Let's help fix the Falcon College Landcruiser
Let’s Help Fix the Falcon College Falconry Club Land Cruiser in Zimbabwe
When the stories of raptor conservation and falconry in Zimbabwe are told, there are few things as iconic as The Peregrine Fund/Falcon College Land Cruiser. Largely through the efforts of Tom Cade, who had spent quite a bit of time in Zimbabwe, The Peregrine Fund very kindly donated the Land Cruiser to the Zimbabwe Falconers' Club Raptor Conservation Fund in the late 1980s. The vehicle was provided to facilitate the wealth of information that was being collected on the various research trips to Peregrine and Taita breeding sites. The driving force behind this wonderful and important initiative was, of course, Ron Hartley.
With the passage of time and radical shift in land use policies in Zimbabwe, the research projects became less and less feasible, and ultimately the vehicle was hired by Falcon College on a permanent basis for the student Falconry Club. This is one of the very few schools in the world where young people learn and practice real, practical falconry, and the Land Cruiser is essential for the continuation of this. The Peregrine Fund Land Cruiser is still a workhorse, aiding in numerous raptor conservation efforts while also introducing falconry to generations of students attending Falcon College. Essentially, students are transported around the environs of the school for the various falconry related activities using this vehicle. It has been a wonderful and crucial part of the college Falconry Club for decades.
Recently, it was discovered that the engine will need to be redone at an estimated total cost of almost five thousand USD ($5,000). Furthermore, after nearly 40 years of service, The Peregrine Fund/Falcon College Land Cruiser is in serious need of updating and could use a little bit of a makeover. With the ongoing lockdown situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the college Falconry Club is somewhat hamstrung and cash flow is severely limited.
In addition to the engine rebuild, and working with Four Wheel Auto Zimbabwe *, we're hoping to raise enough funds to get the problematic suspension sorted, the interior and exterior bench seating recovered, and "dress her up" a little bit, so that she better represents Falcon College and the incredible students who attend this prestigious school.
I hope you will consider donating to a very worthwhile project to help keep things going at Zimbabwe's Falcon College student Falconry Club.
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