Georgia's Ethiopian Wolf Fund
Georgia Merrell
My Story
I'm fundraising for The Born Free Foundation because they are a key sponsor for the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP). Ethiopian wolves are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 500 remaining across their range. They are the world's rarest canid and Africa's most endangered carnivore. The main threats to their numbers include habitat loss, diseases, persecution, inbreeding and hybridisation.
I'm lucky enough to have lived in the beautiful Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia for a short time, where I saw the stunning Ethiopian wolf on multiple occasions. I watched them socialising in the snow, playing with pups, hunting endemic grass rats and mole rats, and I got the amazing opportunity to photograph them with wildlife photographers Latika Nath, Robin Biswas, and Michael Ortner.
The Ethiopian wolf is not just a beautiful endemic species, but also a guardian of an essential ecosystem. The afro-alpine habitats of Ethiopia are home to hundreds of species, many of which are endemic and/or threatened. They are also the source of many rivers that flow throughout Ethiopia and into neighbouring countries. If these habitats are not protected, not only will many species be lost, but rivers will carry less water, affecting all habitats, wildlife and people of the country.
There is a lot that must be done to save this incredible species, and the EWCP is doing a fantastic job of doing everything in their power to try to protect them and ensure their future. Examples of their work include implementing disease interventions, local and governmental awareness campaigns, monitoring and research, and employing and training EWCP staff responsible for safeguarding the wolves.
This is my first time fundraising (as well as my first half marathon - having only raced 5km previously!), and I would love to be able to say that I've managed to raise some money for a cause that means so much to me. So if you can afford to donate (no matter how small), it would mean a lot! Also to note, Born Free have informed me that funds raised will go into the EWCP "pot" rather than their general donation collection :)
"It is easy for us to lose our connection with the natural world. Yet it's on this connection that the future of both humanity and the natural world will depend on. It's surely our responsibility to do everything in our power to create a planet that is home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." - Sir David Attenborough.
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Target
£550
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Raised so far
£565
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Number of donors
32
My Story
I'm fundraising for The Born Free Foundation because they are a key sponsor for the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP). Ethiopian wolves are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 500 remaining across their range. They are the world's rarest canid and Africa's most endangered carnivore. The main threats to their numbers include habitat loss, diseases, persecution, inbreeding and hybridisation.
I'm lucky enough to have lived in the beautiful Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia for a short time, where I saw the stunning Ethiopian wolf on multiple occasions. I watched them socialising in the snow, playing with pups, hunting endemic grass rats and mole rats, and I got the amazing opportunity to photograph them with wildlife photographers Latika Nath, Robin Biswas, and Michael Ortner.
The Ethiopian wolf is not just a beautiful endemic species, but also a guardian of an essential ecosystem. The afro-alpine habitats of Ethiopia are home to hundreds of species, many of which are endemic and/or threatened. They are also the source of many rivers that flow throughout Ethiopia and into neighbouring countries. If these habitats are not protected, not only will many species be lost, but rivers will carry less water, affecting all habitats, wildlife and people of the country.
There is a lot that must be done to save this incredible species, and the EWCP is doing a fantastic job of doing everything in their power to try to protect them and ensure their future. Examples of their work include implementing disease interventions, local and governmental awareness campaigns, monitoring and research, and employing and training EWCP staff responsible for safeguarding the wolves.
This is my first time fundraising (as well as my first half marathon - having only raced 5km previously!), and I would love to be able to say that I've managed to raise some money for a cause that means so much to me. So if you can afford to donate (no matter how small), it would mean a lot! Also to note, Born Free have informed me that funds raised will go into the EWCP "pot" rather than their general donation collection :)
"It is easy for us to lose our connection with the natural world. Yet it's on this connection that the future of both humanity and the natural world will depend on. It's surely our responsibility to do everything in our power to create a planet that is home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." - Sir David Attenborough.
