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DHL AND PANTHERA PARTNER TO CONSERVE
SOUTH AFRICA’S LEOPARDS
NGO Panthera signs agreement with DHL Express to ship and
distribute faux leopard skins to South Africa for use in
traditional Shembe ceremonial practices
 Singapore: DHL,
the world’s leading logistics company, has entered into an
agreement with Panthera,
the world’s leading big-cat conservation organization,
through the Furs
For Life Leopard Project to
ship faux leopard furs to Africa to help protect this
endangered species whose fur is ceremonially worn by
followers of the Shembe community in South Africa. On behalf
of Panthera, DHL will be shipping on a pro bono basis faux
leopard skins from manufacturers in China to South Africa,
under a contract that extends to May 2015.
Charles
Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa
said, “Conservation is a major issue in Africa, and for DHL
also in this part of the world. There is a lot of passion
for the ‘big five’ African animals – elephant, rhinoceros,
lion, Cape buffalo and leopard – and elephants and rhinos
get a lot of attention. However, there are many endangered
species such as the leopard that get little publicity or
support.”
This innovative animal conservation initiative - designed to
protect a species threatened with extinction while at the
same time maintaining a long-time South African tradition -
was put together by US-based organization, Panthera, whom
DHL partnered with as part of its corporate responsibility
program. Under the contract, DHL will provide logistics
support on a complimentary basis, thereby defraying costs
associated with international shipping and distribution to
Shembe members in Africa.
Filmmaker and Panthera partner, Greg Lomas, unpacks
the faux leopard fur delivery - each roll
approximating 50m of fabric. |
Brewer continued, “Panthera’s initiative is fantastic and
innovative – it respects human culture and traditions as
well as the conservation of a magnificent animal – and so we
are providing our logistics expertise and raising awareness
of a complex issue through our own network and resources.
This partnership between Panthera and DHL is a natural fit,
as Panthera’s big cat expertise combined with DHL’s global
reach is a winning solution for conservation.”
Leopard fur has become customary ceremonial attire worn by
the over five-million strong members of the Shembe church,
which is part of the vibrant cultural landscape of South
Africa for over 100 years. Previously worn by Zulu royalty
and chiefs, the leopard furs, or amambatha as
they are referred to locally, form a ceremonial, religious
dress that symbolizes beauty, power and prestige. These amambatha are
now desired by a growing number of male Shembe followers. At
a single Shembe gathering, over 1,000 leopard skins are worn
by members. Although many skins are old and are passed down
from generation to generation, many new ones are a result of
poaching, leading to shrinking leopard numbers.
Dr. Luke Hunter,
President of Panthera, said, “By the end of this year, over
4000 faux leopard amambatha or
traditional shoulder capes will have been shipped by DHL for
our project. The Shembe have shown they are willing to
embrace the use of our high-quality alternatives to real
leopard skin – that translates to over 2,000 leopards saved
from poachers. We could only have made such major strides in
conserving the magnificent leopard with the cooperation of
the Shembe and the support of DHL.”
DHL is
active in supporting animal conservation projects all over
Africa from the movement of rhinos to Tanzania and gorillas
to Gabon, as well as supporting other local causes,
including an orphaned elephant, Mr Brrr.
Shembe
elder and legal advisor, Lizwi Ncwane, stated, "As a leader
of the Shembe community, I have seen firsthand how receptive
my community is to using these fake skins. Not only do they
look and feel like real leopard skins, they also last
longer. We're grateful that Panthera has worked with us in
finding a solution that interweaves the conservation of
leopards with the customs of the Shembe."
Panthera
has been working with Shembe leadership to educate its
members about the leopard crisis across Southern Africa and
has worked with digital designers and clothing companies to
create a high-quality, affordable faux leopard skin for use
in ceremonies. Panthera’s project, which has won the support
of Shembe leaders, has been praised by CNN and National
Geographic, as an innovative conservation solution that
respects local cultural practices.
Corporate
Responsibility is an integral part of Deutsche Post DHL’s
business strategy and focuses on the programs of protecting
the environment (GoGreen), delivering disaster response and
management (GoHelp) and championing education and
employability (GoTeach).
For more
on the DHL-Panthera collaboration, please see: http://youtu.be/7DA5PZXqU2w
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