For a conservation organisation based in Oudtshoorn, moments like this do not come often. And when they do, they are worth pausing for. This year, a South African conservation technology project founded by our CEO, Douglas Eriksen, was recognised on the global stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Project ZOA, or Zoological Open Architecture, was awarded the Startup Innovation Award for Top AI Sustainability Project during Davos Innovation Week 2026.
Together, We Can Reverse The Red
The Dodo once walked freely on the island of Mauritius. With no natural predators, it had no reason to fear humans. Within less than a century of human arrival, it was gone.
Extinction is permanent. Once a species disappears, there is no recovery, no second chance, no future generations to protect. Every species on the Red List tells a story of pressure. Habitat loss. Human conflict. Climate stress. Decline that did not happen overnight, and will not be reversed by awareness alone.
Reverse the Red is a global movement that ignites strategic cooperation and action to ensure the survival of wild species and ecosystems and reverse the negative trend of biodiversity loss. Through a strategic initiative, Reverse the Red brings together a diverse coalition of leading scientists, advocates, and partners committed to using a data-driven and science-based approach to assess, plan, and act for species conservation. Reverse the Red provides the tools and expertise to empower governments, partners, and local communities to set and reach biodiversity conservation targets and celebrates and amplifies successful achievements for species.
Reverse the Red exists because we still have time for others. To move species away from the edge through informed action, shared responsibility, and sustained care. At Cango Wildlife, this is not a campaign we switch on for a single day. It reflects the way we work, the way we educate, and the way we invite people into conservation.
Throughout February, that commitment becomes more visible. Conversations on tours go deeper. Questions are answered with more clarity. Our Wildlife Guardians are equipped to explain not only what species we care for, but why their status matters and how progress is measured. Across the facility, visitors will find QR codes on animal signage that open a direct window into the IUCN Red List. A simple scan turns curiosity into understanding, connecting each animal to its wider conservation story beyond our gates.
Online, the focus narrows to the individual. From 1 to 7 February, our platforms will spotlight threatened and endangered species in our care. These stories are not shared to alarm, but to inform and to remind us that conservation outcomes are built one species at a time.
Our non profit arm, the Cheetah Preservation Foundation, reflects this same alignment. Adoption certificates now carry the Reverse the Red mark and a clear statement of intent. At Cango Wildlife, through the Foundation, we actively implement impact focused efforts to care for, preserve, and reverse the decline of threatened and endangered species. Even small moments are part of the message. Throughout February, our restaurant will offer a red themed drink, with all proceeds supporting our Critically Endangered Radiated Tortoise programme. Funds raised will contribute directly to habitat construction and daily care, turning a simple choice into tangible support.
Progress is not owned by any one facility. This month, we will also be sharing success stories from across the conservation community. A recovery anywhere strengthens the movement everywhere. Beyond the visit, the work continues. Educational content shared across our platforms will focus on practical steps that can be taken at home, reinforcing that conservation does not end at the exit gate.
You will see the message in red throughout the month. Worn by our team. Carried into conversations. Reused at key moments later in the year. A visible reminder that conservation is not passive, and progress requires intention. Reverse the Red is not about urgency alone. It is about direction. And at Cango Wildlife, that direction is forward.
Further Reading
Some partnerships are built quietly and strengthened over time through consistency and shared purpose. Since 2018, Kraaibosch Nurseries in George has supported Cango Wildlife and the Cheetah Preservation Foundation as a benefactor. Their ongoing contributions help sustain the day to day work of conservation, from animal care and veterinary treatment to habitat management and long term programmes focused on threatened species, including cheetahs and other vulnerable wildlife in our care.
This Steppe Buzzard arrived at Cango Wildlife through CapeNature with severe eye injuries. His right eye was injured - crusted and swollen, coupled with permanent blindness in his left eye. Vulnerable and unable to survive on his own in the wild, he was brought to our team for rehabilitation. Under the care of our Zoological Manager, Dedré Rupping, the buzzard received focused veterinary treatment, including antibiotics and pain management. Over the next...










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