Please Help Save Africa's Biodiversity

From gushing waterfalls and sprawling deserts, to towering mountains and dense jungles – Africa truly has it all.

This immensely unique and varied landscape supports an incredible wealth of wildlife as diverse as the continent’s cultures.

But that is why what is happening across this remarkable region is so utterly tragic.

Rampant poaching, horrific habitat loss, and the relentless illegal wildlife trade is ridding this spectacular landscape of scores of species – from celebrated gorilla, rhino and elephant species, to the lesser-known – yet equally important – pygmy hippo, okapi and giant Obo snail. Species that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.

As their natural homes are torn apart – acre after acre of trees torn down, hectare upon hectare of forest flattened each and every day – these unique creatures are being lost at a rate that is difficult to comprehend.

The locations of the African countries FFI works in.

If things continue unabated, these beautiful beasts could soon be lost forever.

We must act now, before it is too late. There is still time to turn this tragic tale around.

African wildlife conservation has been at the very heart of FFI’s work since 1903. Our important projects span the entire continent of Africa – covering 12 countries in total, including many challenging environments recovering from years of civil conflict.

We need your support to continue our crucial work in the region. With your donation, we could train and supply incredible, dedicated local rangers to help save threatened species across the continent. With your help, we can continue to implement our vital conservation initiatives that are helping to protect and restore Africa’s remarkable biodiversity.

So please, donate today and help us save Africa’s wildlife.

African wild dog pups. Credit Ian Aitken

FFI’s work in Africa can be traced all the way back to 1933, when Lord Onslow chaired the groundbreaking conference that spawned an international convention on African wildlife conservation – the blueprint for all future agreements worldwide.

We’ve seen real success across the entire continent, helping to protect and support countless incredible creatures throughout Africa’s rich and diverse landscapes.

A portrait of a male African forest elephant, the elder of two brothers nicknamed Big John and Little John. Forest elephant populations have been severely reduced over many decades by poaching for the ivory trade.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, our work to protect the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla, commonly known as Grauer’s gorilla, has seen us support local authorities and work closely alongside local communities to save these important primates from relentless poaching and habitat destruction. We aided in the development of the Great Ape Conservation Action plan which was subsequently adopted by the IUCN.

Our crucial projects in the DRC also help protect the endangered okapi – a bizarre and elusive mammal that holds the claim of being the giraffe’s last living relative. Found only in a single rainforest, this unique creature’s populations are being devastated by relentless hunting and the destruction of its forest home. We plan to expand our work in the region to protect the okapis’ last surviving stronghold, including training and supplying dedicated community ranger teams who can patrol the borders of their forest.

Map showing tentative predicted okapi distribution.

In Mozambique, FFI have over 15 years of experience supporting work in the Niassa Reserve – a 4.2-million-hectare region of incredible wilderness harbouring 40% of Mozambique’s entire elephant population as well as providing refuge to lions and wild dogs. This area truly is one of the planet’s last remaining havens for biodiversity.

FFI has implemented an ambitious programme, working to engage the community and enforce anti-poaching measures. We have helped to curb deadly snaring and illegal logging in the region, ensuring threatened wildlife populations can continue to thrive and grow in these important areas.

Male lion at night (walking)

In 2003, FFI purchased the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to support their rapidly growing population of black and white rhinos. We secured 90,000 acres of open Savannah grassland, converting it into a national trust land. This project has seen black rhino populations flourish in the area, and today the OPC can claim to house the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa.

Our work across the African continent stretches to many lesser known – but equally important – species. On the isolated volcanic island of Príncipe, we’ve supported a series of surveys and developed a formal conservation action plan designed to save the Obô giant snail. This massive croissant-sized mollusc has been displaced by the West African giant land snail, but we hope to restore the Obô snail to its former glory as a staple species on the island.

The Obô giant snail’s current predicted range on Príncipe.

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is the world’s oldest international conservation charity. Over the last 100 years, we have been on almost every frontline of conservation and literally saved species from extinction. We work to protect plants and animals around the globe – never wasting enormous sums of money on excessive publicity or silly gimmicks – instead spending 94% of our income on charitable activities.