Endangered Wildlife Trust
Endangered Wildlife Trust is a South African non-profit founded in 1974 that conserves threatened species and ecosystems across nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes in East and southern Africa, serving IPLCs, governments, and corporate partners through field programmes, decision-support tools, and a 2024 bluebuck de-extinction partnership with Colossal Biosciences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Endangered Wildlife Trust does
Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is a South African non-profit conservation organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Midrand, Gauteng. It operates across nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes spanning East and southern Africa — covering South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi — and delivers field conservation through species-specific programmes (Cranes, Birds of Prey, Carnivores, Amphibians), cross-cutting initiatives (Biodiversity and Business, Wildlife and Infrastructure, Wildlife in Trade, People in Conservation), and specialized units including a Conservation Canine Unit and a Conservation Planning and Science Unit. The organization also maintains a 501(c)(3) US affiliate, Endangered Wildlife Trust USA.
EWT's underlying technology base is built around proprietary conservation datasets (Mammal Red List, Key Biodiversity Areas, Strategic Water Source Areas, species distribution layers) operationalized through decision-support tools such as the Threatened Species No-Go Map Tool and the Land Use Decision Support Tool for Species of Conservation Concern (LUD-SCC). Field operations use drone technologies, environmental DNA sampling, and wildlife monitoring systems. In 2024, EWT entered a flagship partnership with Colossal Biosciences and Advanced Conservation Strategies for bluebuck de-extinction, contributing ecological planning, stakeholder engagement, and feasibility studies; the project has produced a 40-fold high-coverage paleogenome and the first induced pluripotent stem cells from roan antelope.
EWT's revenue model is non-commercial: it operates on donations, grants, and bilateral/multilateral aid (notably a previously material USAID grant of approximately $1.2M suspended in January 2025), supplemented by emerging corporate biodiversity advisory and sustainable finance activities via the BBN Programme and Sustainable Finance Unit. Its customers, in a funder sense, are individual donors, foundations, government agencies, and a small number of corporate partners; the constituencies served operationally are threatened species and ecosystems, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in conservation landscapes, and government/landowner/corporate stakeholders needing biodiversity integration. EWT is led by CEO Yolan Friedmann and operates with 101–250 staff.
Endangered Wildlife Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Endangered Wildlife Trust
- Legal name
- Endangered Wildlife Trust
- Website
- https://ewt.org.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Endangered Wildlife Trust is a South African non-profit founded in 1974 that conserves threatened species and ecosystems across nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes in East and southern Africa, serving IPLCs, governments, and corporate partners through field programmes, decision-support tools, and a 2024 bluebuck de-extinction partnership with Colossal Biosciences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Endangered Wildlife Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)
Keywords
Where Endangered Wildlife Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Endangered Wildlife Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Endangered Wildlife Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Endangered Wildlife Trust conserves threatened species and ecosystems across East and southern Africa through nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes, species-specific programs (cranes, birds of prey, carnivores, amphibians), and cross-cutting initiatives addressing human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable finance, and biodiversity-business integration. It delivers this work via in-field conservation programs, decision-support tools, scientific research, and strategic partnerships with governments, landowners, indigenous communities, and corporations.
Product overview
The Endangered Wildlife Trust operates as a conservation organization offering a portfolio of specialized programs, tools, and resources focused on conserving threatened species and ecosystems across East and southern Africa. The offerings include species-specific programs (Cranes, Birds of Prey, Carnivores, Amphibians), cross-cutting conservation approaches (Biodiversity and Business, Wildlife and Infrastructure, Wildlife in Trade, People in Conservation, Conservation Canine Unit, Sustainable Finance Unit), decision-support tools (No-Go Map Tool, LUD-SCC Tool, Mammal Red List), and nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes. The organization partners with external entities like Colossal Biosciences for de-extinction initiatives. The programs are integrated through shared conservation principles and data resources rather than a unified technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Threatened Species No-Go Map Tool A mapping tool that identifies areas where development should be avoided to protect threatened species and sensitive ecosystems; intended for planners, developers, and conservation practitioners.
- Land Use Decision Support Tool for Species of Conservation Concern (LUD-SCC) A decision support tool that integrates land use planning with species conservation considerations for use by land-use planners and environmental managers.
- Mammal Red List A comprehensive database documenting the conservation status of mammal species, available as a research resource.
- Cranes Programme A specialized program dedicated to the conservation of crane species across Africa, including field research, habitat protection, and population monitoring.
- Birds of Prey Programme A program focused on the conservation of birds of prey including vultures and other raptors across Africa.
- Carnivores Programme A program focused on the conservation of carnivore species and addressing human-wildlife conflict across African landscapes.
- Threatened Endemic Species (Amphibians) Programme A program focused on the conservation of threatened endemic amphibian species across Africa.
- Biodiversity and Business (BBN) Programme A program that helps businesses integrate biodiversity considerations into their strategies, operations, and supply chains.
