Reintroduction & Relocation Program

Biodiversity loss and species decline.

The loss of biodiversity has been one of the world’s most pressing crises over the years. It is estimated that the current species extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than it would naturally be. There is an enormous number of game species in the African continent that have been affected by poaching, diseases and habitat loss. This agents also affect the game genetic quality and its population directly. Thus, people are not able to see animals as big as they used to be at the beginning of the XXth Century; mainly in horn, tusk and body size. There is a decline in quality and quantity of game due to the low enforcement for wildlife management and conservation and the loss of biodiversity.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo for example, a systematic survey was conducted in the national parks of Upemba and Kundelungu between Sep 15th and Oct 15th 2008. Scientists came to a sad conclusion that the parks are as good as empty. But also outside the parks elsewhere in the Katanga there is a serious decline in animals. bakasbl.org/news/doc_en/107.doc

Dilolo Conservancy Katanga

In collaboration with the Belgian missionary Franciscan Jef Augustijnen we want to revive the local economy of Dilolo in the southwest of Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the border with Angola. By managing a natural area of 164.000ha we hope to lure tourists back. Our idea is to fence this area and to restock with animals coming from overpopulated areas from the neighboring countries, but also international zoo surplus.

Through this project, we can satisfied a number of parties;
- the residents of Dilolo (income generation through tourism)
- Ecosystem (again grazing of grassland)
- Zoos (the surplus animals don’t need to be unnecessarily killed)
- AWDF recruits (ranger training)
- the animals themselves (enough wilderness to walk around free)