Happy 2021 friends.

We successfully traveled to Kyaanya village in Nakaseke district of Uganda where we educated rural people about conserving wildlife that they live with in their community. Nakaseke district is one of the areas in Uganda that is outside the protected areas. Animals there live on private land with people. Kyaanya is one of the notorious hunting communities in the district of Nakaseke. Rural people were surprised to learn that it is unlawful to hunt and kill wildlife that lives with them on their land. Most of them were not even aware that wildlife serves any importance to them or the nation if conserved. The photo shows Advocate Gladys Kamasanyu, the founder of Help African Animals educating rural people.

The community wildlife talk enabled us to educate rural people and hence save the lives of animals that would be killed them. We are driven by the belief that unless rural people understand why wildlife must be conserved, they will not help to conserve the same. Help African Animals is committed to saving lives of animals living in Uganda.

Rural people live in the same ecosystem with wildlife. Unless they are involved in conservation, all conservation efforts are in vain. Help African Animals is determined to travel to rural areas in Uganda and educate rural people about conserving wildlife in their communities. We are driven by the belief that unless rural people understand the importance of the wildlife with whom they live, they will not care to conserve them.

These are scales of pangolins seized in Uganda. Pangolins have to first be killed in order to get their scales off their bodies. Can anyone guess how many pangolins had to be murdered to get all these scales? Are the individuals that were murdered replaceable? The answer is NO.

Of the eight species of pangolins in the world, Uganda is home to all the four pangolins native species to Africa. However, there is a huge knowledge gap across Uganda about pangolins and their importance. As a result, Ugandan pangolins are seriously threaten by poaching and illegal hunting which are driven by illicit international trade. Pangolins are murdered for their meat and scales which are on high demand especially in China and Vietnam.

It has become increasingly necessary to protect pangolins. This calls for taking deliberate steps to end the impunity. There is need to raise awareness about pangolins and their importance which includes both their extrinsic and intrinsic values. The legal system should also be properly used to protect pangolins.