Big 5 - A Year of Conservation, Community and Hope

It was a brilliant year for the Big 5 Conservation team in South Africa. They have created a project which truly combines biodiversity, conservation, protection and community. 

When it was first established in 1989, the reserve was 600 hectares and has since grown to over 12,000 hectares with over 85 protected species including critically endangered species such as the black rhino and white backed vulture. 

The team are involved in a range of work to help protect the reserve's biodiversity. Research ranges from rhino, elephant, lion and leopard monitoring to an aquatic biodiversity study of the reserve’s rivers and estuary. Conservation is about understanding wildlife, collecting information and using that knowledge to make better decisions for the future. 

Elephants are being studied to understand their social dynamics, health and how they respond to landscape expansion. Rhino monitoring looks at everything from habitat selection and population dynamics to behaviour and poaching risk, while lion and cheetah research explores their prey preferences, movements, interactions and population trends.

Leopards are also the focus of an important PhD study involving Nelson Mandela University and other INDALO reserves. Through camera trapping and genetic data, researchers are working to understand leopard populations, their range and the prey they depend upon.

The Big 5 Conservation team are building a strong and long term connection between conservation and community. The work reaches hundreds of children and young people through education, sport, technology, environmental projects and social-emotional learning. These programmes are creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom or sports field. 

Here is a summary of the team's impressive achievements. 

The aim of the Big 5 Conservation team is to create a future where wildlife, people and communities can thrive alongside one another. As a volunteer, you can be part of this change, knowing that your time and support is part of this bigger success story. 

For volunteers aged 18+ you can join our Big 5 Conservation project for 1 week or more on start dates throughout the year, you can learn all about the trip here. 

For volunteers aged 16 and 17 years old you can join a special 1 week Big 5 Conservation trip which you can learn all about here.