Hoofed Mammals in a Fragmented Landscape: Science, Education, and Advocacy for Community Conservation of Tropical Ungulates

15 Jul 2013 Tarangire, Tanzania, Africa Habitats | Mammals

Derek E. Lee


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20 Jul 2015

Science, Education and Advocacy for Community Conservation of Tropical Ungulates: Documenting Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Effectiveness

Our aim is the establishment of a successful community-based wildlife conservation area in the last remaining wildlife migration route in Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem.

Wildebeest caught in a snare (to show the problem with bushmeat poaching).

Wildebeest caught in a snare (to show the problem with bushmeat poaching).

Our project is an integrated research, education, and advocacy campaign to conserve the threatened wildlife of the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem of northern Tanzania. We are conducting a landscape level population research program for 19 species of ungulate (hoofed mammals) to ensure that reliable data are available for management, planning, and conservation. We are educating decision makers to build a coalition for community conservation. We are publishing multi-lingual children’s books educating about the ecological and economic benefits of wildlife conservation. We are advocating for creation of a new community-based wildlife conservation area to provide opportunities for economic development, traditional culture, and wildlife.

The savanna habitat of the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem of northern Tanzania is among the richest areas on the planet for large mammal diversity and abundance, and is a world hotspot for ungulate diversity. The region’s wildlife is not only ecologically priceless but is a critical part of Tanzania’s economy. Wildlife-based tourism represents an important long-term source of income – but only as long as wildlife populations are managed sustainably. Unfortunately, the Ecosystem is now experiencing severe losses of wildlife due to rampant bushmeat poaching and habitat loss. Land management is fragmented with a large critical migratory area effectively unprotected from poaching or habitat conversion.

Despite the economic importance of these animals, the Ecosystem has had no monitoring of wildlife populations except sporadic and non-standardized aerial surveys, so authorities cannot scientifically manage habitat, identify poaching-induced declining populations, or judge whether conservation efforts are succeeding. Now is perhaps the final opportunity to organize communities in the last migratory corridor of the Ecosystem to save the crashing populations of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and other ungulates, as well as the rich diversity of predators and scavengers that depend on these herds, and ensure an economic, ecological, and cultural benefit to local Masai people.

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