OuR ETHICAL POLICY

At LEO Africa, we are deeply committed to ethical wildlife conservation. Discover our Ethical Policy and learn about the values that drive our mission to protect nature.

The term ethical refers to principles and practices that align with what is morally right, just, and fair. It involves adhering to a code of conduct based on values such as honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. Being ethical means making decisions and taking actions that consider the well-being of others, society, and the environment, often guided by established norms or personal moral principles.

At LEO Africa, our ethical policy is rooted in respect and care for wildlife:

respect for wildlife

We are committed to monitoring, getting visuals of key and endangered species daily, whether on drives or on foot. Each of our actions plays a role in preserving their natural behavior and habitat.
Our policy strictly prevents getting too close to animals or inducing changes in their behavior. We respect their comfort zones and observe them in their natural state without intrusion. We never compromise an animal’s boundaries for the sake of a closer look or a better photo opportunity.
The well-being of wildlife is at the core of everything we do, ensuring they thrive undisturbed in their natural environment.

respect for the environment

At LEO Africa, our efforts are dedicated to preserving the environment and protecting its wildlife. One of our key actions is to preserve the environment by avoiding any off-roading with the vehicle and removing invasive alien plants. These efforts help safeguard indigenous species and maintain the delicate ecological balance within the reserve.
Operating within a fenced reserve requires thoughtful management and preservation of the environment. As part of our conservation work, we collect vital data and provide valuable insights to the reserve's management. Our contributions include to advise and initiate the collaring of few key endangered species individuals (monitored daily) and establishing monitoring protocols to ensure their ongoing protection.
By working hand-in-hand with the reserve, we strive to create a sustainable future for the environment and all its inhabitants.

active anti-poaching efforts

At the core of our mission lies the fight against poaching. Daily wildlife monitoring is a crucial part of this commitment.
Abelana Game Reserve operates a dedicated anti-poaching unit, working tirelessly 24/7 on the ground. To support their efforts, we perform additional activities, including snare sweeps, monitoring camera traps, reporting suspicious activity, and collaborating closely by sharing vital information.
Our monitoring efforts sometimes lead us to encounter injured animals. In such cases, we take all necessary steps to ensure their safe capture with the objective to release immediately or as soon as possible, working hand-in-hand with experienced local veterinary teams to provide needed care.
Together, we strive to protect wildlife and combat the threats posed by poaching.

social media responsibility

At LEO Africa, we uphold a strict social media policy to protect critically endangered species.
All staff and volunteers are required to follow this policy, which prohibits sharing information or photos of certain vulnerable animals.
Protecting wildlife means safeguarding not just their habitats but also the information that could put them at risk. Together, we ensure no leaks jeopardize their safety.

standing against wildlife exploitation

At LEO Africa, we strongly condemn organizations that promote or allow wildlife petting in captivity.
We firmly believe that wildlife should only be held in captivity temporarily, when strictly necessary due to a severe injury caused by humans or in the case of endangered species, to enhance their chance of survival. The sole purpose of keeping an animal in captivity (temporarily) is for healing, protecting, and ultimately releasing them back into their natural habitat. Any other reason, especially maintaining animals in captivity for profit, is unacceptable.
Through education and raising awareness among our volunteers directly in the field and trying to reach as many people as possible globally, we actively fight against such practices. Together, we stand for ethical wildlife conservation.

sustainable living

Joining LEO Africa offers volunteers a unique opportunity to experience and embrace sustainable living firsthand. Here, every action is rooted in the principle of minimizing environmental impact. Rule number one: leave no trace, only footprints.
We are committed to educating our volunteers about sustainable practices, raising awareness, and encouraging eco-friendly choices, such as supporting sustainable groceries and reduce plastic use to the bare minimum, with consistency and continuous efforts. Our hope is that these principles will not only shape their time with us but also inspire lasting changes in their lives, long after their mission ends. We hope that our volunteers themselves will become an inspiration to others to learn that each of us can make a small, big difference daily. Being in direct contact with nature is an eye opening experience to see how much wildlife is dependant on healthy ecosystems, and so we do.
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do.
Explore the dedicated section on our website to learn more about our efforts to live in harmony with nature and protect the environment.

respect for our team

At LEO Africa, we extend the same respect to our team as we do to the wildlife we work tirelessly to protect. We are committed to creating excellent working and living conditions while fostering a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration.

We strive to share our passion for conservation, nature, and sustainability principles with our rangers, as we aim to be an example for them, inspiring them to embrace a nature-oriented lifestyle.

Our team has grown steadily over the years, and as a testament to our fair and supportive practices, some members have been with us since 2018. We believe in nurturing the professional growth of our employees and recognize the importance of retaining and building on the significant knowledge they acquire in the field.

To support this, we also try our best to provide opportunities for team members to pursue official FGASA qualifications and guiding education, enhancing their expertise while reinforcing the depth of experience within our team.