Hydranest: Wildlife Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Our Vision

Our Values

We envision a future where wildlife and ecosystems across Africa thrive, even in the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity. We believe that by harnessing the power of biomimicry, we can create a more harmonious and sustainable world for all.

INNOVATION: We embrace creative, nature-inspired solutions to address environmental challenges.

SUSTAINABILITY: We strive to develop solutions that are environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.

COLLABORATION: We believe in the power of partnerships and community involvement to achieve lasting impact.

RESPECT FOR NATURE: We are guided by a deep respect for the natural world and its inherent wisdom.

About HydraNest Wildlife Conservation

HydraNest is dedicated to wildlife conservation in drought-stricken Sub-Saharan Africa, promoting sustainable practices to protect our planet's precious ecosystems.

HydraNest’s mission is to solve environmental challenges using innovative, nature-inspired solutions.

We strive to harmonize nature and communities through innovative projects, like the Strelitzia-inspired water reservoir, ensuring a sustainable future for wildlife.

Our Story

HydraNest is a non-profit organisation founded by two Certified Biomimicry Professionals from Zimbabwe, Anika Chakravarti and Gamelihle Sibanda.

HydraNest is deeply committed to addressing the challenges around wildlife conservation in sub-Saharan Africa, with initial focus in Zimbabwe.

Driven by a shared passion for biomimicry and a desire to address the pressing issue of water scarcity affecting wildlife in their home country, Anika and Gamelihle combined their backgrounds in mechanical and civil engineering and sustainable design to found HydraNest.

As graduates of the Master’s programme in Biomimicry from Arizona State University and Certified Biomimicry Professionals, they are passionate advocates of biomimicry—the science of studying and emulating nature’s designs to solve human challenges.

Our Approach: Biomimicry

At HydraNest, we believe that nature holds the key to solving many of the challenges facing humanity and the planet. We practice biomimicry, which involves studying nature's forms, processes, and ecosystems to find elegant and sustainable solutions to human problems.

By taking inspiration from the natural world, we can design and develop technologies that are not only functional but also environmentally friendly and resilient.

Our Focus: The Strelitzia-Inspired Water Reservoir

Our current focus is the development of a water reservoir, which will be designed to provide an alternative water source for wildlife in drought-prone areas. This initiative is driven by the urgent need to mitigate the devastating effects of drought, exacerbated by climate change, on animals like elephants, who require large quantities of water daily.

The design of the reservoir takes inspiration from Strelitzia reginae. Just as the Strelitzia flower opens its petals to reveal pollen when a bird lands on its perch, our reservoir will provide a reliable source of clean water, activated by the weight of animals. This innovative system aims to:

Harvest rainwater and minimize evaporation.
Provide clean and accessible water for a range of wildlife, including elephants.
Operate without external power sources, making it ideal for remote locations.

Learn more about Strelitzia's mechanism on the Projects page.

Our team is committed to working closely with local communities, conservationists, and experts on the ground to ensure the project’s success and long-term sustainability.