Tanzania is home to 16 National Parks and more than 30 game reserves. Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater (a UNESCO world heritage site) are vital to maintaining the local biodiversity. That being said, Tanzania's wildlife is not just the source of national pride but also a big part of the global ecosystem. The country is home to elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and over 1000 species of birds.
So, which challenges Tanzania is facing in wildlife conservation?
One of the primary challenges is poaching caused by illegal trade in rhino horns, ivory, and other things. For that matter, anti-poaching efforts have been done, such as increased patrols, surveillance, and strict rules in order to protect the endangered species. Rangers are trained to spot and prevent illegal activities within the protected ares. They have high-tech tools such as night-vision cameras and GPS tracking to monitor the wildlife. The use of drones and small aircrafts has been very important in remote areas that are difficult to access. Armed patrols have been conducted by anti-poaching units in high risk areas.
The most interesting thing is that the local communities play a significant role in wildlife conservation in Tanzania. For that, WMAs (Wildlife Management Areas) have been created, where local communities manage and benefit from wildlife through tourism. Such type of conservation improves the livelihoods of local people by providing income through tourism activities, thereby creating reasons to protect wildlife. For example, one such WMA is Enduimet Wildlife Management area in West Kilimanjaro, where Maasai have their homes and graze cattle. On the same territory you can find elephants, hyenas, gazelles, giraffes, to name a few. The locals are aware of the tourist come to see the wildlife and do everything to preserve the ecosystem. They even set up a campsite run by them to make sure the tourists are well protected from the wildlife during the night.
The country attracts millions of tourists each year due to its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. The revenue from tourism goes into support of conservation projects and wildlife protection efforts. And what's more important is the growth in number of tour companies that focus on ecotourism - it encourages sustainable travel practices and helps raise awareness about the importance of preserving wildlife and ecosystems.
All of these efforts have been succeeding and positively impacting the endangered species wellbeing. The number of wildlife has been stably growing from park to park.
We have to remember that us, as tourists, play integral part in conservation when we visit Tanzania. Choosing to travel responsibly and consciously is essential in helping the wildlife strive. One of our company's goals is to educate our guests about the ways of preserving the ecosystem, at the end of the day it is the animals' home and we are the visitors.
For those who are interested in the subject of conservation, we have created a tour in partnership with Usangu Camp in Ruaha National Park, where you will not only have a chance to capture the stunning landscape and rare species of wildlife, but also learn about conservation efforts in the park and even witness a lion collaring.
Check it out here: https://www.theimageofafrica.com/Photography-and-conservation/
Welcome to Tanzania! Welcome to travel responsibly!