The Risks
This latest news from Moses in Uganda. Moses saves pangolin from the wildlife trafficking trade. Albeit heroic we have no idea the risks and dangers involved in stepping in to intervene.
(We personally met Moses up in Uganda in early 2017… he is for real.)
This from Moses
[Via his FB page and shared with permission]
Been having lots of issues in regard to the recent pangolin rescue.
The man we got the pangolin from expected 5,000,000 Uganda shillings ($1400)after selling the pangolin.
I tried explaining and explaining to no understanding so had to somehow use force to save the pangolin which I don’t usually do so I requested for help from a nearby army detach.
So happy that area commander understands and gave man power to help.
We rescued and released back to a safe wild place.
After all this ,the man has been threatening my informants and me for having caused loss to his dealing.
We therefore organised an awareness and security meeting at this border town with local leaders and the army commander to teach people in this area about what’s going on with pangolins and other wildlife and how it affects security too.
Locals complained that they were not aware of what’s going on with wildlife issues.
Awareness is much needed but no one invests in it .
I’m happy that now people here understands now but more and more villages still need to be educated especially at border areas.
This news came on the heels of the fatal shooting of a police sergeant involved in arresting poachers of elephant tusks. Folk like Moses, his informants and law enforcement officials doing their job to intervene in the wildlife trafficking trade, do so at deadly risks.
The Rewards
The good news is Moses continues to be successful at intervening and rescuing highly endangered pangolin. Just the other day he sent us a message:
Rescued another pangolin today.
This was rescued from buhoma village from hands of local people who got him from the coffee plantation and were looking at selling it.
The pangolin is being taken care by the rangers at Buhoma Bwindi impenetrable national park headquarters and is expected to be released back to the wild in a safe place this evening.
For Moses and the brave folk like him the rewards of saving an entire wildlife species from extinction remains worth the risks.
The least folk like us can do is provide them the financial support they need.
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