Our Partners & Collaborators
This project commenced in partnership with our sister company, The Aspinall Foundation, the Gabonese National Parks Agency and Lékédi Park.
7,000 kms from UK to Gabon; Rewilding The African Wild Dog After 25 Years of Absence
In a global record-breaking conservation effort, WeWild Africa, in collaboration with our sister organization, The Aspinall Foundation, has rewilded African painted dogs to Gabon, bringing them back from 25 years of extinction in the area. Seven African Wild Dogs, bred at the UK’s Port Lympne Reserve, embarked on a remarkable 7,000-km journey to their new home in Gabon’s Lékédi Park.
Lékédi Park
Lékédi Park, managed by the Société d’Exploitation du Parc de la Lékédi (SODEPAL), a subsidiary of Comilog, preserves an incredible portion of biodiversity in Gabon. The park is known for its primate rehabilitation center, which rescues and rehabilitates various primate species like chimpanzees, gorillas, and cercopithecines from across Gabon. These rescued primates are reintroduced into their natural habitats.
Mandrill Conservation Program
Lékédi Park has successfully released two groups of mandrills from the Franceville Primatology Center into the wild. These mandrills are closely monitored by an international team of researchers, providing valuable insights into their behavioral patterns, social structures, and adaptation strategies in the wild.
Biodiversity Hotspot
The park’s unique geographical features create a mosaic of habitats that are home to diverse ecosystems which support a wide range of flora and fauna. The landscape of savannahs, forests, and lakes provides an ideal setting for the dogs to adapt and thrive in their native land.
Conservation Significance
African painted dogs are among the most endangered canids in the world, with their numbers dwindling due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. The Aspinall Foundation has been instrumental in the conservation and breeding of African Wild Dogs at Port Lympne Reserve.
Monitoring and Future Plans
The reintroduced pack will be closely monitored to study their adaptation to local conditions. Success in this endeavor could pave the way for more individuals to be released into Gabonese national parks, further bolstering the species’ chances of survival.
Support and Collaboration
This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between conservation organizations, NGOs, and local authorities. WeWild Africa and The Aspinall Foundation’s joint efforts, along with the support of Lékédi Park and Gabonese national parks, highlight the importance of collective action in wildlife conservation.
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Wiki West
- June 25, 2019
