Connected Conservation

Connected Conservation has been proud to collaborate with @savetheelephants and local partners to strengthen coexistence efforts in Victoria Falls. In the past few months, we have helped develop new wildlife safety signage for residents and visitors, expanded citizen science reporting systems, and supported the establishment of the Victoria Falls Human-Wildlife Conflict Response Unit. These initiatives are helping improve public awareness, wildlife reporting, and rapid response capacity across one of Africa’s most important elephant landscapes. From QR-enabled reporting tools and WhatsApp hotlines to multilingual educational signage and outreach campaigns, communities now have more accessible ways to report sightings, request assistance, and contribute directly to conservation efforts in real time. We are incredibly grateful to Save the Elephants for their continued collaboration and support as we work toward practical, community-led approaches to human-elephant coexistence. 🐘 #ConnectedConservation #SaveTheElephants #Coexistence #HumanWildlifeConflict #Collaboration

Elephants hate chillies — and communities across Zimbabwe are turning that into a powerful coexistence tool. 🌶️🐘 Connected Conservation pioneered these chilli-based deterrent methods, working alongside local farmers to develop practical, low-cost ways to reduce crop raiding. Today, these approaches are being used across Africa. Together with @chillipepperco , we continue supporting farmers through chilli production, chilli rag fences, briquettes, and other deterrent systems that help protect crops while creating livelihood opportunities. Connected Conservation is now officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, helping us expand support for community-led coexistence initiatives. Swipe through to learn how chillies are helping people and elephants share space more safely. #ConnectedConservation #ChilliPepperCompany #HumanElephantCoexistence #CommunityConservation #Elephants

It’s the teamwork that makes a difference. 🐘 Grateful today (and every day) for the people behind the work — showing up, solving problems, and making coexistence possible. #WorkersDay #ConservationHeroes #Gratitude #Sustainability #Teamwork

Connected Conservation in Maputo 🇲🇿 with @wwf and partners from across Eastern and Southern Africa. The focus was on working through what inclusive conservation looks like in practice—how communities are genuinely part of decision-making, leading conservation efforts, and seeing real benefits alongside conservation outcomes. The discussions were grounded and practical, drawing on experience from across the region. There was a strong emphasis on conflict management, community governance, and integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches. The workshop also contributed to a regional framework to guide future work while strengthening connections between organisations working in similar spaces. #ConnectedConservation #WWF #InclusiveConservation #ConflictManagement #PartneringForChange

🌍 Earth Day, here, means sharing space with elephants - a reminder of our responsibility to coexist with the wildlife that roam the landscapes we call home. As we celebrate this day, we reflect on the delicate balance between human needs and wildlife conservation. By implementing sustainable practices, we can mitigate human-elephant conflict and protect our communities and wildlife. 🐘 Our goal: to create a future where humans and elephants live side by side, and build sustainable livelihoods for local communities. #EarthDay #Conservation #HumanElephantConflict #Sustainability #WildlifeProtection

Chilli Growing, Coexistence, and Collaboration 🌶 The Chilli Pepper Co was delighted to be a part of the KAZA Exchange Programme, in collaboration with @connected.conservation , which welcomed visitors from Zambia to share experiences in wildlife conservation and human-elephant conflict management using chilli mitigation tools. This experience included a tour of the Chewumba chilli processing plant in Victoria Falls, and gave our visitors an opportunity to take home some of our premium chilli mash. We're proud to build partnerships like these for change—combining the green economy of chilli growing with sustainable conservation practices. #ChilliPepperCo #ConnectedConservation #Sustainability #KAZA #GreenEconomy

Mapping the landscapes we work in—and the challenges communities face within them. This week in Victoria Falls, Connected Conservation is bringing together partners from across the KAZA region for a hands-on GIS workshop—focused on turning field data into insight. From tracking human–wildlife conflict hotspots to strengthening how data is collected, shared, and used, the aim is simple: better decisions on the ground. With participants from across Zimbabwe and Botswana, it’s also about building more connected, regionally aligned approaches to conservation. Thanks to our partners cbio, @africa_oxford , and @wildcru_ox , and to all those taking part. #ConnectedConservation #KAZA #GIS #ConservationData #HumanWildlifeCoexistence

A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Community Spirit. Recently, Lucia Ndlovu of Monde Village, Chidobe Ward, woke to find that a roaming elephant had destroyed her kitchen hut — a sudden and disruptive loss for her household. In the days that followed, Connected Conservation provided cement and building materials and helped her rebuild her home. The aim was simple: help restore what was lost as quickly as possible, so daily life could resume. Incidents like this are a reality for many families living alongside elephants. Our work focuses not only on prevention, but also on practical support when damage does occur — working with communities to reduce risk, respond quickly, and strengthen longer-term resilience. This is what coexistence looks like in practice: steady, local support that helps people recover while maintaining space for wildlife. #ConservationInAction #WildlifeCoexistence #CommunitySupport #HumanElephantConflict #ConservationWithHeart

Sharing the City with Elephants. 🐘 Elephants move through Victoria Falls every day. Living alongside wildlife means we all need to stay aware and take simple steps to reduce risk. Years of observation, community reporting, and satellite collar tracking have helped Connected Conservation understand why elephants pass through town. One consistent finding is that elephants are often drawn into urban areas by food and waste attractants — including crop fields, orchards, and illegal dumpsites. Reducing these attractants can make a real difference and help support safer human–elephant coexistence. What you can do: •⁠ ⁠Stay alert and watch carefully when walking home after dark. •⁠ ⁠Avoid dumping food waste or household rubbish in open areas. •⁠ ⁠Report illegal dumping when you see it. •⁠ ⁠Secure fruit, crops, and compost where possible. •⁠ ⁠If you see elephants, keep your distance and give them space. Small actions by residents and businesses help keep Victoria Falls safer for both people and elephants. #ConnectedConservation #HumanElephantCoexistence #VictoriaFalls #Elephants

Women driving the chilli harvest. 🌶️ In Nyakomba this season, women farmers are leading from the front. Working small plots of just 0.3–0.5 hectares, they are producing over 2,500kg of chilli within just a few months of harvest — and being paid well for it. For many growers, chilli has become a more reliable option than other cash crops, where prices and markets can be uncertain. Instead, chilli offers regular harvesting, consistent demand, and steady income throughout the season. Grown alongside staple crops like maize and beans, chilli allows households to balance food security with cash earnings. What stands out is the consistency in the field — regular picking, strong yields, and a clear focus on quality. This is what a strong smallholder system looks like: locally grown, carefully managed, and delivering real returns to farmers. Across our growing regions, women are not just participating — women are driving production, income, and long-term sustainability. #ChilliPepperCompany #WomenInAgriculture #ZimbabweAgriculture #SmallholderFarming #ChilliFarming

For over 30 years, Connected Conservation has been working alongside communities to develop practical, locally grounded solutions to human–wildlife conflict. Our chilli-based deterrents began in the late 1990s in the Zambezi Valley through the Mid Zambezi Elephant Project, where early field trials showed that simple, locally available materials could make a meaningful difference. These are not imported, one-size-fits-all solutions. They are developed with farmers, using resources they already have access to, ensuring they are affordable, adaptable, and truly locally owned. In Mpumelelo village, our community liaison officer Lecadiah works closely with farmers to implement these approaches in practice, from chilli rag fencing to chilli dung briquettes. These methods rely on capsaicin — the compound that gives chillies their heat — to safely deter elephants from crops without causing harm. Importantly, this work goes beyond any single technique. It is about designing systems with communities: considering field layout, crop placement, buffer zones, and coordinated responses. Over time, we have trained thousands of farmers in these approaches, equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to manage and adapt them independently. Today, chilli-based deterrents are being used across Africa — a powerful example of how simple, community-led innovation can scale. This is conservation that works with people. #ConnectedConservation #HumanWildlifeConflict #ElephantConservation #CommunityLedConservation #SustainableSolutions

A Successful Chilli Yield in Matetsi 🌶 The Connected Conservation team, in collaboration with the @chillipepperco , recently came together in Matetsi, Victoria Falls, where one of our new farmers achieved their very first chilli harvest of the year! By cultivating these vibrant crops to make non-lethal elephant deterrents, this successful yield underscores our commitment to reducing human-wildlife conflict while simultaneously empowering local communities. This is the positive impact we strive for—promoting coexistence, enhancing livelihoods, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. #ConnectedConservation #ChilliPepperCompany #SustainableFarming #CommunityEmpowerment #WildlifeConservation