16 THE ‘AUDUBON? BU LTD ETN 
EAST AFRICAN WILDLIFE: 
FACTS, PROBLEMS, PROBABILITIES 
By ALVALENE (Mrs. R. M.) BARRON 
As a member of a photo-recording safari that recently toured the newly 
established countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—a project dedicated 
to education concerning East African wildlife with emphasis on endangered 
species—I took part in group interviews with government officials, national 
park and game refuge managers, rangers, and private citizens. 
Key factors in survival of diminishing wildlife are: (a) keeping an 
ecological balance, (b) game farming and ranching, (c) maintaining or 
increasing national parks which means purchasing more land, and (d) avail- 
able cash. African people want more agricultural and grazing land. During 
a cultural exchange, while discussing the drain of Africa’s wildlife, at the 
University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, we heard this statement: “The 
problem is not land. It is a question of what places to develop as tourist | 
areas and what to develop for agriculture.” 
Roger Wheater, director of Murchison Falls National Park, said: “We 
must keep our parks long enough so that when we reach a high economy 
balance in the country, the parks with animals will be here as an escape 
for our people from their busy world.’ He could well be speaking for all 
three countries. 
The following facts are evident: 
1. Officials of all three countries are keenly aware of the economic 
benefits of wildlife, since tourism is their greatest source of outside income. 
2. Park and game reserve personnel, from managers to rangers, are 
dedicated to the preservation of their wildlife charges. It is interesting 
that many of these men are former “white hunters” and some park men 
actually were once poachers. 
3. Africans living in the bush and grass country could not care less 
The new IAS decal 
is more than 
twice this size. 
Our cardinal is pictured in blazing red. The 
background colors are beldly green and 
blue. Around the circle, “Illinois Audubon 
Society” is printed in a solid black. These 
new decals are for sale now. They can be 
mounted quickly and easily on the inside of 
any kind of window. They’‘re especially 
PR suitable for your car. Order several. 
ICE By Mail From: 
30c each Illinois Audubon Society Bookstore 
1017 Burlington Ave. 
postpaid Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 
