Overseas Conservation Work

Overseas Conservation Projects

The flagship project for The Aspinall Foundation overseas remains the work that we do in Congo and Gabon, Africa where we are protecting and reintroducing the critically endangered western lowland gorilla. Building on what we have learnt from these projects The Aspinall Foundation is embarking on new protection projects in Indonesia and Madagascar.

The problem

The number of western lowland gorillas continues to decline at an alarming rate.
The population of black rhino has reduced from around 65,000 in 1960 to less than 3,000 today.
Species are becoming extinct 1,000 times faster than they did before humans appeared.
Around four species become extinct every hour.
Over 11,000 species are threatened with extinction, including 1 in 4 mammals.
Just two decades ago there were up to 2,000,000 African elephants. Now, numbers of the earths largest land mammal have plunged to around 350,000.

Part of the Solution

The Aspinall Foundation provides a safe environment that encourages rare species to breed in captivity, and supports the in-situ conservation of a number of critically endangered species, working closely with the respective countries governments and local communities to safeguard the future of these species.

In the Lefini Reserve, Congo the first birth from a reintroduced gorilla was celebrated in April 2004. Since then there have been a further 12 births at The Aspinall Foundation projects in Central Africa. They are the ‘births of hope' for the future of the western lowland gorilla, helping protect this species for future generations. We have also set up a wildlife law enforcement project in Congo in an effort to further improve conservation strategies in-country.

Their future is in all our hands...