Four members of the Nature’s SAFE team are set to embark on an expedition to Kenya and Tanzania with the primary goal of forging new professional connections to help local conservation organisations preserve genetic material from native endangered species. They will also be taking on a challenging climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds to support this development. All funds raised from this ambitious endeavour will support Nature’s SAFE in realising this vital mission of protecting native African wildlife.
The Mission
Nature’s SAFE is dedicated to saving animals from extinction by collecting, indefinitely storing, and regenerating reproductive cells and cell lines from endangered species. Since its founding in 2020, the charity has successfully preserved samples from over 250 species at its UK facilities, and now it aims to extend this critical work to conservation hubs worldwide to protect native species within their home countries, with the hope of starting in Kenya subject to approval from the Kenyan authorities.
Why start in Kenya?
Kenya is home to some of the most threatened wildlife on the planet, including the last two Northern white rhinos, protected by the Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, and the Critically Endangered mountain bongo. By providing their support and expertise, Nature’s SAFE hopes to enhance local capacity and conservation efforts to preserve these iconic species through the application of advanced cryopreservation techniques.
Impact
The trip to Kenya will facilitate the establishment of new professional connections with the Kenyan wildlife authorities, local conservation organisations and scientists, along with strengthening existing relationships, to collaboratively develop new biobanking hubs.
The establishment of global biobanking hubs will:
‘Cryoconservation’ in action
Nature’s SAFE employs state-of-the-art cryopreservation techniques to safeguard the genetic material of endangered species, a practice called cryoconservation. These techniques are recognised by scientists internationally for their potential in wildlife conservation. By banking live cells and tissues, Nature’s SAFE ensures that even if species become extinct in the wild, their genetic information is preserved for future restoration.
Our sponsors
We have received generous support for this next step from our corporate sponsors AC Jackson, testhim, BOVA UK, Care Fertility, Waterhouse Feeds and Duggan Vet Group. By supporting this initiative, these companies are demonstrating their commitment to creating a better world for future generations through collaboration.
The Climb for Conservation
As part of this trip, four Nature’s SAFE team members will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise funds. The team includes Nature’s SAFE Ambassador, Verity Smith, a blind dressage rider and passionate advocate for wildlife conservation.
Meet the Team
“Nature’s SAFE recognises the vital importance of establishing one of the first living biobank hubs in Africa, a region renowned for its rich and diverse wildlife. Through our advanced cryopreservation technology, we can contribute to saving endangered species and support essential conservation efforts.”
– Tullis Matson, Nature’s SAFE Chair
Sponsor the climb
You can support us in this next step by sponsoring the climb. Each of the team members have personally funded their expedition costs, so all monetary support will go directly to Nature’s SAFE, helping us secure a future for endangered species worldwide through science and collaboration.
You can sponsor the expedition team members on their climb at JustGiving:
Verity & Zoé: https://bit.ly/VeritySmithandZoeAlles
Tullis: https://bit.ly/TullisMountKilimanjaro
Tony: https://bit.ly/TonyMountKilimanjaro
Follow the team’s progress on social media
Stay updated with Nature’s SAFE’s journey in Kenya and Tanzania on social media by following #naturessafeafrica on:
Don’t miss
Living Biobank Charity, Nature’s SAFE, will be saving rare UK wildlife thanks to Postcode Local Trust.
We are collaborating with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park to investigate whether a rare butterfly, the British Swallowtail, could be reared from frozen eggs in an effort to safeguard the future of the species.
We would like to share that although we were not selected to progress further for this year's prize, we are honoured to have been nominated. The fact that our initiative has been recognised as a contributor to positive global change is something to be very proud of.
Macaroni Penguin
Total Population: Around 12 million
Hyacinth macaw
Total Population: Around 6,500 in the wild
Spix’s night monkey
Total Population: Unknown
Sumatran laughing thrush
Total Population: 2,500 - 10,000 in the wild
Asian short-clawed otter
Total Population: Unknown
Clouded Leopard
Total Population: Less than 10,000 in the wild
Nile Lechwe
Total Population: 30,000 - 40,000 in the wild
Parma Wallaby
Total Population: 1,000 - 10,000 in the wild
Bush dog
Total Population: Unknown
Mandanao bleeding-heart dove
Total Population: Less than 2,500 in the wild
Fea’s tree frog
Total Population: Unknown
Black Hornbill
Total Population: Unknown
Bar-headed goose
Total Population: 97,000 - 118,000 in the wild
Arctic wolf
Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild
Sloth bear
Total Population: Less than 20,000 in the wild
Red-footed tortoise
Total Population: Unknown
Capybara
Total Population: Unknown
Little egret
Total Population: 660,000 to 3,150,000 in the wild
Azara’s agouti
Total Population: Unknown
