Tusk Trust is a brilliant charity that works to protect wildlife in projects across Africa by supporting local communities and education projects.  It supports many projects that are helping to conserve a large variety of iconic species such as elephants, rhinos, lion  - all of which are on the verge of extinction due to the current poaching crisis. 

I am running for Tusk Trust to raise funds specifically to help one of their best-known projects – the conservation of the beautiful but highly endangered African painted dog through the work of Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Zimbabwe. Painted dogs are unique to Africa; they are not only one of the continent’s most endangered species, but the world's most effective pack hunters.  At the turn of the twentieth century an estimated 500,000 painted dogs were found throughout the continent.  Today, mainly through human persecution, their numbers hover at 3,000 individuals and Zimbabwe is one of their last strongholds.

I visited the project in 2006 and was lucky enough to see the way that PDC works with local communities and encourages them to assist in the conservation of painted dogs by giving support for local education, health and welfare initiatives. I was fortunate enough to witness first hand anti poaching patrols, the collection of snare wire from the bush to stop the slaughter of wildlife, which was in turn given to the PDC’s art centre for local artists who create stunning wildlife sculptures from these instruments of death.  I spent time with local children who had the opportunity through the charity to experience the African bush through the charity’s bush camp. Finally I was lucky enough to see these unique, beautiful animals. Please give generously to help me to save them.