On the Frontline: Community Scout Snapshot
Saving elephants in the Lower Zambezi.
The Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia is home to around 1,000 elephants, along with many other species. This area is part of a larger elephant range that includes neighbouring Mana Pools in Zimbabwe.
Poaching, human-elephant conflict and illegal activities like mining continue to pose risks to the elephant population. Efforts to mitigate these threats include the deployment of anti-poaching teams, use of satellite collars for tracking elephant movements, and targeted data collection to inform conservation strategies.
In 2020 we partnered with Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) to support a specific initiative - the Community Scouts Programme - donating $15,525 USD.
The community scouts play a crucial role in protecting the biodiversity of the Lower Zambezi, and with many of them recruited from local communities, they also help to inspire the people around them, and educate them about conservation.
There are 49 scouts employed by CLZ - 13 are women. Kufadza (meaning Inspire in the local Goba language) is an all-female community scout team, established in 2021.
60.5% of all foot patrols in the Lower Zambezi were conducted by Community Scouts in 2023. That's just shy of 14,000 patrol-person days (figures from CLZ 2023 Impact Report).
The scouts primary role is to prevent poaching, although they also monitor wildlife, for example CLZ has successfully rescued, rehabilitated and released pangolins.
The scouts presence in the park has a huge impact. In 2023 scouts discovered 18 poaching camps. 11 elephants were poached.
Working alongside other partners including the Department for National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) community scouts have helped to achieve an 80% decline in elephant poaching, when compared to the peak of poaching in 2016/17 when as many as 55 elephants were lost.
Overall, the Community Scouts Programme not only helps in wildlife protection but also empowers local communities, creating a sustainable model for conservation that benefits both people and wildlife in the Lower Zambezi region.
Images: CLZ
Visit the Lower Zambezi and support on-the-ground conservation
Nestled along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, the Lower Zambezi National Park is renowned for its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and diverse ecosystems. Visitors can enjoy game drives, walking safaris, and canoeing adventures, with close encounters with elephants, lions, leopards, and a myriad of bird species. The park's relatively untouched wilderness, coupled with the dramatic backdrop of the Zambezi River, creates a breathtaking setting, making it a premier destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Find out more about travelling to Zambia: