Dear John,

Conservation starts with people, and we are so fortunate to have leading conservationists as part of our Alliance who are on the front lines, protecting wildlife and securing a future for us all. I am incredibly honored to share with you that minutes ago, Dr. Ekwoge Abwe, co-leader of our African Forest Conservation Hub, was recognized at the 11th annual Tusk Conservation Awards and selected as the recipient of the highest honor of the night—the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa.

For over a decade, the Tusk Conservation Awards have honored the heroes of wildlife conservation across Africa. Presented personally by His Royal Highness Prince William, the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa celebrates the lifetime achievements of those who have served as advocates for the wildlife and ecosystems of Africa. Ekwoge is widely recognized and respected as one of West and Central Africa’s preeminent conservation leaders, and his work has transformed the future of conservation.

As a proud Cameroonian, Ekwoge has forged alliances among more than 40 traditional chiefs across the Ebo landscape who experienced significant civil strife during Cameroon’s path for independence. Together, Ekwoge and the chiefs worked to establish the Ebo Traditional Chiefs’ Association, which meets to discuss the latest scientific discoveries from their local forest ecosystem and to brainstorm sustainable development and conservation strategies. Building on the success Ekwoge forged with the local chiefs, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helped support the establishment of Clubs des Amis des Gorilles, or Gorilla Guardian Clubs, in two villages close to the Ebo gorillas in 2012. The goal of the Gorilla Guardian Clubs is to protect the Ebo gorillas and their habitats, using the power of community support to pave the way for groundbreaking conservation efforts.

Ekwoge’s research has expanded our understanding of the unique wildlife in the Ebo forest—found nowhere else on Earth—including gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants. He was the first to witness Ebo chimpanzees using stone and wooden hammers to crack open tree nuts in Cameroon—a new behavioral discovery for the endangered Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee—and his primate behavioral research in Ebo has proven groundbreaking for their species’ conservation. He has also contributed significantly to the conservation of African forest elephants, pioneering the use of field cameras to gain insights into their conservation needs.

The support we receive from you, and millions of other allies for wildlife worldwide, fuels critical conservation work around the globe. Your support makes our work across the African Forest Conservation Hub possible. Please join us in celebrating Ekwoge, and the immense impact we’re making together for wildlife, people, and the planet we all share.

Together for wildlife,

Paul A. Baribault
President and Chief Executive Officer
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance