What is PAW?

The PAW (People And Wildlife) Concept – A new approach

It is important that the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre learn from past mistakes with regards the way that many zoos in Africa are run and attempts to find an alternative direction for supporting wildlife conservation efforts in country, in particular providing sanctuary space for the orphans of the illegal pet trade. The Born Free Foundation, a UK based animal welfare organisation, is currently piloting the PAW Concept at the Centre and hopes that within four years the Centre will become the first accredited PAW facility in the world. Over the next four years the Centre shall help create a model that can be used to support the accreditation of other similar facilities to the PAW Concept.

Under the new People and Wildlife concept (PAW), zoos and sanctuaries are encouraged to adhere to ‘no breeding’, no 'trading/exchanging of animals' and ‘no animal / human contact’ policies and shall committ fully to returning all their orphans back to the wild rather than retaining them for educational purposes. PAW facilities can also offer sanctuary for animals that have been illegally traded overseas and that require repatriation back to Africa.

Facilities shall also need to commit to provide educational awareness & advice and address key wildlife conservation, environmental and humanitarian issues in the country of operation. The concept also encourages educational programmes on domestic animal welfare, as if people are unable to care for their domestic animals (as is often the case in Malawi), it will be difficult to convince them of the need to care about the future of wild animals.

The issues addressed under this concept will be specific to the country of operation, and these issues may vary from country to country. Wildlife conservation issues could include, for example, poaching, the illegal pet trade, the bushmeat trade, human/wildlife conflicts etc. Humanitarian issues covered could include HIV/AIDS, T.B, primary health care, farming practices, alternative protein/income generating programmes and nutrition.

Facilities are encouraged to promote art & cultural experiences and to look at introducing food production and security initiatives that could be used to attract additional funding. Facilities, such as thi Wildlife Centre have the potential to educate a large number of young people (and their parents), some of whom will go on to fill government positions and therefore influence the future of the country and its conservation policies. This project has the unique opportunity of becoming financially sustainable with the support of an adjacent Lodge, which is an additional pre requisite of becoming accredited to the scheme.