The pandemic is affecting Serengeti’s protection. But not all is lost.

The Serengeti is a magical place – a unique place in the world. Every day you look out you see different colors and different animals walking past. This makes every morning into a new experience. Whenever I fly over the park, and witness the beauty and wildlife richness, I become more committed than ever to assist the Tanzanian authorities protect this unique ecosystem” says Rian Labuschagne, FZS Serengeti Conservation Project Leader in Tanzania.

But there is trouble in paradise.

Numbers of tourists have plummeted in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic, and with it, a big portion of the money that previously went towards protecting wildlife in the park has been decimated.

This is bad news because now national park authorities struggle to pay for aerial surveillance flights to both monitor animal populations and look for poaching activity, and for on the ground ranger teams who physically patrol and remove snares set to kill animals. Additional teams have been put in the field in an endeavor to help combat an increase in poaching, requiring additional resources.

So far, we have been able to support some operational costs through the Mission Possible campaign. Although those donations have been helpful, the coronavirus pandemic and associated lack of tourism are ongoing problems. So, until tourism can resume, ongoing costs for fuel, vehicle maintenance and equipment need continual external support.