Africat Foundation
| Founded | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Wayne Hanssen, the Hanssen family |
| Type | Conservation of large carnivores |
| Focus | Education and Carnivore rehabilitation |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
Okonjima, Otjiwarongo (Namibia) |
| Method | Conservation through Education |
| Owner | Hanssen Family |
|
Key people
|
Tammy Hoth (Exec. Director), |
| Website | http://www.africat.org |
The AfriCat Foundation is a Namibian organisation promoting the conservation of large carnivores.
In 1970 the Hanssen family settled on the farm Okonjima in central Namibia. Brahman cattle were raised on the land but annual losses of calves to predators, particularly leopard, amounted to between 20 and 30 per year, decimating the herd and causing huge financial losses. As with many farmers at that time, the Hanssens embarked on a course of trapping, hunting and shooting the leopards in an attempt to control their losses. However, these losses continued at the same rate as before. Other measures were called for and calf-holding pens were built at watering holes where cows could give birth safely. The calves remained in protective custody until they were approximately 4 months old, their mothers coming in at regular intervals to feed them. Employing these livestock protection methods reduced losses to about 3 or 4 per year.
Wayne, the only son, recognised the need for a better understanding between humans and carnivores. He began observing the leopards and becoming more familiar with their habits and movements. At the same time the family started a small bed and breakfast business and tourists visited Okonjima. Wayne’s research had revealed where leopard could be found and he started to share his viewing experiences with the guests. Hunting ceased as more and more guests came to view the big cats at close quarters and Okonjima became a fast-growing tourism enterprise.
At the same time farmers were approaching the Hanssens for advice on livestock protection and to remove cheetahs and leopards that they had caught in traps on their farms. More and more large carnivores were coming to Okonjima to be treated, if necessary, and then released back into the wild. Some of these animals could not be released, having been orphaned at an early age and being too young to fend for themselves. These cats had to be cared for in the long term and the strain on Okonjima’s finances was considerable.
In 1993, the AfriCat Foundation was registered as a non-profit organisation to raise finds for the care of these large carnivores. To date AfriCat is the largest rescue and release centre for large carnivores in the world. Although separate entities, the relationship between Okonjima, a business concern and AfriCat, a registered non-profit organisation, is one of symbiosis. In a nutshell, Okonjima owns and manages the land and operates the tourism business while AfriCat provides the unique selling point: the opportunity for guests to view the large carnivores in a natural environment, as well as the work of the Foundation. AfriCat in turn receives an income from the revenue generated by tourism, which contributes to covering the running cost of the organisation, as well as an opportunity to obtain additional income from visitors who are more conducive to donating funds having witnessed the Foundation's work.
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Wikipedia