20 Conservation Victories

&Beyond was formed in 1991 to demonstrate that a financially sound, wildlife-based tourism operator could make a significant contribution to conservation and biodiversity whilst also promoting sustainable community development.

Since its inception, &Beyond has been committed to its core ethic of “Care of the Land. Care of the Wildlife. Care of the People.” A dynamic six-pronged conservation strategy is spearheaded by Les Carlisle, &Beyond Conservation Manager, and the sustainability team, who has extensive experience in ecotourism and conservation in Africa and further afield.

Over the last 20 years of pioneering this ecotourism model, here are just a few of &Beyond ’s conservation coups:

1.     &Beyond protects 3.5 million hectares (8.5 million acres) of land under wildlife conservation.
2.     &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - 23 000 hectares (56 800 acres) of pristine wilderness land, once degraded farmland and now one of the world’s most renowned Big Five game reserves. Phinda is home to 25 cheetah, up to 90 elephant, the biggest herd of nyala in any private game reserve and a multitude of other species, including all members of the Big Five.
3.     &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park became the first three-way partnership between a private organisation ( &Beyond ), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) SA and the state-run South African National Parks in 1990. In terms of the agreement, &Beyond leases the Ngala land and, in return, pays a portion of its turnover to the SANParks Trust for use in other conservation initiatives.
4.    Leopard Monitoring at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve - 62 leopards have been radio collared for satellite tracking, and their movements and interactions documented. The research findings have led to the reduction of leopard trophy hunting in the region as well as to an increase in Phinda’s leopard population.
5.    4 000 Conservation Lessons have been conducted for community children and teachers.
6.    The Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Black Rhino Range Expansion Project selected Phinda as its first release site in 2004. Today, Phinda is renowned for its healthy population of both black and white rhino.
7.     &Beyond negotiated the formation of the Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area, which protects the waters around the island.
8.    Protection and monitoring of Green Turtles at &Beyond Mnemba Island, one of only two protected nesting sites for the species in Zanzibar.
9.    Relocation of over 50 suni antelope living on Mnemba to Jozani Forest on Zanzibar Island, greatly enhancing the species’ status at Jozani. The remaining suni at Mnemba continue to prosper.
10.    In 2005 five Ader’s duiker (the rarest antelope species in Africa) were introduced to Mnemba Island; the population has since increased to 14. The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates there are only 300 to 600 Ader’s duiker remaining in the wild.
11.    The &Beyond Mnemba Island Lodge team hosts marine conservation lessons for 80 schoolchildren from mainland Zanzibar every year.  
12.    Monitoring of endangered wattled crane and other threatened birds at &Beyond Sandibe and Nxabega in Botswana helped guides understand the population dynamics and ecological requirements of wetland-dependent species.
13.    Elephant research and contraception helps to maintain sustainable elephant numbers at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve without the need for culling.  
14.    Research of the symbiotic relationship between lion and hyena at &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp; a select group of animals were fitted with GPS collars that will be used to collect data on their movements and interaction.  
15.     &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve donated 10 lions to the Mpumalanga Parks Board for relocation
16.     &Beyond assisted in the groundbreaking mass translocation of 19 gaur (Indian bison) from Kanha National Park to Bandhavgarh National Park in India, the first successful project of its sort in the country.
17.     &Beyond ’s conservation teams continue to protect and monitor the rhino population in their reserves across East and Southern Africa on a daily basis.
18.    A total of 22 000 hectares (54 400 acres) of land has been restored to wildlife use at &Beyond Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and restocked with more than 5 000 heads of game, including cheetah, lion, brown hyena, leopard and all members of the Big Five.  
19.     &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge participates in a programme to combat an invasive alien weed, salvinia molesta, which is threatening the marine life and diversity of the Okavango Delta.
20.    A groundbreaking quarantine programme at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has turned it into a major source of TB-resistant buffalo, with more than a thousand animals relocated to other reserves.
21.     &Beyond supports and contributes to a variety of conservation organisations, including WWF South Africa, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania, Birdlife South Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Birdlife Botswana.

Ends

Issued by: media@andBeyond.com

&Beyond    
T: +27 11 809 4300; F: +27 11 809 4511

www.andBeyond.com

About &Beyond

&Beyond owns and operates more than 35 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa and India’s wilderness highspots. The company is also one of Africa’s leading inbound tour operators, designing luxury safaris and personalised travel itineraries in 16 African countries, and India. Established in 1991, &Beyond delights guests in order to make a difference; its commitment to sustainable responsible travel and community empowerment is world renowned.

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