Saving The Black Rhino Project

Hi Everyone,

Been thinking about the big picture and our position paper idea.  One thing to keep in mind as we tackle the rhino and maybe later the elephant (and other African wildlife) problems, is the idea of maps.

Rhinos like elephants roam, even if it is within the confines of a very large park or game reserve.  You have alot in Kenya of course as do other African countries nearby.   It's not that we want to help poachers pinpoint the animals under threat (sure they have their own sophisticated means of finding them), but it might be nice to show generally where these animals reside in Kenya for those are the habitat areas that must be protected (many are).

So be thinking about maps, Google Earth etc. and big protected reserve areas in Kenya for starters.  

The other is to have Kenya students maybe give a part of the report on what government and other important wildlife organizations exist in Kenya to protect the rhino, elephant and other animals within Kenya's borders, and what organizations also work cross-border say with Tanzania and other countries wildlife authorities who presumably work somewhat closely on the problem.

So an assessment of current laws, organizations, and jurisdictions would be helpful.  Again in summary form or on a separate blog area maybe would be best.

Also, maybe big organizations and what they are presently doing in Kenya and TZ at least, like TUSK or World Wildlife Fund, World Bank environmental, etc. - they are likely doing overlapping work maybe?!  Maybe not the greatest communications or program coordination between them either?!

Once we have pinned down the organizations, their jurisdictions, powers, numbers of staffs, etc.,  maps of herds or groups of rhinos, elies,...then its OK - where are the holes, the problem areas, where staff and training may be beefed up....etc.

So maybe groups of kids can work on background - Johnny's NYC on TUSK and other outside orgs...operating in Kenya and TZ.

Then it's research on the criminal gangs that may be operating in Africa, and the demand countries (rhino - Vietnam, maybe Laos, China, Yemen, etc.), how they operate locally, regionally and globally.

Then it's how do we tackle the source demand - the medicinal myth part of the cities and rural areas in those demand countries?!....  And how do we stop other locals from supporting them?!

BIG stuff, BIG complex problem - but our kids are surely up to the task.  Working together and later with other kids worldwide - they can do it!!

Also have the kids be thinking about other possible future episodes we might do for our games related that will educate other kids around the world on the issue.  This is best likely after they have had a chance to play our current game when they can partly now and the rest later...

OK - food for thought and discussion....