This week, the Trump Administration announced that the “trophy” body parts of legally hunted elephants from Zimbabwe and Zambia may be imported into the U.S., along with weakened protections for African lions. Allowing hunters to import pieces of the dead bodies of elephants and lions is a direct rollback of two Obama-era regulations meant to protect both of these threatened species, and the argument that this decision was undertaken in the name of conservation is utterly absurd. 

This announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. Administration’s proposed 2018 budget, which includes extensive cuts to already grossly underfunded wildlife conservation programs. If enacted, funding for programs that protect critical species like elephants and rhinos, including in Big Life’s area of operation, will be completely eliminated. Wildlife is not the only potential victim. With further cuts proposed for programs that support local communities, including vitally important support for community rangers, humans will also suffer. 

The world is seeing monumental shifts happening to stem the ivory trade and ensure the broader survival of iconic animals across the African continent. Under global pressure, even countries like China have demonstrated a commitment to shutting down the illegal ivory market. At this critical tipping point, the proposed U.S. budget cuts, compounded by the decision to lift the ban on the import of elephant and lion trophies, sends a confusing and dangerous signal to the rest of the world about the United States’ commitment and leadership in the fight against illegal wildlife poaching and trafficking. 

Decisions made over the next several months have the power to shape the future and chance of survival for some of the world’s most iconic endangered species. While the situation looks dire, there is still time for the political narrative to change.

To join the fight, and use your voice to change the narrative, please consider the following:

1. Donate to support Big Life’s work to protect and secure wildlife and wild lands in East Africa: https://biglife.org/donations
2. Contact US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or tweet @RyanZinke
3. Contact US Fish & Wildlife Service: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or tweet @USFWS

COVID-19 is not the only health crisis Africa is facing. According to new data from the United Nations, while the world’s population is projected to nearly stop growing by the end of the century, Africa’s population is predicted to triple.

In order to achieve long-term protection of wildlife and habitat, it is essential that local communities within Big Life’s area of operation are able to prosper in a stable and peaceful environment, including through reliable access to healthcare, education, and the empowerment of women and girls.

Big Life Foundation tackles all three goals across the 1.6 million acres of the Greater Amboseli ecosystem we protect, based upon the belief that if conservation supports the people, then people will support conservation. As such, we’ve been expanding our Community Health Volunteer (CHV) program to improve the health of local communities, promote sustainable family planning, and advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

This past spring, the CHVs conducted a baseline health survey comprising 200 men and 200 women, which included questions about family planning. We learned that the average number of children per household is about 5, and additionally:

• 38% of mothers and 26% of fathers surveyed stated that their most recent pregnancy was unwanted at that time, highlighting an unmet need for family planning services.
• Over 80% of both men and women are misinformed to believe there are long-term negative side effects to modern contraception, with nearly 50% believing they will cause permanent infertility.
• On average, only 40% of men and women knew where they could go to seek family planning services, if wanted.
• 84% of men did not approve of their wives using a modern family planning method.

With our healthcare initiatives – including mobile health clinics, CHVs, and health education – we’re hoping to make positive changes for overall health as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights across the local Maasai community.

With human populations continually on the rise and no corresponding increase in available land or resources for people or wildlife, the timing is critical to educate and empower both men and women, enabling them to make informed choices that may lead to a brighter future for all.

We couldn’t do this critical work without the help of CHASE Africa, the Leila and Mickey Straus Family Foundation, Health Yetu Foundation, or our individual donors worldwide. We are grateful for your support.

Photo: Jeremy Goss

What do a crocodile, a leopard, and a pangolin have in common?

They’re all on the wanted list, sought after by those involved in the dark world of the illegal wildlife trade. It’s a huge business worldwide, valued at billions of dollars, and run by organized crime networks (some of which deal in other illicit products such as guns and drugs).

Big Life is working with the Kenya Wildlife Service to dismantle wildlife trade networks, from poachers in the bush to traders higher up the value chain. Our undercover intelligence network now covers most of southeastern Kenya, far beyond the area patrolled by our rangers.

Thousands of species are targeted each year, and in the last month our intelligence work has led to busts in which 21 traffickers were arrested, with species including ELEPHANT (for ivory), PYTHON (for skin), LEOPARD (for skin), PANGOLIN (for scales), OWL species (for eggs), and CROCODILE (for skin).

There is no good reason for these animals to die. Their parts end up either as tacky decor in someone’s home, or as an ingredient in bogus traditional medicines.

Please support Big Life in our efforts to catch those involved at the source of the trade.

But we are helping to put them out. With the rains long-since gone, it’s dry as a tinder box here in southeastern Kenya and the past month has seen near constant bushfires in Big Life’s area of operation.

In remote areas rangers are the first, and only, line of defense against fires, and Big Life ranger units have joined forces with the Kenya Wildlife Service and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to tackle the devastating blazes.

Fires here get started for a variety of reasons. Sometimes accidentally, by honey hunters, trespassers, or farmers clearing farms improperly. But they’re also started on purpose: by herders (both legal and illegal) wanting to stimulate fresh grass growth for their livestock, or poachers doing the same to attract wildlife closer to their snares.

Through July and August, a total of 115 Big Life rangers from 16 units were involved in responding to 29 fire incidents, which consumed in excess of 10,000 acres, mainly in the Chyulu Hills.

Our efforts have been greatly helped by funding for fire-fighting equipment from the Chyulu Hills REDD+ project, and fire-fighting training provided to rangers by LEADRanger.

We know our supporters in the US are facing massive forest fires, and the horrendous air quality that comes with it. We hope the rains return and the skies clear soon, for all of our sakes. In the meantime, thank you for sending your support as we battle this threat to the habitats of the Greater Amboseli ecosystem.

Photo: Jeremy Goss