IRDNC and partners receive the 2018 William G. Conway International Conservation Award for Black Rhino Conservation in Namibia

IRDNC, with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and three North American zoos; Minnesota, Houston and North Carolina Zoo, were jointly awarded this year’s William G. Conway International Conservation Award (Top Honours) for scaling up community-based rhino conservation in Namibia.

This international award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recognizes exceptional efforts by the AZA Institution or Conservation Partner members toward habitat preservation, species restoration, and support of biodiversity in the wild. AZA, which is a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation, represents over 230 institutions globally that collectively draw more than 195 million visitors every year.

Conservation is a priority for AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and a key part of their missions. Every year, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums spend $220 million on field conservation alone, supporting more than 2,600 projects in 130 countries. AZA hosts an annual conference which brings together thousands of zoo-based conservationists from around the world to share their work and includes an award ceremony to recognize the best achievements in a number of categories including education, exhibit design and conservation. One of the most sought-after awards is the William G. Conway International Conservation Award. Given the number of institutions and conservation projects zoos support around the world, the competition is fierce, particularly this year which was the first time a cash prize ($ 25,000) was awarded.

IRDNC has been involved with rhino conservation in the Kunene Region of Namibia since the 1980s when widespread illegal commercial and subsistence hunting reduced the once rich wildlife numbers in Namibia’s northwest. Since then, IRDNC forged a pioneering partnership with community leaders to stop poaching, subsequently forming legally-gazetted communal conservancies to protect wildlife. In 2012, after nearly a two-decade poaching hiatus, the first rhino poaching incident was recorded in Kunene Region. This prompted IRDNC to reactivate Kunene traditional leaders, conservancy committees and members, and together with SRT, Minnesota Zoo, MET and 13 communal conservancies collectively initiated the Conservancy Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme in 2012. Between 2013 and 2018, the programme has dramatically increased patrol days by over 850%, verified rhino sightings by 450% and most importantly, reduce poaching by over 80% since its peak in 2013. To date, the last rhino poached in Kunene took place in mid-August 2017. Furthermore, more than N$ 8 million in rhino tourism income to participating conservancies over the past three years has enabled an increase in conservancy-employed rangers from 14 to 50. IRDNC directly supports six conservancies and their 17 rhino rangers with conducting their monthly patrol efforts.

IRDNC and its partners were honoured to receive news that the Conservancy Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme, was awarded first prize at this year’s conference in Seattle. The award money will be directly used for field operations in Kunene, including support for rangers such as patrol food, equipment and performance bonus payments.