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January at Conservation Lower Zambezi
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Lower Zambezi gets SMART

CLZ hosted training for Zambia Wildlife Authority rangers, ecologists and technicians from Lower Zambezi and Head Office, CLZ operations staff and Gorongoza National Park staff in SMART (Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Technology), which will revolutionise our wildlife protection programme in allowing for better information from the scouts in the field, greater monitoring of illegal activities and more detailed yet easy to produce reporting. This new technology gathers more data which wildlife scouts encounter (and exact location), log all signs of illegal activity and create a comprehensive picture of what the scouts see in the field without having to write cumbersome reports. Panthera trainers Michelle Moeller and Peter Lindsey came to CLZ Base Camp to introduce the software and introduce the new system, which is being rolled out across the continent. This month the first scout teams have been trained and the 'Trimbles', SMART GPS computers are being rolled out in the field. A huge thanks to Panthera their support and for carrying out the training and for providing us with our first Trimble!

Village Scouts wheel in for Human-Wildlife Conflict patrols
This month saw Village Scouts move back into the Chiawa GMA to support communities to protect their fields from crop raiding by elephants and hippos. These patrols are funded by the International Elephant Foundation, who have generously provided funding for the Village Scouts to carry out human-wildlife conflict patrols full time during peak conflict months. This is our second year of specific patrols for human-wildlife conflict, and thanks to funding from the African Wildlife Foundation they are equipped with bicycles to respond to conflict quickly and safely across seven villages severely affected by human-elephant conflict.
Carnivore Corner
 
January has been a fantastic month for carnivore sightings. This month saw three wild dog sightings in the Chiawa GMA including pups, and a pack in the East of the park, but sadly no photos yet  -  if anyone sees them please try and send CLZ photos! A clan of hyena has been regularly spotted behind CLZ Base Camp this month. It is optimistic to see increased numbers of these carnivores, whose numbers have declined heavily from levels ten years ago. The wild dogs continue to be monitored and we hope to see their population growing!
Thank you!
Thanks to all our members and donors who make our work possible. This month, The Rufford Foundation  and the International Elephant Foundation have pledged funding for wildlife protection and human-wildlife conflict patrols in 2015, which will help our work to continue.

This month we owe thanks to Gerry Carbin of Chakanaka Farm, who donated car parts which enabled us to get our Land Cruiser back on the road, to Tony Weber of Gwabi River Lodge who serviced and fixed all our boats, to Cynthia Tuthill for her generous donation towards purchasing our staff uniforms, and to Prozam Paints for their generous discount on paint for new staff housing. Thank you to Panthera who have donated a new laptop computer for SMART software, and to Riccardo Garbaccio of Kanyemba Lodge for his time, effort and generosity in the building of our new staff housing. A huge thanks to all SATIB Insurance for their generous discount on  vehicle insurance. Kay and Lance Thomas donated us a hi-tech scale enabling us to weigh rations, ivory and other items  - thank you! Thanks to Juri Van Zyl and Buya Bamba for vegetables for camp staff and scouts. A HUGE thanks to iWay Africa for their support and discount on our internet service!


In the Lower Zambezi, CLZ is proudly supported by Platinum Members: Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp, Baines River CampChiawa CampChongwe River Camp, Mwambashi River LodgeOld Mondoro Bush Camp, Royal Zambezi Lodge and Sausage Tree CampGold Members: Chongwe River HouseKasaka River Lodge Silver Members: Kanyemba Lodge, River Grande, Mvuu Lodge

Thank you for all our in-kind and financial support we receive throughout the year which enables us to focus funds towards activities, not admin!
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