Conservationists at Marwell Wildlife have launched a ‘Save Our Stripes’ campaign to save the most endangered species of zebra from extinction.

They are urging supporters to help during a ‘double the difference’ fundraising week.

Fewer than 3,000 Grevy’s zebra remain in the wild, as habitat loss, droughts, competition with livestock and infrastructure development threaten their survival.

(Image: Marwell Wildlife) READ MORE: Walk of the Week: The paths and woods of Boldre New Forest with The Ramblers

Staff at Marwell, who have been at the forefront of Grevy’s zebra conservation efforts for more than 20 years, are calling upon supporters to back this year’s £16,000 Big Give campaign, which will see donations made by the public doubled thanks to the generosity of businesses and philanthropists.

Every penny raised until Tuesday April 29 will be matched up to £8,000 by the Big Give’s Green Match Fund and used by Marwell’s conservation experts to mobilise local scouts to monitor and safeguard the Grevy’s zebra population in northern Kenya where they operate a local team.

Marwell Wildlife CEO Laura Read, who is currently visiting the charity’s projects in Kenya, said: “We must act now to save the Grevy’s zebra. The species was once widespread across east Africa but numbers have declined by over 75 per cent since the 1970s.

"The remaining population live in remote areas where there are ongoing risks of drought. Our approach is to work with the local communities, using their distinct and valuable knowledge of the landscape, to help protect the Grevy’s zebra and highlight its importance.

"We are privileged to have some of the world’s leading zebra conservationists at Marwell, and our work is helping to inform government decisions on infrastructure projects, conservation strategies and also to further empower local communities to take action to protect their valuable wildlife."

(Image: Marwell Wildlife) The funds raised will support scouts in Kenya to deliver wildlife monitoring and community engagement.

Using camera traps and GPS-enabled phones, scouts collect crucial data on zebra populations to feed into Kenya’s national database, helping inform long-term conservation plans.

Marwell will also run tours, giving children and teenagers from remote villages the chance to see a Grevy’s zebra and other native wildlife for the first time.

Visit the Big Give website or marwell.org.uk/save-our-stripes and give what you can.