Namibia Wildlife FoundationsThere are several Namibia Wildlife Foundations in the country. These are listed below: NAMIBIA AFRICAT FOUNDATION
Africat is one of the Namibia Wildlife Foundations. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of the big cats, mainly cheetah and leopard in Namibia. Namibia livestock farmers often suffer losses through predation. As livestock is often the only income indiscriminate trapping and shooting or selling the animal live to captive facilities. This scenario is leading to a reduction of the predator population through most of their natural habitat. The founders of the Africat Foundation firmly believe that solutions can be found for both farmers and predators so that they can co-exist. These solutions include developing and improving farming methods that would prevent livestock loss as well as education among farming communities in these farming methods. Predators caught live are also relocated to other areas so that they can return to the wild to keep the free ranging population stable. The Africat Fountation is run from the farm Okonjima in the Otjiwarongo district in Namibia. Once a very respected cattle stud farm, its emphasis has now shifted toward tourism and conservation. Okonjima is a guest lodge, where aside from wilderness aspects, guest can learn more about Africat and its methods of conservation. Over a few short years their reputation as procurers of problem animals has spread through Namibia. Demand for their assistance necessitates the enlargement of their facilities but expenses are high and to keep going they now need assistance with food and travel costs to collect animals that would otherwise be killed. As farmers they understand the farmer’s anger and frustration at finding his potential income annihilated. Africat’s intention is to try to find a solution to the farmer’s problem. They would like to speak to farmers to establish their specific problems and perhaps help to deal with it in a non-destructive way. Schools are an ideal means of getting through to the youth of the country, informal talks and projects that they try to involve children as much as possible are envisaged. Without financial assistance, not all their hope can be realised. For further information and details on how you can help, contact: Wayne and Lise Hanssen.
The Africat Foundation NAMIBIA CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUNDThe cheetah, the most specialised of all 37 species of cats and the fastest of all land mammals, is running its race for survival. Loss of habitat,declining prey base, and competition with both farming interests and large predators are steadily leading the wild cheetah populations throughout Africa toward extinction. The largest single free ranging population of cheetah is in Namibia where approximately 3000 animals or +20% of the world's population still survive. Founded in 1990 by its Executive Director,Dr. Laurie Marker, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) another one of Namibia Wildlife Foundationsis, is a non-profit organization permanently based in Namibia. Their mission is to be an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and education on cheetahs and their eco-systems, working with all stakeholders to achievebest practice in the conservation and management of the world's cheetahs. CCF's stance is that understanding the cheetah's biology and ecology is essential to stabilise the population and manage its sustainability for the future. Its strategy to save the wild cheetah is a three-pronged process of research, conservation and education, beginning with long-term studies to understand and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah's survival. Results of these studies are used to develop conservation policies and programmes to sustain its populations. CCF's programmes include farmers' training courses which, along with its Livestock Guarding Dog Programme, have contributed to stabilising the cheetah population in Namibia by addressing human-predatorissues; and CCF Bush is a Namibian enterprise dedicated to habitatrestoration through harvesting of invasive thorn bush to manufactureclean-burning fuel logs which are currently being exported to South Africa, the UK and Germany. CCF actively works with local, national and international communities to raise awareness, communicate, educate and train. The Cheetah Conservation Fund's International Cheetah Research and EducationCentre is located 50 km east of Otjiwarongo. The centre contains research and education facilities as well as limited accommodations available to researchers, students and the public. An extensive modern Visitor and Education Centre encourages visitors to learn about cheetahs, their habitat and issues of conservation, with an opportunity to see resident non-releasable cheetahs, acting as 'cheetah ambassadors' for the species. For further information, contact:
THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY OF NAMIBIAThe Wildlife Society of Namibia, also one of the Namibia Wildlife Foundations, aims to monitor and protect the environment, particularly the fauna and flora of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean through education programmes and the promotion of environmentally friendly practices such as recycling. Contact details: THE NAMIBIA NATURE FOUNDATION
The Namibia Nature Foundation is a non profit, non governmental organisation, constituted in 1987, which is governed by a board of trustees and managed by a Chief Executive Director. The primary aim of the foundation is to promote the conversation and wise, ethical utilisation of natural resources in Namibia. The operative rationale of the NNF is designed around the established of a support bas for existing or potential project executants. The NNF is at the moment providing support to some 70 projects. These are located throughout the country and cover many different aspects of conservation. Contact details of this Namibia Wildlife Foundations: SAVE THE RHINO TRUST OF NAMIBIA
The Save The Rhino Trust of Namibia (part of the Namibia Wildlife Foundations)is a non government welfare organization (WU 53) which has been actively concerned in the conversation of black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis) in Damaraland and Kaokoveld, now known as the Kunene region for more than a decade. Projects are directed as a joint venture with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia. The objectives of SRT are to protect the rhino and elephant slaughter by man, to provide a means of involving the local population in conversation matters, to assist in relocation of game to boost present numbers, to assist in research, to encourage the wise utilisation of wildlife resources, to promote a reward system for information on illegal activities regarding game and to keep administration costs to a minimum. The success of the SRT is funded by donations made by individuals, businesses and wildlife organisations. For further information on current activities and donations contact:
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