The leopard (Panthera pardus) is recognised as a key wildlife species in the success of both the sport hunting and eco-tourism markets in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Uncertainties about leopard population numbers and the increase in permits allocated to sub-Sahara African countries by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is cause for some concern.

Sango launched the Leopard Research Project in association with the University of Pretoria, South Africa in March 2008 in order to conduct a review of the economic and ecological issues related to leopard hunting in Africa and to assess the impacts and sustainability of trophy hunting of leopards using Sango as a case study.

Sango was selected as suitable case study due to the large area suitable for habitation by leopards as well as the sustainable ethical hunting conducted on Sango.

The project also allows for the monitoring of the leopard population and aims to develop simple analytical models to determine leopard population densities and to detect trends in leopard populations. These analytical models will then be incorporated into a much more comprehensive model that aims at formulating management strategies towards leopard conservation.

Leopards are monitored using collars, recorded sightings by wildlife management staff, and the installation of trap cameras in trees. Fifty-one leopards have been identified on 50% of the size of the property which implicates a population size of between 90 to 120 animals.

The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is listed as Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red Data List as sustainable populations only occur in eight countries in the world.

Wild dogs recolonised the Save Valley Conservancy in 1992. The region now boasts one of the largest wild dog populations in the world, which makes it suitable for the study of wild dogs. The African Wildlife Conservation Fund Lowveld Wild Dog Project was started by Dr Alistair Pole in 1996 to record the numbers and distribution of the population in the region and improve the overall conservation status of the species.
 
Sango works in close collaboration with the Lowveld Wild Dog Project through the monitoring of collared and uncollared dogs, the placement, maintenance and monitoring of trap cameras at dens, and the sponsorship of educational field trips for local schools.

The wild dog population at Sango is doing well with three den sites recorded during the last denning season as well as 38 dogs.

The White Rhino Project contributes to the maintenance of a viable and well-distributed population of white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) both in the Save Valley Conservancy and sub-Saharan Africa.

The project is a model for rhino conservation initiatives in the world as it is one of the first successful conservation projects that includes community participation in the breeding and monitoring of endangered species.

Communities receive financial incentives upon the successful breeding of each specimen and all specimens are monitored through the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Anti-Poaching Team which consists of local members of the community.