our
story
WHO WE ARE
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is a registered Non-profit, Non-governmental, and Public Benefit Organisation. Since its establishment in 1973, the EWT has become a leading, well-known, and trusted conservation roleplayer. We are committed to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa to the benefit of all. To achieve this, we focus on three main strategic imperatives: Saving Species, Conserving Habitats, and Benefitting People.
Our team is spread across southern and East Africa. We work with businesses, communities, and government and are leaders in conservation research, community conservation, livelihood support, and training. We are innovative and skilled in reducing human-wildlife conflict, monitoring threatened species, and protecting safe spaces for animals and people.
+110
Pack members
13
programmes
21
countries
OUR history
In 1973, Clive Walker and his wife, Conita, travelled to Texas to exhibit Clive’s art at a wildlife conference. While there, they were inspired by the idea of selling art to raise funds for wildlife and knew which cause they wanted to support. After seeing Cheetah skins for sale next to the road in Johannesburg, Clive was increasingly aware that they were being traded beyond sustainable levels and this was a significant threat to the survival of wild Cheetahs. Clive was determined to address this threat and to raise money to do so, he sold 250 numbered and signed limited edition prints of a watercolour painting he did of Cheetahs. The proceeds from these sales were the first of many funds Clive raised to save wild Cheetahs. Encouraged and keen to do more, he took a step further and, working with Neville Anderson and James Clarke, started a non-profit to save Endangered wildlife. And so, the Endangered Wildlife Trust was born.
The EWT’s first three projects focused on Brown Hyaenas, vultures, and Cheetahs. The founders thought it fitting that the Cheetah’s pawprint be used as the EWT’s iconic logo. Indeed, the red paw has stood the test of time as a symbol of ethical and effective conservation in action. The EWT has since grown from these humble beginnings into a staff of over 100 strong spread across 13 thematic programmes and working in 21 countries.
1973
established
3
pack members
3
projects
some of our landmark achievements
saving
species
Since 1973, we have improved the conservation status of many threatened species. For example, our work has contributed to the following:
- The improvement of the Conservation Status of the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, which has gone from Critically Endangered to Endangered. The Red-billed Oxpecker was classified as Near Threatened and is now Least Concern. We also joined the global efforts to take the Lesser Kestrel from Vulnerable to Least Concern.
- We have reversed the decline in Cheetah numbers in South Africa and grew the number outside the Kruger National Park from 217 in 2011 to 470 in 2022.
- We have taken African Wild Dog numbers from 300 to around 550 dogs across southern Africa. We also helped to increase the Critically Endangered Wattled Crane’s numbers by 60%, and Blue Crane numbers from around 25,500 birds in 2007 to some 30,000 today.
conserving
habitats
- We showed the feasibility of carbon trading to protect South Africa’s grasslands and signed our first carbon project trading contract with a landowner and our partner, WeAct. Carbon trading presents long-term funding opportunities to farmers who agree to improve the management of their grasslands and wetlands.
- Since 2016, we have secured 151,652 ha of priority habitat and are negotiating the protection of about 86,305 ha more.
- In 2021, we proudly declared the first Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) in the Karoo, spanning 23,000 Km2. The purpose of the safe zone is to remove threats to these birds of prey and encourage Cape Vultures to return to their original ranges across the Great Karoo, conserving this critical population.
benefitting
people
- The Endangered Wildlife Trust supports education for sustainability projects and has created a curriculum-aligned programme called Guardians of the Future to assist teachers with science-based lesson plans and resources.
- We have worked with 2,996 community members on rural development, 1,109 through health care and HIV/AIDS programmes, 559 through skills development projects, and 3,059 through arts, culture, or sporting programmes. We have facilitated Women’s Health and Hygiene awareness sessions with 440 secondary school learners.
- In 2020, we assisted almost 45,000 people impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.