LONGLEAT HELPING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN AFRICA

Keepers at Longleat Safari Park handed over a cheque for £10,000 to African wildlife conservation charity Tusk.

In total the Wiltshire wildlife park has raised more than £12,000 for the charity over the past 12 months through a variety of fundraising initiatives.

Tusk's Charlie Mayhew receiving a giant cheque from Longleat Safari Park (2000x1334)
Tusk’s Charlie Mayhew receiving a giant cheque from Longleat Safari Park

Longleat has worked with Tusk for almost 15 years, raising over £157,000 during that time.

“Tusk is a charity which is very close to our heart and we are proud to be able to support their amazing and pioneering wildlife, social and educational work in Africa,” said Longleat’s Darren Beasley.

“We would also like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to our visitors for their unfailing generosity.

“We’re planning more activities and work with Tusk in 2017 to continue raising awareness and vital funding for projects,” he added.

In 2016 money raised at Longleat during World Lion day funded an Anatolian Shepherd dog in the Ruaha National Park, in Tanzania which directly helps communities protect their livestock from predators and ultimately safeguards lion populations from human attacks.

Charlie Mayhew, CEO of Tusk, said: “Tusk is immensely grateful to Longleat for its longstanding and generous support of our wildlife conservation programmes across Africa.

Anatolian shepherd dog (1483x2100)
Anatolian shepherd dog

“The park’s fundraising this year will provide vital help towards two conservation programmes in Tanzania. The Ruaha Carnivore project works to protect Tanzania’s largest lion population by reducing the predator-livestock conflict in community areas surrounding Ruaha National Park.

“Longleat’s contribution to Tusk will also be used to support anti-poaching teams and breeding programmes of both black rhinos and African wild dogs in Mkomazi National Park,” he added.

Launched in 1990, Tusk has invested £30m into a successful portfolio of wildlife protection, community development and education programmes, providing lasting benefits to the people and wildlife of Africa. It currently funds over 60 projects across 19 countries.

Under the Royal Patronage of HRH The Duke of Cambridge, Tusk not only works to protect endangered species, but also aims to use conservation as an effective tool to help alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development amongst the rural communities who live alongside wildlife.