BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA

WILDLIFE SECURITY AND HABITAT:BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO PREVENT THE POACHING OF ALL WILDLIFE WITHIN OUR AREA OF OPERATION ACROSS KENYA AND TANZANIA. AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE FUND ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS OF LOCAL MAASAI IN THE AMBOSELI-TSAVO-KILIMANJARO ECOSYSTEM, WHOSE RANGERS ARE EXPERTLY TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO TACKLE A VARIETY OF WILDLIFE CRIMES SPANNING APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION ACRES OF WILDERNESS. WHEN NECESSARY, THE RANGERS TRACK AND APPREHEND POACHERS AND COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PUNISHED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION)IN 2025, WE FUNDED 33 PERMANENT OUTPOSTS AND 13 MOBILE UNITS IN KENYA, AND WE SUPPORTED THE SALARIES, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT OF 593 TOTAL FIELD STAFF IN KENYA, INCLUDING 391 TRAINED RANGERS. RANGERS IN KENYA PATROLLED 546,923 KM BY VEHICLE, 234,863 KM ON FOOT, AND 28,817 KM BY PLANE. 209 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED IN 113 INCIDENTS IN KENYA. HUNDREDS OF POACHING TOOLS AND RELATED ITEMS WERE CONFISCATED, ALONG WITH 254 KG OF IVORY. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE LEGAL MONITORING OF COURT CASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH:FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME HELPS THE ECOSYSTEM TODAY, BUT WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A MUTUAL BENEFIT THROUGH CONSERVATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND WILD LANDS FAR INTO THE FUTURE. BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES BY FUNDING TEACHERS' SALARIES AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR HUNDREDS OF LOCAL MAASAI STUDENTS IN KENYA. THESE SALARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO BIG LIFE KENYA WHO ALSO SELECTS THE RECIPIENTS. WHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF PROTECTING THE ECOSYSTEM, ENFORCEMENT BECOMES SELF-POLICING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION) IN 2025, BIG LIFE FOUNDATION USA PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 462 STUDENTS AT VARYING LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND PAID THE SALARIES OF 8 TEACHERS. MULTIPLE CONSERVATION-ORIENTED STUDENT AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS WERE ALSO HELD IN 2025.