Great Plains Conservation Foundation

Great Plains - Project Rewild Zambezi

We strongly believes that with wildlife in decline across the globe, we need to do what we can to protect and enhance biodiversity. Project Rewild Zambezi, one of the largest relocations of wildlife ever attempted on our planet, has already begun! We are urgently raising funds ($5.5 million total) to relocate over 3,000 animals from the Savé Valley Conservancy in south-eastern Zimbabwe into the Sapi Private Reserve in north-eastern Zimbabwe. This fundraiser is an urgent appeal because of the timelines and growing wildlife population pressures in Save. This consignment of animals includes 400 elephants and iconic species like lions, buffalo, impala, zebras, painted dogs, eland, and more. Once released in the Sapi Reserve, the animals will be free to roam into the broader 1.6 million acres of an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Translocating one elephant costs approximately $10,000 (almost £9,000), so please help us move the next ten in June of 2023! Every single $ helps, so please donate no matter how small.

Once released in the Great Plains-managed Sapi Reserve, the animals will remain under close monitoring and management, including anti-poaching teams, wildlife monitors, researchers and ecologists. Great Plains is hiring and training new security and monitoring units in Sapi with the aim to exceed ZimParks’ recommendation on the number of rangers needed to secure the reserve, including an all-female ranger unit.

The wildlife translocations are a collaboration between the Government of Zimbabwe, Great Plains Conservation and its Foundation, Zimbabwe National Parks (ZimParks), Savé Valley Conservancy and Sango Wildlife Conservancy to maintain healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations and support local community investment.

More information about Great Plains Foundation: The Great Plains Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 organization, conserves and expands natural habitats in Africa, implementing programs addressing the nexus between people, land, and wildlife. Through these three critical elements, Great Plains Foundation's initiatives and partnerships have a lasting impact on Africa's iconic wildlife and wildernesses.