Tag Archives: African Animals

The golden-bellied mangabey gets the highest CITES protection at COP20

Posted on by

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s proposal to transfer the Golden-bellied mangabeys from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been unanimously adopted by the Parties to CITES at their 20th Conference (COP20) sitting at Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The species, found only in DRC, is one of Africa’s least-known and most threatened monkeys. We therefore congratulate the DRC and all the Parties to CITES upon this very important decision that ensures the species’ survival.

It is important to save life and promote coexistence.

Posted on by

Last week, our founder, Ms. Gladys Kamasanyu was honored to deliver a key note address at Nature FIRST Conference which took place on 25-26 June at Ouwehands Dierenpark in the Netherlands. The conference brought together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and innovators who shared tools, ideas, and strategies for protecting biodiversity. Gladys highlighted our work in preventing loss of lives through increasing awareness. Our direct engagement with the true keepers of nature – the rural people and enforcement teams, helps them to understand the legal and ecological consequences of destroying nature. Our work therefore prevents crime and saves lives before they are lost. We are driven by the belief that unless people understand, they will not care and unless they care, they will not help in conserving nature.

Visiting the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre

Posted on by

A team from Help African Animals visited the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) commonly known as the Entebbe Zoo. The purpose of the visit was to acquire more knowledge about wildlife and appreciate the living conditions of the animals living in captivity in Uganda.

UWEC was opened in 1952 by the colonial government in Uganda as a reception centre for wild animals that were found as casualties. UWEC among others, rescues and treats injured or sick animals, provides quarantine services in order to prevent infectious disease transfer, and breeds species that are at risk of extinction in the wild.

Uganda mourns the death of six lions

Posted on by

Uganda mourns the death of six lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the carcasses of the lions were found at Ishasha sector on the evening of March 19th, 2021 with most of their body parts missing. Eight dead vultures were also found at the scene which points to possible poisoning of the lions by unknown people. However, given the fact that some body parts of the lions were missing, UWA does not rule out illegal wildlife trafficking.

An investigation has been commenced with conservationists working with the local police to get to the root of the cause of the death of the lions.

Help African Animals condemns the illegal killing of wildlife because it impacts negatively on tourism in Uganda and threatens the survival of all species in the wild.

There have been a number of previous incidents where lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park were believed to have been poisoned. These include an incident in 2010 when five lions died and a similar incident in 2018 which led to the death of eleven lions including eight cubs.

World Rhino Day

Posted on by

Today around 27,000 rhinos remain in the wild. Very few rhinos survive outside national parks and game reserves. Some species of rhinos are among the world’s most endangered animals. Rhinos are threatened by habitat loss and poaching. However, poaching which is driven by consumer demand for the rhino horn primarily in Asia, is the biggest threat to rhinos. Rhino horns are used as symbols of pride and high-value gift items by wealthy individuals in Asian nations.

Despite, the ban on international trade in rhino horn under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), the demand for rhino horn has remained high. Rhino poaching levels hit a record high in 2015 when poachers slaughtered over 1,000 rhinos in Africa.

It is up to us to save the rhinos! Let’s speak out for them.

Uganda Wildlife Authority rescues a baby elephant

Posted on by

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has rescued a newly born elephant that was left by the main herd from Queen Elizabeth National Park that earlier strayed to Kasese town. The baby elephant was reunited with the main herd in the park.

As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, people and wild animals are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food. The resultant effect on both humans and wild animals is always negative. Many thanks to UWA for rescuing the baby elephant before any injury had been occasioned.

Uganda welcomes a new baby rhino

Posted on by

On August 2nd, 2020 Rhoda, a female baby rhino was born by a white rhino called Laloyo at Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary located in Nakasongola district in Uganda. This latest addition brings the total number of rhinos at the sanctuary to 31.

Back in the 1960s, black and white rhinos were widespread in Uganda. However, Uganda’s population of white and black rhinos were wiped out in the early 1980s due to poaching. The last rhino was seen in Uganda’s wild in 1983. The period between the 1970s and mid-1980s was characterized by turmoil and civil unrest that turned Uganda’s national game parks into battlefields and hence increased poaching. It was in the 1990s when the Uganda Rhino Fund was formed for the breeding of rhinos with a goal of reintroducing them back into the wild.

Poaching is real and it seriously threatens the survival of wildlife species. As a result of poaching, many wildlife species in Africa have become highly endangered while others have totally extinct. It is only a collective effort that will help to make the world a safe place for animals.