Human-animal conflict

The interaction between wild animals and humans, and the resultant negative impact on people, animals, resources, and habitats have increased over time. Uganda like many other African countries continues to face the problem. As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and animals increasingly come into conflict over space and food. The animals, many of which are already endangered, are often killed in retaliation or to prevent future conflicts.

During the educational campaign conducted by Help African Animals in one of the rural villages in Kapeeka sub-county, Nakaseke district of Uganda, the gentleman standing in the captioned photograph raised a concern about the increased number of monkeys in the community that were destroying their crops. How does one react to monkeys in their garden? Imagine how monkeys run and jump up and down on top trees!

The gentleman was of the view that it was easier for him to poison the monkeys than lose his crops on which he survived with his family members. He, however, feared that if his luck ran out and he got arrested, then that would be too bad for him and his family since he had no money for transport to go to report the problem to district wildlife officers. Our trip was a success! By the end of the campaign, his attitude had changed, a solution had been provided and monkeys were saved.

Women play a role in the fight against animal-related crimes

Women and men interact with biodiversity and natural resources in different ways according to their socially assigned gender roles, and thus have different knowledge, needs, and perspectives. Women may use certain natural resources more than men, and vice versa. In rural settings, women and children interact more with animals. They keep and care for animals more than men.

Today, women participate or are used in wildlife crime either knowingly or unknowingly. In many rural areas in Uganda, women are highly involved in charcoal burning, stone quarrying and fishing of immature fish. The leading cause of this has been mainly subsistence. Many women are single mothers/widows with children that they provide for single-handedly. They resort to the illegal harvest of the resources and destruction of habitats for animals.

Help African Animals deliberately targeted women and involved them in the education campaign. This followed our realization that women’s active participation in natural resource management leads to better conservation outcomes. Women are naturally strict in compliance and practice greater transparency and accountability.

Mothers help in the fight against wildlife crime

Mothers are the ones who give birth to hunters. They suffer more when their children are imprisoned for hunting/killing wildlife. Help African Animals targeted mothers and had them in attendance in their education campaign. When mothers are educated about the dangers of hunting/killing wildlife, they prevail over their children and/or train them not to hunt/kill wildlife.

Educating young ones through their parents

We are educating all generations. This is father and son reading Help African Animals poster. The young one will grow up sensitized about the need to conserve wildlife. Hunting is normally generational. If a father is a hunter, there is a high likelihood of his children hunting. When sensitized early, the young ones grow up to know that they need to conserve wildlife.