On a mission

SATIB Trust Award

03-02-2012

Oxford University Conservationist wins SATIB Trust Award

Dr Andrew Loveridge from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (Department of Zoology) has won the SATIB Trust Award in recognition of his dedicated work in understanding lion biology and supporting conservation in Africa.

This award was created by prominent South African businessman Mr Brian Courtenay, Founder and Chairman of SATIB Insurance Brokers and the Ivory Group, to mark the launch of the SATIB Trust. Mr Courtenay is a passionate conservationist and a trustee of Endangered Wildlife Trust for the past 17 years, a trustee of Elephants for Africa (UK Charity) for the past 4 years and long standing supporter of conservation work in southern Africa. He chairs the recently founded Charitable Trust which has been set up by the SATIB shareholders to provide a conduit to provide support for conservation projects in Africa.

SATIB Insurance Brokers/ Ivory Group have for the past 21 years provided risk solutions for the hospitality, tourism, safari and wildlife industry throughout Southern Africa using their long term underwriting facilities with Lloyds of London. During this time they have financed many conservation projects in Africa and will now further these efforts through their newly formed and registered non profit organisation/charity The SATIB Trust. Its aims are to support, preserve and protect our natural heritage and conservation initiatives for the future generations. This SATIB Trust Award is in recognition for the dedication of the Hwange Lion Research team working in Zimbabwe under difficult conditions.

Dr Loveridge is the Kaplan Research Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University and a member of the highly respected Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), within the Zoology Department at the University. Dr Loveridge has spent the last 15 years undertaking research on African lions and other carnivores in southern Africa. Working with WildCRU’s Director, Professor David Macdonald, Dr Loveridge heads the well-known Hwange Lion Project which undertakes research on the ecology, behaviour and conservation of the African Lion. The project’s research aims to provide data to underpin conservation and management of this iconic African species.

The award was announced in December 2011 by the board of Directors of Ivory Group at their head quarters in Durban – the award ceremony is to be in May 2012 to coincide with Indaba, the annual, world famous African tourism convention. This year’s award takes the form of a specially fitted new Land Rover Defender LWB.

Mr Courtenay said “I have for the past 15 years been travelling to Hwange so I know the harsh conditions these researchers work under with little recognition so it is for me a great honour to award this Landrover Defender to Andy for his and the team’s ongoing enthusiasm and dedication. This vehicle has been specially built for this project for many hours of observation of lions and has drop sides for research observation”, long range fuel tanks, duel battery, 220 Volts and a GPS system.

‘I am delighted and deeply honoured to accept this award’ said Dr Loveridge. ‘It is immensely encouraging to have my own and my team’s research and conservation efforts recognised in this way. African lions and most other large carnivores, worldwide, face significant threats to their continued survival in the wild. One of the keys to halting the continued decline of these important species is through the kind of hands on practical research and conservation undertaken by WildCRU and the Hwange Lion Conservation Project.’

Professor David Macdonald (CBE, FRSE, DSc), Director the WildCRU, commented “WildCRU’s lion work at Hwange is a model for how scientific discoveries can inform policy and change practice, leading to benefits for both wildlife and people – our work at Hwange has influenced ideas about living alongside predators around the world.” He added, “Andy Loveridge’s inspiration and dedication to lion conservation has been immense, and the WildCRU is deeply proud of his achievements and this richly deserved prize”.