Southern Africa Field Conservation Project

Home
United States
Saint Johns, MI
Southern Africa Field Conservation Project

Directions Website Contact the organization

We support wildlife reserves, the people who protect them, and the communities that surround them.

The Southern Africa Field Conservation Project is recognized by IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 92-3982373). Contributions to the Southern Africa Field Conservation Project are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

10/25/2026

A WONDERFUL STORY from the head of Zambezi Parks Support Foundation

This morning, around 9:30am, I got the call I hate receiving and no body in conservation wants to receive. An animal with a snare! A young elephant had been found with a snare around its neck.

I jumped in the vehicle and rushed out to the area to assess the situation and get eyes on the elephant. Once I had a visual and understood what we were dealing with, I called in Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust to assist with the de-snaring and radioed for more of our team to come in and support.

After several long hours of watching, assessing and discussing the safest way forward, we decided to take the chance and attempt the de-snaring.

We were extremely hesitant. This was a breeding herd of around 30 to 50 in numbers, the elephant was young and fortunately the snare was still relatively loose. But there was no guarantee that would remain the case, and leaving it there wasn’t an option either.

Elephants are one of the most challenging and dangerous animals to attempt this procedure on. Once the drugs take effect and the elephant starts to go down, the rest of the herd can go into complete panic mode. Their instinct is to protect the fallen elephant at all costs and that can mean charging anything they see as a threat.

With young elephants, this can unfortunately result in them being trampled, tusked or seriously injured by their own herd while everyone is trying to help them.

We eventually managed to dart the young elephant and, initially, everything was relatively calm. The herd moved off, but unfortunately they headed straight into a watering hole.

That wasn’t going to make our lives any easier.

We decided to try and push them out with the vehicles before the elephant went down, as trying to work around a collapsed elephant in the water would have made an already dangerous situation considerably worse.

Thankfully, we managed to get them out.

Shortly afterwards, the young elephant went down.

And that’s when the real fun started…

The entire herd immediately went into absolute panic. They surrounded the young elephant, while several elephants came from the side and started charging us.

At that point, we had no choice but to fire a warning shot to break the charge and create some space. Thankfully, it worked.

Then came the difficult part.

We had to move in with the vehicles and keep the rest of the herd away from the young elephant while they furiously tried to get to it, pick it up and move it.

They were NOT interested in listening to our concerns about health and safety. 😂

For around 10–15 minutes of which felt like an eternity to me , I had to drive right up to the young elephant while several ton elephants stood their ground around us. We were revving engines, shouting, hooting and making as much noise as possible to try and keep them back while they stood within a meter of us and were screaming and in full panic mode even almost pushing the vehicle.

There were a few moments where I genuinely thought, well… this could be the day I meet my maker but the adrenaline was in full swing at that time 😂

Eventually, the herd moved away far enough for us to get in quickly.

We removed the snare, administered the reversal drug and then basically had about 30 seconds to get ourselves out of there.

The young elephant was back on its feet incredibly quickly and within minutes had rejoined the herd.

We then moved away and finally had a chance to breathe, calm the adrenaline down and probably question several of our life choices.

I’m fairly certain a few people may have needed to check their underwear at this point. 😂

But most importantly, everyone made it out safely.

No injuries to the team, no damage to the vehicles and, most importantly, a young elephant went back into the bush with a second chance.

Days like today are exhausting, stressful and at times bloody terrifying but they are also exactly why we do what we do.

A massive thank you to everyone involved today. It was a proper team effort, and seeing that young elephant get back up and disappear back into the herd made every second of it worthwhile.

One less snare. One more elephant given a chance.

That’s a pretty good day in the bush. 🐘

10/22/2026

🌍 Anti-Poaching Update

Every patrol makes a difference in the fight against wildlife crime.

On 13 October 2026, Zambezi Parks Support Foundation conducted a joint patrol with Zimbabwe Parks and VFAPU covering the area from Kazungula Road to Chamabondo Borehole 5, resulting in the removal of 2 disturbed wire snares.

