THE WILD FAUNA OP THE EMPIEE 



15 



more importance now that much of the Eift Valley has become 

 settled. While nominally reserved, few practical steps seem as 

 yet to have been taken to prevent illicit shooting. It is believed 

 that large numbers of elephants are destroyed there. This is the 

 home of the rarest and the finest of the Fauna of Northern East 

 Africa ; it is believed to be unsuited for colonisation or settlement ; 

 it is admirably situated from a geographical and zoological point 

 of view ; it is .not known to be the home or the hunting ground 

 of any important body of natives ; it has not been touched by 

 European settlement ; and it can be controlled from the Masai 

 Eeserve, where British officials are already posted. We ask that 

 the area now known as the Northern Eeserve, with such modifica- 

 tions as further study on the spot may prove desirable, be hence- 

 forth also maintained as an inviolable national sanctuary for 

 African Fauna ; and that such a sum of money be at once allotted 

 from the revenues derived from game licences as will suffice to 

 provide and maintain an adequate staff of European and native 

 watchers under the general supervision of the Government Game 

 Eanger and H.M. Commissioner. 



We would recall the fact that the people of the United States 

 of America have given up a large area known as the Yellowstone 

 Park, for the preservation of Fauna which were threatened with 

 extinction, and we maintain that it is the duty and the interest of 

 Great Britain to follow this example in East Africa. 



Mr. Jackson's observations on the sale of hides, nominally 

 from German territory, are of great importance, and it would 

 seem desirable to make some arrangement by which this destruc- 

 tion might be stopped. The proposal to raise the minimum weight 

 of tusks to 30 lbs. has our entire approval, and this measure may 

 with advantage be extended to other Protectorates, some of which 

 indeed are themselves asking for it. 



We attach great importance to the game returns, and regret 

 that they wore not published for this territory with the last 

 Annual Eeport. They are some guide to the increase or diminu- 

 tion of particular species. 



There are many other details dealt with in Colonel Sadler's 

 Eeport which would probably be best dealt with by the Commis- 

 sioner on the spot. 



In conclusion we wish to impress upon H.M. Government 

 the fact that they have in the Fauna of East Africa an asset 

 of large pecuniary value. The direct revenue from licences, &c, 

 now amounts to between .£8,000 and £10,000 a year ; the indirect 

 annual revenue from, the visits of sportsmen has been estimated 

 at over £20,000. It cannot be doubted that the creation of State 

 preserves, as opposed to reserves, would not only tend to pro- 

 tect animals from wholesale destruction, but would, if properly 

 managed, bring in large and constantly increasing 'sums to the 

 Protectorate Exchequer. We commend this view to the favour- 

 able consideration of the Secretary of State. 



