Many people have watched wildlife documentaries , in crystal clear images thanks to TV Aerial Installation Cheltenham companies like steveunettaerials.co.uk/services/tv-aerials-repair-and-installation-cheltenham/ and have seen the world in which some incredibly beautiful animals live. Most of these people will never see these animals up close whilst others think of a safari holiday as a once in a lifetime trip where you pack your favourite Maxi Dresses and linen clothing and head off in hope of seeing some of the world’s most incredible animals. Now, whilst this is true and a suitcase filled with cool clothing and a camera full of incredible images is what most people experience, the mere existence of safari tourism has a much wider reaching positive impact.
In Uganda for example, poaching is a real and it isn’t just an ethical decision to fight poaching it’s also an economical one for the country. Both tourism and animal protection are working hand-in-hand to help protect some of Africa’s most endangered species.
In a visit organised by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Barcelona Legends football team embarked on a tourism and investment promotion trip to Uganda. Visiting some of the country’s most popular attractions, they went into the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on a safari, seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
A Lot to Offer
Speaking about their trip, Patrick Kluivert, Barcelona’s striker, said he had fallen in love with the wildlife of the country and told UTB that even though they were only there for a short period of time, he was in no doubt that Uganda was one of the world’s most beautiful countries. He also went on to say that because of what they have to offer, the team would go on to give them good global coverage.
Sadly five elephants were killed in nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park during the time the team was visiting the area, although no connections have been made between the two events. Thanks to the high profile tourist visit, many now believe that tourists gorilla trekking can indirectly help to tackle the ongoing crisis of poaching.
Foreign Earnings
In Uganda, the industry of safari tourism is rapidly growing and CEO of UTB, Stephen Asiimwe, says it is one of the major components of their foreign earnings. For that reason protecting the wildlife there is fundamental both ethically and economically. If the extinction of these animals can be prevented, not only will Uganda’s ecosystem thrive but so will tourism to the area.
Over the last decade, thousands upon thousands of elephants have been unlawfully killed, with 35,000 being slaughtered in 2012 alone – an average of four an hour.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s latest figures, approximately 5,000 elephants can be found in Uganda today. However, the lucrative business of poaching is still very much alive and while the issue is constantly being tackled by conservation charities and governments, the process is proving to be very slow.
To continue to fight this battle, Uganda will continue to rely heavily on growing tourism and increasing the awareness of poaching in this beautiful country.