Zoo Atlanta presents “Protecting South Luangwa”

Rachel McRobb of Conservation South Luangwa speaks on efforts to protect elephants and other wildlife on April 23.

Zoo Atlanta is proud to host Rachel McRobb, Chief Executive Officer of Conservation South Luangwa, as she presents “Protecting South Luangwa, one of Africa’s most wild and spectacular National Parks,” on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at 7 p.m.

McRobb will share insights on protecting African elephants and other wildlife of Zambia’s renowned South Luangwa National Park using community-based anti-poaching efforts; sniffer dogs; and chili peppers as a means of safely deterring exploitation of crops by elephants and other animals – a contemporary challenge experienced by human communities living shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Africa’s most iconic wild animals.

Based in Zambia, Conservation South Luangwa is one of Zoo Atlanta’s newest conservation partners. Conservation South Luangwa is a nonprofit organization working to identify and prevent illegal wildlife trafficking using anti-poaching patrols, aerial surveillance and detection dogs trained to find ivory, animal skins, ammunition and firearms, and certain species killed for the commercial bushmeat trade. More than half of the people inhabiting this region of Zambia make a living from agriculture and natural resources, making human-animal conflict a major threat for African elephants and other species when animals are persecuted by humans for exploiting crops. Conservation South Luangwa also has a strong focus on mitigating these conflicts by working directly with local people to safeguard their crops and livelihoods while engaging them as advocates for wildlife conservation.

Announced in summer 2018, the partnership with Conservation South Luangwa represents a significant step toward a goal of increased leadership in elephant conservation for Zoo Atlanta. The partnership strongly aligns with the Zoo’s Conservation Strategic Action Plan, which seeks to commit Zoo Atlanta’s professional and financial resources to partnerships demonstrating a multifaceted approach to conservation with long-term results. The commitment also aligns with the Zoo’s goal of leadership in the care of African elephants with the upcoming opening of the all-new African Savanna in summer 2019. The new African Savanna, which will also feature new habitats for giraffes, zebras, warthogs, ostriches, meerkats and new southern white rhinos, will more than triple the size of the Zoo’s current elephant habitat. The complex will incorporate a variety of dynamic features designed to enhance elephant well-being, both in its outdoor habitats and in the state-of-the-art indoor Zambezi Elephant Center.

“Protecting South Luangwa” is a free opportunity, but seating is limited and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Pre-register online at zooatlanta.org/luangwa.

The event will take place in the Coca-Cola World Studio in the Zoo’s Conservation Action Resource Center (ARC).

For more on conservation programs and partnerships supported by Zoo Atlanta, both locally and globally, visit zooatlanta.org/conservation.

Photo courtesy of Edward Selfe.