The Tusk Conservation Awards returned for its 11thyear on November 27 , 2023 , celebrating the inspirational piece of work of conservationists championing biodiversity , wildlife , and the surroundings . The piece of work of this year ’s winner has contributed to the conservation of chimpanzee , gorilla , Pan paniscus , and painted weenie populations , and has make them recognition as some of Africa ’s lead environmentalist .
“ Africa , its people , and its biodiversity are disproportionately strike by the impacts of a thawing satellite . shock which are , for the most part , not driven by those most stirred , ” say Tusk Royal Patron , The Prince of Wales , at the awards observance at The Savoy , London , UK .
“ Those live in Africa emit just a one-fourth of the emissions than that of the average global citizen . Yet the African continent is set to receive disproportionate loss and damage from mood change . But we do have the power to deepen this , and the floor we have pick up tonight provide both optimism and hope . By investing in nature - based solutions we can avail mitigate the worst effect of our warming satellite and put it back on a healthier path . ”
The Tusk Conservation Award Winners with the Prince of Wales at the awards.Image credit: Tusk Conservation Awards 2023
The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa Winner 2023 was awarded toDr Ekwoge Abwe of the Cameroon Biodiversity Association . Fanny Minesi , Director of Friends of Bonobos of Congo , was granted the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa , andJealous Mpofu , Chief Tracker at Painted Dog Conservation , was given the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award . We speak to them to find out more about their contribution to preservation .
Dr Ekwoge Abwe, how has connecting people from grassroots organizations and traditional communities been pivotal in your conservation work?
Our initial surveys in the Ebo forest , Cameroon , break not only a forest stream with wildlife and plants , but importantly recent relics of human line , including abandoned settlements , farm cultivation , and severe land site . We recognize from the onrush that preservation in this landscape could only be accomplish through tightlipped quislingism with community whose account and origin are intricately linked with the wildlife and wood ; those who call it home .
United by a shared timber , but alienated by the civil discord around Cameroon ’s independence in the early 1960s , our first real challenge was to work on with the disparate biotic community east and Rebecca West of the Ebo timber . From 2007 , we started bringing hunters from these communities together in a series of preservation workshops hold at the Limbe Wildlife Centre , a sanctuary for animals confiscated from the wildlife deal .
In addition , through continued lobbying , in 2011 we supported the first ever meeting of traditional chiefs from more than 40 communities around the Ebo forest . This was the nascency of the Ebo Traditional Chiefs ’ Association , their goal being to heighten the benefit of their communities and protect the ample biodiversity of the Ebo wood for descendants .
Today we have come after in initiating and supporting community - led conservation around the Ebo forest , including supporting the Gorilla Guardians and Chimpanzee Guardians . This is important because the forest is not legally protected by law and has suffered from threat ranging from hunt and the bushmeat trade to home ground loss through logging and the expansion of agro - industrial woodlet .
The communities see themselves today as steward of therich biodiversity of the woods , which is home to a alone population of Gorilla gorilla and cock - wielding chimpanzees , in which they take tremendous pride . The gorilla and chimpanzee guardian clubs engage in alternate sustainable sustenance activity to reduce dependence and press on wildlife and their habitat .
Fanny Minesi, what’s it like working with bonobos, and is rewilding them difficult?
Bonobos are endlessly fascinating . They are our closest genetic relatives – with DNA that is 98.7 pct the same as ours . They are intelligent , playful , resilient , and generous , each one different from the others . They have so much to learn us ! [ But they are also ] very sensitive to tension , and this is partially why it is very difficult to rejoin them to the natural state .
We pick out candidates for rewilding from the bonobos at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary who have find from the harm of being orphan and enchant . We choose a cohesive societal grouping to rewild together . On moving day , we transport them more than 800 kilometers [ 500 mi ] , by hand truck , plane , truck again , and eventually by boat to a quarantine site near the Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Forest . The quarantine site give them time to get used to their new environment and prevents the introduction of illness to the forest .
A rewilding mission is very complex and involves many , many people . Everything happens with the bonobos ’ cooperation , or not at all . But before we can even set out , we must first create the condition for succeeder in the natural state . This mean building potent partnership with the people living near Ekolo wood . Helping them understand how protect bonobos and their rainforest is better for them than extraction , and see to it they gain from their preservation efforts – this is perfectly decisive .
Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Forest is the first provincial - floor protected sphere in DR Congo , and it is rightful partnership . With their help , we have returned more than two dozen pygmy chimpanzee to their rightful place in the rain forest , and at least 10 babies have been bear to the rewilded bonobos . Rewilding is very challenging , and also very rewarding .
Jealous Mpofu, what challenges do you face working with painted dogs?
Due to the painted dogs consume one of the largest place ranges of any farming mammalian , it is both challenging , but evenly rewarding to see them in their natural habitat . I monitor five clique , which have a combined district of more than 3,000 km [ 1,800 miles ] .
The dogs are active early in the dawn and later afternoons when it is courteous and cool , so I have to start my day at around 4 am to drive to the last sighting of the pack I am monitoring . If you stay in bottom for too long , you regain them gone . When the packs are further out , I have to camp out overnight to look for the dogs , and often stay put in the bush for day until I see them , particularly if there is an injured dog in the large number .
The threat they front let in diseases like ill humour , parvovirus , and rabies . However , their biggest threat is mankind through road chance event where the dogs build dens near major main road , not bury shooting and accidental snaring . My workfellow and I have been standing safety gadget on the main road guiding dogs returning from hunt back to the den , make certain they are not kill by vehicles .
I also return last year in Hwange National Park when four wienerwurst were snared in one pack . I had to dog them down so my colleague Peter could flit them , and one by one , as I find them , we got the snares off .
How does it feel to be recognized at the Tusk Conservation Awards?
Dr Ekwoge Abwe : It never cross my creative thinker that our conservation work in a remote turning point of Cameroon would be recognized , allow alone celebrated on such a global degree . That said , I have always trust that conservation anywhere is preservation everywhere ! I am abase by this recognition and honor . This is not a solo effort ; I wish well to fully acknowledge the strong work and forfeit of our entire team in Cameroon and the support of the grassroots communities we have been process with over the years .
Fanny Minesi : I am grateful and feel really honour . frankly , I was not expecting this ! When you are deeply swallow up in the study every daylight , you do not reckon for honors . And I accept it in the name of my team , because nothing would be possible without them , and on behalf of the multitude who are working so hard without recognition or awards . I am also thankful to our partner in Congo and around the world because it is thanks to them that bonobo preservation is happening .
Jealous Mpofu : I feel absolutely honoured to get ahead this award , recognising my passion and allegiance for saving the painted Canis familiaris for over the last 25 age and most importantly , keeping their future secure . This credit will provide me with a program to raise cognisance of the plight of painted dog , as the world is , if we do n’t do something to help them now , these beautiful animals will be lost to humankind .
Find out more about theTusk Conservation Award winners here .
