Monthly newsletter - April 2025
Advancing Leopard Conservation Through Collaboration, Research, and Strategic Growth
Dear Supporters of the Ingwe Research Program,
We are gearing up for crucial fieldwork, forging new research partnerships, and strengthening our organizational foundation for long-term impact.
Fieldwork for Road Ecology Project Set to Commence with Generous Support
Preparations are underway for the commencement of fieldwork at the end of May for our road ecology project. A critical component of this phase involves the deployment of camera traps, generously sponsored by AirNav Systems, to monitor how wildlife utilizes culverts and underpasses beneath the roads. This vital data will provide insights into the effectiveness of these structures in facilitating safe wildlife movement.
Have a look at the video below, showcasing the quality of the camera traps donated by AirNav! Wait until the end…
The logistical undertaking of reaching our field sites has been significantly eased thanks to the invaluable support of The Black Sheep Agency, a French tourism agency based in Cape Town. Demonstrating a long-standing commitment to supporting NGOs, The Black Sheep Agency has been a dedicated donor to Ingwe for over a year. Their support extends through an innovative partnership involving Pondoro Game Lodge: for every booking made at Pondoro by The Black Sheep, Ingwe receives a donation from Pondoro. This collaborative model exemplifies how businesses can directly contribute to conservation initiatives, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing partnership. These crucial donations are covering our return flights and vehicle rental for three weeks, a substantial contribution that is particularly impactful for a small organization like ours.
The spirit of collaboration extends further within the Hoedspruit community. Trophy Car Rental, a local company, has generously offered us a vehicle free of charge for two weeks and another for three weeks at a significantly discounted rate. Furthermore, our field team will be easily identifiable thanks to brand new uniforms sponsored by Leopards Bend Bush Lodge. We eagerly anticipate sharing images from the field, proudly showcasing the logos of our dedicated sponsors. Your collective commitment to wildlife conservation is truly inspiring, and we encourage our community to support these businesses in return by considering their offers when visiting the region.
Discover all our partners and sponsors here: ingweresearchprogram.org/partners
Expanding Research Capacity Through University Partnership and Student Involvement
On the research front, we are pleased to announce a new Data Sharing Agreement with the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) and Dr. Dan Parker. This agreement marks the beginning of an exciting research project that will involve a PhD student already well known in the area! We encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to learn about the student and the specific focus of this upcoming research. This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering research opportunities and providing valuable experience to students at UMP within our road ecology project.
Thanks to the continued support of our sponsor, AirNav Systems, we will also fund the placement of two South African students who will contribute directly to our road ecology project. Their work will focus on the analysis of roadkill data and the wildlife crossing data currently being collected by our dedicated citizen scientists through our WhatsApp groups. To date, we have recorded 35 instances of roadkill involving mammals, birds, and reptiles, and 65 wildlife crossings. It is important to note that this data is likely an underestimation of the actual impact of roads on wildlife in the area. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, we are urging more individuals to participate in data collection, and our team will be conducting dedicated patrols for two weeks each month over the next three months to complement and validate the citizen science data.
Our road ecology project is also giving an opportunity to an international student. Tanis Short, a Master's student from McGill University in Canada, will be joining us in the field at the end of May for three months. Her Master's thesis specifically focuses on the use of culverts by wildlife, making her contribution invaluable to this aspect of our research.
Strengthening Ingwe's Future Through Strategic Planning
Recognizing the diverse skills required to effectively run and manage a non-profit organization, both Tom (our Chairman) and I are currently engaged in intensive training. We are committed to continuous learning and professional development to ensure the long-term sustainability and impact of Ingwe Research Program.
We are fortunate that our call for expertise in our previous newsletter was answered by Simon Hartley. Simon is a successful founder and award-winning international retail executive. He founded his first business in 2014, sold it to Walmart in 2021, and completed a successful earn out with Walmart in 2024. Today he helps for profit and non profit organizations through his advisory services firm, Thorndale Group (thorndalegroup.com). A passionate advocate for the wilderness, Simon is also a SanParks Honorary Ranger and lives part of the year in Hoedspruit. We have already completed 20 hours of training with Simon and will continue sessions throughout May. By the culmination of this training, we will have developed Ingwe's strategic plan for the next five years, and we eagerly anticipate sharing our long-term vision and goals with you.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the Ingwe Research Program and the conservation of South Africa's precious leopard populations. Your support, in all its forms, is the foundation of our success.
Sincerely,
Marine Servonnat
Executive Director
https://www.ingweresearchprogram.org/