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Protecting Wildlife

WCN SUPPORTS CONSERVATIONISTS WHO ENSURE WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE COEXIST AND THRIVE

Partner Network | Wildlife Funds | Local Leaders

The presence of wildlife in our world is a treasure, one that cannot be reclaimed if it disappears.

SUPPORTING A NETWORK OF CONSERVATIONISTS 

We find the best entrepreneurial organizations and invite them to receive in-depth, ongoing support by joining our Network of Conservation Partners. We provide our Partners with the financial resources, tools, and services they need to effectively protect wildlife while also offering critical, but less intensive support to a broader group of conservation organizations in our Extended Network. As all organizations in our Network go through a rigorous vetting process, donors can invest in them with confidence.

Conservationists in our Network work within local communities to find solutions that address the needs of both wildlife and people.

100% of designated donations to Conservation Partners in our Network go directly to the field with no overhead removed.

How We Select Our Partners

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Andean Cat

Cheetah—Botswana

Cheetah—Namibia

Cotton-Top Tamarin

Elephants

Ethiopian Wolf

Grevy's Zebra

Grey Crowned Cranes

Lion—Ewaso

Lion—Niassa

Macaws

Mountain Gorillas

Okapi

Painted Dog

Penguins

Saiga Antelope

Sharks and Rays

Small Wild Cats

Snow Leopard

Spectacled Bear

PROTECTING SPECIES ACROSS THEIR HABITATS

Our Wildlife Funds offer flexible grants to projects in order to protect threatened species across their habitats. The Wildlife Funds invest in effective projects from a wide range of organizations, kickstarting new approaches and bolstering tried and true conservation efforts. Each fund amplifies donor support by combining contributions, allowing for the biggest impact possible.

In addition to our Wildlife Funds, WCN’s Emergency Relief Fund supports conservationists, wildlife, and communities in times of crisis.

100% of donations to our Funds go directly to the field, with zero overhead removed.

WHAT MAKES THE FUNDS UNIQUE

ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND

ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND

The Elephant Crisis Fund’s (ECF) goal is to end the ivory crisis and secure a future for elephants. The ECF funds the best ideas and most urgent actions to safeguard the future of elephants, working with a coalition of individuals, scientists, conservation organizations, and governments to:

  • End the ivory crisis
  • Promote human-elephant coexistence
  • Protect elephant landscapes

The ECF is a joint initiative of Save the Elephants and WCN.

Support the ECF       Visit the Website
Frank af Petersens_elephants

Lion Recovery Fund

Lion Recovery Fund

Lion populations have declined by half in just a quarter century. But, lions can return. The Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) was created by WCN to give conservationists the support they need to address the biggest threats to lions.

The LRF invests in projects designed to:

  • Protect lions from poaching, incidental capture in snares, retaliatory and ritual killings, and other threats.
  • Protect habitats from destruction by unsustainable development practices such as farming, mining, logging, and charcoal production.
  • Protect prey from poaching for bushmeat, excessive competition with domestic livestock, destruction of migratory pathways, and other threats.

Lion recovery is within our grasp.

SUPPORT THE LRF        Visit the Website

peterlindsey_lions

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked wild mammals on Earth. They are hunted to supply a rampant and illegal global trade of their scales, meat, and body parts. Because of demand—mostly in Asia, but also growing across Africa—all eight species of pangolins are threatened with extinction.

The Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF) was created by Save Pangolins and WCN to invest in the best initiatives to:

  • Protect pangolins and their habitats so that all eight species have a chance to recover.
  • Disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks through intelligence led investigations with local law enforcement and legislative reform.
  • Eliminate the demand for pangolin scales and bushmeat in Asia and Africa by working with communities and raising awareness.

Support the PCF      Visit the Website

Pangolin_Credit-Uniquesafarieye

Rhino Recovery Fund

Rhino Recovery Fund

Thousands of African rhinos have been killed for their horns, which are prized for false medicinal purposes and as status symbols, and Asian rhinos have dwindled to near extinction. Additionally, rhinos are losing their habitat to unsustainable development. But there is still hope for rhinos.

The Rhino Recovery Fund has two primary investment strategies:

  • Rhino Guardians – We invest in projects designed to stop rhino poaching and disrupt the trafficking and demand for rhino horn.
  • Rhino Landscapes – We invest in projects that restore functioning habitat and provide strong protected area management to support wild rhinos and make them relevant to society.

