Episode 27: Conserv Congo

Wild For Change

Founded in 2013, Conserv Congo is a non-profit conservation whose mission is to maintain the biodiversity of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Congo Basin is a vast tropical rainforest and a biodiversity hot spot which is home to 100’s of mammal species.

Conserv Congo puts itself on the frontlines to save and protect endangered species from poachers and wildlife traffickers, fighting the good fight every day trying to prevent extinction of wildlife. To date, Conserv Congo has over 5,140 successful cases of wildlife trafficking.

Part of Conserv Congo’s work includes;

• Investigating wildlife trafficking networks
• Collaborating with authorities on arresting wildlife traffickers
• Rescuing wildlife such as apes in the region and finding sanctuary placement for the wildlife
• Rehabilitating injured wildlife in their natural habitat
• Supporting subsistence farming to ensure food security in regions where poaching of wildlife occurs due to hunger
• Education in the communities about the importance of conservation

Prior to creating Conserv Congo, Adams was an investigative journalist turned wildlife crimes investigator.

In 2020, Adams was awarded the National Geographic Emerging Explorer Award. This award goes to trailblazers making extraordinary contributions in the world and in Adams’ case to conservation.

I met Adams in 2019 at a rally in Washington D.C. to help stop baby elephants being taken from their herd in Zimbabwe to live in a zoo in China. Adams gave an inspirational speech about elephants in the wild and how their presence is so important for the ecosystem and the whole world. Wherever Adams goes, he is always making an impact for the wildlife.

In this podcast with Conserv Congo we learn:

• How Conserv Congo became the first organization in civil society in the DRC committed to fighting wildlife trafficking.
• Why the Congo Basin is an important biodiversity hotspot not only for the wildlife but also for the entire planet.
• The cultural history of the DRC and its belief of interconnection and interdependence with nature and how this is important for us to understand today.
• How Adams Cassinga became a wildlife criminal investigator.
• How Conserv Congo helped prosecute the first wildlife trafficking case in 2017.
• Conserv Congo’s goal for 2023 to continue helping protect and preserve the wildlife.
• How we can help support Conserv Congo.

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