While we respect Tanzania’s right to choose how it manages its natural resources, we believe strongly that there is no justification for hunting such rare and valuable animals. We urge the Tanzanian government and hunting industry to consider the negative impacts of such senseless killing. All elephants have value, but especially the large tuskers, because of their rarity, their social and reproductive roles, and their huge popularity with tourists whose safaris bring significant income to local economies. We urge the authorities to formalise the historic moratorium on hunting elephants in areas near the Kenya-Tanzania border, and we stand ready to share any information we have that may help to guide responsible decision-making to protect and conserve these animals.

These two incidents are especially painful for Big Life, given that we have rangers working tirelessly in the area to protect elephants from poachers, and we hope a resolution can be found quickly to prevent this from happening in the future.

Photo: Jeremy Goss

Read Africa Geographic's full article "Trophy Hunted: 2 Super Tuskers in Tanzania."

We are all shocked and deeply saddened to share the news that one our beloved team members, Joan Seleyian, passed away in December from a short and sudden illness.

Joan’s friendly manner, infectious laughter, and deep commitment to improving the communities around Amboseli made her one of those rare individuals who was adored and respected by everyone she met.

Joan excelled in school and could have chosen any career path, but found her calling working for Big Life’s Health Department, where she helped dispel the many myths and misunderstandings around sexual health that abound in rural communities.

She was passionate about her work, stating: “I want to see people embrace conservation, and also understand and access primary healthcare. I also want to tackle other issues like female genital mutilation and gender-based violence.”

She understood the value of women’s sexual education and was particularly passionate about preventing teenage pregnancy, holding meetings for Maasai women which acted as safe spaces for them to share and resolve such issues.

Never one to let gender stereotypes get her down, she was the first female employee at Big Life to get a motorbike license and one of the only women in the entire region to do so. Her motivation?  “Women understand better when sensitive health information is shared to them by a woman, and I can always see their confidence raised when they see me parking my bike.”

She leaves behind a husband and four young children. When the time comes, Big Life will fund the education for her eldest child. We are currently supporting her family as best we can through this painful time.

Safiri Salama, Joan. We will all miss you.

Photo: Jeremy Goss

NEWS ARTICLE:
Joan: The backpack nurse who changed lives of Kajiado women - Nation Media Group

As we head into 2024 full of optimism following excellent rains, we want to let our supporters know about two tragic events at the end of last year that affected everyone at Big Life deeply. Two unique members of our team, Corporal Agnes Sopilal and Community Health Project Officer Joan Seleyian, passed away following short illnesses in late November and early December. Both women were genuine trendsetters whose lives and careers challenged the gender stereotypes of the communities they worked in.

We want to dedicate a post to each of them.

Agnes Sopilal really did buck the trend. She was our first female ranger. Since joining Big Life over a decade ago in 2013, she has paved the way for 15 other women to follow in her capable footsteps.

Through her work, she helped prevent human-elephant conflict, combatted poaching, and responded to emergencies in her community. Through her salary earned as a ranger, Agnes was able to build a house for her mother and pay for the education of her siblings, demonstrating that women in Maasai society can be the breadwinners and have jobs traditionally viewed as being solely for men.

Agnes was a role model for women and girls in her community, and Big Life will continue to honour her legacy. In a fitting tribute, her beret and ranger boots were placed on top of her casket during her funeral, and she was given a full send off by her fellow rangers, male and female alike.

As she said herself: “There are no male or female rangers. We are all rangers. Everything men can do, we as women can do as well.”  

Rest in peace, Agnes. Photo: Josh Clay

Njoroke ole Mpere is the Vice Chairman of the Nairrabala Conservancy, speaking in his native language about why his community has decided to protect Nairrabala as a conservancy area to benefit both wildlife and his people as the landowners far into the future. Here’s the rest of our interview with him: Q: What do you think of elephants?

Mpere: I have known elephants my whole life. I have seen them in happy times and also experienced the unfortunate times that arise with conflict. They are magnificent and I am always mesmerized by them. 

Q: What do you think about sharing space with elephants and other wildlife?

Mpere: Despite the unfortunate incidences that arise from human-wildlife conflict, I believe that they have become good neighbors who have brought along benefits to us in our time of need. 

Q: Have you seen the elephants with the very big tusks, the tuskers like Paolo? What do you think of them?

Mpere:  I even saw a big tusker recently, while I was herding livestock. They are a masterpiece of God's work and the possibility that my kids might not see them in their natural state saddens my heart. That is why I work hard to see that wildlife is supported by my generation, for the sake of the future. 

Q: How do you think land subdivision will impact the landscape and the Maasai?

Mpere: Everything has a good and a bad side. It's worse for those that sell land to other people, but people like us who have leased our land will get benefits for many years. 

Q: What do you think could happen to the Nairrabala corridor, without the lease program?

Mpere: Without the corridor, the land would fall to individual persons' decision. The area of Nairrabala is rich with water and good farming soil, tempting people to fence their farms and develop. But this would affect our grazing areas and wildlife movements, especially for elephants and lions who love the area. We would lose the beautiful, serene land that I grew up knowing, and my children will never get to experience nature. 

Mpere shares his home with elephants like Paolo. Leasing areas like the Nairrabala corridor will help them both - it’s the ultimate win-win. Help us secure this area with a donation today.  

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