rhino population.

Big Cats Programme Update
This year, the decision was made to combine our Cheetah, Leopard, and Lion projects into the Big Cat Programme, aligning with the government’s development of a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for big cats. This integrated approach supports informed management of Leopards, Cheetahs, and Lions, ultimately aiming to enhance their survival and sustainability.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Forever Wild Foundation, who have partnered with us on Cheetah conservation work, and to Invicta Wildlife Fund and Aurex Constructors for their continued support of our Leopard conservation work.

Happy holidays!
Happy holidays from all of us at Wildlife ACT. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the year. Every initiative and project requires input from many groups and individuals, and we are so grateful to the many wonderful partnerships over the past year - both new and old. We wish you a peaceful holiday season, and can’t wait to see what lies in store for 2025.

- Team Wildlife ACT