In the heart of Zambia sits Kafue National Park, the second largest national park in Africa and the largest in the nation. Here, endangered African wild dogs, cheetahs and lions roam widely alongside dozens of other animal species. The Greater Kafue Ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse areas in the region, and protection of the local wildlife against snares and human encroachment is of vital importance.

The Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) is a major nonprofit operating in Zambia, with the goal of conserving large carnivores and their ecosystems. Through conservation science, action, and capacity-building, ZCP has been successful in launching multiple programs in three sites across the country to protect wildlife and develop a new generation of conservationists.

At its newest site in Kafue National Park, ZCP has big aspirations to expand its efforts in conservation, research and capacity-building. For example, the nonprofit’s Women in Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WIWC) seeks to increase participation and involvement of young Zambians in the field of conservation. Alongside the ZCP’s Conservation Biologist Training Program, WIWC is core to the organization’s mission of empowering women and fostering a new generation of Zambian conservationists .

Anna Kusler, project manager for ZCP’s Greater Kafue Project, said she is passionate about building these initiatives, but first they desperately need resources to get the necessary infrastructure in place.

“We have an amazing team – very young, but truly exciting,” Anna said.

Due to the remote location of the site deep within the national park, even local communities are far away from the project’s field camp. Anyone who works and lives on site needs long-term accommodations. ZCP Kafue’s basic needs include a kitchen, tents and platforms for interns and researchers, and a finished office space to accommodate collaboration, trainings, and meetings.

Through WIWC, the organization has found a rising star who is helping to lead the charge for Kafue’s camp and initiatives. Kachama Banda, a field ecologist and ZCP Kafue’s Education Coordinator, is heading new conservation club programs and looking to increase mentoring opportunities for young local women who want to pursue a career in conservation.

“I believe education, empowerment of local people, and the strong involvement of women are all critical to successful conservation efforts,” Kachama said.

For Anna and Kachama, the goal is to develop Kafue’s field camp so it can match the robust capacity of ZCP’s other sites. Kafue has the potential to house several internship programs like WIWC, but given the remote nature of the camp and the region’s seasonal weather patterns, it has proven to be a challenging place to get up-and-running.

Until the basic infrastructure is in place to support more interns and researchers, the aspirations for ZCP Kafue’s future programs cannot come to life. If you’d like to learn more about donating to ZCP’s Kafue’s ongoing conservation work, camp needs, and supporting the continued advancement of women and young conservationists, please click here.

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