Championing Africa’s animals

Since its formation in 1990, Tusk has raised £30million for a wide range of projects across Africa. These not only aim to protect wildlife, but also help to alleviate poverty through sustainable development and education among rural communities who live alongside wildlife. The Duke of Cambridge became royal patron of Tusk in 2005 and supports its work both privately and publicly.

Open to nominations from across Africa, the Tusk Conservation Awards were established in 2013 with the backing of the Duke. There are three categories: the Tusk Award for Conservation recognises an emerging leader in African conservation whose work has already demonstrated exceptional commitment to wildlife conservation and has made a significant impact; the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award recognises the dedication of rangers working to protect Africa’s endangered wildlife; and the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa is a lifetime achievement award, given to an individual for their outstanding contribution to conservation in Africa.

This year, three “unsung heroes” have been nominated for the Tusk Award for Conservation. They are Cathy Dreyer, for her work protecting South Africa’s rhino population; Rachel McRobb, for her conservation work in Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley, and Olivier Nsengimana, for his veterinary work with mountain gorillas and his efforts to save the grey crowned cranes of Rwanda.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in central London in November, when the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award and Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa will also be presented. Charlie Mayhew, Tusk’s chief executive, said: “Choosing just one winner when the inspirational work of all three has done so much for Africa’s rural communities and their irreplaceable natural heritage, will be very tough.”

The awards are sponsored by Investec Asset Management with additional support from Land Rover.

Cathy Dreyer South Africa

Cathy Dreyer started her career more than 17 years ago with South African National Parks (SANParks), as a conservation student. There she developed a deep concern for black rhino which has shaped her career in conservation. Cathy has gained a reputation for being an integral part of many successful wildlife projects, including the relocation and reintroduction of black rhino in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Tanzania, and the relocation of game from the Kruger National Park in South Africa to Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Over the years, she has also become involved in the veterinary aspects of various conservation initiatives such as the Kruger buffalo breeding project and the Back to Africa sable antelope project. Recently, Cathy was appointed conservation manager for a strategically significant reserve in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is now responsible for protecting one of the world’s most important black rhino populations.

“Black rhinos have always been my passion,” says Cathy. “I have been incredibly fortunate to work daily with these animals and, as part of a team, contribute meaningfully to rhino conservation.”

Olivier Nsengimana Rwanda

Dr Olivier Nsengimana, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, taught science in secondary school for several years before being chosen by the government to attend veterinary school. He works as a field veterinarian with the gorilla doctors. Through his project Saving Endangered Grey Crowned Cranes, Olivier hopes to inspire the next generation of young Rwandans to help with the conservation of the country’s wildlife and natural heritage. The grey crowned crane is the only species of crane found in Rwanda, and just 300-500 individuals are estimated to remain in the country. Olivier has developed a conservation programme, including a registration and amnesty process for people illegally holding cranes, as well as promoting alternative sources of income to deter communities from capturing and selling the birds. He has also focused on the rehabilitation and reintroduction of captive cranes to the wild in Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda.

Olivier says: “Iconic endangered species often receive a lot of recognition and support but there are lesser known smaller species that also need our help. The driving force behind my work is a belief that the involvement of the local population in conservation issues is the key to their success and sustainability.”

The shortlist for this year’s Tusk Award for Conservation shows a huge commitment to the continent’s endangered wildlife

Rachel McRobb Zambia

“I am one of those lucky people in life who finds fulfilment just being in wild places surrounded by wildlife,” says Rachel McRobb. “The possibility of losing this in South Luangwa and other parts of Zambia is enough for me to fight the daily battles involved in running a wildlife conservation NGO in Africa and managing an anti-poaching unit.”

Born in Zambia, Rachel quickly fostered a love for the country’s rich wildlife and wild places. As a young woman she began working in the tourism industry before settling in South Luangwa National Park. Employed to manage safari camps, she soon became distraught at the numbers of animals being maimed and killed in snares and co-founded an anti-poaching team. Over 11 years she has expanded the organisation, forming the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS).

SLCS is the area’s largest nonprofit anti-poaching and community conservation organisation – and the hallmark of its success is the involvement of local Zambians. The organisation largely employs community scouts from the surrounding chiefdoms and is one of the largest employers in the valley.

For more information on Tusk, see tusk.org

Shortlisted: Olivier Nsengimana, above; Cathy Dreyer, right; and Rachel McRobb, below