Zambia: One of the last-remaining strongholds for large African carnivores

The Luangwa valley of Eastern Zambia

Zambia is one of the most wildlife-rich countries in Africa, enjoying a full complement of large carnivores and their prey and having nearly one-third of the country managed for wildlife through National Parks and Game Management Areas.

Despite having some of the largest and most viable wildlife populations remaining on the continent, the absence of funds and logistical hurdles inherent in such work means few research and monitoring programs exist on carnivore species and wildlife species in general in Zambia; thus effective conservation and management plans are extremely difficult to design, implement and evaluate.

Gibson Banda radio-tracks wild dogs at sunset

In collaboration with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), the Zambian Carnivore Programme is a non-profit Zambian registered trust dedicated to conserving large carnivore species and their habitat in one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich countries.

Formerly known as African Wild Dog Conservation, the project originated in Lower Zambezi in 1999 with a focus on the highly endangered African wild dog.  Expanding to the Luangwa valley in 2005,  ZCP now focuses on all large carnivore species across Zambia through a variety of applied research activities, anti-poaching and habitat conservation work, training and employing Zambian nationals in the wildlife conservation field, and supporting and participating in educational work through local schools and communities.

Zambian Carnivore Programme Goals

1. To safeguard large carnivore species and their habitat in Zambia through scientific research, community education and conservation activities.

2. To utilize carnivores as flagship species for large scale habitat conservation, which in turn will benefit many other species.

3. To provide information and recommendations to the Zambia Wildlife Authority, and support them in all efforts to safeguard the future of carnivore habitat and protected areas.

4. To increase knowledge and understanding of large carnivore dynamics and contribute to the conservation of these species as a whole.

5. To build capacity within local Zambian organisations and government bodies for the sustainable conservation of carnivores and their habitat.

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Thunderclouds illuminate wildebeest in Liuwa Plain National Park. Photo courtesy of Michelle Attala