Original von Jan
Carsten:
I'm curious. How do you define a buffer zone?
To me it indicates an area around a park in which no-one may move. For instance, no-one can move within five miles of the park/reserve boundary, thus keeping people even farther away from the main park/reserve area.
If it is the buffer zones you are worried about, then it would seem to me that the only way to create safety is for the government to legally create it - and you know how difficult/impossible that is.
Buffer zones are areas between national parks/reserves and inhabitated areas. These areas are open to both sides meaning that wildlife can walk around free but it can also be accessed by humans with their herds. This land is usually dense bush with no infrastructure at all. The land is worthless for photographic tourism because of the dense bush that hardly allows you to spot an animal. This of course also makes it easy for poachers to hunt and hide.
We are talking about massive areas and since KWS has enough trouble keeping poachers out of the parks itself, they simply don't have the money, equipment nor man-power to control these areas, too.
Often these buffer zones are also migration paths.
These are the areas where wildlife has decreased by 60% in the last 20 years due to human-wildlife conflict and poaching.
Original von Jan
What I would love to see happen is for the government/wildlife authorities let people know in no uncertain terms that they now have the heat-seaking devices loaded in their planes which will detect humans who are illegally in the parks/reserves, and if they are found in those areas illegally they will be killed. After enough of the poachers and snarers are killed and stories posted in the newspapers, people will think twice before entering the parks/
reserves to poach or snare. They already have these devices but have chosen not to use them yet.
This is happening already. Unfortunately the profit from poaching seems to dominate fear of life so far. Hopefully KWS will be more successful in the near future. Don´t forget that there are also a lot of poachers and weapons coming from Somalia these days. We are talking about highly criminal and well equipped energies. These people are used to gun-battles and this is their only way to survive. Many are illegally in the country.
Original von Jan
The problem would be that those groups that legally do walking safaris would of necessity have to notify the authorities which areas they will be in so that they will not accidentally be shot.
No big deal at all. Every mountaineer has to report his trip before he can wonder off. Why not do the same for bush-walks. Anyhow I am not very fond of the idea of tourists wondering about in the bush without a clue what they are doing. It would make sense to have an eye on these activities conducted by private camp owners.
Original von Jan
It would not protect the wildlife outside of the parks, but after a period of time the animals would learn that it is far safer for them in the park and would tend to remain there.
What makes you think that an animal can differenciate? It stands on dry soil without a single green leaf and sees some yummy green gras a few meters in front. Only we humans have a line on our map that shows what is a park and what isn't. Plus, as numbers of wildlife increase inside the park, the young go off to find new territories and nutritious land. Nothing will stop them from leaving a park and once it is shot, there is nothing to learn or `tell´ the others.
Original von Jan
With the increase in poaching the last year or so, one would think that we'd be hearing about poachers being shot - but I haven't heard anything about it.
One also has to wonder if anyone bothers to inspect the containers before they are placed on ships to be sent to the Orient. There must be ivory sniffing/pelt sniffing dogs or some other way to quickly check a load to see if contraband is in a container. Does anyone know if this is currently done? When I drive from Mombasa to Tsavo I can't help but wonder with every huge truck that is heading towards Mombasa if they have ivory, animal skins/bodies or what aboard them. Many of these trucks come from Uganda, Rwanda, etc. and I'll bet Kenya doesn't have a clue what is in them.
We have published information on poachers being shot by KWS a couple of times and they have also managed to find ivory that was hidden in containers with double walls. The port authorities do check for such things, but don't forget that they are dealing with highly criminal actions. We are talking about big money. They are facing corruption, bribing, high-tech equipment, large logistic networks, violence... the works. It is not easy.
Original von Jan
I just think there are so many other things that could be done to help prevent poaching, snaring, bushmeat trade etc. that I would try long before I would allow sport hunting. I respect people's right to do it legally in other countries, but I would hate to see it happen in the Kenya that I have grown to love.
These days everything is about money. Hunting enterprises are prepared to take care of poaching etc. hence they are doing some kind of conservation in these buffer zones and on top of it, they provide the government with an income. The government can only win from this.
Hence I believe, the only way to stop hunting from being reintroduced in Kenya is, if we can come up with a better solution. One that will make enough money to take care of poachers and human-wildlife conflicts and at the same time provide the government with an income.
As I mentioned before: Something like low budget accommodation for families that can not afford the park entrance fees and 500$ per person per night but still wish to go on safari.
Ok, they won't get to see all too much, but better than nothing.
I just don't know if this could work out and pay off. It is simply an idea that needs further processing.
