Sniffing Out Poachers

To date, almost 300 rhinos have been poached this year in South Africa alone, putting the continent's projected year-end loss at over 600. To root out rhino poachers and deter wildlife trafficking, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been deploying sniffer dogs at Kenya's airports. These canines are trained to detect animal products, such as elephant ivory and rhino horn, with greater than 90 percent accuracy. AWF will soon help nearly double KWS's canine unit, by providing support for an additional eight dogs and 10 handlers. Illegal horn-trade deterrents, like the sniffer dog program, give continued hope that the mighty rhino will come charging back.

AWF Among Top 1%

Loyal supporters like you already know that AWF adheres to good governance, is committed to accountability and transparency, and practices sound fiscal management… but it's nice to have independent confirmation! For the 11th year in a row, AWF has earned a four-star rating (out of a possible four stars) from independent nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator. "This 'exceptional' designation differentiates AWF from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust," said Ken Berger, Charity Navigator's president and CEO. AWF joins a select group of fewer than 1 percent of all charities that have received this evaluation for 11 consecutive years.

// Check out the rhino calves of Mosi-oa-Tunya

// See AWF's Charity Navigator profile

Pups Protect Goats

Gorillas Outsmart Poachers

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AWF Trivia

Turns out man's—and now rhino's—best friend is also a pal to goats. Near Botswana's Chobe National Park, AWF is providing herding dogs to help local farmers protect their goats from predators, which in turn helps prevent human–wildlife conflict. The dogs go out with the herds every morning and return with them in the afternoons. The program's success has led to an additional six farmers requesting puppies for their own goats!

In mid-August, a young mountain gorilla died due to injuries from a poacher's snare. AWF was saddened by this tragic death but is celebrating other news that has come to light: Young gorillas were spotted working together to take apart a snare! AWF helps support human patrols that find and destroy snares, but we're thrilled that mountain gorillas are recognizing and dismantling the deadly snares too.

AWF is embarking on a website redesign, to make our site easier than ever for you to navigate, find information about Africa's wildlife, and support conservation across the continent. But we need your help! We want your opinions on what it means to be an AWF supporter, how you use the site, and more. We're looking for AWF supporters to share your insights and experiences relating to AWF. Will you help us?

The vast landscapes (called Heartlands) that AWF manages range for hundreds, even thousands, of miles. Situated on a continent that is bigger than the USA, China, India, Japan, and all of Europe, combined, it is difficult to imagine the true size of our Heartlands. Here's a little test: Which of our Heartlands is comparable to the size of the U.S. state of Maryland? The first person to answer on Facebook will receive an AWF windbreaker!

// What other ways does AWF mitigate human–wildlife conflict?

// Read up on other happenings in the Virunga Heartland

// Yes, you can interview me!

// Answer on Facebook

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