The Tusk Trust
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| The Tusk Trust | |
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| Name | The Tusk Trust |
| Type | Charity / Non-profit |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Charles Mayhew |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Area served | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Focus | Wildlife conservation, anti-poaching, community development |
The Tusk Trust is a UK-registered conservation charity formed in 1990 to support wildlife protection and community-led conservation across Africa. It funds anti-poaching units, habitat protection, research, and community development initiatives, working with a network of African partners, international institutions, and philanthropic supporters. The organisation is known for high-profile fundraising through events and celebrity patrons, and for partnerships with governments, NGOs, and academic bodies.
History
Tusk was founded in 1990 by Charles Mayhew amid growing international concern following high-profile poaching crises such as the decline of African elephant populations and the international reactions exemplified by actions like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Early supporters included figures linked to institutions such as the Royal Geographic Society and events associated with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and other royal patrons. Over time, Tusk expanded collaborations to include conservation organisations like Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and African Wildlife Foundation, while developing links with research centres such as the Zoological Society of London and universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University College London.
Mission and Objectives
Tusk's stated mission aligns with international conservation frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity and seeks to address wildlife crime, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict across landscapes from the Serengeti to the Okavango Delta. Objectives include strengthening anti-poaching capacity in locations such as Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and South Africa, supporting species recovery programs for taxa including African elephant, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, and African lion, and promoting community livelihoods through initiatives linked to organisations such as UNICEF and United Nations Development Programme in overlapping regions.
Programs and Conservation Work
Tusk funds anti-poaching units, community conservancies, and habitat restoration projects in ecosystems like the Masai Mara, Kruger National Park, and Gorongosa National Park. It supports patrols using technologies promoted by partners including Microsoft and Google for monitoring, and collaborates with agencies such as Interpol and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on wildlife crime intelligence. Tusk-backed projects often interface with initiatives such as the African Parks Network, Big Life Foundation, and Peace Parks Foundation, and engage local management exemplars like the Laikipia ranching conservancies and the Conservancy Association of Namibia.
Research and Partnerships
Tusk sponsors applied research on population dynamics, genetics, and telemetry with institutions like the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, the Edward Grey Institute, and laboratories at University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. Collaborative projects have produced work alongside researchers affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the Max Planck Society, and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Partnerships with wildlife veterinary groups such as the Royal Veterinary College and conservation NGOs like Fauna & Flora International support disease surveillance and translocation protocols used in species recovery programs linked to mass-media outreach with partners like BBC Natural History Unit.
Fundraising and Campaigns
Tusk's fundraising portfolio includes high-profile galas, partnerships with luxury brands, and sporting events featuring patrons from circles associated with Royal Opera House supporters and celebrities who have worked with organisations such as Greenpeace or appeared with presenters from the BBC. Campaigns have leveraged auction houses like Christie's and corporate partners including fashion houses and technology firms to raise funds for projects across regions from East Africa to Southern Africa. Tusk's public campaigns have sometimes intersected with international policy discussions at forums involving delegations to United Nations Environment Programme meetings and panels including experts from the IUCN.
Governance and Funding
Governance comprises a board of trustees and executive leadership who liaise with institutional funders, private philanthropists, and grant-making bodies such as the Wellcome Trust, The Rockefeller Foundation, and corporate donors. Financial oversight follows UK charity regulations and reporting expectations from bodies like the Charity Commission for England and Wales and auditing standards referencing firms that serve non-profits in London and Johannesburg. Tusk channels grants to partner organisations including community conservancies, research institutes, and anti-poaching teams operating under national wildlife authorities like the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Tanzania National Parks Authority.
Criticism and Controversies
Tusk has faced scrutiny typical of conservation NGOs regarding transparency, donor influence, and the balance between tourism-oriented conservation and community rights; similar debates have featured in critiques of organisations like African Parks and discussions at academic venues such as Durban ICC conferences. Controversies in the sector have included disputes over land use in areas adjacent to parks such as Hwange National Park and policy debates around trophy hunting in jurisdictions like Namibia and Zimbabwe, which have at times involved stakeholders funded by international charities. Independent commentators in outlets linked to journalists who have worked with The Guardian and The New York Times have questioned the efficacy of some interventions, prompting calls for greater monitoring consistent with standards advocated by Conservation Measures Partnership and other evaluative bodies.
Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Wildlife conservation organizations