Mandai Wildlife Group signs Memorandum of Understanding with African Parks

Both organisations are champions in their regions – one stewarding the rich biodiversity of Southeast Asia, the other safeguarding Africa’s important landscapes in partnership with governments and communities for future generations. Now, they are forging a partnership that transcends geography, culture, and ecosystems to advance conservation outcomes.

Mandai Wildlife Group is the steward behind Singapore’s wildlife and nature destination, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Located in northern Singapore, the destination is home to the country’s zoological parks, namely the world-renowned Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise, River Wonders and the recently opened Rainforest Wild Asia. A portion of its revenue goes towards supporting more than 40 conservation projects in Southeast Asia through its conservation arm, Mandai Nature.

African Parks is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. They manage 23 protected areas in 13 countries, including Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Piyush Gupta, Chairman, Mandai Wildlife Group, said: “Threats to ecosystems cross borders, so must our response. This partnership with African Parks is about two organisations from very different parts of the world coming together to create new pathways for conservation impact. Beyond sharing our conservation expertise, we look forward to exploring opportunities for coordinated marketing and the joint promotion of our parks and programmes, while raising awareness of key conservation issues to a wider audience.”

The MOU sets out a shared commitment to advancing scientific studies, enhancing conservation strategies, and coordinating initiatives across both regions. It also includes opportunities for staff development and exchange programmes to build leadership capacity and promote a culture of knowledge sharing between Asia and Africa.

Beyond scientific collaboration, the partnership will expand public engagement through cross-promotion of each organisation’s parks and programmes, creating new opportunities across continents to inspire and educate people from all walks of life. This may include potential reciprocal benefits for members and sponsors.

Peter Fearnhead, CEO, African Parks, said: “Our partnership with Mandai Wildlife Group reflects a mutual understanding that conservation of our vital landscapes is a global responsibility and necessity. We must reframe how the world values nature, placing it at the core of our collective future. This collaboration enhances our capacity to drive impactful change, share knowledge, and inspire a global movement to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.”

By bringing together communities across continents, the MOU reflects a belief that collaborative efforts are essential to securing a sustainable future for biodiversity and inspiring meaningful action for wildlife.