CONSERVATION NEWS
Nsefu Wildlife holds the first ever Conservation Expo!
Nsefu Wildlife and Local People working together to stop poaching.
Reported by Nsefu Team Member and Ranger Team Operations Mgr. Steven Zulu.
The first Conservation Expo held in the Nsefu Sector of Zambia was a great hit. The event took place on Saturday, November 9th and was sponsored by Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation (Nsefu.org). It was a unique and special event that was attended by more than 400 school children and 300 community members all taking a stand against poaching.
The team wanted to figure out a way to not only educate the children but get them “involved” in conservation. So it was determined that Nsefu Wildlife would put on the first Conservation Expo where children would be given an opportunity to showcase their knowledge in conservation to the community.
The event was attended by the following:
His Royal Highness Senior Chief Nsefu’s representative.
Victoria and all team Zambian Nsefu members.
Other organizations like Chipembele.
Our 9 scouts directly involved in the anti-poaching.
60 teachers from all schools.
The primary objective of the Nsefu.org Team is to support conservation through our main objectives of Rangers on the Ground, Educational Support, Beekeeping, Sewing Program and Snare Removal. We feel that for us to achieve these goals, we must get the community on board.
We therefore feel that it's prudent to work with local schools, with the aim of imparting conservation knowledge while the children are still young and hope that when they grow up, they can pass on what they've learned to future generations.
The Nsefu Sector has 10 schools:
5 are community schools.
4 are primary schools and,
1 is secondary school (in Kakumbi).
We have so far formed conservation clubs in all the 10 schools and every Wednesday, these clubs meet in the afternoon for conservation lessons with their teachers.
The pupils showcased in the following activities:
Conservation poems.
Paper presentations on conservation.
Drama on conservation.
Traditional dance and songs about conservation.
Quizzed on conservation.
Scouts talk about Conservation
The scouts also had a chance to educate the gathering on the importance of conservation. They explained what they experience in their conservation work and also gave motivational talks. Our rangers gave impassioned speeches to the attendees which were very well-received.
After all activities were done, there was an awards presentation and each school walked away with a k500 ($40) which has never happened in the history of Nsefu, because no organization has ever done anything like this. The Conservation Expo was a first and it was a smashing success. This made pupils even more motivated, teachers and inclusive of all community members.
We had 3 schools which did extremely well and as sign of appreciation, were awarded them slightly higher than the others.
The Conservation Expo wouldn't be possible without support from all of our supporters and donors. Every dollar that is raised goes directly into our conservation efforts.
All Nsefu Team members promise to continue represent our supporter’s passion for wildlife.
'I'm here to save Mother Nature' – meet the man battling poachers in Zambia!
Benson Kanyembo is this year’s winner of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award!
Benson Kanyembo is this year’s winner of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, initiated by the Duke of Cambridge. Sarah Marshall shares his story.
Frowning with concentration, Benson Kanyembo stares through the window of a Cessna 180, scanning every inch of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Flying low and slow, the light aircraft glides above a sun-scorched savannah, where mopane trees cling on to their last remaining leaves, sandbanks are streaked with hippo trails and herds of elephants march towards the river in a weary, thirsty parade.
Although scenic, these flights have far greater importance. The law enforcement adviser is searching for smoking embers from fresh fires, tell-tale signs that poachers have invaded the park. This morning – to everyone’s relief – only old scars pockmark the landscape, although they serve as a reminder of why Kanyembo and his team can never give up.
Employed by NGO Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), the 48-year-old ranger leads a team of 66 community-based scouts to protect one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations.
In an announcement today, he was named 2019 winner of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award – a prize initiated by the charity’s royal patron the Duke of Cambridge four years ago, to give international recognition to the men and women risking their lives to defend Africa’s wildlife. On Nov 21, he will be presented with a medal and a grant of £10,000 at the Tusk Conservation Awards in London.
“This is my national heritage, my birth. I’m here to save Mother Nature,” explains Kanyembo while walking briskly from the airstrip to his four-wheel drive. The robust mountain of a man takes everything in his giant stride. “This isn’t work for me,” he says.
Snares, the Indiscriminate Killer
Help us stop the use of snares in Africa.
Date of post: 10/31/19
Recently, the Nsefu team have spotted several animals that have been entangled in snares. They are an Elephant, Bushbuck and Lion. We were able to help the Bushbuck, but are still looking for the elephant and lion.
Snares are the equivalent to Gillnets in the ocean. They can kill or main anything that gets trapped in them.
Pictured below is the Lion we recently spotted with a snare around his left front paw.
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.