Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
For years, poaching has been a way of life (and a means of income) for some Tanzanians in the northern Serengeti region. It is due to the constant monitoring of the area and diligence from the locals like myself and my associates, that the wilderness is now being seen as worthy of protection.
Ray Teekishe (our Community and Conservation Manager) and I were doing a liaison visit to the Kenyanganga and Lamai Ranger Posts in the northern Serengeti in September. Sadly we came across quite a number of wire snares. As we continued to find them and pull them up we found a young wildebeest alive and still caught in one of the vicious contraptions.
Despite its very sharp horns I managed to get a small acacia between me and its horns which allowed me to release it safely. Amazingly, its only wound was a small laceration on its lower right back leg. It was able to walk but did not appear thankful for its rescue. Ray courageously took the pictures from on top of the bonnet of the Landrover while shouting encouragement (mainly to the wildebeest).
We are picking up a lot of wire snares and cooperating with TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks). Our presence in the area and our collaboration with the local community will hopefully offer them choices other than poaching and at least discourage them to be in the Park.
For more details on the conservation efforts taking place within the Lamai Wedge region, and other areas of East Africa, please do not hesitate to contact us.