Photo credit: Bennymarty from Getty Images.
Rewilding is happening now all over the world, both on land and at sea, bringing back key species and restoring entire ecosystems at all scales. We are now an alliance of over 200 organisations that are restoring nature around the world.
We warmly welcome the Global Humane Society to the alliance, and join us in discovering their mission to conserve, rewild and protect Africa’s wildlife and wilderness areas by delving into some of their rewilding success stories.
Inside the Rewilding Success Stories of the Global Humane Society
Partner organisation: Global Humane Society
Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa (Conservation Fund of Africa Program)
In their Conservation Fund of Africa program, Global Humane Society seeks out inspiring rewilding projects devoted to conserving, restoring, and safeguarding Africa’s wildlife and wilderness regions. They create space for species by establishing new reserves, bolstering existing protected areas, and connecting conservation areas through biodiversity corridors, alongside other organisations and active community participation.
This is a huge task that they accomplish beautifully, with varying methods.
Photo credit: hypotekyfidler from Getty Images.
Take Nkanyiso the cheetah. Earlier this year, Nkanyiso, a female rewilded cheetah who had been successfully reintroduced into the Eastern Cape wilderness was found with a serious leg injury. Upon examination, the team realised that she was lactating, so they went in search of her cubs in the 2,500-hectare reserve – no easy task. All four cheetah cubs were reunited with their mother and they are being looked after until they can all be set wild again.
Their work to restore this endangered species is closely linked to maintaining a strong human-wildlife connection.
Photo credit: Selim Kaya from Getty Images.
Shifting our focus from the wide stretches of rewilded land supported by Global Humane Society’s Conservation Fund of Africa, we look to the shores of Cape Town where the African penguin, classified as an endangered species, is making its way back on the waves of the Atlantic ocean.
Global Humane Society supports SANCCOB Cape Town in expanding its Chick Rearing Unit, a specialised facility globally renowned for rearing wild-origin African penguins. The only facility around the world to do so, their vital work is key to bolster declining wild populations. On average, SANCCOB admits 500 to 600 African penguin chicks and 300 to 400 eggs annually, with numbers steadily rising due to various factors such as extreme weather events and parental abandonment.
With their current release rate of hand-reared chicks standing at 81%, Global Humane Society’s support is crucial in increasing the Unit’s capacity to accommodate double the number of eggs and chicks, reinforcing SANCCOB’s conservation efforts and getting more penguins back in the wild.
Watch this heartwarming video.
African Penguins. Photo credit: USO from Getty Images.
Through Global Humane Society, the international arm of American Humane Society, crucial efforts to relocate rhinos, elephants and other wildlife from overcrowded reserves to safe, protected areas are underway. These relocations are essential for preserving their species, enhancing genetic diversity, and maintaining ecosystem balance. Furthermore, they are spearheading a new and innovative way of keeping rhinos safe: using AI technology to combat poaching.
The different activities supported by Global Humane Society demonstrate the wide-sweeping dedication for wildlife restoration. Considering just how diverse the African continent is, we can’t wait to hear more of their rewilding success stories!
Take a deeper dive into their work on their website!
If you are rewilding, and would like to join our growing network, please get in touch with our team.