Projects We Support

Selected Project:  

CARACAL Biodiversity and Environmental Education Center and Field Laboratory. Dr. Kathleen Alexander DVM, Virginia Tech Association Professor of Zoology Chobe National Park, Botswana

 
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Tuberculosis field  research - from humans into wildlife populations

"If communities do not value and see wildlife as part of their future,

Chobe’s vast wildlife assets will slowly be eroded in favor of more

lucrative land uses. We must engage communities and develop

ownership over benefits and management challenges if we are to

secure a future for wildlife." Dr. Kathy Alexander, CARACAL


CARACAL is a field based educational center that focuses on mitigation of human wildlife conflict, community-based monitoring of natural resources for improved rural livelihoods. CARACAL is the only indigenous conservation and rural development NGO in the Chobe Linyanti Kwando Wetlands within the Zambezi Basin.
WildiZe has been an important partner for CARACAL providing funding for first class field laboratory sites outside of Chobe National Park that hold a large education center and field laboratory for understanding the Tuberculosis vector for human to wildlife population via mongoose and elephant.
Prior to our grant, samples were frozen and sent to lab several days away.  Today, samples can be read and analyzed on site.  The result is real-time data and verifiable and publishable research on the dire impact that human garbage is having by transmitting human diseases, specifically Tuberculosis, into animal population.

Project web site: www.caracal.info

People who are hungry and poor have more immediate concerns

than saving wildlife

Developing local investment and owership in wildlife is the key to securing a future for this resource. However, it is becoming apparent that access to capital investment is not the primary barrier impeding localization in the tourism industry and other economic wildlife based opportunities. The key difficuty preventing Batswana from effectively out competing foreign operators is the lack of opportunity to develop passion for the resource and comprehensive knowledge and skill base to develop confidence and knowledge of how to advance in the sector.

In response, we therefore propose to develop in Botswana the firwst world-class zoological garden, tourism and natural resource management training center to be located in Kasane Botswana. The site if over 20 hectares in size, located adjacent to the famous Chobe National Park and overlooks the river as it winds through the Botswana and Namibian flood plains.

After the facility is complete, tourism revenue generated from gate entrance fees will provide for recurrent biudget requirements, coservation and education activities and future improvements on the facility to allow the Center to bcome donor independent after construction. This facility will be able to provide for the long-term training and extension support required to bring Batswana into the natural resource sector and utilize this key resource to advance livelihoods of rural Batswana.

 

FAST FACTS:

Increasingly, wildlife managers are recognizing the devastating impactthat disease can have on wildlife populations.

Disease transmission from wild animals to domestic relatives has been well documented in Africa, especially in cases where wild animals serve as reservoir hosts for economically important diseases affecting livestock.

Rapidly growing human populations and dwindling land resources cause increased contact between wildlife and humans and their domestic animals.

The disease threat domestic animal population’s pose to wildlife resources is little understood.

Although reserves and national parks have been established to conserve African wildlife, domestic animal populations now surround many such protected areas.