The Guardian Features Surreal "Snare Mountain" in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

THE GUARDIAN: ‘A War on Nature’: Rangers Build Mountain Out of
Wildlife Traps Found in Ugandan Park

Global Conservation, the only international non-profit organization focused exclusively on directly funding the protection of endangered National Parks in developing countries, has released exclusive photos and video by world-renowned photojournalist Paul Hilton of what is dubbed “Snare Mountain,” a massive pile of snaps and traps confiscated over the course of 2022 from Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.  

"Snare Mountain" is also featured in Associated Press, Yahoo! News, Fox2 News, InSight Crime, and Der Speigl Magazine.

In the ongoing recovery of Murchison Falls National Park led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) and supported by Global Conservation, anti-poaching patrols confiscated over 12 tons of beartraps and wire snares that decimate the wildlife populations of Africa. Every year, despite the best efforts of snare removal campaigns throughout the national park, thousands of animals are maimed and killed by powerful syndicates of wildlife poachers and illegal wildlife crime syndicates.

According to Corporal Patrick Owachgiu, a UWA Ranger, the number of beartraps and wire snares is far greater than the image showcases. UWA, with UCF’s support of 20 permanent scouts, has removed and destroyed at least 10 times the amount featured in the Snare Mountain photo. Many of the bear traps used to snare elephants and buffalo cost over $80 each, far beyond the finances of local poachers, pointing to well-financed poaching syndicates working across the landscape. They are indiscriminate killers, crushing the legs of lions, chimpanzees, and rangers on patrol. The brave National Park Rangers of Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo Valley face the daily risk of injury and death fighting poachers armed with powerful weapons and thousands of snares.

Snare Mountain was created by Paul Hilton to illustrate the profound challenges facing National Parks in the developing world. Wildlife tourism in Uganda is among the very best in Africa, contributing strongly to Uganda’s economy. While rural poverty is a continual problem, poaching is largely commercial and driven by criminal networks.

"Paul’s images show the brutal determination of the Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and our own supporting teams," said Michael Keigwin MBE, Founder of the Uganda Conservation Foundation. "Every snare and trap will have killed before, and now [they] can’t again. The Rangers have generated one of the greatest recoveries of any National Park in Africa, a renaissance that can spread with greater support."

To combat ever-growing threats, Global Conservation is establishing a new $50 million Global Parks Fund focused on protecting endangered National Parks in developing countries. Global Conservation has supported highly effective professional teams and projects using a strategy called Global Park Defense (GDP). GPD is the most cost-effective and scalable program for directly funding the protection of intact forests and wildlife habitats.

Based on a five-year cycle, parks benefit from a five-year investment plan that supports the core requirements of managing a protected area. Tangible support can cover a multitude of aspects, including the construction of ranger facilities, the installation of communications systems and appropriate technology such as EarthRanger, ranger training and field equipment, anti-poaching vehicles, community protection and development, and biodiversity recovery.

"We inherited Murchison Falls National Park from decades of war and the Lord's Resistance Army terror," said Sam Mwandha, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. "UCF and Global Conservation have helped us recover the park, wildlife populations, and tourism. The highly endangered Rothschild giraffes are up from 400 to 2000, and we have 80 percent of the world's population! Lions and elephants are also increasing nicely. Thanks to our wonderful partners supporting what we actually need, we can continue protecting for future generations to enjoy and to be employed around."

The Global Parks Fund also works to ensure financial sustainability for years 6 through 15 after the Global Park Defense program is complete. By providing local communities with the tools and training needed to protect their parks, Global Conservation's model promotes sustainable development and supports the livelihoods of those living in and around the protected areas. Global Park Defense is now used in over 25 national parks and will be replicated around the world with the new $50 million Global Parks Fund.

"Protecting National Parks is the most cost-effective solution for stopping deforestation and preserving biodiversity," said Jeff Morgan, Founder and Executive Director of Global Conservation. "Forest loss, especially in the tropics—Amazon, Congo, and Asia—is responsible for nearly 12 percent of the climate crisis. By protecting 100 existing National Parks with large, intact forests in developing countries, the Global Parks Fund can protect over 100 million acres of tropical forests and wildlife habitats, equating to eliminating 250 million automobiles."

Global Conservation has demonstrated that directly funding $500,000 to $1 million over five years to National Parks and wildlife protection enables park authorities in developing countries to implement Global Park Defense to stop illegal logging, land clearing, and wildlife poaching, which work against the Global Conservation 100 goals in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Global Conservation currently operates across 22 national parks and 10 marine parks in 14 countries and aims to expand its work to 100 sites by 2033.

"Snare Mountain" in The Guardian

UPDATE: Rangers' Dorms Built Using Snares from "Snare Mountain"

The snares which made up Snare Mountain were buried in the cement foundations of two new Ranger Dormitories being built for incoming recruits (200+) first new recruitment since Covid, which is funded by Global Conservation. Certainly meaningful in the transformation process, but without a doubt, those tens of thousands of snares will never again be retrieved and used on wildlife.

"This way they are decommissioned forever." - Jeff Morgan