Tourists are Participants in the fight against Poaching
The COVID-19 Pandemic proves that Tourism reduces Poaching in Uganda
Tourism reduces Poaching in the National Parks of Uganda. The COVID-19 Pandemic shut down Tourism in Uganda as in other African Countries. The National Parks and Wildlife Reserves shut down during parts of the COVID-19 lockdown. Thousands lost their income, even jobs. Driver-Guides, Porters for Gorilla Trekking, Lodge Employees, and Tour Operators were laid off. Even Souvenir Artisans had no one to sell to.
Men, Women, beyond numerical statistics. Thousands of fathers and mothers without means for daily subsistence. The pangs of Hunger were felt in the remotest of villages in Uganda. Rural Ugandans, including those living near Parks, received regular Presidential COVID-19 lockdown measures without any signs of a restoral of Tourism as they had known it.
The shutdown of Tourism also affects Uganda Wildlife Staff since the funding of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, including Rangers’ salaries, depends on Tourism. Neighboring Countries are attempting to open their parks for International Tourists, yet getting to those countries, especially for Tourists from the USA, a prime source of African Travelers, remains problematic.
All this undoubtedly affects the morale of the Rangers, and it may also affect the confidence of the Rangers—the enthusiasm and resolve to stop poachers from harming Uganda’s Wildlife. Even Charles Tumwesigye, the UWA’s deputy director of field operations, has stated so.
Help to Rangers and their families has been given here and there, such as a food donation from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Pilgrim Africa Donated $100,000 to support Rangers in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Some Ugandans have looked beyond their small gardens to Uganda’s 10 National Parks and the other Wildlife reserve as a way to still the Hunger of their children and families. The result is that Poaching in Uganda has doubled during the COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdown.
Yes, Tourism reduces Poaching in the National Parks of Uganda.
The COVID-19 Pandemic proves that Tourism reduces Poaching in Uganda.
In Uganda, the COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in 1,056 recorded cases as of July 18, 2020, and zero Deaths have been recorded. The governmental lockdown of Uganda began on March 31, 2020, and has been extended until now with some easing of restrictions. Entebbe Airport and Uganda’s borders remain closed except for Commercial Trucks and Cargo planes.
Uganda’s Tourism Income was close to 1,6 Billion US Dollars per year. After the Pandemic restrictions around the world, Tourism in Uganda came to a screeching halt affecting the lives of thousands of Ugandans.
Uganda, as in other countries, has caused economic problems, including food security issues. Travel Bans, Airport, and Border closures temporarily ended the Ugandan Tourism sector. Tourism was earning Uganda close to 1,5 Billion US Dollars per year. Once the COVID-19 Pandemic came, Tourism in Uganda came to a screeching halt affecting thousands of Ugandans. All this has resulted in lack, Hunger, need, and food insecurity. Some Ugandans have chosen to enter parks and reserves poaching for Bushmeat.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has recorded 367 poaching incidents in the parks between February and May 
of this year, more than double the number during the same period in 2019, says Charles Tumwesigye, the agency’s deputy director of field operations.
This alarming Poaching increase does not consider June and July 2020, when the need for food increased. The numbers released by UWA most likely are on the low side, and they do not take into account instances where poachers remove both animals and traps before a Ranger Patroldetectst them.
They are poaching driven by poverty since there are no chances to earn money. But also, ignoring the consequences of Poaching can harm park visits due to the lack of animals. Some Poachers go out with crude weapons and hunting dogs and are now targeting larger animals such as Buffaloes, Antelopes, and even Elephants, where there is the added income from selling the ivory. Without Tourism, there are fewer vehicles in the parks.
With fewer vehicles, poachers can more readily monitor the comings and goings of UWA Rangers and poaching patrols avoiding being arrested and going about their dastardly deed of Poaching.
With the COVID-19 increase in Poaching, Uganda Wildlife Authorities believe that thousands of illegal poaching snares and traps exist within the parks. Indiscriminate traps and snares can snap the leg off an antelope, even a giraffe or lion. The animals are pinned to the ground in pain until they die due to blood loss and starvation. Traps may be whisked away before authorities detect their activity.
Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and Tourism shut down, Uganda’s conservation efforts were recording all kinds of success stories with the Mountain Gorillas, Elephant, and Giraffe population efforts bringing numbers of animals back to, in some cases, 1960s level. The rampant Poaching during the turbulent and lawless 1970s and early 80s had wiped out many animals.
Now in 2920, the harsh winds of COVID-19 are sweeping around the Globe. With no Tourism income funding Uganda Wildlife Authority conservation and antipoaching efforts, the outlook is bleak for Uganda and many other Safari Tourist destinations in Africa.
Tragic COVID-19 Poaching Consequences in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
In June of 2020, four poachers went hunting for small animals and came across the Nkuring Gorilla Family. Their leader, the 25-year-old Silverback Rafiki, charged them, and a poacher speared and killed Rafiki. The Nkuringo Gorilla 
Family is now leaderless, left to fend independently.
Four poachers have been arrested and are awaiting trial. Fortunately, since 2019 Uganda has had some stringent laws on the books.
Queen Elizabeth Park
OnMay16, a lion was discovered with body parts missing. In South Africa, witch doctors and traditional healers use Lion Parts in “muti” spells and potions. UWA and the Uganda Carnivore Project are seeing whether this practice has become local.
Dr. Ludwig Siefert of the Uganda Carnivore Project reported that some lions are not in natural areas, which has caused concern at Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Murchison Falls National Park:
In June 2020, UWA Rangers discovered traps with seven dead giraffes on an Antipoaching patrol. It came as a significant blow to all. Also, four lions have been trapped in snares in the park recently. After treatment, the lions were set free. They will likely survive as long as they are part of a social group.
Yes, Tourism reduces Poaching in the National Parks of Uganda.
As one can see from the above accounts that without tourists poaching increases. Yes, one can attribute the recent spike in poaching on COVID-19 lockdown measures and desperate Ugandans taking desperate actions to feed their families.
Bushmeat was available before the COVID-19 measures were put into place. Now Bushmeat has become a staple for many near and around the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves.
One antidote that works against poachers is the presence of tour vehicles with tourists and a UWA Ranger guiding them. With the return of Tourists, the morale of many rangers will be lifted. Also, tourists often tip rangers for services rendered, such as guiding them on hikes, nature trails, climbs, and primate trekking.
The presence of tourists will reduce poaching activities by contributing to the local economy through employment and funding for conservation and community projects ranging from electric fences to elephant trenches.
Tourism is one of the few sustainable Ugandan industries for now and in the future. Without Tourism, many parks, forests, and swamps would be turned into farm and grazing lands. Without Tourism, the wildlife of Uganda would be decimated during Uganda’s turbulent years.
Yes, Tourism reduces Poaching in the National Parks of Uganda, but it does much more. It is one of the building blocks in the well-being of Uganda and Ugandans. Tourism is sustainable, and unlike the building of a dam, or an oil-producing facility, Tourism will keep giving long beyond our time on this earth. Uganda is the Pearl of Africa, and let us do what we can to provide it with a new luster.
Do your part – Report any poaching activity or wildlife trade to the authorities such as the Police or the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
