I spoke with Boyd Norton, friend of WILD, world-class photographers and passionate conservationist, yesterday about the urgent issue threatening the Serengeti (Tanzania and Kenya).
About a week ago, he returned from leading one of his photo tours in Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discovered a major tragedy in the making — the biggest threat to the Serengeti ecosystem in decades. A major highway (in red on the map) is planned to cut across the migration path of millions of animals. (The migration paths are the colored arrows)
This high-speed highway could have hundreds of trucks each day. Imagine the wildlife carnage from these speeding trucks. The road would also be the perfect pathway for a huge increase in poaching in the Serengeti and tourism, dependent on this great migration, would be significantly impacted if not completely destroyed. You can see how magnificent the migration of wildebeest is from the Youtube video.
There is not a lot of information available on the highways plans, but big money interests appear to be behind this. Advocates should speak up for the safer alternative route (in light green on the map) that bypasses Serengeti altogether.
If you care about this incredible ecosystem, you can contact the Tanzanian Embassy (ubalozi at tanzaniaembassy-us.org) and let them know that this would be one of the greatest wildlife disasters in history. You could also contact the Tanzania National Parks (info at tanzaniaparks.com).
Boyd and fellow concerned advocates have also started a facebook page to post updates about the highway. In just a short time, nearly 4,000 people have become a fan of this page – showing the scale of international concern for the Serengeti.
My husband and I were absolutely horrified when we read about the Serengeti Highway. We know and love the Serengeti. To us it is the heart of Africa, it is a place which must be preserved for future generations. If this Highway is built the Serengeti will die. The migration of the wildebeest is one of the last wonders left on planet earth. So much has already been destroyed. Will there nothing be left for future generations but stories how it used to be?
Heidi and Richard Goodwin
My husband is an eco-tour provider, who has taken awed clients to Serengeti and surrounding areas for over 20 years. We both believe that construction of this road will not only NOT increase eco-tourism, as some proponents of the road are claiming, it will create a situation where there may be little to no eco-tourism in the area within a number of years. There will be little wildlife left to see. There is no scientific question about what will happen to the balance of this precious ecosystem if it is disturbed in this way. The Mara will suffer, the Serengeti will suffer, the protected animal species will eventually disappear, the future of the people of Tanzania and Kenya will be mortgaged for short-term personal gains. And those who are dreaming, far away from East Africa, of some day experiencing one of the last remaining wild migrations on the planet will have to cross it off their list, as another dream lost to unsupportable political decision-making, ignorance, and blind personal ambitions.
Amy, you are correct in every respect! Have your husband sign the Travel Industry petition:
https://www.savetheserengeti.org/issues/stop-the-serengeti-highway/
Save The Serengeti is also forming a coalition to show the Tanzanian govt. that this road has serious implications and is completely unsupported by the tourism industry!
Please spread this link and any others you find.
We’ve visited the Serengeti several times. This unique environment should not be spoiled by the construction of a highway.
This is good blog message, I will keep this in mind. If you add more video and pictures because it helps understanding 🙂
The construction of the Serengeti highway has to be stopped! This road could lead to the increase of poachers, as well as a decrease in the population of the reserves wildlife and a confliction with the annual great migration of wildebeest.
https://www.ziarasafaris.com/blog/tanzania-blog/stop-the-serengeti-highway.html Please sign the petition to declare you do not approve of the new Serengeti highway plans.