Coe Lewis grew up on a game reserve in Ethiopia, so when a couple of her radio show listeners told her about their safari camp in Zambia, she was excited to learn that they shared her passion for protecting animals and working to end poaching in Africa. The three of them decided to found the Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation in 2015.

“Nsefu is the Zambian word for ‘eland,’ a type of antelope in the region. Our foundation is an all-encompassing anti-poaching foundation that incorporates ranger programs that dovetail with community programs and engagement,” she says.

As co-founder and director of operations in the United States, she oversees fundraising and establishing working relationships with likeminded organizations. Lewis, 55, lives in the Blossom Valley area of El Cajon and has worked in radio for 30 years, most of those at KGB-FM 101.5, where she’s co-host of The Bob & Coe Show in the mornings. She also created another foundation, Coe’s List, which she uses on the radio to help local people and animals in need. She took some time to talk about the Nsefu foundation, their work in Zambia and the programs they’ve created to help both the animals and the people there.

Q: Tell us about your foundation.


A: Through 100 percent donations, we have built our headquarters and we currently have nine rangers on staff. Our rangers conduct field patrols, are government-approved to arrest poachers, conduct snare sweeps, gather data, and we’ve established an information system to keep tabs on poachers and their activities. We have a Zambian board of directors and a community program arm of our foundation where we are addressing community needs and helping stabilize the local economy through projects like sewing, tree-planting, beekeeping and introducing conservation education into the local school. Working with the community will create strong bonds and we can shine a light on the amazing natural resources that Zambia has and will lose if not protected.

Q: What are your goals for Nsefu?

A: To grow in order to create a greater impact in the fight against poaching.

Q: Why is your organization focused on ending poaching?


A: Because having these species go extinct on our watch is simply unacceptable. The black market’s lust for ivory, rhino horn, and wildlife trafficking put these animals on a course to extinction. Africa’s wildlife is a treasure and someone has to fight for them because they have no chance against money, assault rifles and corrupt people.

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Q: Which animals in Zambia are at greatest risk of, or are the biggest target for, poaching?

A: Elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, lions, leopards, painted dogs, gorillas, chimpanzees, and the list goes on and on. Ivory means status in a number of countries, and rhinoceros horn, unfortunately, is thought to cure cancer and increase sexual drive. These animals are being wiped out due to such high demand.

Q: What specific things has your organization done to curb poaching in Zambia?

A: Our rangers have had large numbers of arrests, confiscation of weapons, vehicles and other poaching gear. Our informant system is working well, and we have cleared hundreds of snares sparing animals an agonizing death.


Q: How big of an issue is poaching in Zambia?

A: It is big and growing, including in other countries like Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Mali and Angola. We focused on Zambia because of the couple I met who built a safari camp there. There are a handful of African countries that have lions and those numbers are in the tens of thousands. There are even fewer rhinos. Since China has said they will ban the import and export of ivory, poachers have increased their activities before the borders shut down.

Q: How does your organization define “poaching”?

A: Poaching is the taking of wildlife, not for survival, but for financial exploitation. Poaching is driven by money. We are not after the hunter who needs food; we are after the person driven by greed.


Q: Why has Nsefu also taken on causes like addressing gendered violence, environmentalism and youth programs in Zambia?

A: By supporting the community with programs that improve the quality of life, the habitat, and the overall well-being of people, you improve everything. All boats rise with the tide, including saving wildlife. We’re building a school for the kids in the village in the region. In return for our support of the children, we’ve asked that wildlife appreciation and conservation be taught in the classroom at the earliest ages.

Q: Why is there a need for an office in San Diego?

A: Fortunately for us, San Diego is a very proactive region for conservation programs and think tanks. Some of the most pioneering organizations are right here (i.e. the San Diego Zoo and their global conservation programs). … The U.S. office oversees all projects and funds in Zambia. The Nsefu teammates attend events selling our merchandise, including our line of wines and our shirts, hats and calendars. We meet with people in conservation or other organizations that align with Nsefu, like Global Conservation Force, which is helping us supply ranger gear and ranger training.


Q: What sparked your interest in helping animals, especially working to protect them?

A: That spark began as a kid, living on a game reserve. We rescued wild animals that had been orphaned, injured and abandoned, including cheetahs, duikers and more. We even had a pet baboon named Philip.

Q: What have you learned about yourself as a result of this work?

A: I have experienced a new level of exhaustion.


Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: You can’t save everything, but you can save one … start there.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: I was raised all over the world, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Spain and Belgium.


Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: Wake up at 7 a.m. (I can’t sleep later), stay in bed with about four cups of coffee until noon, then tackle home projects that I had no time for during the week. I love that.

Email: lisa.deaderick@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @lisadeaderick