Why Species?
There is a revolving door between the illegal wildlife trade and human trafficking and political instability. Two of the defining insights from COVID-19 is that the illegal wildlife trade effects human health and economies, and that species-based anti-poaching strategies and frameworks are critical.
We work to bring back the species teetering on the brink of extinction
Human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade are decimating wildlife populations. There has been a 5000% increase in rhino poaching between 2012-2018, 35,000 elephants are killed every year, there are only 2500 Bengal tigers in the wild, and 1000 park rangers lost their lives over the past 10 years.
Conservation Beyond Borders focuses on preserving the most endangered species. By providing the research and framework for informed decisions, CBB achieves two goals: (1) We help in the fight to bring the world’s most critically endangered species back from the brink of extinction, and (2) we provide sound scientific evidence for designing conservation-based initiatives that can help resolve local human-wildlife conflicts. Our approach considers all stakeholders’ objectives and balances them with biodiversity and wildlife conservation requirements. By focusing on the charismatic and representative umbrella species, CBB’s work promotes habitat conservation on a larger scale and with replicable programs that support all species.
CBB provides scientifically sound transborder conservation solutions. We identify and optimize incentive schemes designed to foster conservation-based behaviors. These include wildlife management in isolated habitats and aggressively targeting the global poaching crisis. Our impact transcends spatial and conceptual space, ultimately guiding local, regional, national and international decision making regarding biodiversity and habitat.
RHINOCEROS
We utilizes utility functions, Bayesian statistics, and judgment theorems to promote anti-poaching efforts. These include the identification of the relative importance of variables at play. Conservation efforts should be cohesive and focus on rhino population conservation (i.e., translocation and breeding programs), in addition to addressing the poachers (i.e., alternative livelihoods, education programs, ranger training), and addressing the supply-and-demand chain (i.e., sharing data with international enforcement bodies, addressing consumer education across China, Hongkong, and Vietnam.
We are focused on bringing the rhino back from the brink of extinction. In 2007, 7 rhinos were poached in South Africa. That number rose to 83 rhinos in 2008. In 2015, it was 4 rhinos A DAY, and evidence indicates that 3 rhinos were killed per day last year in South Africa alone. With less than 4500 Black rhinos, 10,000 White rhinos, and 3300 Greater one-horned rhinoceros left in the wild, Conservation Beyond Borders is urgently committed to ending rhino poaching.
Lion
Lion-human conflict is primarily induced by human growth and expansion. Nimmi explores this relationship and the implications of various conservation strategies on lion populations along the periphery of the famous Kruger National Park
We quantify trade offs in order to understand and resolve human-lion conflict occurring within rural villages adjunct to the Kruger National Park. Data suggests that because of shrinking tiger populations and increased anti tiger poaching enforcement, tiger bones are being replaced with lion bones to meet market demands. Conservation Beyond Borders is collecting data regarding smuggling routes and various methods by which such lion skeletons are being obtained.
Tiger
250 million people share their habitat with the tigers in India’s forests including in the core and buffer zones of Tadoba National Park. Conservation Beyond Borders utilizes Bayesian theorem, micro financing, and Game Theory to quantify various wildlife-conflict parameters to assess feasible solutions. Our objectives are twofold: First, to present a realistic snapshot of the impact of the illegal wildlife trade and human-wildlife trade and, second, to understand the geographic corridors connecting tiger territories that are vital for the genetic diversity needed for population health and viability.
GIRAFFE
Five sub-species of giraffe have been identified. Conservation beyond borders is part of a force that aims to conserve all of these. this entails translocation and the establishment of suitable breeding habitats in Namibia, South Africa, Ugand.
CHEETAHS
Cheetahs across Botswana are threatened by human-wildlife conflict where farm owners view them as a nuisance because they often prey on livestock. Conservation Beyond Borders analyzes the effectiveness of using dogs in human/wildlife conflict-resolution strategy. Dogs are raised with and bond with livestock and are trained to bark when cheetahs approach.
WILDEBEEST
Black Wildebeest currently overlap in their habitat with Blue wildebeest. due to short evolutionary time scale, reproductive barriers have not yet formed and as such, they are able to reproduce and produce fertile offspring. their ecological overlap is driven by (and account for 20% of) wildlife translocation across South Africa. participatory-based modeling highlights decision-making trade offs and are utilize to decrease hybridization rates.
LEOPARD
The leopard is the most elusive of the big cat species. It has a wide range and does not adhere to wildlife fences, and so most human-wildlife conflict with leopards is a result of development and rural expansion. Conservation Beyond Borders explores this relationship and the implications of various conservation strategies on leopard populations in Kruger National Park, including incentivising farmers to understand the intrinsic value of the leopard.
ELEPHANT
Human-elephant conflict primarily involves monetary loss as a result of elephants destroying agricultural fields, and more often than not, this provides communities with justification for elephant shootings. CBB identifies elephant herds in risk and translocates them to safety.
PANGOLIN
The pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world. And yet, awareness and rescue efforts fall short in comparison to the larger, more iconic species. during 2016-2019, 206 tones of pangolin scales have been seized and confiscated. Conservation Beyond Borders has collected data while rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing pangolins. Our goal is to identify an integrated ‘Best Management Approach’ providing recommendations for subspecies reintroduction into the wild.