COEXISTENCE
Our Coexistence pillar aims to reduce the costs of living with wildlife while increasing the benefits from, and appreciation of, conservation. This involves human-carnivore conflict mitigation work, land-use planning and community conservation models, and raising outreach and awareness through a diverse platform of activities.
REDUCING THE COSTS FOR COMMUNITIES.
Our Coexistence pillar focuses on reducing the costs for communities of living with wildlife, but also on increasing the benefits and appreciation of wildlife and conservation. Fundamental to this is human-carnivore conflict mitigation work, given that local communities typically bear the costs of successful wildlife conservation, but often do not enjoy the benefits. However, a core part of our work also focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of conservation benefits, and this work is conducted through numerous mediums including: community theatre, radio shows, football tournaments, community game drives, and primary and secondary school conservation clubs.
Human-carnivore conflict mitigation at ZCP involves implementing strategies to reduce conflicts between humans and carnivores. We aim to minimize livestock depredation and human-wildlife conflicts while fostering tolerance and understanding between local communities and carnivores.
Human-Carnivore Conflict
School Programmes
Our school initiatives such as conservation clubs play a crucial role in fostering environmental awareness and conservation efforts among students. By engaging with schools in various ecosystems like Luangwa, Liuwa, and Kafue, we expand our outreach and impact, empowering young minds to understand and appreciate wildlife and ecosystems.
.png)
Community Clean Sweeps
Community clean sweeps are critical in the fight against illegal bushmeat and anti-snaring efforts. They engage local communities in conservation activities, raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of illegal hunting and snaring, and provide opportunities for community members to actively participate in protecting wildlife and their habitats.
.png)
.png)
Community Outreach and Education
Community outreach and education are integral components of our conservation efforts at ZCP. We use mediums like community theatre, sports like football, and radio programs to educate and engage local communities in wildlife conservation and promote human-wildlife coexistence.
.png)
Human-Carnivore Conflict Mitigation
Large carnivores are often at the center of human-wildlife conflict and thus ZCP works with conservation partners to conduct an array of human-wildlife conflict evaluations and mitigation work. With growing human encroachment into protected areas, carnivore conflict levels rise. Poisoning has emerged as a significant threat to African wildlife, underscoring the importance of poisons response training and mitigation efforts. Our human carnivore conflict activities primarily aim to improve livestock husbandry through measures such as boma construction, reinforcement, and implementing early warning systems, alongside aversive conditioning of lions in community areas.
2306
Livestock owners trained on carnivore conflict mitigation in 2024.
School Programmes
We conduct conservation activities in both primary and secondary schools across Liuwa, Kafue, Kabompo and Luangwa ecosystems.Through hands-on activities and adventure-based learning, such as biodiversity projects and game drives, students learn about the importance of conservation, enabling them to become future stewards of the environment. Students engage in scientific research, developing crucial skills like computer literacy, critical thinking, and public speaking. Many program participants pursue further education or careers in conservation, with some joining ZCP upon graduation.
147
Educational programmes conducted in 2024
242
Students engaged across 4 ecosystems in 2024
Disease Mitigation
Disease, particularly virulent ones such as rabies, pose a serious threat to communities and wildlife alike. The vast majority of rabies outbreaks originate from populations of unvaccinated domestic dogs, who are often the primary source of disease transmission to wild carnivores, emphasizing the importance of disease mitigation efforts. Given the difficulties in effectively vaccinating wild populations, our measures focus on domestic animals. We conduct vaccination campaigns with our partners in communities surrounding protected areas to control disease transmission. Other actions include animal welfare education and support for domestic animal clinics. These efforts reduce the spread of disease between domestic and wild carnivores, mitigating the risk of catastrophic outbreaks in threatened populations while protecting communities.