- Wildlife and Infrastructure Programme A program addressing the impacts of infrastructure development on wildlife and implementing mitigation measures for developers and infrastructure operators.
- Wildlife in Trade Programme A program focused on addressing illegal wildlife trade and promoting sustainable, legal wildlife commerce.
- People in Conservation Programme A program enabling Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) to participate in and benefit from conservation efforts.
- Conservation Canine Unit A specialized unit employing trained dogs for wildlife detection, anti-poaching operations, and conservation tasks.
- Sustainable Finance Unit
Quantifiable outcome
- De-extinction project has produced 40-fold high-coverage paleogenome, first induced pluripotent stem cells from roan antelope, and first successful ovum pick-up procedures in two antelope species
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Endangered Wildlife Trust
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Endangered Wildlife Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Endangered Wildlife Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.
- Colossal BiosciencesflagshipPartnership for bluebuck de-extinction project. The bluebuck is an antelope species extinct since around 1800 and is the sixth species in Colossal's de-extinction portfolio. EWT is providing ecological planning, stakeholder engagement, and feasibility studies for potential reintroduction. The project has already produced world-first scientific breakthroughs including a 40-fold high-coverage paleogenome and induced pluripotent stem cells from roan antelope.
- Advanced Conservation StrategiesflagshipPartnership for bluebuck de-extinction and de-extinction portfolio. ACS collaborates on ecological planning, stakeholder engagement, and rewilding planning for the reintroduction of extinct species including the bluebuck.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Endangered Wildlife Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Panthera: Global wild cat conservation nonprofit with significant African field operations and human-wildlife conflict programs. Comparable as a species-specialist (carnivore) conservation NGO working in similar African landscapes.
- Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife conservation NGO with significant African field operations focused on landscapes and threatened species. Comparable as a similarly science-driven, multi-country conservation operator with donor and corporate funding channels.
- Fauna & Flora International: UK-headquartered conservation NGO with active programs across Africa focused on threatened species. Comparable as a similarly mature, science-driven conservation nonprofit working on landscape-level species protection.
- African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation nonprofit operating across East and southern Africa with similar landscape-level conservation strategy. Directly comparable geographic footprint and species focus (carnivores, great apes, elephants).
- BirdLife South Africa: South African bird conservation NGO with overlapping species programs (Birds of Prey, cranes, threatened endemic birds) and shared landscape focus. Directly comparable as a domestic South African species-specialist peer.
- International Crane Foundation: Global crane conservation NGO and explicit EWT partner through the East Africa Landscape partnership. Comparable as a species-focused conservation nonprofit collaborating with EWT on the Cranes Programme and East African landscapes.
- Peace Parks Foundation: South Africa-based nonprofit facilitating transfrontier conservation areas across southern Africa. Directly comparable as both operate multi-country landscape conservation programs in the Kavango-Zambezi TFCA and surrounding regions.
- WWF South Africa: South African affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund, focused on species and habitat conservation in southern Africa. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized African conservation NGO with overlapping species programs, corporate partnerships, and donor-base structure.
Broad incumbents
- SANParks: South African National Parks agency managing protected areas across South Africa. Comparable as the broader public-sector incumbent managing many of the same ecosystems and landscapes EWT operates in.
Regional players
- Conservation South Luangwa: Zambia-based conservation nonprofit focused on the South Luangwa ecosystem. Comparable as a regional African conservation NGO with anti-poaching and community programs in similar ecosystems to EWT's Zambezi landscapes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Endangered Wildlife Trust social profiles
Digital presenceEndangered Wildlife Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Endangered Wildlife Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Endangered Wildlife Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Endangered Wildlife Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Endangered Wildlife Trust
What does Endangered Wildlife Trust do?
The Endangered Wildlife Trust conserves threatened species and ecosystems across East and southern Africa through nine Strategic Conservation Landscapes, species-specific programs (cranes, birds of prey, carnivores, amphibians), and cross-cutting initiatives addressing human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable finance, and biodiversity-business integration. It delivers this work via in-field conservation programs, decision-support tools, scientific research, and strategic partnerships with governments, landowners, indigenous communities, and corporations.
Is Endangered Wildlife Trust a public or private company?
Endangered Wildlife Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Endangered Wildlife Trust founded?
Endangered Wildlife Trust was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Endangered Wildlife Trust based?
Endangered Wildlife Trust is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
Who are Endangered Wildlife Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Panthera, Wildlife Conservation Society, Fauna & Flora International, African Wildlife Foundation, BirdLife South Africa, International Crane Foundation, Peace Parks Foundation and WWF South Africa. SANParks is listed as a broad incumbent. Conservation South Luangwa is listed as a regional player.
Does Endangered Wildlife Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Endangered Wildlife Trust.
What industry is Endangered Wildlife Trust in?
Endangered Wildlife Trust's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAB, Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection. Its NAICS code is 813312.