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Saving Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania

Accurate at time of publication: 8th June 2018

What was the issue?

Home to African elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs and giraffes – as well as many other amazing species – Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa.

But sadly, it has lost almost 90 per cent of its elephants and nearly all of its critically endangered black rhinos to poachers since becoming a World Heritage site.

In 2014, it was placed on UNESCOs ‘in danger’ list. Facing severe threats from industrial-scale poaching and other harmful activities, we knew action was needed. So we asked you to speak up.

What we did

We took action in our thousands. Across the world, almost half a million of us e-mailed the Tanzanian president to show our support, and ask him to secure the protection of Selous.

On the ground, WWF has been supporting the Tanzanian government’s elephant collaring scheme, to help protect against poaching. This vital work is only possible with your support.

What we achieved

Together, our action has had a real impact. The Tanzanian Wildlife Authority recently announced that they will not allow mining to go ahead inside the Selous World Heritage site – providing much needed protection.

Thanks to the combined efforts of a range of organisations and the government clampdown in the past few years poaching levels have reduced, and we’re currently working towards a zero poaching approach. This is a huge step forward in protecting Selous and the amazing animals that live there.