The Wilderness Trust has announced that the inaugural Wilderness Impact Challenge 2025 has been won by The BioBoundary Project by Wild Entrust Africa. Unveiled during a special event held in Maun, the winning initiative stood out among more than 140 global submissions for its innovative and scalable approach to addressing human-wildlife conflict. The pioneering project will receive USD 100,000 to support the implementation and expansion of its groundbreaking predator deterrent system, which uses scent-based barriers to reduce livestock predation.
Launched in December 2024, the Wilderness Impact Challenge was established to identify and support bold, creative solutions that promote coexistence between people and wildlife across Africa. Open to individuals, NGOs, start-ups, and research institutions worldwide, the Challenge focuses on practical ideas that can be implemented at scale to bring about measurable, lasting change in conservation.
Following a rigorous selection process, four finalists were shortlisted: Wild Entrust Africa, Terrasense, Ele-Collection Enterprises, and Xeroth AI. While all presented compelling, forward-thinking solutions, The BioBoundary Project was selected for its ingenuity, cost-effectiveness, and high potential for immediate real-world impact.
“This solution is practical and easy to implement in areas where human-wildlife conflict is prevalent”, said Wilderness Trust board member and judge, Olivia Mufute, a seasoned wildlife ecologist with over 25 years of experience in conservation. “Whether in communal lands, private reserves, or buffer zones around national parks, it offers a powerful, non-lethal alternative to protecting livestock and reducing retaliatory killings”.
Fellow judge and board member Basilia Shivute, who leads a community-based NGO in Namibia’s Kunene Region, added: “From a community perspective, I can see how this system could make a real difference. It’s simple, effective, and replicable across various landscapes – whether in Namibia, Zimbabwe, or beyond. It’s exactly the kind of innovation we hoped to uncover through this Challenge”.
Conceived by Dr J Weldon McNutt, and now led by Dr Peter Apps, The BioBoundary Project uses synthetic scent markers to mimic natural predators’ territorial markings. These invisible barriers can be applied to livestock collars or boundary lines, discouraging predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas and African wild dogs from approaching human settlements or grazing areas. The technology offers a safe, affordable alternative to costly fencing or lethal control, while fostering human-wildlife coexistence.
When asked how the prize money will help scale Wild Entrust Africa’s solution, Dr Apps noted, “Its most important contribution will be to allow us to double the number of researchers in the BioBoundary team, a step towards having a critical mass of personnel with complementary skills. The publicity that this award generates will also attract attention from other potential funders who recognise the need for innovation, and from potential investors in the business sector, who will do a much better job at rolling out the deterrents at a large scale”.
The Wilderness Trust will continue to document and share the progress of the BioBoundary Project as it moves from innovative concept to measurable impact on the ground. The Trust also extends its sincere thanks and congratulations to the three other finalists, whose bold and visionary solutions hold immense potential to drive meaningful change in conservation and inspire future innovation across the sector.
This is innovation born of Botswana, shaping meaningful impact in conservation tourism and helping protect Earth’s ultimate untamed places. As tourism continues to be a vital pillar of our national economy, contributing significantly to GDP, it’s work like this — proudly local and globally relevant — that fuels sustainable growth in the sector.
For more on the Wilderness Impact Challenge, the winning project, and the Top 4 finalists, see here.