Okavango Private Foundation

02/21/2026

This week, the EPA rolled back mercury limits on coal plants.

Mercury doesn't stay in smokestacks. It travels. It settles into rivers and lakes. It accumulates in fish. It enters the food we eat — and when it reaches a pregnant mother, it can cross into a developing baby's brain.

This isn't a regulation on paper. It's a chain reaction in the natural world.

Protections that had already reduced mercury emissions by 90% — with the technology already in place to keep them — were repealed this week.

When we talk about protecting ecosystems, this is exactly what we mean. Nature and human health are not separate conversations.

They never were.

02/19/2026

Before the noise.
After the noise.

The natural world continues.

Light returns.
Water moves.
Life adapts.

These systems are not fragile ideas.
They are living foundations.

Protection is not a trend.
It is a responsibility.

Some things are not optional to safeguard.

They are essential.

02/17/2026

While policies shift and regulations are reconsidered, the realities of climate and ecology remain the same.

Clean air still matters.
Stable habitat still matters.
Science still matters.

Wildlife and communities depend on protections grounded in long-term evidence — not short-term change.

Environmental stewardship isn’t partisan.
It’s practical.
It’s necessary.
It’s about safeguarding the systems that sustain life.

The wild doesn’t get a pause button.

And neither should thoughtful protection.

02/05/2025

In Case You Missed It: Wildlife Crossings Offer New Hope for Endangered Red Wolves

Red wolves once ranged far and wide across the U.S., helping them earn the nickname “America's wolf.” But there are now thought to be fewer than 20 left in the wild.

02/02/2025

🐺 BREAKING: $25M Grant to Save the Last 16 Red Wolves

The Okavango Private Foundation, a proud donor and advocate, is excited to share that the Highway 64 wildlife crossing in Eastern NC—home to Earth’s last wild Red Wolves—is getting 13 wildlife underpasses to stop vehicle strikes, their #1 killer. 🐺❤️👏

🌿 Why It Matters:
✅ Protects red wolves, black bears, otters, and more.
✅ Slashes wildlife-vehicle collisions by 97%.
✅ Saves human lives and prevents $10B in annual damages.

🤝 Made Possible By:

Federal Highway Administration
CenterForBiodiversity
WildlandsNetwork
The Tuscarora Nation of NC
13,000+ donors + a $2M anonymous match!

💬 “These crossings bridge the gulf between humans and wolves, restoring our connection to nature.”
– Donnie McDowell, Tuscarora Nation

🤲Together, let’s rewrite the Red Wolves future and donate to the CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY to keep the project moving.

📸: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

01/01/2025

New Year, New Hope for Wildlife Conservation! 🎉

As we welcome 2025, we celebrate a landmark victory for wildlife: a $25 million grant for critical wildlife crossings in endangered Red Wolf Territory, North Carolina. 🌿 With fewer than 20 Red Wolves left in the wild, this initiative offers a lifeline to protect these majestic creatures from vehicle strikes, ensuring safe passage and a chance to thrive.

Let’s make 2025 a year of action, hope, and restoration. Together, we can safeguard the future of wildlife and our planet! 🌎💚

Photo of Red wolf 2323M, tragically killed by a vehicle strike on US 64 in eastern NC.

12/25/2024

As the year comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible support from our community of conservationists, adventurers, and nature lovers. 💚 Together, we’ve taken meaningful strides in protecting wildlife, preserving habitats, and fostering harmony with our beautiful planet. 🌍

This season, we hope you find joy in the wonder of nature, warmth in the company of loved ones, and inspiration to continue making a difference. Here's to a brighter, greener future in the new year! 🌿🐾

Wishing you peace, love, and all the beauty the holidays bring. Happy Holidays! 🎁❄️

08/05/2024

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐤𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫!

According to a recent Your Observer article, the rising water levels have brought manatees back to Myakka River State Park. As mostly herbivorous marine mammals, manatees feast on submerged aquatic vegetation like seagrass. Due to poor water quality, these beds have been declining, causing starvation and exposure to toxic algae blooms.

𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐤𝐤𝐚'𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐩. With roots submerged and leaves above water, these plants provide ample, toxin-free food, ensuring the manatees’ survival.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 in supporting conservation efforts to maintain this vital habitat.



Photo by Miri Hardy

08/04/2024

"𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀": 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀

𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀, Senior Director of Animal Care at the Museum of Life and Science, highlights the power of empathy in red wolf conservation.
She discusses the recent birth of new pups, emphasizing how understanding and collaboration are vital to saving this critically endangered species. This aligns with our mission at the 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to protect and nurture endangered wildlife through compassionate efforts.

For more insights, read this compelling article on how you can help save the endangered red wolf.
https://indyweek.com/culture/empathy-is-going-to-save-this-species-talking-with-sherry-samuels-about-the-red-wolf/

📸: Photo by Valerie (UCumari Photography) on Flickr

08/03/2024

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗨𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀!

Recently, five red wolves, 20% of their population, have been killed by vehicles, right in our backyard, in North Carolina.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasizes the urgent need for action:
"Wildlife crossings can save lives." - Will Harland

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Y9ZBFLgAU

The Center of Biological Diversity and Okavango Private Foundation are working to raise $𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟯𝟭 to secure federal funds and build these crossings.

Your donation can make a life-saving difference. 🌿❤️

𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄! Donate Here:
https://redwolf.donorsupport.co/page/FUNUMPWQHVM?fundraiser=NABUENCQ&member=SLHSXNFY&Source=P24_D01_YT_A01_N01&sourceid=1010035

06/10/2024

We had an amazing time at “Echoes of the Ocean: Superheroes of Manatee Conservation”!
Dr. James “Buddy” Powell and Jamal Galves shared their incredible journeys in manatee protection. From Dr. Powell's teenage years introducing Jacques Cousteau to manatees, to Jamal becoming the “Manatee Man” after meeting Dr. Powell in Belize.
Their work will now benefit Clearwater Marine Aquarium's new Manatee Rehabilitation Center. Exciting times ahead for manatee conservation! 🤿🌊

01/01/2024

🌿🎉 Welcoming 2024 with Open Arms at the Okavango Foundation! 🎉🌿

As the first sunrise of 2024 brightens our skies, we at the Okavango Foundation are filled with hope and excitement for the year ahead.

🐾 In 2024, our commitment to nature and community remains as strong as ever. We’re ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities, enhancing our efforts in conservation and sustainable development. Every step we take is a stride towards a greener, more sustainable future.

💧 Let’s find joy and purpose in playing and working together. May 2024 make strides for the blue, green and gray matter. 💧🌳🪩

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here’s to a transformative year ahead!