Lilongwe Wildlife Trust

Kate Moore & Jonny Vaughan - Directors

Usiku the rescued hyena

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and has one of the fastest growing populations in Africa. This places immense pressure on its natural resources. Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) is dedicated to protecting Malawi’s wildlife and its habitats and their work tackles illegal trade in ivory, bush-meat, charcoal and exotic animals for 'pets'. It also addresses animal welfare by providing emergency wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and care. In addition to this, LWT has an extensive education outreach programme changing the mindset of future generations. All of this has a positive impact on wild animal welfare and species conservation, not only in Malawi, but the rest of Africa.

What Lilongwe Wildlife Trust does

Operate a wildlife emergency rescue unit - WERU (see below)

Provide wildlife rehabilitation and care with applied research at their Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC) in Malawi

Place wildlife crime on the national agenda and assist with bringing wildlife criminals to justice through advocacy and enforcement

Conservation education

Due to the mounting reports of wildlife injured by poachers in 2014, LWT, alongside the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW), set up the Wildlife Emergency Response Unit (WERU) to provide in field veterinary-related support for wildlife emergencies and conservation projects across the entire country.

WERU aims to

Treat injured wildlife

Relocate animals in conflict with communities

Provide veterinary support to projects that monitor and protect wildlife at risk

How Olsen Animal Trust helps

Co-sponsor the Wildlife Emergency Rescue Unit (WERU) alongside the Born Free Foundation

Support LWT's investigative wildlife crime work

Provide event support and sponsorship

Sponsored lifetime care for resident rescued lioness, Bella (sadly deceased 2018)

Funded upgrades to the rescued lion enclosure and bird aviaries

Contribute to the rehabilitation and care of Usiku, orphaned hyena cub

Project Images - hover over for details

Usiku the hyena cub

LWT relocated a clan of urban Hyenas from Malawi’s capital, to Liwonde. During the quarantine period at LWT's rescue centre, Usiku's mum gave birth and then sadly abandoned him. He was hand-reared for the first year and then an attempt was made to re-wild him. Sadly this was unsuccessful and plans are currently afoot to relocate him to another OAT supported project in Zimbabwe where he will have lifetime care with another unreleasable Hyena.

Health check for Usiku

The skilled veterinary team at the Lillongwe Wildlife Centre conducting a health check on Usiku. It is very important that each animal under their care in disease and pain free and they work around the clock to ensure the highest possible sanctuary standards.

Simba

Simba was rescued having spent nine years in a French circus. In Sept 2012 the Born Free rescue team relocated him to his forever home at LWC. Sue was privileged to have participated in the rescue mission. Simba lived happily at the centre in a large enclosure, upgraded by OAT, along with Bella the lioness, rescued from a Romanian zoo some six years prior. Sadly old age and medical issues led to both Bella and Simba being laid to rest in early 2018.

Bella

Bella is a lioness recued from a Romanian zoo in 2006. Sadly she lost the sight in one of her eyes and had limited use of her back legs as a result of malnutrition as a result of a poor diet at the zoo. Thankfully she shared several happy years with her companion Simba at LWC before passing away peacefully in early 2018. OAT provided funding for her life-time care.

Upgrades to the aviaries

LWC receives many injured and orphaned birds and OAT are proud to have enabled them to improve and enlarge the aviaries at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC).

WERU

WERU -LWT's Wildlife Emergency Response Unit on a successful de-snaring operation of a baby elephant. Snaring is a serious issue in Malawi and in one national park alone, 3,500 snares were removed over a period of just three months.

Wildlife Campaigns

LWT are significant partners in Malawi's Stop Wildlife Crime campaign. The collaboration between government, local, and international NGO’s is paying off and placing wildlife on the agenda. This in turn is inspiring national pride in Malawi's wildlife, disrupting criminal networks, offering a lifeline to the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Featured here, Jonny Vaughn, CEO of LWT.

Mission Possible Malawi

We were proud to support & sponsor LWT’s “Mission Possible Malawi” event in Feb 2017 at Ham Yard in London. Renowned conservationists discussed Malawi’s link in the global wildlife crime trade and the steps being taken towards a brighter future for wildlife. Visit our events page for more info.

Upgrades to the enclosures

OAT funded the provision of additional facilities for the lion enclosure which housed lions Simba and Bella who were rescued from a european circus and zoo. Sadly both lions have now passed away but at least they spent their last years being treated with loving care and respect.

For further information on the work of LWT please visit www.lilongwewildlife.org