On 14 October 2026, ZPSF conducted a joint patrol with Zimbabwe Parks that took place in the Zambezi Sands Long Island area, covering Cheetah Vlei and Jena. The team removed 7 wire snares — 4 set and 3 disturbed.

📍 A total of 9 wire snares were removed across both patrols.

Wire snares pose a serious threat to wildlife, often causing severe injuries and suffering to animals caught in them. Every snare removed is one less threat left in the bush.

At the Southern Africa Field Conservation Project (SAFCP), we are proud to support the dedicated conservation teams working on the ground to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife and wild spaces.

🐾 Every patrol matters. Every snare removed matters. Every life protected matters.

09/22/2026

🦏 **Happy World Rhino Day!** 🦏

Today is a day to celebrate one of Africa’s most incredible animals — and to remember why protecting them matters so much.

Rhinos face constant threats from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. But there are also people on the ground every day working to protect them, from rangers and conservation teams to local communities and organizations supporting the work.

At SAFCP, protecting wildlife means supporting the people who are out there doing the work. From anti-poaching patrols and monitoring to conservation projects across Zimbabwe, every effort plays a part in giving these animals a future.

Rhinos have been here long before us. They belong in the wild, and protecting them takes all of us. 🦏🌍

**This World Rhino Day, help spread awareness, support conservation, and remind others why these animals are worth protecting.**

09/17/2026

🦏🌿 **ZPSF ANTI-POACHING UNIT | AUGUST 2026 UPDATE** 🌿🦏

🪤 **25 WIRE SNARES REMOVED**

During August, patrol teams recovered and removed **25 snares** from the Park. Every snare removed is one less potential threat to the wildlife living there. The team also discovered and removed one illegal fishing net, helping protect wildlife and aquatic ecosystems along the Zambezi River and surrounding waterways.

📡 **STRENGTHENING ANTI-POACHING TECHNOLOGY**

Work continued on an important upgrade to ZPSF's communications and aerial surveillance capabilities.

The repeater tower was successfully extended to 25 metres, allowing it to accommodate both the radio aerial and the extender for the AI-powered drone system. A dedicated stand for the drone dock was also completed, bringing the project close to completion. The drone itself is operational, with the final extender installation still pending.

🚙 **MORE COVERAGE IN THE FIELD**

Toward the end of August, a reaction team from Hwange joined ZPSF operations for two weeks. This temporarily increased coverage from two to four operational bases, allowing patrol teams to cover a wider area of the Park.

🦒 **WILDLIFE CONTINUES TO THRIVE**

Patrol teams continued to record sightings of elephants, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, warthog, kudu, and many other species throughout the month. Wildlife activity was particularly evident around water sources, river systems, and grazing areas.

August was a month of challenges, but the ZPSF team continued to show up, patrol, monitor, remove threats, and strengthen the tools needed to protect wildlife.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports this work. Your support helps keep these teams in the field and gives them the resources they need to continue protecting Zimbabwe's wildlife. ❤️

Thank you for standing behind conservation!!

09/16/2026

💔 **The Harsh Reality of Snares**

Yesterday, our team received a call about an injured African wild dog near Picnic Site 10. She had been spotted with a terrible wound around her neck, and we responded as quickly as possible.

Sadly, we recognized her as one of the wild dogs from the pack of eight that had recently been attended to in the Matetsi area, where a snare was removed from her neck.

This time, she was in a very concerning condition. She had lost a significant amount of weight and was clearly struggling.

For now, the decision has been made to closely monitor her and provide human intervention by supplying her with meat. By doing this, we can help ensure she gets the food she needs without requiring her to spend valuable energy hunting while she recovers.

This is why anti-poaching work matters. A single wire snare can cause unimaginable suffering—not only through the initial injury, but through infection, starvation, and the long-term effects it can have on an animal's ability to survive.

📸 **A photo will follow, but please be aware that it is not for sensitive viewers.** It shows the harsh reality that these animals face because of poaching.

Our hope is that with close monitoring, food, and continued support, this beautiful wild dog will have the opportunity to recover. 🐾

**This is the reality behind the work. This is why we keep fighting.**

To help us continue removing snares from the wild visit SAFCP.ORG to donate!!

