If you had the chance to talk to a poacher what would you ask? Last week we got the unique opportunity to talk to and interview real life poachers. We got to talk to them about what and why they do what they do. What it really comes down to for them is the money. Most of them don't have any other means of income and there aren't many jobs available to them. They aren't necessarily proud of what they do, but again they are desperate for the money. I found myself thinking that they aren't too different from some people back home in America that cheat, steal or lie to make a couple extra bucks. What was interesting to hear from these poachers was that when asked if they would take a job as a ranger, protecting the wildlife in the parks from other poachers, both of them said they would if it paid them a decent living wage (about 300,000TSH a month, which is less than 200USD). 

This past week we also did a 2km transect walk and identified the different types of grasses along Lake Manyara National Park. Only my like-minded nature-loving nerds would enjoy this field exercise too. With a lake full of flamingos as our backdrop in a field surrounded by cattle, shoats (sheep goats), and Thomson's gazelles, it was a great day.

Over the weekend we had a guest lecture from our center director, which was my favorite lectures so far. Lions are his specialty, so naturally we talked all things lions. We got to talk about all the different ways to monitor lion populations and he even brought out some radio and GPS collars to show us the difference between the two.

We had our first official community service day as well. Some people when to Project Rhotia which involves teaching kids English as well as how to use computers and the internet for school work, some people went to an orphanage to read to the kids, and then there was another group that helped to build a bathroom for the local primary school. I was in the building group this time and we ended up fixing the road that leads to the school instead because the water was out at the school and we could not mix cement that day.


We have our first home-stay tomorrow and then we are leaving for an expedition. I am so excited for this upcoming week.

Hope all is well with those of you reading!
xx