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35+ Years’
Community-led Conservation
150,000+ Acres
Protected Wilderness Where Rhinos, Pangolin Giraffe, Leopards, Sables, Roam Freely
365 Days /Year
Trained Community Scouts Work to Protect All Species From Poachers
Circa 11th to 15th Century C.E.
Site of Ancient Ruins From the Great Zimbabwe Period
OUR STORY
Tearing Down Barriers to Form an Alliance
In the 1980s, there was an alarming, precipitous rise in the poaching of black rhinos across the African Continent. This propelled community leaders in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe to act boldly, on a large scale, to protect the dwindling rhino population.
In 1987 an alliance was formed. Land owners tore down the fences between their properties, combining 150,000 acres to form what is known today as the Midlands Wildlife Conservancy (MWC). The primary focus was to save and protect the black rhino, providing a safe sanctuary where they could roam free from both poachers and habitat destruction. They engaged a group of highly trained scouts to protect the rhinos, and instigated anti-poaching initiatives in the surrounding communities.
MWC is not a tourist destination conservancy. By avoiding tourist activities, the conservancy minimizes the stress on the wildlife and habitat, and maintains a purely natural safe haven where rhinos can live and reproduce.
For over 35 years, the MWC and its unwavering dedication and programs, has managed to stabilize and even increase the rhino population. There has been a rhino calf born on the conservancy each year for the past consecutive 3 years. And we are proud to announce that 2 of our females are currently pregnant!
MWC not only protects rhinos, but all wildlife on the conservancy including the endangered pangolin as well as giraffe, eland, leopard, cheetah, brown and spotted hyena, kudu, zebra, lion and hippo as well as the multitude of other reptiles and insects. MWC is currently home to the largest population of sable in Zimbabwe, and provides a safe migration route for elephants.
An Invested
& Empowered Community
We are led by a community dedicated to engaging future generations in the mission to help its precious ecosystem survive and thrive.
Members of the Midlands community serve as scouts, conservancy leaders, stewards, and teachers. We run ongoing educational programs that train and teach future generations about ecology and conservation.
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As part of our commitment to sustainability, our headquarters, the clinic and our education center are powered by solar energy, reflecting our dedication to environmentally friendly practices.
And most importantly, we are a source of community engagement and development—undertaking projects such as building wells and supporting health centers.
You can learn more about these initiatives and how to support them here.
The Field Work
The conservancy engages a team of highly trained scouts to mitigate the threats that all these species face, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. In a typical day, they remove snare traps, search for signs of poachers and engage in rescue missions for animals in distress. A section of our team of scouts are dedicated specifically to the black rhino, patrolling an average of 20-30km per day through the thick Zimbabwean terrain, all seasons of the year, watching over the black rhino, protecting their tracks and on the lookout signs of poachers. They put their lives at risk everyday to protect and ensure future generations of black rhino.
What do we do for the animals?
PROVIDE A SAFE HOME
First and foremost, we provide a safe home for the wildlife to live, breath, drink, eat and breed. We let them animals roam freely, in the wild, without the deterrence of commercial tourism, domestication, supplement feeding or petting.
RANGER PATROLS
Highly trained and dedicated rangers conduct regular patrols within the conservancy. They cover vast areas, mostly on foot, to monitor habitats, detect signs of poaching, and prevent intruders.
WILDLIFE MONITORING
Close monitoring of the rhinos helps to quickly identify health issues or injuries, enabling rapid rescue missions or interventions by veterinarians.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
Modern technology plays a pivotal role. Camera traps and satellite radios are used to monitor rhino movements, gather intelligence on poaching activities, and identify suspicious behavior in real-time. We are currently looking for funding for drones, which will help accelerate the protection process on a daily basis.
COMMUNITY-BASED INTELLIGENCE GATHERING
Thanks to our relationships with the surrounding villages, we have created a network of informants provide valuable information about poaching syndicates and their operations. This intelligence is crucial for planning effective counter-strategies.
ARMED RESPONSE UNITS
Rapid response teams are on standby to react to potential threats. These teams are highly trained and equipped to intercept poachers and secure the area until authorities arrive.
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Our relationship with law enforcement agencies ensures a co-coordinated response to poaching activities. This includes sharing information, joint operations, and arrests. We also help the local law enforcements gain a deeper understanding into wild animals’ unique threats and needs.
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
We go out into the villages and beyond to the major cities too, to campaign and educate the larger public about the importance of rhino conservation and the consequences of poaching. This helps create a broader movement against illegal wildlife trade.