SUPPORT THE RRF      VISIT THE WEBSITE

Rhino beauty shot

California Wildlife Program

California Wildlife Program

Pumas are a cornerstone of a robust wild California. While they can live across a wide range of landscapes, their habitat is fragmented by urban sprawl and other human development. The pumas’ fragmented habitat must be restored and connected to maintain healthy wildlife populations.

WCN’s California Wildlife Program aims to restore and connect fragmented habitat, benefiting pumas and other wildlife throughout California.

Support CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE PROGRAM

Learn More

Emergency Relief Fund

Emergency Relief Fund

When emergency crises generate devastating health, social, economic, and political challenges, they often also lead to increased pressure on wildlife and natural resources, disruptions in fundraising for conservationists, and destabilization of security for communities.

WCN’s Emergency Relief Fund supports conservationists, wildlife, and communities to turn crisis into an opportunity to respond.

Support EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND   LEARN MORE

CTPH Community

ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND

ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND

The Elephant Crisis Fund’s (ECF) goal is to end the ivory crisis and secure a future for elephants. The ECF funds the best ideas and most urgent actions to safeguard...

Find out more

Lion Recovery Fund

Lion Recovery Fund

Lion populations have declined by half in just a quarter century. But, lions can return. The Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) was created by WCN to give conservationists the support they...

Find out more
Ground Pangolin

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked wild mammals on Earth. They are hunted to supply a rampant and illegal global trade of their scales, meat, and body parts. Because of...

Find out more

Rhino Recovery Fund

Rhino Recovery Fund

Thousands of African rhinos have been killed for their horns, which are prized for false medicinal purposes and as status symbols, and Asian rhinos have dwindled to near extinction. Additionally,...

Find out more

California Wildlife Program

California Wildlife Program

Pumas are a cornerstone of a robust wild California. While they can live across a wide range of landscapes, their habitat is fragmented by urban sprawl and other human development....

Find out more

Emergency Relief Fund

Emergency Relief Fund

When emergency crises generate devastating health, social, economic, and political challenges, they often also lead to increased pressure on wildlife and natural resources, disruptions in fundraising for conservationists, and destabilization...

Find out more

ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND

The Elephant Crisis Fund’s (ECF) goal is to end the ivory crisis and secure a future for elephants. The ECF funds the best ideas and most urgent actions to safeguard the future of elephants, working with a coalition of individuals, scientists, conservation organizations, and governments to:

  • End the ivory crisis
  • Promote human-elephant coexistence
  • Protect elephant landscapes

The ECF is a joint initiative of Save the Elephants and WCN.

Support the ECF       Visit the Website

Lion Recovery Fund

Lion populations have declined by half in just a quarter century. But, lions can return. The Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) was created by WCN to give conservationists the support they need to address the biggest threats to lions.

The LRF invests in projects designed to:

  • Protect lions from poaching, incidental capture in snares, retaliatory and ritual killings, and other threats.
  • Protect habitats from destruction by unsustainable development practices such as farming, mining, logging, and charcoal production.
  • Protect prey from poaching for bushmeat, excessive competition with domestic livestock, destruction of migratory pathways, and other threats.

Lion recovery is within our grasp.

SUPPORT THE LRF        Visit the Website

Pangolin Crisis Fund

Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked wild mammals on Earth. They are hunted to supply a rampant and illegal global trade of their scales, meat, and body parts. Because of demand—mostly in Asia, but also growing across Africa—all eight species of pangolins are threatened with extinction.

The Pangolin Crisis Fund (PCF) was created by Save Pangolins and WCN to invest in the best initiatives to:

  • Protect pangolins and their habitats so that all eight species have a chance to recover.
  • Disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks through intelligence led investigations with local law enforcement and legislative reform.
  • Eliminate the demand for pangolin scales and bushmeat in Asia and Africa by working with communities and raising awareness.

Support the PCF      Visit the Website

Rhino Recovery Fund

Thousands of African rhinos have been killed for their horns, which are prized for false medicinal purposes and as status symbols, and Asian rhinos have dwindled to near extinction. Additionally, rhinos are losing their habitat to unsustainable development. But there is still hope for rhinos.

