How you Helped Nikela Help People Saving Wildlife in 2020

Despite the devastating COVID-19 pandemic 2020 did not stop folk like you from donating to help people saving wildlife. Actually 2020 turned out to be one of our biggest giving years yet!

To date Nikela has given over $85,000 to 24 projects in 8 African countries. Now when you compare that with the World Wildlife Fund, African Parks and other large organizations it’s not much. However, for those on the ground, those Wildlife Heroes we support it means a great deal.

Recently Moses Arineitwe said, “Thank you for supporting me when no other organization will.” Moses runs too small of an operation for large funders to notice or care about. For Moses $100 is big. With that he can complete an entire Pangolin Rescue Mission, saving another one of these highly endangered harmless mammals from the pot or the wildlife trafficking trade. Or for the same $100 Moses can buy fish food for three months. (One of Moses’ reformed poachers’ alternative livelihood projects.)

So, dispersing our $16,633.00 made a difference this year for wildlife and humans.

How you helped Nikela help people saving wildlife in 2020

The Bee Project in Tanzania

Moses Ryakitimbo lives in northern Tanzania. He saves elephants by keeping them out of farm fields with bees. During 2020 he protected most every farm around the village of Lendoiya with beehive fences. Farmers are super grateful. No elephants were killed. This year with an additional 20 beehives all the crop fields will be protected.

DONATE Now – Save an Elephant

Alternative Livelihoods for Former Poachers

Moses Arineitwe makes a difference in southern Uganda. He convinces wildlife poachers to trade their spears for shovels. During 2020 he helped his group of 40 reformed poachers dredge two old fish ponds, build a fish house (for fish food and a guard), plant, tend and harvest vegetables, and build a restaurant where their produce is made into tasty meals. This year sustaining these projects will continue to keep families fed and wildlife from being poached.

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Rescuing highly endangered Pangolin

Moses rescued 20 highly endangered pangolin. Of these 18 were successfully released to a safe wild place by the Ugandan Wildlife Authorities. To date over 40 have been rescued by Moses. A mother and baby are already two of the lucky ones saved and released this year. These, mainly tree pangolin, are snatched from the wild by villagers. Most are consumed by the family or sold to others for the pot. In the past many were peddled into the wildlife trafficking trade, however, with the lack of food in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic pangolin are primarily eaten locally. This year we anticipate at least 24 pangolin rescue missions.

DONATE Now – Save a Pangolin

Orphaned monkeys on the road to freedom

Silke Von Eynern has rescued and rehabilitated orphaned vervet monkeys for decades. She nurtures these little pink faces, provides them new families and prepares them for a second chance at living free. To date over 700 monkeys owe their lives to Silke and her team. During 2020 we sponsored 13 orphaned monkeys, two of which we’ve sponsored since their arrival at the wildlife center. The pandemic continues to keep paying-volunteers away. You help sponsoring additional orphans would be much appreciated.

DONATE Now – Sponsor an Orphaned Monkey

Sponsor Felix a Ranger Scout protecting Elephants

Lynn Clifford traded the comforts of Ireland for a bush hut in Malawi 10 years. Together with her team of ranger scouts she protects the Thuma Forest. Since her arrival elephants, buffalo, antelope and an abundance of birds have returned. We’ve sponsored Felix one of Lynn’s ranger scouts since 2017. Felix comes from a local village and loves protecting the elephants and their home. As everything has gotten more expensive 2021 will find it costing more to sponsor Felix so your help is much appreciated.

DONATE Now – Help Sponsor Felix

Anti-Poaching equipment to protect Rhino

Peter Milton protects the endangered rhino in South Africa. For years he has strategically used specifically designed drones to deter and apprehend poachers. Peter learned early on where drones fly rhino don’t die. During 2020 we provided some much needed equipment. 2021 will find us assisting with ever escalating fuel costs for patrols.

DONATE Now – Save a Rhino

Once-off assistance

Water project in Kenya.

Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua delivers water with a large truck to save wildlife. Tsavo National Park which elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and many others call home can be very dry. When it is, wildlife await Patrick’s arrival. At times we send him the once off assistance of $100 or so.

Saving the Survivors via Sheila’s fundraiser

Sheila Bath Upton in South Africa is a long standing advocate for rhino. COVID-19 financially and socially restricted her direct involvement with her Dance to be Wild program. That did not discourage her, instead she rallied around those who work hard to save injured rhino surviving poacher attacks. We gave once off assistance of $50.

Looking ahead at 2021

Support this coming year will include Marnus and his lions again. We’d spoken about boots for his rangers, however, in January he will apprise us of a more pressing need.

Also, if we can return to Africa (COVID-19 and its ramifications being the current concern) we have several Wildlife Heroes to revisit and new ones requesting we come.

On the revisit list are of course Baye and her rescue rehab work in Zimbabwe and Shannon and her Bearded Vulture Breeding project in South Africa.