Prince Harry is reportedly feeling “emotionally devastated” and “drained” after facing unexpected setbacks in his conservation efforts, particularly concerning his involvement with African Parks, a charity he has been associated with since 2016. A source close to the prince revealed that the recent end of a 15-year collaboration with Chad’s government has been particularly disheartening for him, as it threatens his long-time commitment to wildlife preservation and the financial support he has directed towards projects in Lesotho and Botswana.
This week, the Chadian government abruptly terminated its partnership with African Parks, citing allegations of mismanagement and a lack of respect for local authorities. The environment ministry critiqued the organization, claiming it exhibited a “whiff of neo-colonialism” and accused it of failing to uphold wildlife protection standards, illegally collecting tourism revenues, and conducting financial transactions in foreign tax havens.
African Parks, which operates out of Johannesburg and has overseen the management of two parks in Chad, described the government’s decision as “unilateral.” The organization stated that it had begun discussions with ministry officials to clarify the situation and to find a constructive path forward. African Parks emphasizes the significant conservation successes it has achieved, asserting that they have made valuable contributions towards the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in challenging environments.
Supported by prominent donors, including billionaires Howard Buffett and Bill Ackman, as well as former Walmart chairman Rob Walton, African Parks has managed to create 22 national parks across several countries facing ecological challenges over the past two decades. Despite the criticism, many within the conservation community recognize the importance of their work. Charlie Mayhew OBE, founder of Tusk, highlighted the critical role African Parks plays in preserving biodiversity in regions suffering from severe ecological decline.
A recent visitor to Zakouma National Park, previously managed by African Parks, praised the charity’s rehabilitation efforts, which have significantly increased the elephant population and successfully reintroduced rhinos into the area. He noted the organization operates within a highly militarized framework to combat poaching, which, while efficient, drew some criticism.
However, Chad’s officials maintain a different viewpoint. One minister claimed that the focus of African Parks has shifted from conservation efforts to political engagements and highlighted deficiencies in funding for anti-poaching measures and wildlife protection strategies. The ministry has previously raised concerns over increased poaching incidents not being reported to them, underlining ongoing tensions between the government and the charity.
As discussions continue, there appears to be a glimmer of hope as both parties navigate this turbulent situation. The long-term vision of African Parks to foster sustainable biodiversity may yet lead to renewed collaborations that could have profound impacts on conservation in Chad and beyond.