found involved in poaching.

The government's conservation campaign is reportedly bearing fruit with the number of elephants and other endangered wild animals going up. The Serengeti OCD describes the poaching allegations facing the VGS as shameful to people who are entrusted with protecting wild animals. When reached for comment Ikona WMA Secretary Mr Y usufu Manyanda confirmed that three men including two VGS had been fired over poaching allegations.

"A total three men of which two are VGS and one member of the WMA Association Authority (AA), had been suspended due to poaching allegations", Mr Manyanda said without going into details. The WMA generates up to 3 billion shillings from several tourism investors every year. L arge part of the WMA's income comes from Singita Grumeti which operates several worldclass lodges within the vicinity of a 35 0,000 - acre concession bordering the WMA and world famous Serengeti National Park and the WMA.

Singita Grumeti conducts photographic tourism in the WMA which forms integral part of the Serengeti ecosystem. The 'Daily News' understands that the MWA has received 1,529,289 US dollars (over 3.5 billion shillings), from Singita Grumeti between 2014 and 2018 alone. The money is supposed to support local development in five villages that formed the WMA in 2007. The villages are Robanda, Park Nyigoti, Makundusi, Nyichoka and Natta.

" This year alone we have earned around 2 billion shillings of which 50 per cent is directed to community the other 50 percent on conservation and administrative matters", Mr Manyanda said. SP Mgema (Serengeti OCD), underscored the importance