In Zambia’s Lower Zambezi, elephants are moving freely again

Strengthening wildlife crime enforcement

In 2018, CLZ hired a legal assistant to strengthen the prosecution of wildlife crime cases in the Lower Zambezi. The role supports DNPW and Zambia's National Prosecution Authority by helping guide investigations, manage case files, and track wildlife crime trends across the region.

"This project is vital in supporting the government's fight against wildlife crime," says Chilufya Chongo, CLZ's Legal Assistant. "We've seen reductions in pangolin cases, firearm crimes, and poaching. People know we're working hard to stop these illegal activities."

The results have been significant. Since 2018, the Lower Zambezi has maintained a wildlife crime conviction rate of more than 80%, reaching a national record of 94% in 2024.

Securing the future of elephants in Zambia

Despite the progress, threats to the Lower Zambezi continue to grow. Encroachment, mining activity, and organised crime are steadily placing pressure on the park and its surrounding ecosystems.

"Ultimately, this work must be Zambian led," Stevenson says. "With partners like IFAW, we have a fighting chance."

By embedding its Room to Roam vision in Zambia, IFAW is helping secure the Lower Zambezi as a critical landscape for elephant conservation and connectivity, ensuring wildlife can continue moving safely across borders while communities build resilience alongside nature.

From the air, the difference is already visible. In a landscape once shaped by fear and poaching, elephants are beginning to move naturally again across rivers, forests, and borders that have connected wildlife for generations.