Elephant & Wildlife Rescue Unit

Project overview

Our Elephant and Wildlife Rescue Unit is dedicated to saving injured elephants and other wildlife in Uganda’s national parks, providing urgent veterinary care to animals harmed by poaching snares and other threats.

Snares are traps used by poachers to kill animals in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. While poachers are targeting smaller animals like antelope and warthog, snares are indiscriminate and can injure or kill a variety of animals, including lions, giraffes, and elephants.

Working alongside our partners at the Uganda Conservation Foundation to combat poaching and strengthen wildlife protection, the Elephant and Wildlife Rescue Unit ensures rapid response and expert care for injured animals. Treated elephants are equipped with GPS tracking collars, enabling rangers to monitor their recovery while collecting vital data on elephant movements within the parks.


Our partners

Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa collaborates with the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) to support the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in their ongoing conservation efforts.  


Why focus on elephants?

As a keystone species, elephants play a critical role in shaping ecosystems by maintaining biodiversity and fostering habitat growth. However, their population faces severe threats. Currently, African elephants are listed as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), highlighting the urgency of their plight. This status reflects the severe challenges they face:

  • Habitat Loss: Expanding human activity has significantly reduced their natural habitats.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict: Encounters with local communities often lead to retaliatory harm when elephants search for food in farmlands.
  • Poaching and Illegal Trade: The demand for ivory remains a major threat, driving illegal poaching and decimating populations.

Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa is committed to addressing these challenges through targeted conservation efforts. By focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term protection, we aim to ensure a future where elephants continue to thrive as vital pillars of our ecosystems.


Project goals:

  • Rapid Response: Respond as quickly as possible to elephants, or other wildlife in distress minimizing risks and providing critical care when it’s needed most.
  • Treat and Rehabilitate: Employ the best veterinary protocols to treat injured elephants and other wildlife, ensuring their safe recovery and release back into the wild.
  • Monitor and Track: Monitor animals post-treatment, tracking their recovery and movements with a focus on their overall well-being and reintegration into their natural habitats.


An integrated approach:

While our Elephant and Wildlife Rescue Unit project focuses on rescuing elephants and other animals to give them the best chance at recovery, we take an integrated approach to conservation. This includes other vital initiatives such as Wildlife Protection through community empowerment opportunities to help recover wildlife populations – with a focus on lions, hippos and elephants.

Our vision is to protect and restore Uganda’s wildlife while building stronger connections between conservation and communities. Through innovative wildlife rescue efforts, targeted anti-poaching measures, and long-term recovery programs, the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa aims to ensure the survival of species like elephants, lions, hippos and other wildlife in Murchison Falls and other National Parks in Uganda.

Our projects are grounded in practical solutions—empowering local communities, enhancing veterinary capacity, and deploying advanced monitoring technology. By combining on-the-ground action with collaboration from trusted partners, we are committed to creating a tangible, lasting impact for both wildlife and communities.