Zoom, zoom: TRAFFIC marks 20 years of support from Mazda
Johannesburg, South Africa, 22nd February 2012—TRAFFIC and Mazda are today celebrating 20 years of conservation partnership. The anniversary was marked by Humphrey le Grice of the Mazda Wildlife Fund, who handed over the keys of a Mazda loan vehicle to David Newton, TRAFFIC’s Regional Director in East and Southern Africa.
“Ever since 1992, the Mazda Wildlife Fund has provided tough and reliable vehicles to support TRAFFIC’s vital conservation work, which is helping make a real difference to local livelihoods in the region,” said Humphrey le Grice of the Mazda Wildlife Fund.
The first loan vehicle provided by the Mazda Wildlife Fund was a Mazda Sting saloon. It was followed by a Mazda 626 and several Mazda Drifter Double Cabs, all fitted with differential locks for off the beaten track destinations.
The vehicles have been used for journeys ranging from city market visits to carrying out field surveys of medicinal plants in remote areas.
“Getting around is essential to our work, and wherever TRAFFIC works in southern Africa, the Mazda loan vehicle is not far away,” said David Newton, TRAFFIC’s Regional Director in East and Southern Africa.
“The Mazda loan vehicles have invariably proven tough and reliable whatever task we have thrown at them—easily able to cope with travel in the mountains of Lesotho, where roads are often no more than deeply rutted cattle tracks and where the Mazda Drifter’s differential locks have been invaluable.”
“TRAFFIC extends its sincere thanks to the Mazda Wildlife Fund for your 20 years of support: you have, quite literally, been the driving force behind our conservation efforts.”
Notes:
About the Mazda Wildlife Fund
The Mazda Wildlife Fund is proud to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of helping to protect our precious natural heritage. The Fund currently provides long term loan vehicles to 29 NGO and non-profit organisations throughout South Africa, whose projects involve environmental education, research and the direct preservation of endangered species and habitats.
