CONSERVATION NEWS
2019 Wildlife Conservation Network Fall Expo
The Nsefu.org at the 2019 Wildlife Conservation Network Fall Expo!
While most of Team Nsefu.org USA was preparing to hold it’s 3rd Annual A Toast for Tusks in Carlsbad, other team members attended the 2019 Wildlife Conservation Network Fall Expo in San Francisco.
The Nsefu.org team shared our story with visitors to our booth as well as people we met while attending the event functions.
A note from team member Andre G.
“WCN for Tony and I was quite the experience, between meeting Jane Goodall, our wonderful sponsors, and having the opportunity to discuss our many programs with passers by, as well as get the word out about how much we’ve been able to accomplish since Nsefu’s inception it was really a rare opportunity. Tony and I enjoyed being amongst like minded individuals in the conservation area and around so many accomplished conservationists it was truly inspiring. It just reminds me that we all need to begin somewhere and listening to how long it took many of the other NGOs to get off the ground reminds me of how blessed we are as an organization to have the motivation and the know how to accomplish what we have in as short a time as we have.”
The 3rd Annual "A Toast for Tusks" - A Thank You from Coe!
A Toast for Tusks was a success, thanks to all of our supporters.
A mega thank you to our wonderful friends Witch Creek Winery who hosted A Toast for Tusks for the 3rd year and we are SO GRATEFUL for you and your friendship. Deepest gratitude to the whole WCW team and Mayur Pavagadhi and Dru White.
Connie Edwards McGaughy, John Stewart McGaughy, Christine Rhoads, Bill Huth, Mitch Rand Rich Robinson, Beth Hill, David Wallace, John Hansen, Pandora Vreeland, Alissa Faiers, John Faiers, Tony Hunstiger and Shelly Waddell THANK YOU FOR MAKING Nsefu Wildlife SHINE at a Toast for Tusks! It was our biggest event yet!!! Your hard work, dedication and devotion to our foundation, to saving wildlife and supporting our amazing team in Zambia literally blows me away.
And finally, THANK YOU TO EVERY PERSON who came to celebrate with me Friday and at A Toast for Tusks! You bless me with your friendship and your support. I don't have enough words to express what I feel, so saying "I love you" is a start. Thank you my beautiful angels. Your biggest fan, Coe.
Local pressure stops illegal wildlife transfer in South Luangwa National Park!
Stand up for what you believe and you can make a difference!
Recently, 3 big container-sized trucks sent by a private game reserve in Zambia showed up at the main entrance of the South Luangwa National Park with the intention of going into the park to dart and capture wildlife.
The Royal Chiefs nor the CRBs (Community Resource Boards) were consulted about the wildlife purchase and transfer, and the Chiefs and the community were outraged. The local economy of the Nsefu Sector, which is home to South Luangwa, heavily depends on tourism and photographic safaris. South Luangwa National Park is known for its diverse wildlife and the health of the park is critical to the survival of the local economy. Having a business "pilfer" animals out of a national park with no approval by local officials or conservation organizations was very concerning. Many locals are reliant on the employment offered by the wildlife-based businesses and programs in the sector. The wildlife is the lifeblood of the region.
The local chiefs, led by His Royal Highness Senior Chief Nsefu, sent a letter to the president of Zambia, asking to cease this operation. Community members, Wildlife Scouts, Conservation Rangers, and local villagers gathered together to protest peacefully taking a strong stand against these kind of actions. When the trucks showed up to take animals away, they were turned away by all the protesters and left with nothing. The power of the Zambian people working together to protect their wildlife is a momentous event in conservation.
Nsefu Wildlife is proud to have partnered with His Royal Highness Chief Nsefu and community members in sending this powerful message that their wildlife is NOT FOR SALE. Zambia is taking the lead in fighting for their wildlife and we are thrilled to have been part of such an important event!
Nsefu Co-founder Coe Lewis on KUSI San Diego for National Elephant Appreciation Day
Coe talks about A Toast for Tusks!
Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation co-founder Coe Lewis and Pet Patrol’s Sandie Lampe joined KUSI, on National Elephant Appreciation Day (9/22), to talk about the Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation’s 3rd annual Toast for Tusks event!
Using fabric furs to protect wild cats in Zambia
Heritage Fabric Fur may protect wildlife.
Story originally posted on www.peaceparks.org.
Early in August in western Zambia, Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, and the Barotse Royal Establishment of the Lozi People in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation and Cartier launched the Saving Spots project – an innovative and culturally-sensitive conservation initiative that seeks to protect declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as ‘Heritage Furs’.
Held annually on the Zambezi River in the Barotseland Kingdom, the Kuomboka festival (meaning ‘to get out of the water’) involves passage of His Majesty the Lozi King between palaces by barge. Historically, the King’s barge has carried approximately 200 paddlers adorned with ornate, full-length skirts or lipatelo made of nearly a thousand leopard and serval furs. Paddlers have also traditionally worn red berets topped with lion mane headpieces, known as mishukwe.
With the roll out of this new wild cat conservation initiative at the Royal Palace in Mongu, festival attendees received 200 Panthera-created synthetic leopard and serval fur lipatelo and 200 synthetic lion mishukwe, which have replaced the use of real furs and, we expect, will help to reduce the hunting of hundreds of wild cats across southern Africa where the species are severely threatened.