Rhino Killings Reach Record Highs

An unprecedented number of rhinos have been killed in South Africa so far in 2012. In 10 months, 488 rhinos were poached—already surpassing the 448 killed in all of 2011. AWF is taking extensive measures to combat rhino poaching and other wildlife-related crimes. Most recently, we convened a judicial luncheon with Kenya Wildlife Service to discuss the need for harsher penalties for illegal wildlife trafficking. The event attracted some of Kenya’s most well-respected legal minds, who agreed on some initial approaches for enhancing the prosecution of illegal wildlife crimes.

U.S. Stands Against Wildlife Crime

Wildlife crime is a black-market business—rivaled only by trade in illegal arms and drugs—with an estimated worth of $10 billion per year. That’s why AWF was so heartened last week when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the State Department would add wildlife trafficking to its foreign policy agenda. “This is a global challenge that spans continents and crosses oceans,” Clinton said at the Partnership Meeting on Wildlife Trafficking, which AWF attended. We look forward to working with Secretary Clinton and the State Department to combat this issue—but we need your help, too.

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Highways: An Emerging Threat

Shipping Success

The Life of a Community Scout

AWF is Abuzz

Our Samburu Heartland staff is hard at work monitoring threats to Grevy’s zebras. An emerging threat to Grevy’s, and other species, is the Isiolo–Merille– Marsabit Highway. So far, collision with vehicles has resulted in the deaths of three Grevy’s zebras, a lion cub, a cheetah, a reticulated giraffe, and spotted and striped hyenas. This highway represents a growing challenge for wildlife continent-wide, as more roads become tarmacked in Africa. AWF is working with other NGOs to resolve the issue.

The most recent journey of the Congo Shipping Project barge was its most successful. The cargo boat, which can carry 400 tons of agricultural products, was filled to capacity when it left the Congo Heartland for markets in Kinshasa, and AWF staff was determining whether river conditions would allow the barge to return for an additional 200 tons of crops left behind. This wealth of crop harvest is a direct result of AWF’s work with local communities to foster sustainable crop practices.

Community scouts play a key role in protecting Africa’s wildlife from poaching. In the Kilimanjaro Heartland, AWF engages Maasai communities in conserving local wildlife and wild lands. By working with locals, we are able to educate them on the need for conservation and tap into their knowledge of the ecosystem while also providing employment. These local game scouts conduct patrols and help apprehend poachers in key areas. But what does it mean to be a scout?

Last month, AWF was featured on Buzzfeed—the popular social news site. We were excited to partner with the website for the chance to showcase the majestic wildlife we work to protect and to expose AWF to a new readership. Tell us which of these animals is described here to win an AWF fleece blanket: This species is primarily an herbivore that eats 100 varieties of plants. It rarely needs to drink, as it gets most of its water from succulent herbs. First person to answer correctly on Facebook wins!

// Read about our Grevy’s zebra conservation efforts

// Get an inside look at the

Congo Shipping Project

// Check out the Facebook gallery for a look at scouts’ lives

// Answer on Facebook

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