It is a sad reality that in many parts of Africa, animal poaching is on the rise. Amongst other things, this is due to a rise in demand for animal parts in traditional medicines.
In northern Kenya, elephants have been hit particularly hard, with most being poached for their ivory. The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Zoos Victoria’s partner in Kenya, is an umbrella organisation for 22 community run conservancies, including Melako Conservancy. In the many years of operation, they have never seen this level of poaching in community areas. This is partly due to desperately poor people poaching elephants for bigger cartels in order to earn money to survive, but is also the consequence of road construction in the north that makes the community areas and wildlife more accessible to poaching rings.
Late last year NRT asked Zoos Victoria for assistance to help fund mobile antipoaching units in Melako. Zoos Victoria was able to fund mobile food ration packs and equipment that enabled the Melako scouts to extend their patrols and keep poaching at bay within the conservancy.
Zoos Victoria is incredibly proud that due to the work of these incredible men that no elephants in Melako have been taken by poachers. This highlights to us the importance of supporting the work of the people on the frontlines of conservation and zoos Victoria is privileged to be working with such dedicated individuals. Find out more about how we are helping wildlife and communities in Kenya here. And don’t forget the gift that helps people and wildlife- Beads for Wildlife.
