Arusha now hosts world's largest wildlife photographic exhibition

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