Are wildlife conservation and wildlife safaris just for rich foreigners? Someone recently posted on our forums that wildlife conservation was just for rich westerners. The gist of his argument was that the parks and reserves where wildlife is conserved and protected are usually remote and once you get there you need a 4×4 to get around. In addition to that[…]
Read moreThe Ugandan government is working to diffuse a bitter row between the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and local tour and travel operators over the country’s most lucrative tourist attraction, Mountain Gorillas. The local operators, through their body—the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) are not only opposed to UWA’s initiative to have Gorilla viewing permits sold online, they have also[…]
Read moreThere are several new developments at UWA, among them being the introduction of the smartcard entry system to national parks. Gorilla Permits to go Online However, the most intriguing development that has put tour operators at loggerheads with UWA is the move to put gorilla trekking permits online for booking. The move, which starts in 2014, according to Dr Andrew[…]
Read moreWWF warns of environmental disaster and permanent conflict if British firm begins drilling for oil inside Virunga national park. Once again fragile wildlife environments and endangered species find themselves under threat from big business and the eagerness of a government to cash in on it’s country’s natural resources. This amazing park in Africa supports a wide variety of biodiversity, but[…]
Read moreThe AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is Nikon’s long awaited successor to the venerable and now 13-year-old AF 80-400/4.5-5.6D VR. It covers a 5x zoom-range and has an improved optical design with quicker and quieter focusing and better image stabilization. Nikon’s 80mm-400mm lens has long been a favourite of wildlife photographers and this upgrade will be very welcome. Unfortunately[…]
Read moreIn the wilds of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, Martin Wheeler, aka ‘bird-man’, and team use paraglider, car and footwork in surveillance effort to help thwart illegal wildlife trade. Africa’s wild elephants are being killed at their fastest rate since 1979-89, the bloody decade in which their number more than halved from 1.4m to 600,000. Wheeler, like many conservationists, is on[…]
Read moreIf anyone has any doubt about the absolute necessity of campaigns to combat elephant poaching this latest seizure drives home the seriousness of the issue. Bloggers like Jenny Karvunidis who criticized Hillary Clinton for declaring her support for the worldwide crackdown on elephant poaching should take the time to realise just how serious this issue is. Largest seizure since 2010[…]
Read moreOne of the key things about taking kids on safari is to get them involved. A few years ago I escorted a couple of family groups on migration safaris in Kenya. Having children on safari changes the whole dynamic of a group. Whereas adults are content to use the time between game drives to relax, read, update diaries or catch[…]
Read moreYears of hard work and dedication rewarded as Lewa Downs and Ngare Ndare Forest join Mt. Kenya World Heritage Site. The Mount Kenya World Heritage Site was recently expanded to include two additional conservation areas, namely Lewa Downs and the Ngare Ndare Forest. Lewa Downs, once upon a time a conventional cattle ranch owned and operated by the Craig family, has[…]
Read moreThe Kenya Wildlife Service has assured the country that the fight against illegal trade in ivory has been intensified but noted the number of elephants killed was still high. More tough talk from KWS’s Paul Mbugua, but there is still a lot of work to do to reverse the inexorable march of the poachers. Click here to read Joseph Muraya’s[…]
Read moreBigger fines and stronger penalties alone won’t be enough to stop poaching for ivory – but traditional values could help Dr Paula Kahumbu has written another thought provoking article for the Guardian. There are few more passionate campaigners – if any – for Africa’s elephants. Click here to read her latest piece.
Read moreJust when ecologists worldwide had cracked all wildlife theories a new discovery has emerged in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area where a sighting of a strangely coloured buffalo is causing a lot of excitement. Click here to read the story in Tanzania’s Daily News
Read moreSouth Africa is seeking permission for a one-off sale of some of its $1bn stockpile of rhino horn to finance conservation and potentially flood a thriving black market, its environment minister said on Wednesday. However, conservation groups fear the plan could end up increasing demand in major markets such as Vietnam, where the horn is sought after for use in[…]
Read more“Africa is facing an unprecedented crisis of elephant poaching that threatens to wipe out the species in a decade. As poachers gun down elephant matriarchs, and destroy their families, buyers of ivory in countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand purchase exquisite ivory carvings of their gods, and believe that they are somehow worshiping God. Don’t they know that their consumer[…]
Read moreFACT SHEET: U.S. Efforts to Combat Wildlife Trafficking A New Executive Order to Better Coordinate the U.S. Response Today the President will sign an Executive Order (E.O.) to enhance coordination of U.S. Government efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and assist foreign governments in building the capacity needed to combat wildlife trafficking and related organized crime. Click here to read the[…]
Read more“Right now the demand for ivory is very high. When that happens, the price rises and suppliers go into over-drive,” says Paul Mbugua, spokesman for the state-run Kenya Wildlife Services. “While there is demand for ivory, nothing will stop these poachers.” In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), teams of poachers hunt from helicopters, packing serious firepower – rocket-propelled grenades[…]
Read moreSerengeti killer highway back on the agenda Words like ‘deception’ but also the undiplomatic word ‘lies’ were used in comments sent to this correspondent when news emerged that the Tanzanian government, in the face of past protests and boycott threats, and in neglect of more viable alternative routes, seems to have gone back to their much disputed position of building a[…]
Read moreA rare antelope that has been absent in the Mara has been spotted after a decade o absence. The single male Roan antelope was spotted near Roan Hill, to the south of the Maasai Mara reserve this week. “The hill named after this antelope has reclaimed its name,” said Paul Kirui, a Kenya Professional Gold Safari Guide. Kirui said the[…]
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