The Pepper Company (then Elephant Pepper) brand was established in 1994 as a way to market products developed using raw materials produced by farmers located human-elephant conflict areas of southern Africa. Since then the range of products has expanded to include products made from chilli, baobab and millet.
Conserving wildlife, enhancing livelihoods in areas of human-wildlife conflict
The Connected Conservation group is an interdisciplinary team of highly skilled professionals that focuses on environmental and social issues and processes. Our team works hand in hand with governments, NGOs, the private sector and communities to achieve sustainable natural resource management, by providing technical expertise, sharing knowledge and facilitating equitable development.
Connected Conservation specializes in delivering a diverse range of skills on wildlife management, tourism, small business development, policy review and development as well as natural resource management.
Malvern Karidozo is the Project Manager and Principal researcher for the organization. He has post graduate qualifications in Conservation Biology and Development studies and is also a co-Director of the organization designing research needs and coordinating project implementation.
William went on to found the Department of Science and Conservation at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Starting from nothing, the Department was leading or funding conservation projects in 40 countries and 2 oceans at the time of his departure. Since 2016 he has been working with Connected Conservation on ways to mitigate human/elephant contact, as well as teaching Environmental Biology at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA, where he was the recipient of the 2016-2017 Bridgewater State University Presidents Award for Distinguished Part-Time Teaching.
I am a Assitant Professor at Salisbury University interested on animal cognition, particularly on spatial cognition. My research is, interdisciplinary but I focus on animal daily navigation and space usage. I apply geospatial technologies, like GIS and Remote Sensing to investigate the relationship between animals and their landscape that is particularly relevant to my goal of understanding wild primate and elephant spatial cognition. The use of geotechnologies also broader societal conservation goals such as the protection of natural environments and wildlife.
Since the late 1970s, Marguerite has conducted research combining remote sensing and geospatial analyses with landscape ecology, focused on human-animal-environment interactions. Joining the UGA-CGR in ‘85, she helped develop and analyze numerous multi-temporal and detailed vegetation databases throughout the Southeastern United States. Research includes the use of satellite imagery, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), GPS tracking, photogrammetry and GIS to assess land-use changes related to African elephant movement, human-elephant conflict, 3D vegetation structure and analysis for agroecosystem studies.
Loki consultants on human wildlife conflict and protected area management with experience in the savannas and woodlands of east and southern Africa and the forests of West Africa and Asia. Heads up Connected Conservation which is a consultancy firm set up to manage bids and the administration of contracts for a team of Africa-based consultants. CC is specifically interested in helping communities mitigate conflict with wildlife and advises projects, government authorities and businesses.
Prince joined Connected Conservation in February 2020 as a Research Assistant. He is involved in the coordination and implementation of the project operations. He graduated from the Catholic University in Zimbabwe, with an Honors Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Information Technology in 2018. He has a deep love for nature and highly motivated and innovative individual.
Elmon joined Connected Conservation in 2020 as an enumerator and assistant security officer at the Chewumba field site. A resident and also the Headman of Chewumba village 2, Elmon adds a wealth of experience of local knowledge and is a respected leader in the community.
Robert joined Connected Conservation in August 2020. He is the organization’s bookkeeper and manages the accounts and all administrative duties. Robert is a holder of a Bachelor of Commerce Honors Degree in Accounting from Midlands State University and aspires to be a Chartered Accountant.
Busani is from Chewumba Village 2 and he joined Connected Conservation in 2020 as a security officer. Characterized as a vigilant person to his surroundings, he has become an essential part of the team assisting in all security procedures at the project.
Dzingai joined field office in 2019 and has an agronomy background. As the field supervisor, he oversees overall field office management and educate farmers on conservation agriculture of which chilli growing is one of his specialties. He also assists on data collection and monitoring of Human Elephant Conflict in the surrounding communities.
Courage joined the field team as a field officer at the beginning of 2021 and is a farmer with experience in chilli growing and elephant conflict mitigation. He assists the research team on data collection and monitoring of field related activities.
Khumulani joined the organization in 2018 and is an experienced animal husbandry farmer with interests in wildlife and conservation. As a field officer, he works with the local farmers in conservation agriculture, collects data on human and wildlife conflicts and educates local farmers on conflict mitigation.
The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust was created by a group of passionate, like-minded people who believed more needed to be done to conserve wildlife in the region surrounding Victoria Falls. Their Board of Trustees are based all across the world, and each member volunteers their time to ensure that The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust achieves what they set out to do.