Poaching Prevention Many people assume that concern over poaching is exclusive to high profile species such as elephant and rhinoceros. Less visible, though equally important, is the loss of smaller animals like impala, giraffe, and lesser kudu to commercial bush-meat poaching. Sadly, the oryx and hartebeest have already become locally extinct. The large, trusting and slow-moving giraffe (Tanzania’s national symbol) are also easy targets for bush - meat poachers. One of the aims of TKC is to focus on protecting these “smaller” species.

Tree cutting – mostly old growth acacia trees - for charcoal has led to loss of habitat for much of the area’s wildlife. Our rangers patrol not only for poaching, but also look out for charcoal / tree cutting, which is illegal in many parts of Tanzania.

TKC maintains a 16 person staff of rangers to guard against poaching of elephant, trees, and other wildlife on the ten thousand acres, and outlying areas. They patrol day and night looking for wire snares, and restrict cattle grazing. The askaris (scouts or rangers) collaborate closely with community game scouts (volunteer positions held by villagers to monitor illegal hunting and poaching), and with the government’s Zonal Anti-Poaching Unit of the Tanzania Wildlife Department. Ndarakwai has provided logistical support for Zonal APU, and the scouts coordinate activities to catch poachers. One of goals of TKC is to expand anti-poaching activities by providing radios to local villagers for monitoring and to report suspicious activities in village areas.

Human-Wildlife Conflict Seventy percent of Tanzania’s wildlife lives outside the parks and human-wildlife conflict is an inevitable and growing problem. The Kilimanjaro Conservancy is dedicated to helping communities reduce crop damage and other human-wildlife conflict. This will help to change local attitudes towards wildlife and also increase community income.

Elephant are no longer endangered in East Africa – in fact numbers have increasewd dramatically in the last 10 years. Now they’re being killed, not so much for their ivory, but in retaliation for crop damage. In their search for food and water, elephants trample ground, snap apart trees, and eat almost any kind of vegetation. They are particularly fond of eating sweet maize.

A recent study in the nearby village of Miti Mirefu (Swahili for “Tall Trees”) found that ninety percent of farmers suffered crop loss to elephants. A few reported total destruction of their fields. The estimated revenue loss for the community came to $3500, a significant amount in a country where average annual income is estimated to be $300. Fencing is a simple way to eliminate the impact elephants have on local populations.

Since this study, TKC has initiated and is funding a pilot fencing project to be built by the community at Miti Mirefu.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Local wildlife authorities regularly intercept animals, reptiles, and birds being smuggled out of Tanzania. Veterinary facilities for wildlife are nearly non-existent in Tanzania and without them there is no place to care for these displaced and often wounded animals. For many animals, like cheetah, every individual is critical to the survival of the species.

A TKC veterinarian based at Ndarakwai would work with injured, captured, and problem animals, including those smuggled animals the government has intercepted at customs. Right now there is no holding facility for such wildlife. Several zoo-based veterinarians have expressed interest, but we’ll need facilities and instruments for their work. TKC would like to raise funds to help create The Rafiki Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Education / Research Center More research is needed to understand the relationships between wildlife, vegetation, and the needs of local communities. One of the aims of TKC is to establish an Education / Research Center. Over the years we’ve hosted students from the School for International Training, Plymouth and Earlham Colleges, all based in the U.S. They’ve undertaken many research projects, but more consistent, thorough, and meaningful research is needed. We’d like to develop a curriculum for local and foreign students to learn environmental stewardship and gain a greater appreciation for the delicate balance between humans and nature.

Land Acquisition The Kilimanjaro Conservancy aims to continue protecting and rehabilitating the region’s habitat through further land acquisitions. Several tracts of land adjoining the Ndarakwai unsuitable for farming could be prime wildlife habitat for protected wildlife as well as maintianing critical migration corridors. The Kilimanjaro Conservancy is well placed to purchase and manage this land and is seeking partners to this end. r