The Rhino Recovery Fund has two primary investment strategies:

  • Rhino Guardians – We invest in projects designed to stop rhino poaching and disrupt the trafficking and demand for rhino horn.
  • Rhino Landscapes – We invest in projects that restore functioning habitat and provide strong protected area management to support wild rhinos and make them relevant to society.

SUPPORT THE RRF      VISIT THE WEBSITE

California Wildlife Program

Pumas are a cornerstone of a robust wild California. While they can live across a wide range of landscapes, their habitat is fragmented by urban sprawl and other human development. The pumas’ fragmented habitat must be restored and connected to maintain healthy wildlife populations.

WCN’s California Wildlife Program aims to restore and connect fragmented habitat, benefiting pumas and other wildlife throughout California.

Support CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE PROGRAM

Learn More

Emergency Relief Fund

When emergency crises generate devastating health, social, economic, and political challenges, they often also lead to increased pressure on wildlife and natural resources, disruptions in fundraising for conservationists, and destabilization of security for communities.

WCN’s Emergency Relief Fund supports conservationists, wildlife, and communities to turn crisis into an opportunity to respond.

Support EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND   LEARN MORE

INVESTING IN LOCAL CONSERVATIONISTS

WCN helps local conservationists grow and thrive so that they have the support they need to protect wildlife. We invest in these brave women and men to strengthen their skills, build their organizations, and advance their careers in conservation. Through scholarships and grants, we provide support to the local people who are shaping conservation in their home countries, ensuring we have a greater and more sustainable impact for wildlife.

100% of donations to our Scholarship and Career Programs go directly to those programs, with zero overhead removed.

Scholarship Program

Scholarship Program

WCN’s Scholarship Program is empowering a new generation of local conservationists to take charge of wildlife protection in their home countries. Offering both conservation and veterinary scholarships, WCN is safeguarding a more diverse range of wildlife while supporting those who are shaping conservation’s future.

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS

LEARN MORE

Photo - Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa

Career Program

Career Program

WCN’s Career Program enables conservationists who are saving wildlife in their home countries to thrive in their careers. Focused primarily on those who are early or mid-career, we offer multi-year financial support, tailored access to training opportunities, facilitated peer learning, and mentorship to give talented conservationists the tools to succeed.

SUPPORT CAREERS

Learn More

Aristide-Kamla_scholar

Scholarship Program

Scholarship Program

WCN’s Scholarship Program is empowering a new generation of local conservationists to take charge of wildlife protection in their home countries. Offering both conservation and veterinary scholarships, WCN is safeguarding...

Find out more

Career Program

Career Program

WCN’s Career Program enables conservationists who are saving wildlife in their home countries to thrive in their careers. Focused primarily on those who are early or mid-career, we offer multi-year...

Find out more

Scholarship Program

WCN’s Scholarship Program is empowering a new generation of local conservationists to take charge of wildlife protection in their home countries. Offering both conservation and veterinary scholarships, WCN is safeguarding a more diverse range of wildlife while supporting those who are shaping conservation’s future.

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS

LEARN MORE

Career Program

WCN’s Career Program enables conservationists who are saving wildlife in their home countries to thrive in their careers. Focused primarily on those who are early or mid-career, we offer multi-year financial support, tailored access to training opportunities, facilitated peer learning, and mentorship to give talented conservationists the tools to succeed.

SUPPORT CAREERS

Learn More

Supporting Conservation Where It's Needed Most

If you want to support endangered wildlife and empower conservationists to succeed, WCN can ensure your donation goes where it is most needed. We are constantly evaluating where there are gaps in funding and where there are the highest needs for WCN, our Conservation Partners, and our Wildlife Funds.

Support Where Needed Most

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Photo Credits: Spectacled Bear Conservation, Eric Ash, Ken and Michelle Dyball, Julian Fennessy, Rachel Graham, Martin Harvey, Jillian Knox, Steve Mandel, Susan McConnell, Frank af Petersens, Juan Reppucci, Navinder Singh, Jack Swenson, Predrag Vuckovic, Jane W Wynyard, Unique Safari Eye, Sebastian Kennerknecht, Frans Lanting, Francois dElbee, Conservation Through Public Health
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When you designate your donation to a specific species, 100% of your donation will go directly to the field to support this species.

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