Furs For Life – Preserving Culture, Protecting Nature
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Main
VALUE £599,998
WHERE Zambia, South Africa
Summary
Panthera forms deep, integrative partnerships with communities who utilise wild cat skins as traditional regalia. Together, we facilitate the transition from authentic to synthetic wild cat skin garments (known as Heritage Furs) used in culturo-religious ceremonies. Thus far, we have formed successful partnerships with the Shembe Church and Lozi communities. We propose to develop women-led tailoring enterprises at key sites across both communities to trial the use of a profitable business model to simultaneously reduce poverty and illegal wildlife trade.
Over 600 arrests and more than 500 convictions in wildlife crime since 2017, alongside a decline in ivory trafficking cases and an increase in elephant and rhino populations.
