Dear Jack,

2024 at Survival International is off to a flying start – all thanks to your help.

In January, our campaign to stop the abuse of Indigenous Baka people in the Congo by rangers working for conservation organization African Parks scored a major success: our collaboration with a renowned investigative journalist resulted in a front-page report in a major UK newspaper, which in turn triggered a flood of media coverage around the world.

And a few weeks later, a joint call by some of the world's leading genocide experts for the Indian government to scrap a disastrous "mega-development" plan – that would destroy the uncontacted Shompen people on Great Nicobar Island – made waves in India.

Here’s a deep dive into how your actions and donations helped Indigenous peoples around the world:

A leather boycott in support of uncontacted Ayoreo

Pasubio, one of Europe’s leading leather manufacturers, has announced that it won’t buy leather from cattle ranches operating inside the territory of uncontacted Ayoreo people in Paraguay. The announcement followed talks between Pasubio and Survival.

Survival is thankful to have supporters like you stand alongside the Ayoreo and other Indigenous people. Over 22,000 of you sent emails urging Paraguayan officials to properly protect Ayoreo territory. Your efforts can create lasting change.

Maasai win political backing in the EU

The Maasai in Tanzania have long faced persecution from the government and conservation organizations who are evicting them from their land for tourism.

In December, we lobbied the European Parliament to adopt a resolution on the human rights abuses against the Maasai. We won – with 493 MEPs in favor and only 29 against! This resolution urges the Tanzanian Government to immediately stop Maasai evictions. It shines a spotlight on the Maasai’s fight for their rights, making it harder for the government to continue its relentless abuses.

The same kind of pressure from Survival – from you – also pushed the German government to partially freeze funding for a conservation project in the “Serengeti Ecosystem” in Tanzania, which is being used to justify Maasai “relocations.” These steps forward give vital hope to the Maasai, strengthening their resolve in the face of a brutal crackdown on their peaceful resistance.

Lobbying such powerful institutions, governments, corporations, and conservation NGOs is only possible with your support. Thank you for standing with Indigenous peoples.

Simonas Bartulis
Survival International