In Uganda, rural people and animals live in the same ecosystem. The struggle for space and food between animals and humans is still a huge problem in Uganda. With all the dangers associated with living with wildlife, people regard wildlife as enemies which they must eliminate. Rural people are ignorant of the importance of conservation and the laws protecting wildlife. Out of ignorance, they kill animals which has sent many species of wildlife into extinction.

Rural people are also increasingly used by traffickers in the illegal wildlife trade. They are paid to kill the animals or used in the transportation of the protected species within the country and across borders. Rural people benefit less from illegal wildlife trade because they do not know the value of wildlife. Sadly, they are the ones who many times end up being arrested with the species and charged. They are shocked to learn that the species they killed/possessed are highly endangered/protected and that the offenses attract penalties of up to life imprisonment.

Having different individuals in the community to attend the education campaign was a great idea. Community members had a chance to learned that wildlife on their land or in their community is not theirs to kill/eat/destroy. They learned the importance of protecting wildlife, how to protect wildlife in their community, to identify wildlife crime and report it, the laws protecting wildlife, and penalties for violation of the laws.

Help African Animals is driven by the belief that unless people understand the dangers of killing/destroying wildlife, they will not care to conserve it and unless they care, they won’t help to support or participate in conservation efforts/programs. Animals don’t speak. Let us speak for them.

In Africa, animal cruelty is more often a result of ignorance about the laws protecting animals than it is about deliberate intent. Consequently, many times, humans are not aware that they are abusing animals.

The situation can only change if we raise awareness about the laws protecting African animals among the people.

The greatest threat facing African rhinos today is poaching for the illegal trade in their horns. The illegal trade has soared in recent years. The two African rhino species – black rhino and white rhino continue to be at risk due to a huge surge in poaching to meet the demand for the illegal rhino, primarily in Asia countries.

Rhino horn is predominantly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The horn is also increasingly used as a symbol to display success and wealth.

Let us unite and bring an end to this impunity. Rhino horns must be left to rhinos!

Most African countries have since the COVID-19 outbreak, gone into a complete lockdown which has included the closure of national parks, game reserves, community wildlife management areas, and wildlife sanctuaries to tourism. In many African countries, tourism revenues have gone to zero. For Uganda, on June 1st, 2020, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of the Republic of Uganda, in his address to the nation, revealed that the country will lose over $1.6 billion due to loss of tourism. This is not good news for wildlife living in Africa!

Many conservation agencies in Africa rely directly on revenue from tourism. The money generated from tourism provides a financial incentive for governments and local communities to protect wildlife. The continued lockdown as a result of COVID-19 has sent many people in Africa back to rural areas which has led to increased pressure on wildlife. There is as a result increased poaching, encroachment, and illegal wildlife trade. In May 2020, Mr. Sam Mwandha, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, in a virtual U.S Congressional Staff Briefing on the COVID-19 impact in Africa, organized by ICCF, revealed that in Uganda, the crimes had increased by about 20% in the previous two months.

Wildlife needs our protection now more than ever!