Kenya
The Conflict
Lack of Jobs & Poaching
No hunting is legal in Kenya. However, poaching for various reasons, including bushmeat—the only meat some families can access—and for Rhino horn smuggled and sold on the black market in Asia and the Middle East – is widespread. Further the use of illegal wire snares is indiscriminate, killing rhino, hippo, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, antelope, wildebeest, zebra and baboon.Between 1960 and 1995, poaching of Black Rhinos in across their range in Africa caused a dramatic 98% collapse of the population.
The Solution
The Anne K. Taylor Fund works on‘wildlife rescues’ in conjunction with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) veterinarians to remove snares, arrows, and spears from afflicted animalsin the Masai Mara National Reserve. Anne K. Taylor Fund together with KWS and partners, work to help control poaching and snaring and conduct community education programs on the importance of saving wildlife. Participants in the Fund’s micro-finance project enterprises play an active role in educating peers and discouraging poaching in their communities.
The Conservation Enterprise
A group of Masai women gathered through the micro-finance project bead beautiful and sophisticated Certified Wildlife Friendly™ bracelets and other beaded products, with 100% of profits returned to jewelry-makers.
With initial profits, the women invested in a maize-grinding machine to make maize-meal, their staple food. They now lease the machine to other members of the community, ensuring a steady income.
Microenterprise members have also their proceeds to build a small shop to supply basic necessities to outlying communities. Such activities help reinforce the tie between wildlife conservation and human well-being.
To inquire about purchasing Certified Wildlife Friendly™ beaded products please contact: info@aktaylor.com or 406.294.9430.
