Three Africans dedicated to wildlife conservation were honored on October 17 in London by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) among nine total recipients. Their shared mission is a deep love for animals and a tireless commitment to protecting them.
Charles Emogor, a 29-year-old Nigerian scientist, has been passionate about pangolins since childhood. Now pursuing his PhD at Cambridge, he works to raise awareness and change behaviors to protect pangolins, the world’s most trafficked mammal, which is nearing extinction.
Bantu Lukambo, 51, was recognized for his 30-year fight to protect the wildlife of Virunga National Park in eastern Congo. His efforts to save gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, and hundreds of bird species in a region plagued by conflict and poaching have put him in dangerous situations, including an incident where he was nearly buried alive while rescuing a baby gorilla from traffickers.
The third honoree, Rudi Van Aarde of South Africa, was awarded posthumously. Van Aarde, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 71, spent much of his life studying elephant populations across southern Africa. His pioneering scientific approach to understanding elephant migration continues to guide conservation efforts today.