Who Are Silent Heroes
To us, the ‘Silent Heroes’ are all of those individuals working on the front lines and/or quietly behind the scenes of conservation and One Health in Africa. Additionally it includes all of those heroes who support our work and allow us to make an impact on those things for which we are passionate about in the world. Without our heroes we the Foundation wouldn’t exist, nor would many of the animals we are fighting to protect. We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to pursue our passions and find ways to change the face of conservation in Africa.
The University of Florida Department of Wildlife Forensic Sciences & Conservation
Wildlife crime, whether it be in the form of poaching, trade in exotic species, illicit logging, protected species persecution, or any other type of illegal exploitation of flora and fauna, is a pervasive and omnipresent danger to species preservation and conservation. Following closely behind drugs and arms trafficking and trafficking in humans, wildlife crime is a billion dollar threat that spans countries and continents. Despite the enormity of the problem, relatively few resources exist to combat it. Countries facing what could be seen as a war on their environments often do not have the manpower in terms of conservation officers, rangers, or law enforcement personnel to pose as a deterrent or to handle the often overwhelming need, as poachers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics financed in many cases by covert or corrupt organizations. In addition, poor countries face a considerable scarcity of funding for combat operations. There is often also a lack of knowledge or even awareness of what is required in terms of investigatory processes. This partnership will allow SHF and The University of Florida to bring forensic science to the front lines of poaching and wildlife crime in Africa.
Wild Survivors focuses its efforts and resources on managing the complex issue of human-elephant conflict in east Africa. Under the guidance and inspiration of Dr Lucy King in Kenya, Francesca and her Tanzanian team are replicating Dr King’s technique to mitigate conflict, which occurs when elephants raid farmland. Installing beehives as a natural repellent to the elephants protects cultivated land, which villages depend upon to survive, whilst saving the giant vegetarians from retaliation attacks. The humble honey bee acts as the perfect peacekeeper, blocking the elephant’s destructive path into a farm, thus keeping both humans and wildlife safe. Farmers develop a new, sustainable livelihood in beekeeping, while in turn becoming champions for habitat preservation and the protection of an endangered species. In collaboration with the Silent Heroes Foundation, Wild Survivors is developing a scalable model for beehive fence installation, and workshops in beekeeping, honey harvesting, and wildlife conservation, to benefit communities across Northern Tanzania.