Conservation Welfare Fund

The Conservation Welfare Fund has has contributed nearly £200,000 since it was created in 2006. It has supported over 40 conservation and welfare projects from many different countries around the world. Details of just a few of these projects can be seen below:

Support for Elephant Care International (ECI) to carry out Elephant TBN Screening

Asian Elephants are under threat from many angles including habitat destruction and hunting. However, a new threat was identified by ECI. The danger of TB transmitted from humans.

TB can be a fatal illness in elephants. It is currently mainly found in captive animals in their range countries. However, it could easily pass from captive to wild elephants that interact. If this happened it would be a disaster for the wild populations. Support allowed ECI to begin screening and treatment of captive elephants to prevent the spread of this fatal disease into the wild population.

Support for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to conservation a water vole population

Water Voles are a nationally declining native species in the UK. In Warwickshire they are now only found in two areas and maintenance work was urgently needed to ensure the Warwickshire populations were not lost. Support was provided to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to carry out habitat preservation and restoration work.

Support for Wildlife Vets International for Amur leopards in the Russian Far East

The Amur leopard is the rarest felid in world with wild number at only 35 (April 2007). These magnificent cats suffer from poaching, the pressures of habitat destruction and lack of prey due to over hunting. They are at real risk from extinction in the wild and zoos across the world are trying to contribute to their conservation.

Wildlife Vets International are experts in exotic animal veterinary care and so are well placed to play a vital role in this very important project. They are currently working in the Russian Far East to try and establish a reintroduction programme. If this succeeds the offspring of Amur Leopards currently in captivity will be released in the wild. This will be the first big cat reintroduction programme to use captive bred individuals to build the wild population.

Support for Jeune Animaux Confisques au Katanga (J.A.C.K)
to increase chimpanzee welfare.

Chimpanzees are endangered, suffering from habitat destruction as the tropical forest they live in is converted to agricultural land, housing, or just cut down for profit. They were once far more widespread and are now only found in central and small areas of western Africa.

As humans move through the forests, chimps are often captured and sold for meat, or into the pet trade. J.A.C.K works with local authorities to confiscate these illegal pets and gives them a new home in a sanctuary. Unfortunately room is limited so this project provided them with new enclosures to keep the rescued babies safe.








Notice for Potential Applicants to the Conservation Welfare Fund

The small grants programme of the Conservation Welfare Fund has reached its maximum for 2010. For applicants wishing to apply the next deadline will be in June 2011, an exact date will be posted as soon as it is available. For more information please contact us at conservation@twycrosszoo.org