I recently listened to an interview on the radio by two conservation activists talking about the state of wildlife trafficking globally. It made depressing listening. High on the agenda was the issue of ivory and the butchery that’s involved in removing tusks from elephants. One of the interviewees said to the presenter, “imagine having your […]
May 18, 2012
The door to Masindi Prison is grey, heavy and made of steel. I lifted the door knocker outside and banged hard, after a few seconds I heard the jangling of keys and the sound of a bolt sliding across a latch. The door swung open to reveal a smartly dressed guard wearing a red beret […]
May 14, 2012
Kalegeja is only 4km from Biiso. The road there is quiet and discreet and the village is tiny. Everyone knows everything about each other and the accepted practice of pit-sawing is seen as one man’s way of overcoming poverty and providing for his family. The Budongo Forest is on their doorstep, and the reserve is […]
April 18, 2012
It’s taken a while but I’ve finally had my first encounter with a pit-sawyer. It wasn’t hostile so I wasn’t chased out of the forest by people brandishing spears (stop panicking Mum and Dad!!). It was in fact instigated by me and the man I questioned is retired and pushing 70. They call him Jasonga […]
October 30, 2013
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