OPERATION: RETURN OF THE WILD
Campaign Target: $150,000
Phase 1 Funded!
Now help us reach our goal for Phase 2, raising funds to document this historic return.
Support Phase 2Looking to support at a higher tier? Contact us for acces to our Elite Tiers.
Shepherds of Wildlife Society is a registered U.S. nonprofit (IRS EIN: 82-4489052). All contributions are made to a verified entity operating in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Funds are paid directly to contractors and operators. No funds are retained by Shepherds of Wildlife. This is a fully pass-through project
- Regular price
- $25.00
- Sale price
- $25.00
- Regular price
The Campaign
Wildlife Restoration Campaign
Project Mission
The purpose of this campaign is to assist the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the Kingdom of Shikabeta in the Lower Luano Game Management Area, and the Norton family of Makasa Safaris in conducting a wildlife restoration operation in Zambia.
This project will restore populations of 50 puku antelope and 50 cape buffalo to protected ecosystems where certain species went locally extinct due to bushmeat poaching.
When wildlife disappears in rural Africa it is usually because people are hungry and wildlife has no economic value on the landscape. Bushmeat poaching can wipe out entire species locally. Once wildlife disappears, ecosystems degrade and communities lose one of their most valuable natural resources.
This project is about bringing those animals back and restoring wildlife to landscapes where it once existed.
Our Role
Shepherds of Wildlife is not conducting the wildlife capture operations.
Our role is to:
- Raise the funds required to carry out the restoration
- Document the operation for global audiences
- Educate the public about how wildlife restoration actually works
The capture and relocation will be conducted by professional wildlife teams in Zambia who perform these operations regularly.
The operation will involve:
- Helicopters
- Six-wheel wildlife transport trucks
- Wildlife veterinarians
- Capture specialists
- Experienced wildlife handling crews
The animals will be captured, transported, and placed into temporary acclimation bomas where they will remain for 5–6 weeks before being released into the wild.
This restoration effort will be documented as a major storyline for the upcoming documentary:
Killing the Shepherd: Return of the Wild
General Supporters Perks ($25-100)
These tier is for general public participation. You'll get:
- Your name listed on the campaign page
- General campaign updates
- Digital access to Killing the Shepherd
Field Supporter ($500-1,000)
Supports logistics behind the operation. Unlocks:
- Supports transport, handling, and operations
- Name listed on the campaign page
- Deeper private field updates (real footage) + behind the scenes content
- Digital access to Killing the Shepherd
- Invitation to group Zoom call with Tom Opre (post-operation)
Sponsor a Puku Antelope ($400)
Supports the capture, transport, and restoration of one animal. Unlocks:
- Funds the relocation of one puku
- Name listed on official campaign page
- Private field updates (real footage)
- Included in final operation recap
- Digital access to Killing the Shepherd
Sponsor a Cape Buffalo ($1,500)
Supports the capture, transport, and restoration of one animal. Unlocks:
- Funds the relocation of one buffalo
- Name listed on official campaign page
- Private field updates (real footage)
- Included in final operation recap
- Digital access to Killing the Shepherd
Conservation Builder ($5,000)
Limit: 20 Backers
Helps fund major portions of capture, transfer, and logistics. Unlocks:
- Priority name listed on the campaign page
- Full access to supporter updates
- Included in final operation recap
- Digital access to Killing the Shepherd
- Invitation to private small-group Zoom call with Tom Opre (post-operation)
Timeline
April – June 30th: Our fundraising window is open. The level of success and animals restored is entirely dependent on our fundraise.
July: Wildlife restoration operations begin. Capture, transport, and acclimation.
August/September: Animals released into restored habitat. Expedition participation opportunities for major donors.
Fundraising Closes in:
Fundraise Window Closed
days
hours
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seconds
Want to be a mission leader?
Field Participation Opportunity
As a mission leader, select donors will be invited to participate in:
Option 1: Trapping & Transfer
- Remote African bush environment
- Physically demanding, unpredictable
- No luxury accommodations
- Real conservation work on the ground
Option 2: Wildlife Release
- Witness species being returned to the land
- More structured experience
- Likely tented accommodations
- Additional light activities may be arranged
Note: This is not a luxury safari. It is a working conservation operation. Participation is limited and subject to safety and logistics.
Backers
(Please allow time for your name to appear.)
Conservation Builder - $5000+
Conklin Foundation ($10,000)
Anonymous Donation ($120,000)
Tony & Sue Lombardo ($5,000)
Cape Buffalo Sponsor - $1500
Stanley Frye, Southwest Montana SCI Chapter, Southeast Montana SCI Chapter, Southeast Michigan Bow Hunters SCI
Field Supporter - $1000
Club Faune, Charles Pearson
Field Supporter - $500
Mark Carpenter, Jeff Duncan, Dana Peterson, Susan Skold, Charles Melman, Raleigh Evans
Puku Antelope Sponsors - $400
Opre Children, Jeremy Keefer, William Hunkapiller, John Green, Brad Fine, John How, John Geary III, Michael Maynor
General Supporters - $25-100
Susan Tidwell, Mike Butler, Kate Opre, Zach Fisher, Steve Thomas, Gale Moericke, Allan Domanski, Lynn Tepper, Vern Wilson, Dustin Reynolds, Rich Opre, Tim Chestnut, Niels Christian Koefoed, Charles Elzer
Restoring the wild builds community
This mission goes beyond the return of the puku antelope and cape buffalo. When these critical species return not only does the ecosystem thrive, but also the communities that rely on these precious resources.
COnTINUING OUR MISSION
In our debut film Killing the Shepherd, we dove into the stranglehold of poverty in Africa and shed light on the need for responsible conservation.
Dive-in Deeper with the book
Incredible stories are often left on the cutting room floor during the film editing process. Killing the Shepherd: Beyond the Film delves deeper than any film. Gritty and raw, this book will take the reader through a transformative process providing hope for the future of Africa’s wildlife. It also provides a business blueprint enabling rural communities throughout the dark continent to realize their most basic human rights.
