The Wild Nature Institute and PAMS Foundation organized the first-ever celebration of Giraffe Day in Tanzania for students and teachers at Nkaiti Secondary School to honor their national animal, the Masai giraffe—and have fun while doing it.

This school is in the Burunge village Wildlife Management Area, which provides important linkage habitat between Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks that ensures the freedom to roam for giraffes and other wildlife.  Wild Nature Institute is working on research and conservation of this important population of Masai giraffe for future generations to celebrate, and support for community conservation in this area is crucial to these efforts.

Giraffe Day included fun environmental education activities, sports competitions, a school clean-up, arts and crafts, a giraffe quiz, and dramatic performances celebrating Tanzania’s national animal.  This the first of many planned community conservation celebrations highlighting the importance of giraffes and other wildlife to the economy, culture, and ecology of Tanzania.  

Yesterday was a big day at Nkaiti Secondary School in the Burunge region of Tanzania.  Students and teachers celebrated the first-ever Giraffe Day to honor their national animal, the Masai giraffe—and have fun while doing it.  This region is part of a village Wildlife Management Area that provides important linkage habitat between Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks that ensures the freedom to roam for giraffes and other wildlife.

Giraffe Day included fun environmental education activities, sports competitions, a school clean-up, arts and crafts, a giraffe quiz, and dramatic performances celebrating Tanzania’s national animal.  The day was organized by PAMS Foundation with help from Wild Nature Institute, and was a resounding success as nearly the entire school attended.

This the first of many planned community conservation celebrations highlighting the importance of giraffes and other wildlife to the economy, culture, and ecology of Tanzania.

This week Wild Nature Institute began wildlife surveys in Burunge Wildlife Management Area, a community wildlife protection zone adjacent to Tarangire National Park. Our goal is to measure how wildlife populations are responding to newly implemented anti-poaching and resource protection efforts by Burunge Wildlife Management Area village game scouts and rangers. The rangers and scouts work in partnership with PAMS Foundation, who provide training. We are excited to be a part of this important project to support community conservation that benefits people and wildlife. We thank ranger Florian (in the picture below, with Dr. Derek Lee of Wild Nature Institute) for accompanying us on our surveys.

The crown jewel of the Wildlife Management Area is beautiful Lake Burunge, the final stop for the Tarangire River. The Tarangire River is the lifeblood of the Tarangire Ecosystem, providing drinking water during the dry season for migratory and resident wildlife. Below are photos of Lake Burunge and some of its magnificent wildlife.