Wilderness backs carnivore conservation in Kafue
Ellanie Smit
The Wilderness Trust has officially announced its support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), providing crucial funding to sustain field-based protection efforts for large carnivores in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE). The funding will cover essential needs, including tracking collars, vehicle operations, and field staff.
“After years of informal collaboration, hosting ZCP staff at our camps and supporting sightings, data collection, and collaring, we are thrilled to formalise our partnership,” said Vince Shacks, Wilderness Group Head of Impact. “ZCP’s work aligns closely with our three Impact pillars: Educate, Empower, and Protect. Protect focuses heavily on human–lion conflict mitigation, a key priority in this region.”
Now in its 14th year, the ZCP Kafue Project is among Africa’s longest-running carnivore conservation programmes and the largest conservation science initiative in the Zambian Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).
“Formalising our long-standing relationship with Wilderness is a natural step forward, and we look forward to closer collaboration to advance conservation of Kafue’s carnivores,” said founder Dr Matthew Becker.
According to Wilderness, in 2024 alone, ZCP teams conducted more than 12 200 snare checks across lions, wild dogs, hyenas and cheetahs.
With partner organisations, 16 large carnivores were rescued from snares. “It’s intensive work,” Becker noted, “but field-based protection combined with our research demonstrates tangible population benefits.”
Wilderness said that a standout example of ZCP’s impact is a lioness named Queen, rescued from a snare in 2013. Queen has since become a celebrated figure for Wilderness guests at Shumba and Busanga Bush Camps in Kafue, and has given birth to 65 cubs and counting. Her legacy continues through Princess, her daughter and the current matriarch of the resident Shumba Pride, which ZCP monitored closely in 2024.
Scientific studies by ZCP have repeatedly shown that effective protection measures significantly increase lion survival, even in areas affected by prey depletion. According to Wilderness, anti-poaching initiatives have led to higher cub survival rates, transforming declining populations into growing ones, while unprotected areas continue to experience population losses.
“Support from the Wilderness Trust and our partners remains critical,” Becker said. “Long-term field-based protection works, and together we can ensure these iconic species continue to thrive in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem.”
The Wilderness Trust has officially announced its support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), providing crucial funding to sustain field-based protection efforts for large carnivores in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE). The funding will cover essential needs, including tracking collars, vehicle operations, and field staff.
“After years of informal collaboration, hosting ZCP staff at our camps and supporting sightings, data collection, and collaring, we are thrilled to formalise our partnership,” said Vince Shacks, Wilderness Group Head of Impact. “ZCP’s work aligns closely with our three Impact pillars: Educate, Empower, and Protect. Protect focuses heavily on human–lion conflict mitigation, a key priority in this region.”
Now in its 14th year, the ZCP Kafue Project is among Africa’s longest-running carnivore conservation programmes and the largest conservation science initiative in the Zambian Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).
“Formalising our long-standing relationship with Wilderness is a natural step forward, and we look forward to closer collaboration to advance conservation of Kafue’s carnivores,” said founder Dr Matthew Becker.
According to Wilderness, in 2024 alone, ZCP teams conducted more than 12 200 snare checks across lions, wild dogs, hyenas and cheetahs.
With partner organisations, 16 large carnivores were rescued from snares. “It’s intensive work,” Becker noted, “but field-based protection combined with our research demonstrates tangible population benefits.”
Wilderness said that a standout example of ZCP’s impact is a lioness named Queen, rescued from a snare in 2013. Queen has since become a celebrated figure for Wilderness guests at Shumba and Busanga Bush Camps in Kafue, and has given birth to 65 cubs and counting. Her legacy continues through Princess, her daughter and the current matriarch of the resident Shumba Pride, which ZCP monitored closely in 2024.
Scientific studies by ZCP have repeatedly shown that effective protection measures significantly increase lion survival, even in areas affected by prey depletion. According to Wilderness, anti-poaching initiatives have led to higher cub survival rates, transforming declining populations into growing ones, while unprotected areas continue to experience population losses.
“Support from the Wilderness Trust and our partners remains critical,” Becker said. “Long-term field-based protection works, and together we can ensure these iconic species continue to thrive in the Greater Kafue Ecosystem.”
