HUNTING AND CONSERVATION
For us at Karamojo Safari, the ultimate goal is to restore the splendor and richness of Karamoja's wildlife through sound conservation programs.
How can hunting be a conservation tool? Simple. Besides the role of controlled hunting as a means of animal populations management, the proceeds from sport hunting, when wisely distributed, can be the single most profitable source of revenue for local communities. As we see in our Communities and Wildlife page, giving a tangible value to wild animals is the only way to transform the rural communities from indiscriminate subsitence poachers into dedicated wildlife guardians.
Animals are hunted following strict guidelines. The vast majority of animals hunted for sport in Africa are mature male animals who are past their prime, and are beyond their reproductive role in the herd. These animals attract hefty Government fees, and in Uganda 75% of these are used directly towards projects in the communities from where the animal has been taken.
One single hunter on a two weeks Safari pays several thousand dollars in Government Animal Fees. These fees are used according to the decision of the communities, for projects that directly benefit them, and to set up commercially viable ventures for the same communities - like establishing timber plantations, creating water points, or covering the costs of education for the children of a village.
Add to this the recruitment of ex-poachers as guides and trackers, sensitization of rural populations, education of local hunters on the proper management of game, general changes in perception from the local communities at large, and soon the wild animals cease to be nuisances belonging to the Government, deserving only to be killed indiscriminately and eaten while they last, and become a precious resource that is a collective responsibility.