Uganda: Elephants, Lions Snared Every Week
Gerald Tenywa
9 September 2009


Kampala — EACH week, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has to rescue an elephant or lion from a wire snare.The snares, set up by poachers, are fixed on fences or trees to trap the animals.

According to Sam Mwandha, UWA's director of conservation, poaching is common in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks. "We have been called every week to remove snares from animals in the two parks," he said.

Mwandha said it is necessary to engage the communities more and provide incentives that are better than the proceeds from poaching. He also noted that the population of wild animals dropped in the 1970s and 1980s due to civil unrest and poaching.

Dr. William Olupot, a researcher at the Wildlife Conservation Society, a US -based NGO, said the high rate of poaching in national parks in central Uganda was leading to a decline in some species, which affected the tourism industry.

Apart from game meat consumed by hunters, Olupot named Kampala, Gulu, Masindi and Kasese as the main outlets for the bush meat trade. Olupot said wild animals around the Rwenzori had almost been wiped out.

He recommended more efforts in sustaining the wildlife population to boost the country's tourist potential.

Of course, the only real answer is to remove the PEOPLE from the area, and to conduct enough hunts to keep the population of GAME at a sustainable level.

Steve,

A poacher, once he has paid the porters, meat cutters, loafers, cousins, and general hangers-around, and given the rightful share of meat to the rightful chiefs/kraal leaders/grand fathers/elders, can count himself blessed if he gets $25 for 3-4 days in the bush and the risk of being shot by the Army, Police, Wildlife, or whoever takes exception to people strolling around the bush with an illegal AK47.

The same buffalo would bring over $1,000 to his community if shot by a client hunter, and a salary, food, clothing, and social standing to the ex-poacher now proud tracker.

There is no need to remove the people from anywhere, just bring them onboard and let them understand the benefits of protecting their own wild animals.

This is what is slowly happening in Uganda, and Sam Mwandha is a bright and dedicated gentleman who has a good grasp of the issues and challenges ahead, like several people at the top echelons of Uganda Wildlife Authority, including its Executive Director, Moses Mapesa.

Wait a few years, and Uganda may surprise the hunting world.

That's where proper education and indoctrination comes in. Otherwise, you might as well arrest them and feed them to the next hungry lion that comes along.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
That's where proper education and indoctrination comes in. Otherwise, you might as well arrest them and feed them to the next hungry lion that comes along.

Not a bad plan for the ones that won't go straight.