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Success Story

Photo: USAID/Kim Wylie

Wild zebras graze in Tanzania's game parks According to African folklore, the baobab tree was once so vain that God tore it up and planted it upside down.

Tanzania is home to some of the world's largest herds of wild animals - buffalo, zebra, elephant. Nevertheless, some of the fish, birds, plants and mammals that are so integral to the survival of entire ecosystems are threatened with extinction. Over-fishing, over-grazing, deforestation and harmful commercial and agricultural practices all threaten the very existence of one of Tanzania's greatest resources - its rich biodiversity.

USAID has a long history of helping Tanzania conserve its outstanding wildlife heritage, particularly in the northern tourist destinations of Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks and the Ugalla Game Reserve in western Tanzania. Recently, USAID supported the development of Caring for Our Wildlife, a campaign to increase awareness among educators and students about animals and plants that populate Tanzania's protected areas and ecosystems. The campaign sparks interest in conservation by sharing out of the ordinary facts that spur students to learn more on their own.

Did you know that a termite queen can lay 1,000 eggs an hour for up to 20 years? Or that elephants spend up to 18 hours a day feeding? And according to African folklore, the baobab tree was once so vain that God tore it up and planted it upside down.

Tanzania's government now considers environmental education to be a priority, and it is being integrated into the formal education curriculum. The Caring for Our Wildlife campaign, which is written in English and Kiswahili and includes interactive lessons, will instill the youth of Tanzania with ideas for preserving natural resources and a desire to understand the world around them.

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