The Happy Africa Foundation | Always moving forward. Always giving back.

Zimbabwe

The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) 
ALERT is a non-profit organization working with governments, wildlife authorities and private organizations to identify suitable release sites for African lions.  ALERT will also provide infrastructure to those sites to facilitate the release and to protect local communities.  It was founded in 2005 to support the work of the four stage African Encounter Lion Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild Program, founded in 1999 at Antelope Park in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

ALERT also carries out scientific research through the Conservation Centre for Wild Africa (CCWA), either in its own right or in conjunction with external conservation organizations and educational institutions.  CCWA engages in a diversity of research and conservation related programs, not just for lions but on a wide range of African wildlife to ensure that we can pass on balanced eco-systems to future generations.  CCWA is already undertaking a number of research activities throughout Zimbabwe’s National Park system.

In addition, the ALERT Communities Trust (ACT) is a means to give back to communities bordering conservation areas such that they receive tangible benefits for supporting those conservation programs.  A primary element of this is our community education and awareness program to further understanding of the importance and relevance of sound conservation practices.  Local communities are involved in eco-tourism ventures related to the conservation programs, and money generated by those programs goes back into development schemes agreed as priorities with the local community, such as building schools or providing medical supplies.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is the patron of the ALERT Trust. 

Click here to find out more about the ALERT Trust
Click here to find out more about Volunteering with lion rehabilitation at Antelope Park, Zimbabwe 
Click here to find out more about Volunteering with lion rehabilitation in the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 

Imire Black Rhino Breeding and Conservation Project
During the late 1980’s, at the peak of the rhino-poaching era in Southern Africa, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife decided to remove the remaining 120 black rhino out of the danger zones of the National Parks and into the Intensive Protection Zones of Conservancies.
Imire Safari Ranch offered their expertise and was awarded 7 baby rhino between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Initially all efforts were centred around stabilizing the calves condition, introducing them to the correct milk formula, and generally adapting them to their new environment. The black rhino have since bred successfully ….the total births on Imire are 13.
All in all Imire Safari Ranch have handled a total of 32 black rhino since the project began in 1987 and have returned 10 rhino back to the Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe. As the rhino adjusted to their new environment, so they were released. The females have bred successfully within the Park.
In November 2007 the Travers Family of the Imire Black Rhino Breeding Project near Marondera in Zimbabwe were struck by a vicious attack which left 4 of their Black Rhino massacred by poachers. We are proud to have been amongst those who rallied for support.

“Imire Safari Ranch, would like to thank each and everyone of you, who without hesitation, have put your hands deep into your pockets and hearts, to help us find the culprits who were responsible for the murder of our four beautiful Rhino.
The letters of prayer, love and concern, condolence and reward have helped all of us on Imire to realise that we are not out there in the wilderness alone. It’s been extremely heart warming and healing to know of the joy that the Imire Rhino have brought to so many people all over the world.
The loss of our four rhino’s, the fourth rhino being the little unborn calf, have woken up the rest of the world as to how out of kilter man has become with his greed.
Those rhino have given so many people including us on Imire, the most wonderful privilege of sharing incredible moments with them. Their hugeness, their presence, their gentleness we all took for granted… I cant quite describe the feeling of loss and grief…Today a week from when it happened is a very low day…there is a silence that hangs over us in a still form.
We are devastated through to the very core of our hearts. It’s painful.
We will gather ourselves up again and move on, but today its not easy. Thank goodness we still have so much here on Imire, we have the elephant, the little ones and we have the magic world of wildlife.
All these creatures need our love and time, so we do move on, we don’t sit still, but that space of our beautiful Amber, DJ and Sprinter will never be filled again.
Thank you again for all your support and letters, its taken us all through the worst.
All our love from us on Imire.
Judy and John Travers”

We will passionately continue to rally support and raise awareness for the Imire Black Rhino project in 2008 and the future.

Click here to find out more about Volunteering at Imire Black Rhino Conservancy
Click here for related news articles about Imire Black Rhino Conservation

Hwange National Park Conservation Project
Hwange is Zimbabwe’s most famous National Park, and sadly has been very hard hit by the country’s current economic situation. It is a privilege to be involved in supporting National Parks and contributing to the conservation of Hwange’s wildlife heritage.

Within the last few months of 2007 African Impact initiated and implemented a new voluntourism pilot project in the Hwange National Park area. The aims and objectives of this project are to ascertain the feasibility of introducing an Elephant Pepper Project and continuing with establishing solid foundations for a Human-Elephant Conflict study in the Dete area, which was set in place in 2007.

We believe the implementation of a pilot study to assess the success of an Elephant Pepper Program in the Jabilisa Community can only have positive results for the community and for the wildlife in the surrounding areas. The work in the Park itself has been practical and has been focused toward Parks immediate needs, general maintenance and observational orientated tasks.

“I gained a great deal from both the project and by just being in Africa. I saw such an abundance of wildlife that you can only dream about seeing back in England. All the people we came in contact with were so warm and giving even though they live in very difficult times. The program itself is very worthwhile and gives volunteers the opportunity to see such a different way of living and appreciating life. Everything we do whilst on the program is so worthwhile and has taught me a lot about Africa and the wildlife”
Bethany Foote, UK. November 2007

Click here to find out more about assisting with conservation efforts in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe