2019 HIGHLIGHTS BY MONTH
Together, we accomplished some pretty amazing things for wildlife and wild spaces in southern Africa in 2019. Thank you for coming on this journey with us.
Here’s some of our favorite moments by month:
JANUARY
In January we announced our entomologist, Barbara Wright’s, discovery of a new species of widow spider: the Phinda Button Spider (Latrodectus umbukwane). This is the first species of widow spider discovered in nearly thirty years!
This discovery speaks to the importance of protecting threatened habitat and all the species that find refuge within its spaces – including species that have not yet been discovered. You can read more about this discovery here. Congratulations Barbara!
FEBRUARY
We made our very first delivery of rangers boots to the Democratic Republic of Congo!
We donated 38 pairs to government park rangers at Bombo Lumene, the community rangers at Bonobo Paradise Sanctuary for Bonobos, P-WAC Rehab Centre for Primates, and the community rangers from our partner conservation organization, Conserv Congo, who are working to stop bushmeat poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
MARCH
We had an amazing group of thirteen runners for Wild Tomorrow Fund in the New York Road Runners United Half Marathon in March. Together they raised over $13,000 towards our work.
In need of a New Year’s resolution? Sign up to run for Wild Tomorrow Fund in the New York United 2020 Half Marathon. There’s a few places left. Apply here!
APRIL
Our April volunteers helped to complete our new ranger accommodation for our team of five Ukuwela Conservancy rangers.
Rangers Mhlozi, Sakhile, Mzi, Sibusiso and Zamani were happy to ditch their army tent and move into their new homes.
MAY
In May we were delighted to announce our second habitat protection project, the Mfuleni Conservancy which lies down-river from the Ukuwela Conservancy.
This incredible 1,171 acre piece of land protects a corridor between the Mun-Ya-Wana Conservancy and the UNESCO World Heritage iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
With this addition, Wild Tomorrow Fund is now restoring, protecting and re-wildling over 3,000 acres of land in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.
JUNE
We hosted our very first (and definitely not last) comedy night in New York City this past June, raising funds for our work. It was a night of laughter and animal-lovers at Gotham Comedy Club.
JULY
In July we started construction of a brand new creche in the community next to our reserves, the Mduku Community, now called the Thelelulwazi Creche!
The 40 school children had their first day at their new school building in August. The establishment of this creche was made possible thanks to a generous donation from Lise Grendene, in partnership with the Africa Foundation. You can watch a video here of the opening event, with Lise dedicating the school to her late grandmother Odilia.
AUGUST
August was a month filled with "wild" love for the Wild Tomorrow Fund team. Our co-founders, John Steward and Wendy Hapgood said "I do" amongst the gnu and our ecologist, Axel Hunnicutt, proposed to Elin Crockett. It was a month of love in the bush!
While visiting the region, wedding guests helped hands-on with our conservation efforts, and funded the dehorning of 5 rhinos at two partner reserves making August our busiest month for rhino protection in 2019.
SEPTEMBER
A critically endangered wild dog was spotted by our camera traps, crossing through the Mfuleni Conservancy in September!
It was very exciting to see this land, now protected and patrolled (making it safe from poachers' snares), working as a safe wildlife corridor for endangered species including the African Wild Dog.
OCTOBER
This October, we hosted our very first photography-focused volunteer trip! It was a sold-out success, with volunteers returning even more committed to conservation. Read a blog about one of our volunteers' experiences on this trip.
There are still spots available for our 2020 Conservation Photography Volunteer Trip, running from August 1st to 15th. Learn more and sign-up here.
NOVEMBER
We held our Annual Gala on November 8th at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City, attended by a full house of 200 amazing guests. On the evening, we honored South African conservationist Les Carlisle for his life-long commitment to wildlife conservation including pioneering efforts for wildlife translocations and as a founding member of the team that created world-class Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Congratulations again to Les Carlisle on receiving the Umvikeli Protector's Award!
DECEMBER
The best news to end 2019 on: the first birth of a baby giraffe on our very own Ukuwela Conservancy!
It truly goes to show that by saving and protecting habitat, we can restore ecosystems and save wildlife!