Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Rui Ferreira]

(09-03-2024, 05:20 AM)BA0701 Wrote: @Rui Ferreira to answer your questions regarding the situation in northern Kruger, specifically the HWC in that region. I will provide what is my understanding of the situation, and hope that others, like @Rabubi, who may have a better understanding of what is going on there, may also opine.

My understanding is that it is, generally, a very poor area, and that the people who reside in close proximity to the park may well be in direct competition over resources, with the creatures who also live there as well. Resources such as crops and livestock, for instance. There is also the question of ensuring the safety of those same people, as well as the very lucrative black market trade that can result from poaching those same creatures, it can become a question of literally providing for one's family.

That is my understanding of the situation, and why it is so a dangerous place for animals of all types, not just lions. Such conditions make it very difficult to convince people that destroying these creatures is not in their best interests, and that is precisely where the government, along with those who are interested in helping the animals, should be coming up with ideas that not only helps stop the killing, but also benefits and aids the people who live there. If we were to have such a conversation, that would be, exactly my goals for participating.

I could be wrong but was the same happening with wildlife reserves in Mozambique for example Gorongosa
I dont remember exactly but theres a Nat Geo Wild doc. about the "reabilitacion" of the park, that IIRC to help wildlife in the park they started by helping the community there, being with jobs in the park, education for the whole community and sensibilize about all the wildlife around them, well pits and so on to help improve the quality of life for the people and to raise awareness about the declining wildlife who was in a tragic situation
 The whole ended up being a big succsess ( even tho it took some good years to get start to get in the right tracks, I risk to say like 10 or so)
It started by stabilize the herbivore population and than introducing (in a controlled manner of course) the carnivores, without rushing and doing things like it needed to be done yesterday, everything seemed to have a plan, a purpose and patience.
Today ( with people still working hard to protect the wildlife in general against poachers, snares, poisoning etc.) Gorongosa seems to be an animal paradise compared to what it was during Mozambique´s civil wars who decimated so many animal species
For example IIRC I believe there were less than 30 animals in the whole park and some had snare injuries, today the numbers are in the three digits 
Not to talk about lion, cheetah and other animal populations
It all took many years of dedication and strategy, there were horrendous amounts of snares in the whole reserve, poachers, cattle etc..

Needless to say this took alot of money in the making but I can assure you as the years gone by with all the tourism and such that the reserve can produce I can almost garantee it profited 
It helped the quality of life in the communitys in and around the reserve, gave many people jobs, and helped the wildlife who was in a critic stage
I think we can all learn with Gorongosa and other reserves like such
But when talking about conservation Mozambique seems to be much more preoccupied than South Africa wich is a shame
Could the plan be something similar, help imporve the quality of life of every living being around the reserve and in the reserve and with that help our beloved wildlife
Do we really have to wait for someone with a huge amount of money to gain courage and invest in that area with the objective of improving everyones situation?
I dont know but it seems that before we get preoccupied in getting better we should invest in not getting worse Reply