2991
Domestic dogs vaccinated across two ecosystems in 2024
(AP-CSL initiative)
Community Clean Sweeps
Community clean sweeps are a collaborative effort between ZCP, Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), where local community members are empowered to remove trash and snares from Game Management Areas bordering South Luangwa National Park. These initiatives not only enhance the conservation of wildlife habitats but also mitigate the threats posed by illegal bushmeat poaching and snaring, thereby safeguarding both wildlife and local communities from harmful impacts. Through community engagement and support, these clean sweeps contribute to preserving the ecological integrity of the region while fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members towards wildlife conservation.
236
Community Clean Sweeps were conducted in 2023
1409
Community members engaged in the Clean Sweeps in 2023
412
Snares removed in 2023
Community Game Drives
Our ZCP-Conservation South Luangwa Community Game Drives program boost conservation through community engagement, connecting local communities with wildlife and conservation efforts.
Community game drives serve as invaluable tools for fostering conservation awareness and appreciation among local residents living adjacent to wildlife reserves. Many community members have not visited South Luangwa National Park, and often see only the negative aspects of wildlife through conflict. By providing local residents with firsthand experiences of encountering wildlife in their natural habitats, these drives help bridge the gap between communities and conservation efforts. They offer a unique opportunity for residents to witness the beauty and importance of their local ecosystems, encouraging a sense of stewardship and pride in their natural heritage.
Additionally, community game drives contribute to the empowerment and economic growth of local communities. Through collaboration with local guides and experts, such as our partnership with the Luangwa Guides Association, and by supporting local businesses through car rentals, these drives create employment opportunities and enable community members to play an active role in conservation efforts.
56
Community Game Drives conducted in 2024 in the Luangwa Valley
476
Community members took part in the Game Drives in 2024
Community Outreach and Education
ZCP's community outreach initiatives are diverse and impactful, aiming to engage and educate local communities about carnivore conservation.
The annual Carnivore Cup Football Tournament, accompanied by Conservation South Luangwa's Annual Fun Run, draws thousands of community members, promoting awareness of carnivore conservation. Additionally, the Mimbulu ("wild dog" in the local language) Boys Soccer Academy, created by Henry Mwape, ZCP's Project Manager for our Luangwa project, serves as ambassadors for conservation through football events, while SEKA Community Theatre utilizes humor and interactive performances to address human-wildlife conflict and empower communities. Moreover, radio programming reaches a wide audience, discussing various conservation topics.
Through these initiatives, ZCP fosters a culture of coexistence between communities and wildlife, encouraging sustainable conservation efforts.
161
Theatre, sports and radio shows organized in 2023
70K
Community members engaged through these activities in 2023
The Tetezani Luangwa Alliance
The Tetezani Luangwa Alliance is a brand-new partnership between ZCP, CWET, and CSL and communities to achieve human-wildlife coexistence and create a thriving landscape for people and wildlife
In August 2024, a new partnership was announced between the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (CWET) and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) - the Tetezani Luangwa Alliance (Tetezani meaning ‘We Protect’). Together, we effectively address the core pillars of successful conservation work - community empowerment, resource protection and conservation science. The Tetezani Luangwa Alliance aims to strengthen relationships and enhance the effectiveness of existing human-wildlife coexistence programmes in South Luangwa as well as develop new joint conservation initiatives.
Historically, ZCP, CWET and CSL have independently managed programmes to address human-wildlife conflict. Together, we have also collaborated on initiatives such as weekly radio shows reaching 50,000 listeners, guided game drives, theatre performances and events such as the annual Fun Run/Carnivore Cup, which is attended by more than 6,000 people. Alongside these successful programmes, the Tetezani Luangwa Alliance aims to scale up collaborative efforts to foster sustainable and mutually beneficial coexistence between people and wildlife.
The Tetezani Luangwa Alliance will work to facilitate discussions and address challenges in implementing effective land use planning, increase knowledge about coexistence within the local community, and improve transparency and accountability. By bringing together our expertise, resources and networks through this partnership, we can move towards long-term coexistence that benefits both people and wildlife in South Luangwa.
If you would like to support the Tetezani Luangwa Alliance with its human-wildlife coexistence work or would like to find out more, please get in touch.
