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 In the heart of Malawi’s
Capital City, Lilongwe, lies a Nature Sanctuary; 180 hectares of pristine
habitat, with a dazzling array of fauna and flora. For many years, the Sanctuary
had offered those living within the City an opportunity to escape the rigors of
urban life into a more natural African setting, and gave visitors a taste of
what tourism and wildlife conservation had to offer in the rest of the country.
In recent years however, the area has become a haven for thieves, and this has
largely deterred locals and tourists from enjoying the Sanctuary and all it has
to offer. In a country that desperately requires economic diversification, the
Nature Sanctuary and its proposed development of a modern day Wildlife Centre
could hold one of the “golden keys” to creating a greater awareness amongst
Malawians of the benefits that tourism could bring to their country.
People and Wildlife - in 2006 Malawi National
Parks and Wildlife Service opened discussions with Land and Lake Safaris in an
attempt to create a new facility that would help protect the Lilongwe Nature
Sanctuary from further degradation, and provide an alternative to the current
zoo. The result, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, which is to be built in Zone B of
the Nature Sanctuary, is to be created under non-profit making Trust status, and
in accordance with a concept that is not only new to Malawi and Africa, but the
world. It could lead the way, if successful here in Lilongwe, for many
other zoos around the World that currently lie in a state of disrepair. The PAW
(People and Wildlife) concept requires establishments to approach wildlife
conservation and wild animal rehabilitation differently, and to look at creating
financially stable facilities that will aim to address human related issues
through education and recreation.
According to National Statistical Office figures, Malawi
harbours some 12.7 million people, who squeeze into a country just 1/8 the size
of Zambia (a country with a population of just one million less). It is not
surprising therefore that there are many major environmental issues that require
urgent attention, issues that include severe deforestation, protected areas that
are heavily poached and dwindling fish populations in the lake. In order to
resolve such issues for future generations, it is important that ’people issues’
are addressed, as ultimately, environmental degradation and human related issues
are intrinsically linked. It is now commonly accepted that problems regarding
wildlife and the environment cannot be resolved without also addressing human
related issues such as health, education and unemployment. The new Centre will
therefore attempt to combine this basic philosophy with international animal
rehabilitation practices that will support the countries injured, orphaned and
confiscated wild animals.
The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre Trust recently developed a 4
year business plan that will help the new facility meet one of its key
objectives; to create a conservation centre that can become financially
self-sustaining after just 4 years, and that will in-turn meet its conservation
objectives for many years to come, independent of international support.
Sanctuary space for Malawi’s wild orphans is urgently
required to cater for the many animals traded illegally each year within Malawi,
many of which still sit in private household and collections within the cities.
The Centre shall not only provide the care and attention needed to rehabilitate
all these animals brought in, it shall also attempt to return its orphans back
to the wild, whenever possible, rather than retain them for purely recreational
and educational purposes. The Centre, under the PAW Concept, shall enforce a
strict non-breeding (for those animals not being released) and no contact
(between visitors and animals) policy and will refrain from selling, trading,
exchanging or commercially exploiting any animal. Where possible the Centre
shall support and encourage statutory authorities to enforce and improve
legislation that prevents the illegal exploitation and cruel treatment of
wildlife, and indeed domestic animals.
Education is a prerequisite to the success of any
developing country, and it is through improved education that a country like
Malawi can develop economically and thus improve the lives of its entire people.
Education also ultimately holds the key to wildlife conservation in Malawi (longterm)
and it is through facilities such as the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, that a new
breed of Malawian conservationists will be born. It is also hoped that the
Centre can help promote conservation and environmental practices within the
City, amongst the masses, which should in turn help create greater understanding
for and appreciation of, conservation and environmental efforts in the field.
The Centre will offer an arena in which school education
programmes can be enhanced and will provide a valuable resource for those
involved in the ‘training of trainers’. It is hoped that within 3-5 years that
the Centre will be in a position to reach out to those schools and its teachers
that are unable to afford transport and entrance fees to the new Centre through
an outreach programme, thus disseminating the conservation message even further
afield.
The Centre shall, through the development of partnerships
with Government agencies and Non-Governmental organizations, build awareness,
provide education and advise on local and national humanitarian issues relevant
to Malawians, a programme that is referred to by the Centre as the ‘Life Skills
Programme’. HIV, AIDS, Malaria, TB and famine are words are often associated
with African countries and indeed most countries in the developing world.
Millions of dollars are spent each year on advertising and public awareness
campaigns in order to safeguard future generations from these diseases and
problems. Facilities, like the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, can play a huge role in
educating the younger generations (who are largely forgotten in such campaigns)
on such issues, and can help disseminate and instil key messages regarding safe
sex, malaria prevention and treatment, primary health care, agriculture and
healthy living. Bee keeping, bamboo propagation, use of solar cookers,
reforestation and agricultural training are programmes that will be also
promoted at the Wildlife Centre through its partners, in order to help
disseminate useful and practical information that will support urban and rural
communities develop through eco-friendly routes.
Recreation will become an important component of the
Centre. At present, there are very few recreational opportunities for families
and groups to enjoy within Lilongwe, and there are certainly no opportunities
for the majority of Malawians living within the City to enjoy a true wildlife
experience. Due to the costs of travelling to, and entering one of Malawi’s
National Parks or Forest Reserves, the Nature Sanctuary will become the only
opportunity for many, to view wild animals, in a semi-wild environment. The
Centre will ultimately provide a very unique facility in which recreation,
education, culture and wildlife conservation are combined for the people of
Lilongwe to enjoy.
How will the Centre be funded? Due to the nature of
the project and its locality within Malawi, the project should offer very
exciting funding opportunities for local companies and embassies, as well as
International welfare organizations and their partners. In the longer term,
after an initial 3-4 year period where external funding will be required,
running costs shall be generated internally, through visitor gate fees and
additional income generating schemes such as adoption and ‘friends of the
Centre’ programmes, summer camps, fundraising events, a gift shop and additional
rental income from a café / restaurant.
The development of the new Lilongwe Wildlife Centre at the
Nature Sanctuary should be a welcomed addition to the City of Lilongwe and
indeed Malawi. Not only will the new facility provide a badly needed
recreational attraction for those visiting or living in Lilongwe, it will also
provide a facility that will support the countries development expectations
through tourism and wildlife conservation, training and education.
Source: official website of
Lilongwe
Wildlife Centre (2009)
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