Respected Wildlife Campaigner Shot Dead in Tanzania

By Julia Proctor,-Aug 20, 2017

The anti-poaching conservationist Wayne Lotter, aged just 51, was tragically murdered in events that took place on Wednesday in Dar as Salaam, Tanzania.

The activist was shot dead in a taxi travelling back from the airport to his hotel, which was apparently stopped by another vehicle. Two men are then believed to have emerged from the second vehicle, opening Wayne Lotter's taxi door before shooting him where he sat.

Wayne Lotter was a well loved and respected member of the conservationist community, dedicating his entire life to anti-poaching movements. Of his achievements, it can be said that co-founding and directing the PAMS Foundation, an organization that strives to protect elephants and giraffes, was by far one of his greatest. 
Further achievements of Lotter included raising funds for Tanzania’s National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigation Unit (TNTSCIU). In recent years this institute has played a significant part in the arrest of illegal poachers and traffickers all around Africa.

The most prominent case tackled by the TNTSCIU to date, remains the 2015 arrest of the 'Queen of Ivory', Yang Feng Glan. The Chinese woman in question was accused of managing and operating an ivory smuggling ring worth $2.6 million. Only through the adequate funding and resources, partly funded by Lotter, was this investigation and arrest made possible. 
In his many years of campaigning, Lotter received numerous death threats as result of his quest to preserve African wildlife. Fellow conservationists have declared that Lotter's death is an unfortunate representation of the dangers activist's face in everyday life. Lotter's death in particular demonstrates the dangers of speaking out against well armed and organised crime groups that control the poaching and trafficking industry.
A census that was published only last year revealed that the African elephant population decreased by an astonishing 30% from 2007 to 2014. Tanzania was called the epicentre of this disaster; a whopping 60% of the Tanzanian elephant population declared as perished.

These shocking figures were the motivations behind Wayne Lotter's strive to end illegal activity surrounding poaching and trafficking ivory. His remarkable work in this area will forever remain his legacy.
Over the past few days Lotter has been remembered fondly by his fellow peers.

Dr Jane Goodall, leading primatologist and close colleague, shared her thoughts on Wednesday's incident. She states that Lotter's work ''made a big difference in the fight to save Tanzania's elephants from the illegal ivory trade''. Later adding that Lotter was a ''hero to many'', who worked to no end in fighting corruption.

Azzedine Downes, CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), has also expressed his grievances. He says; ''Wayne was one of Africa’s leading and most committed conservationists. He had over two decades worth of experience in wildlife management and conservation, and can be credited as the driving force behind ending the unscrupulous slaughter of Tanzania’s elephants''.
Lotter's brutal murder has resulted in him leaving behind his entire family; his own parents, wife, and two daughters surviving him. An investigation has been launched by the Tanzanian police into Lotter's death.
Sources

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/wayne-lotter-shot-dead-anti-poaching-conservationist-queen-ivory-tanzania-pams-dar-es-salaam-a7900281.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/18/conservationist-campaigned-against-ivory-trade-shot-dead-tanzania/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/17/leading-elephant-conservationist-ivory-shot-dead-in-tanzania
Photo Sources
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/18/conservationist-campaigned-against-ivory-trade-shot-dead-tanzania/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/17/leading-elephant-conservationist-ivory-shot-dead-in-tanzania