WWF SOUTH AFRICA

In 1968, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands (then president of the World Wildlife Fund) approached Dr Anton Rupert (a successful South African businessman and conservationist) to work towards securing South Africa’s wildlife and nature.

Dr Rupert garnered support from a group of local business aficionados. They realised that something had to be done quickly if South Africa’s biodiversity - its plants and animals and the ecosystems they live in - were to be conserved.

The Southern African Wildlife Foundation was formed in 1968, later becoming the Southern African Nature Foundation and in 1995 renamed to WWF South Africa.

Since its founding, WWF has been dedicated to protecting South Africa’s natural heritage. This includes plant and animal species, and people.

In 2018, WWF South Africa celebrates 50 years of environmental achievements and impact.