09/11/2026

🚨 ZPSF PATROL REPORT | September 9, 2026 🚨

Our anti-poaching team conducted a joint patrol with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in the general area from
**Chamabondo Borehole to Mkhosana**.

🦏 **PATROL RESULTS**
No wire snares were found during the patrol.

However, the team discovered clothing stained with blood and a pair of shoes hidden between tree branches. These items were recovered and taken to the operations office for further investigation.

🔎 **WHY THIS MATTERS**

On September 1, a report of warthog poaching had been received in the area. The spoor documented during that investigation appears to match the footwear found during this patrol, providing an important lead for the ongoing investigation.

The recovered evidence has been handed over to the operations office for further investigation and follow-up.

Every patrol matters. Every piece of evidence matters. And every effort to detect and prevent illegal hunting helps protect Zimbabwe's wildlife.

🦺 Support anti-poaching. Protect wildlife. Protect wild places.

08/26/2026

🦏 PATROL REPORT | 19 AUGUST 2026 🐾

We’re starting a new series to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what conservation and anti-poaching work actually looks like on the ground.

These reports come directly from our partners at Zambezi Parks Support Foundation, whose anti-poaching teams work tirelessly to monitor protected areas, detect threats, and protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

📍 Patrol Area: Kanukanu Springs → Sian Simba Springs
🤝 Patrol: Joint patrol with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)

🔎 PATROL RESULTS

The team came across a buffalo carcass, estimated to have been killed approximately three days earlier.

The cause of death was determined to be predation, with two large male Lions observed at the site.

🪤 Wire snares found: NONE

That last line might seem simple, but in anti-poaching work, “no snares found” is a result worth celebrating.

Regular patrols are essential for detecting illegal activity, removing threats before wildlife encounters them, and monitoring the health and safety of the ecosystem.

Not every patrol ends with a dramatic discovery. Sometimes, success looks like finding nothing at all.

And that is exactly what we want.

This is what conservation looks like in the field — boots on the ground, miles walked, wildlife monitored, and threats searched for every single day. 🌍

Follow along as we share more Patrol Reports from the teams working to protect Zimbabwe’s wild spaces.

Your support helps make these patrols possible. ❤️

08/24/2026

There’s a lot more to this pile of wire than meets the eye. 💔➡️💚

Meet Koa, one of our incredible anti-poaching dogs. At just 1½ years old, this Belgian Malinois is already playing an important role in protecting wildlife in Africa. 🐾🌍

Sitting beside her is a massive collection of wire snares recovered by the anti-poaching unit over the past six months.

Every single one of these snares represents a potential life saved. A snare can mean a poached animal, a devastating injury, or a slow and painful death. Removing them from the landscape is a critical part of protecting wildlife.

But we didn’t want these snares to simply become a pile of discarded wire.

Instead, they’re being given a second life. ♻️✨

ZPSF is working with a local artist who will transform the recovered snares into beautiful, handmade jewelry. The jewelry will then be sold, with the profits going directly back into anti-poaching efforts.

Something created to take a life can now help protect one.

This is conservation in action: removing threats, supporting local communities and artists, and turning something destructive into something that gives back. ❤️

And Koa? She’s just getting started. 🐕‍🦺

Support conservation. Support anti-poaching. Help us protect Africa’s wildlife.

07/07/2026

Every picture tells a story.

Camera traps allow us to monitor wildlife without disturbing it. They help identify individual animals, track population trends, detect illegal activity, and guide conservation decisions. What might look like "just a photo" can become critical data that helps protect an entire ecosystem.

Every camera trap deployed is another set of eyes in the bush—and every donation helps us put more of them where they're needed most. Here are some photos from camera traps donated by SAFCP

What's the coolest wild animal you've ever seen in person? Let us know in the comments! 🐘🦏🦒

06/24/2026

Help support Southern Africa Field Conservation Project by donating or sharing with your friends.

Address

5700 County Farm Road
Saint Johns, MI
48879

Website

https://safcp.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Africa Field Conservation Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.