Protecting Big Cats, Biodiversity and Communities in Hwange National Park

Project Goals

• Strengthening law enforcement by providing technical and financial support to anti-poaching units (APUs) including the Scorpion APU and Conservation Wildlife Fund Hwange (CWF APU).

• Expanding wildlife monitoring efforts through SMART data collection and citizen science initiatives to inform conservation management.

• Enhancing community engagement through educational programs, such as Eco-Clubs, to promote environmental stewardship and empower local youth.

• Increasing collaboration with government entities, NGOs, and conservation partners to improve conservation impact and policy development.

Project Background

Hwange National Park (HNP) and its surrounding protected areas in Zimbabwe are a vital part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). The park is home to key populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, elephants and other vulnerable or threatened species. However, these species face growing threats from unsustainable bushmeat poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

Panthera, dedicated to wild cat conservation, is committed to actively addressing the challenges facing Hwange National Park and its surrounding areas, working to protect key species and promote sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Snaring, a widespread form of poaching, depletes prey populations and directly harms non-target species, including big cats. The decline in wildlife directly impacts local communities, as ecotourism—an essential economic driver—relies on healthy animal populations. Additionally, illegal bushmeat trade poses significant health risks due to the potential spread of zoonotic diseases.

This project seeks to mitigate these threats by strengthening law enforcement, supporting anti-poaching units, engaging local communities, and enhancing wildlife monitoring initiatives. By addressing these urgent challenges, the project will contribute to the long-term stability of the Greater Hwange Ecosystem, ensuring the survival of its keystone species while promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Key Principles

The goal is to strengthen wildlife protection in HNP and its surrounding areas by supporting anti-poaching efforts, wildlife monitoring, and community engagement initiatives. Guided by Panthera’s approach to combating wildlife crime, focusing on four key principles:

• Crime Specificity: Identifying and addressing specific threats to wildlife protection.
• Collaboration and Coordination: Building partnerships and key conservation stakeholders to maximize impact.
• Comprehensive Interventions: Deploying both enforcement and non-enforcement strategies to effectively combat threats.
• Impact Evaluation: Continuously assessing and refining conservation efforts to ensure lasting success.

Project Activities

The project consists of three research activities:

1. Wildlife Protection and Anti-Poaching Support

• Fund operational costs for Scorpion APU and CWF APU, including salaries, uniforms, equipment and vehicle maintenance.
• Conduct site monitoring visits to provide infield training for APU teams.

2 . Community Engagement and Education

• Continue supporting Children in the Wilderness (CITW) programs to educate local youth on conservation and sustainability.
• Expand Eco-Clubs and literacy centres in the Tsholotso region.
• Launch conservation awareness campaigns to reduce bushmeat poaching and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

3. Wildlife Monitoring and Data Collection

• Expand SMART data collection during patrols to assess conservation impacts.
• Train safari guides and local conservationists to contribute to the Hwange Citizen Science Programme.