Gondwana Conservation Trust
Gondwana Conservation Trust
Mission Statement
To preserve, enrich and rehabilitate the biodiversity and natural resources including water, wetlands, indigenous vegetation, Fauna and unique historic and scenic sites on Gondwana Game
Reserve.
The GCT endeavors to contribute to the Western Cape´s Conservation efforts through greater coordination and cooperation among nature and game reserve properties.
This is to be achieved through public awareness, education, and scientific study.
Current Projects
Leopard Program
It has been recognized that there is a significant importance to improve the current lack of understanding of the conservation status of leopard. A highly specialized behavior and social
structure make it difficult to undertake any sort of detailed research study. Gondwana Game Reserve´s attractive leopard habitat together with access to remote senses cameras makes this study
possible. Gondwana will provide a wonderful opportunity to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the conservation status and the needs of leopard in Fynbos areas close to the Langeberg
and Outeniqua mountains.
Gondwana would like to acknowledge home owners Barry Potier for his significant pledge towards this project as well as Neil Cox´s contributions to the stealth cameras, both of which
enabled the project to have a far broader scope in terms of the coverage of our observation area.
Cheetah Reintroduction
Cheetah are listed as a threatened species and are put under continuous pressure through agriculture and human disturbance throughout Africa particularly in Southern Africa. Few areas in
South Africa remain to support wild populations and even fewer exist which can support genetically viable populations. Gondwana Game Reserve has the geology, fauna and flora to partake in a
sustainable breeding program that can actively contribute to the conservation of this species. Gondwana offers the personnel to undertake the predetermined methodology to successfully introduce
cheetah onto the property. A Gondwana cheetah population will create the opportunity to participate in a much-needed genetic diversity program in the Western Cape and in turn contribute to the
meta-population of South Africa.
Cape Vulture Reintroduction
For the last 150 years Cape Vultures have slowly been eradicated from most of their natural distribution, not just in the Western Cape but in the whole of Southern Africa. This was mainly
done by ill informed land owners who poisoned them. Gondwana wants to reintroduce the only vulture that existed in the Southern Cape in a 3-year project to help them nest on Gondwana´s
beautiful cliff ledges in some of the more remote areas of the reserve. It will be a big step for conservation in our area and hopefully help these majestic birds once again become the kings
of the African sky.
Black Rhino Conservation
We see the Black Rhino as a signature species not only for Gondwana Game Reserve but for the Western Cape as a whole. Black Rhino are endangered due to a variety of reasons and have not
recovered in numbers equivalent to that of white Rhino. They require specific habitat for their highly specialized diet. Gondwana and its surrounding area provide suitable habitat for this
species, thus offering opportunities to contribute to the conservation of this species. The challenges that lie ahead are securing the available land to increase the appropriate habitat
within Gondwana´s boundaries and sourcing a viable Black Rhino population to add to the current individuals on Gondwana. The GCT has committed to engage with interested parties to contribute
to Black Rhino conservation and provide a meaningful population within South Africa´s meta-population.
How you can get involved
Please contact Albert on wildlife@gondwanagr.co.za if you would like to learn more about any of our
existing projects and how you can get involved and contribute to our conservation efforts. Please let us know if you have additional conservation passions or ideas you would like to
discuss with the wildlife team for Gondwana.
We are currently registering the Gondwana Conservation Trust as a charity so all contributions will be tax deductable.
