APRIL NEWS: 24 RESCUES, 13 CONVICTIONS AND 1 HALF MARATHON RUNNER…
We’re Back! To our fans, supporters, volunteers, evangelists, friends and donors – here’s our first newsletter of 2017, it’s already April, and for that we apologize! In this Issue: 2016 LWT Impact Report Advocacy & Enforcement: Malawi Links to Thailand, and the Lengwe Loggers Lilongwe Wildlife Centre: 2017 Rescues, After the Flood and Upcoming […]
We’re Back! To our fans, supporters, volunteers, evangelists, friends and donors – here’s our first newsletter of 2017, it’s already April, and for that we apologize!
In this Issue:
2016 LWT Impact Report
Advocacy & Enforcement: Malawi Links to Thailand, and the Lengwe Loggers
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre: 2017 Rescues, After the Flood and Upcoming Vet Courses
Wildlife Emergency Rescue Unit: Mending Old Wounds
Volunteer Spotlight: Emma Baxter
Staff Profile: Gen Crisford
LWT Champion: Jake Zarins Runs Half Marathon
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust: 2016 Impact Report Before we crack on with this year’s news let’s take a moment to reflect on 2016, which was a very successful year for Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, despite all the challenges – a new Wildlife Act, the country’s first Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit, awards, record wildlife rescues and releases and the highest ever participation in our conservation education programme, to name just a few. We couldn’t do it without you! Read the full report here.
Advocacy & Enforcement: Malawi links to Thailand, and the Lengwe Loggers
Last month, customs officials in Thailand seized 330kg of ivory that had been smuggled in through Malawi. A man from Gambia was arrested when he tried to claim the shipment upon arrival. Investigators helped identify key suspects in the case that has resulted in seven additional arrests so far. These include customs clearing agents, cargo staff and several police officers. The suspects appeared in court on 24th of March for their first hearing.
The failure to intercept this shipment before it left Malawi was a great disappointment for all involved, however it should not cloud the successes that have resulted from the team’s determination and diligence so far this year. Since January, there have been a total of 17 arrests of suspected wildlife traders/traffickers, the confiscation of 100kg of ivory and 13 convictions all of which were custodial sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
We’re also proud of the progress in the prosecution of the “Lengwe Loggers” where 23 Mozambicans, 10 Malawians and two Chinese nationals have been on remand in prison for the past seven months. They were arrested for the clear felling of an estimated 2,000 hectares of protected forest within Lengwe National Park, equating to around 240,000 trees.
The Department of National Parks & Wildlife seized tractors, cars, motorbikes, chainsaws, a forklift, and a bulldozer. The equipment alone reflects the scale of the operation (DNPW’s largest field arrest to date) where roads and paths from Mozambique had been cleared to extract the wood, causing substantial ecological damage.The case concluded last month with a guilty verdict for all involved on various charges for violations of the Wildlife Act, immigration laws as well as violations of the Malawi Revenue Authority.
Wildlife Centre: Helping Wildlife In Need…
There has been no let up for the Wildlife Centre team this year – there have been 24 new intakes including yellow baboons, vervets, duikers, tortoises, a bat, a python, blue waxbills, brown eagles, barn owls, and hedgehogs!
One such rescue included Indigo, a blue monkey rescued in January from Kande Beach on Lake Malawi. She was extremely nervous and had a tough adjusting to her new life. She received round the clock care and is learning to be a blue monkey again from her “foster” brother Frank. Both have passed their quarantine exam and eventually, she will be integrated in a blue monkey group with big brother Frank when she’s a little bit older. Bravo to our wonderful volunteers and our amazing Rescue & Rehabilitation team!
Wildlife Centre: …After the Flood
In February, heavy rains resulted in a massive flood that caused serious damage to the Wildlife Centre. Our team worked tirelessly and waded through deep water to save our resident rescue owl Spotty. They also had to repair the fencing for our resident crocodiles to avoid the risk of them escaping. It was quite stressful for all involved. The good news is thanks to some very generous donors, we reached our goal of $3,000 to cover the damages and work is already underway to repair and clean-up! A very big thank you to our special friends who helped us during this time of need! Read more here.
A very big thank you also goes out to Bishop McKenzie International School and the Bambino School for helping to clean-up the Wildlife Centre trails that were littered with trash after the floods.
Bishop McKenzie International School
Bambino School
Wildlife Centre: Upcoming Vet Courses Learn all about wild animal medicine with our Wildlife Veterinary Medicine Experience, an intensive 7-day course based in Malawi. This course is designed to give you a hands-on introduction to wildlife veterinary medicine. Based in the “Warm Heart of Africa” at one of the continent’s top rehabilitation facilities (that’s the Wildlife Centre!) under the instruction of Malawi’s leading wildlife veterinarian, you will be taught through both lectures and wet labs. Space is limited, so sign up today! Click here for details. Upcoming dates:
13th of June 2017
1st of August 2017
Wildlife Emergency Rescue Unit: Mending Old Wounds
The Wildlife Emergency Rescue Unit (WERU) was called out to a to help locate two Waterbucks with old wire snare wounds. The team had been observing their movements over the course of a few weeks to make locating them a bit easier when our vet, Dr. Salb arrived. She was able to dart them for sedation, remove the snare from one and clean up the wounds on both animals. The WERU project would not be possible without the generosity of our partners at Born Free Foundation and Olsen Animal Trust. Read more of Dr. Salb’s adventures on our blog and if you would like to donate to this programme, please click here.
Volunteer Spotlight: Emma Baxter
Why did you choose a wildlife conservation and animal welfare
organization to volunteer with?
I have always loved wildlife so when I decided to volunteer it made sense to look at programs involving animal welfare and conservation. Initially, I started searching for places in South Africa because I had heard that there were several organizations across the country there, however, I then decided to broaden my search and I came across LWT. As soon as I saw the website and got into contact I knew it was a place that I wanted to go. Keep reading here.
Team Member Gen Crisford Opens Up About Life and Work in Malawi
Every once in a while, we have the privilege of converting volunteers into long-term staff members. That’s exactly what happened for Gen Crisford, our Tourism and Conservation Manager of the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.
Jake Zarins ran the Brighton Half Marathon for LWT in an impressive 1h 44m and raised over £1000!
He’s officially the first supporter ever to run in an event like this on our behalf! Thank you Jake!
Feeling inspired? Get in touch with our marketing team if there’s a personal challenge you would like to set for yourself and friends in aid of Malawi’s wildlife! We’d love to share some ideas and tips on how to set-up your very own fundraising campaign for LWT. Email us at comms@lilongwewildlife.org.
We are excited to share what we’ve been up to and we hope you continue to support our incredible work by joining us a volunteer, adopting one of our resident animals or
donating to one of our projects!
