By Lusekelo Philemon
31st March 2015
Dick Persson explaining on one of
his photos displayed in the Museum
Apart from being the main gateway to
the country’s leading tourist destinations of Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake
Manyara and Serengeti National Parks, Arusha hosts a number of international
organisations. But, recently the northern city of Arusha acquired another
status after the Arusha National Natural Historical Museum launched the world’s
largest permanent wildlife photographic exhibition.
“This is the first and unique
international wildlife photographic exhibition; whereby a number of photos
showcasing the Tanzania’s richness in flora and fauna,” says Dick Persson, a
Swedish zoological researcher, wildlife photographer.
Persson is a man who is behind the
idea of making Arusha on the world map for hosting the internationally
recognised permanent wildlife photographic exhibition, says: “This exhibition
is meant to raise awareness on the need for the public to seriously take part
in wildlife protection…”
The Arusha Museum now hosts nearly
400 wildlife photos, mostly taken by Dick Persson in the span of 19 years from
different parts of Tanzania.
“And most of his photos were taken
outside the national parks, and other protected areas,” says Persson, who also
worked in the former Soviet Union, China, Kazakhstan, Oman, Qatar, Libya,
Cyprus, Tunisia, Peru, Iraq and now in Tanzania.
Currently, Persson’s wildlife
photographs are exhibited at twelve International Museums around the world.
“Each picture has its own research
story with scientific names for visitors to understand,” says Persson who
documented hundreds of wildlife photos at the Arusha museum said the exhibition
will focus mostly on the less known wildlife found outside the national parks
and protected areas.
He however expresses concerns over
the declining number of wildlife population in Africa and the world at large,
heaping blames on uncontrolled human induced activities which leads into
environmental disasters that affects the habitat and the world’s natural
wildlife.
According to him, currently, 40
percent of the world’s wildlife is destroyed and degraded; diminishing the
natural resources.
He says recent studies have shown
that nearly 22 percent of the world’s population, whereby 20 percent of the
animals, 45 percent of the butterflies, and 35 percent6 of amphibians and most
of Africa’s wild orchids are today classified as critically endangered.
“In the past, there were different
types of frogs, butterflies and little creatures than what we see today…and
this is because of limited areas set aside for wetlands, woodlands and meadows
of wildflowers.”
He says 35 percent of world’s
butterflies have disappeared from our planet over the last 25 years. “To me,
butterflies are one of our most important pollinators. If their life cycle from
egg to butterfly is destructed or interfered, we will have lesser and lesser
fruits and vegetables to eat.”
“These figures are a signal that
something is not fine on the ground; hence there is a need for me and you to
change the way we are doing things by putting much of our efforts on
conservation…and that what make this exhibition relevant.”
Director General of the Tanzania
National Museum, Prof Audax Mabula discloses that the launch of the world’s
largest wildlife photographic exhibition came at a prime time when Tanzania
expands its scope on tourism subsector.
He implores the importance of
photos’ exhibition, saying: “This is acts as a tool towards luring more tourists
to come in Tanzania.”
Prof Mabula describes the showcasing
event as a ‘one-stop-centre’ for visitors and tourists visiting Tanzania. “It
is also time for tour operators to change the way they used to do by taking
tourists here at the Museum, let the tourists get a quick picture before taking
them to the game reserves.”
The official says Arusha is one of
the booming cities in East and Central Africa for conference tourism; so the
exhibition can be used also to promote Tanzania’s tourism abroad.
“It is even cheaper for someone with
brief visit in Arusha to see what are in Tanzania in terms of richness in flora
and fauna. And when someone dares to get in he/she will never regret,” he says.
He further reveals that more
information are needed to be documented and “we are planning to extend the
Museum here in Arusha by building another facility few kilometres from here
(Arusha city centre).”
“This is part of the government’s
initiatives to uplift services offered by the Arusha National Natural and History
Museum,” he says.
He stated: “At the new site in Burka
area we have acquired about one acre of land, where we are planning to document
more information on the country’s wildlife particularly species, which are
endemic.”
Under the new arrangement, according
to the official, the new museum facility will be equipped with a modern
botanical garden in the area whereby all endemic plant species, including those
from the eastern arc mountains and coastal forests.
Mabula says the importance of museum
cannot be overemphasised; “that’s why we are thinking of expanding museum
facility, so that the facility contribute to boost country’s tourism sector.”
One of Ikiding’a Secondary School
students, Baraka Samuel says the showcasing event can be used for educational
purposes.
“…these photos will also
contribute to improve education on environmental conservation.”
Minister for Natural Resources and
Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu also expressed his commitment towards improving
country’s museums so that flora and fauna are documented for the current and
future generations.
Nyalandu further commended, Dick
Persson and Felista Mangalu, director of Arusha Natural Historical Museum, for
their countless efforts of documenting country’s wildlife resources.
“What you have done takes Tanzania’s
tourist destinations extra miles; I call upon Tanzanians to emulate the
spirit,” he said, encouraging Tanzanians to start appreciating country’s wealth
and marketing it abroad.
The minister also lauded the role
played by the Swedish government in ensuring that the permanent wildlife
photographic exhibition becomes a reality.
Ambassador of Sweden to Tanzania,
Lennarth Hjelmaker, said the opened photographic exhibition is an important
tool towards scaling up Tanzania’s wildlife conservation efforts.
“Exhibition is an important tool in
spreading knowledge to tourists,” he said.
Harboured in the Old German Boma,
the museum is believed to be founded by the Germans in 1900s, for
administration and communication purposes during the Germans colonial era in
Tanganyika.
It was opened to the public in 1987
with the exhibits depicting human evolution, including findings from the famous
Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprints. A modest exhibition on
entomology presenting some insects of economic importance is also an attraction
to visitors.
Situated at the end of the Boma road
neighbouring the Arusha International Conference Centre, the Arusha Municipal
Council, and the Arusha Regional Offices, the museum is easier to be reached by
anyone, visiting Arusha.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
