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2nd Quarter 2008 Newsletter: June 2008
Anti Poaching
Rainy Season
The rainy season this year was another very wet year in our areas of operation. Some of our teams were not as effective as we might have hoped for due to the challenging conditions and logistical impossibilities that inevitably result from rain on such a large scale. The vast distances between bush camps and civilization make a simple trip to town for rations an exercise in patience and require more than a little luck to get through the particularly sticky patches!
Animal Planet Canada in Maswa Game Reserve
In April FCF hosted Jean du Plessis and Michael Dalton-Smith from the TV series, ‘Ultimate Africa’ (produced by Digital Crossing Productions) which can be seen on Animal Planet Canada and Discovery HD Canada. The focus of the show centered on Wildlife Division and FCF anti-poaching efforts in the Maswa Game Reserve. Also highlighted were the relationships between nearby villages and the Reserve as well as FCF’s burgeoning microlight program. The show is expected to air in August of 2008.
Moyowosi Game Reserve and Uvinza Open Area
In February the Wildlife Division and FCF teams in the Moyowosi Game Reserve and Uvinza Open Area, led by Patrol Commander John Cleophas of the Fish Eagle Rapid Action Team, made what may potentially be a major breakthrough in the ivory poaching/bush meat poaching industry in western Tanzania. On 22 February two men were apprehended with ivory and were in possession of an AK-47 and a .458 hunting rifle. Subsequent to further investigation, to date a total of 18 automatic weapons, 2 rifles and 24 muzzle loaders have been confiscated by or surrendered to the Wildlife Division, Tanzania’s Police Force and FCF anti-poaching teams. Well done to everyone involved with the operation; your hard work is making a significant impact on the resources you are charged with protecting.
Zebra Poaching in Natron and Monduli
The illegal skin trade is a very prominent concern in our concessions in northern Maasailand, namely the Lake Natron Game Controlled Area and the Monduli Open Area. In May and June the Wildlife Division’s specialist Zonal Anti-poaching unit and FCF Rapid Action Teams apprehended two vehicles laden with 17 fresh zebra skins, fat and internal organs (used in traditional healing practices). Wildlife Division investigations are ongoing in this matter.
Sponsorship from Leupold and Leatherman
We are very happy to announce the arrival of gear sponsorship from Leupold Optics and Leatherman! Thirty pairs of binoculars and five spotting scopes are being distributed to our teams in the field on Leupold’s behalf, as well as fifty sets of Wave Multi-tools and fifty pairs of Hybrid Pruners from Leatherman. Thanks very much for your generosity and for making a very tough job that much easier for our men on the ground.
Community Development
New Community Development Coordinator
Serena Simonson, who has been a valued member of the FCF team over the past two years as Community Development Coordinator, has now left us to pursue a Masters in Development Studies in the UK. The FCF team, and all those who she has worked with will certainly miss her and we wish her all the best for her studies. No doubt she will be back in Tanzania in the not too distant future.
Elliot Kinsey, a Swiss-American citizen, born and raised in Tanzania, has been recruited to join the FCF team to pick up where Serena left off. Elliot has entered at a busy time for FCF and is keen to continue the established projects and take on new challenges as they come. Elliot has a background in Biology and Environmental Studies and he is excited to be working in community development and conservation. His grasp of Swahili and understanding of Tanzanian culture gives him the ability to engage with communities in and around the game reserves and to continue the positive momentum of FCF community initiatives.
Safari Club International – Equipping Micro Dispensaries
In partnership with Safari Club International Foundation, FCF is involved in a project to equip two micro dispensaries with solar power for lighting and to power important technologies to offer testing and more effective treatment. FCF hosted Gene Rurka, Chairman of the Safari Club International Foundation, together with cinematographer Ed George, who came to assist in the fulfillment of the project and to document the installation.
The micro dispensary in Uvinza is the realization of a long-term dream of Hamisa Kambi. Her dream was conceived after seeing the suffering and illnesses of the women and children in her village and wanting to help them. With the financial support of the SCI-Foundation and logistical support from FCF, the dispensary is now equipped with a solar system to power lighting and new equipment including a fridge for medication, binocular microscopes, delivery kits, suction machine, centrifuge and nebulizers. In addition, five beds and mattresses provided to the dispensary will allow 24hr medical care to patients and new born babies and their mothers.
Likewise in Mfereji village in Monduli District the simple micro dispensary – a three room building, with residence for Medical Attendant and Clinical Officer – which was rehabilitated by the Monduli District Council in 2005/2006 is now furnished with a solar-electric system and a storage tank for more reliable running water, thanks to the SCI-Foundation. In addition to these improvements they have received the same testing and treatment technology as Uvinza dispensary.
We are excited to be a part of this project with SCI-Foundation and we hope that it renews their enthusiasm for engaging in African projects and gives them a sense of confidence that will lead to a long term partnership between Friedkin Conservation Fund and Safari Club International.
Beekeeping in Ugalla
Last year with a grant of $15,000 from the Mzuri Wildlife Foundation, FCF was able to start a very meaningful project with the Kangeme Beekeepers. With the cooperation of the Ugalla Game Reserve Project Manager, Mr. Edward Lutabingwa, the Kangeme Beekeepers obtained permits to enter the reserve to hang new top-bar hives under the guidance of Reserve Game Scouts in July and August 2007. The honey season is now here and the Kangeme beekeepers are eager to again enter the reserve and harvest the honey. This project has enhanced the villagers’ value of the game reserve as they expect to see very direct, tangible benefits from the intact natural resources of Ugalla. We eagerly await a report of the harvest as we’ve been told that this year will be an exceptional honey harvest. We are now working to link the beekeepers with good markets as we are keen to see them succeed. With such a direct link between beekeeping and good natural resource management this project is a perfect opportunity where we can link community development with environmental conservation. We hope the Kangeme Beekeeping project will serve as a model for expanding to other villages.
Research & GIS
Sample surveys have been successful in providing population estimates for a range of ungulate species in Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves as well as Ugalla Game Reserve, and establishing a baseline for progressively analyzing trends in populations in these areas. A ground count for gerenuk and lesser kudu was performed in Monduli Open Area and Lake Natron North Game Controlled Area in early November. The survey was successful in providing population densities for these species as they are mostly sedentary in nature and the estimates are considered healthy and comparable to the literature for similar areas.
FCF will continue to implement its joint 5 year wildlife survey program with TAWIRI (Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute) in the upcoming dry season. FCF plans to conduct surveys in the Moyowosi Game Reserve and Ugalla Game Reserve to establish population estimates for buffalo and elephant. This year FCF intends to use modified aerial method to survey the fringe-eared oryx near Lake Natron because they are widely nomadic and are difficult to survey. Also, a survey of lions is planned in the Kizigo Game Reserve.
In collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Tanzania Mammal Atlas Project (TMAP) FCF continue their camera trapping project. This time the TMAP team is currently conducting a survey in Maswa Game Reserve, adjacent to the Serengeti National Park. These results will hopefully capture the presence of a number of cryptic, rare and nocturnal species as well as a relative abundance index for common or conspicuous species.
FCF is working hard on establishing a relational database to assist the Research & GIS units to review and analyze data collected – for example to establish if there are any interdependent relationships between wildlife numbers, anti-poaching patrols and community development projects in a specific area.
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