Even during the first half of the 20th Century, the African Continent has always been portrayed a teeming with Wildlife. Sadly though, at the start of the 21st Century, it is admitted universally that this is no longer true. Leading mammals like the Rhino and Elephants are facing extinction, and are already classified as “Endangered Species” in Africa. These charities for African wildlife seem to be the ray of hope at last, not just for their own achievements, but even more from the Public Awareness Drives they have created.

Identifying The Best Charities

Wildlife cannot speak for themselves. Our actions must speak louder than words, and it is by their results that the best Charities For African Wildlife must be judged.

Some of the very best Wildlife Charities are listed below:

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) : On a mission to conserve nature, WWF is probably the most well-known Wildlife Charity in the whole world. As they put it, the best way to preserve nature is by protecting Bio-diversity. A number of the most endangered animals are supported by WWF, among them African Wildlife under threat of extinction, such as elephants and rhinos.
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) : this is a powerful network of governmental and civil society organizations . Their goal is to provide support to grassroots private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge to protect wildlife while at the same time assuring human progress. With over 1200 distinguished and handpicked members worldwide, IUCN works in 160 countries , not only spreading awareness but also researching the present status of forests and wildlife in relation to the human population. African Wildlife forms an important part of their research and thrust area, with the Charities based in Africa receiving special attention.
• Jane Goodall Foundation : Animal lover and Scientist Jane Goodall’s pioneering 1960 venture into the dense forests of Africa to study animals undisturbed by man led to this Foundation, with particular thrust on Dr. Goodall’s illuminating study of Chimpanzees up close and by themselves. This led to research on animal society that is continuing to this day, with the African Chimpanzee’s still the thrust area.
• David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust : in this extraordinary effort to successfully save orphaned elephants in Africa, Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick and her Team created the ground-rules of rescuing, handrearing and rehabilitating orphaned or abandoned animals worldwide. Founded in 1977 in memory of her late husband and famous husband David Sheldrick, this Trust also focuses on anti-poaching and conservation. Not just orphaned young elephants, but baby rhinos have also been added by the Trust, with great success. Over 150 baby elephants have been till date reared and reintegrated successfully with the Wild.
• Save the Elephants : approximately 30,000 elephants are still slaughtered every year to satisfy Man’s insatiable greed for ivory. Elephants may now disappear within this generation. To provide urgent action to save this wonderful and historic animal from total extinction is the crusade of this organization. Tirelessly working to conduct intrinsic research on animal behavior as well as poacher activity, this Charity provides the inner knowledge to governments both African and outside Africa to provide active support to their desperate mission to save the African Elephant.
• International Rhino Foundation: saving the Rhino from total extinction is becoming more difficult by the day, and policing , while necessary, is not enough. Poachers belong to the community, and it is with the community that the movement to protect this most unusual animal must begin. The Foundation has targeted attention to the communities that sustain the poachers, to educate and encourage the members of these communities at grassroots level, as well as general society, to strongly oppose the slaughter of Rhinos, and other endangered species in Africa.
• FOUR PAWS International : Offering stiff resistance to illegal trade in the young and defenseless of the Wild Animal community, FOUR PAWS gives special attention to the rescue and protection of big cats in distress. They publically campaign against the huge suffering caused to Wildlife by the unethical practices of a few and the callous indifference of the many. Their big cat sanctuary Lionsrock is an example to the world in taking care of Big Cats in Africa.