TARGETED KILLING SHOCKS CONSERVATION FRATERNITY IN TANZANIA AND BEYOND
(Posted 17th August 2017)
Tragic news are emerging from sources in Arusha that renowned conservationist and a leading voice against poaching in Tanzania, Wayne Lotter, was killed last night in an apparently targeted shooting.
Last year, following the killing of Roger Bower, a helicopter pilot who searched for poachers near the Serengeti National Park, did Wayne say: ‘The more you go after them, the more situations where confrontation between poachers and rangers will take place. There are going to be risks‘.
PAMS and notably Wayne were at the forefront in providing assistance to capture Tanzania’s so called ‘Ivory Queen‘ and later on a notorious poacher named ‘Shetani‘ and his words are now seen as a dark omen of what was to befall him personally last night, though not in a confrontation in one of the parks in hot pursuit of poachers.
PAMS was due to release a statement this afternoon, which, when finally available, will be published as an add on to this article.
Who was Wayne?
PAMS on their website had this to say about his professional career:
Wayne Lotter was a founding member and chairman of the PAMS Foundation. He held a Masters Degree in Nature Conservation and he had 23 years of professional experience in wildlife management, conservation and environmental management, and community liaison but had also worked in government, corporate and NGO sectors. Wayne was known for his excellent project management experience, which included his previous employment as the International Team Leader for the Selous-Niassa Wildlife Protection Corridor Project (KfW) in southern Tanzania.
He was formerly the Invasive Alien Species Programme Co-ordinator for Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (managing a substantial budget). Wayne’s experience includes protected area management, project management, financial administration, community development, ecotourism, restoration ecology, integrated environmental, quality, safety and health systems management, risk management systems auditing and certification. He was experienced with regard to strategic and operational planning in conservation, with an exceptional track record in terms of results achieved in particular in the fields of wildlife crime law enforcement and invasive alien vegetation control. Wayne also led the development of a Protected Area Management System (PAMS), which is being used as a tool to impel and ensure effective conservation management.
Wayne was co-author of the ‘Ensuring Effective Management Course’ which is a Module presented at the Southern Africa Wildlife College and is leading the development of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas “Managing Wildlife Crime in Protected Areas: Training Guide for Field Rangers” Best Practice Series document, that will in the future be used as a benchmark standard for anti-poaching training internationally.
He had served on various committees, working groups and associations and was the Vice President of the International Ranger Federation and a past Chairman of the Game Rangers Association of Africa and a specialist advisor for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Range Management Section (Tanzania). Wayne’s experience includes government, international corporate and NGO sectors.
It is understood that Tanzanian police and security personnel are searching for clues of the killer/s of Wayne but no official statement has been released by them either at this time, leaving the conservation fraternity bewildered and dismayed over the lack of information and opening the doors to intense speculation.
Heartfelt condolences are expressed to Wayne’s family, colleagues and friends – Rest in Peace and become a guardian angel for Tanzania’s endangered wildlife.
PAMS has now issued the following statement which will as promised be displayed here in full:
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
We are heartbroken to share the news that PAMS Foundation co-founder, Wayne Lotter was shot and killed last night in the Masa-ki District of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Wayne devoted his life to Africa’s wildlife, from working as a ranger in his native South Africa as a young man to leading the charge against poaching in Tanzania. Wayne cared deeply about the people and animals that populate this world. In 2009, he teamed up with Krissie Clark and Ally Namangaya to form the PAMS Foundation. Together they worked tirelessly with communities in Tanzania to protect the country’s wildlife.
Wayne believed communities were the best protectors of the continent’s animals. Through his work with PAMS he helped train thousands of village game scouts in every corner of the country. His ground-breaking work in developing an intelligence-based approach to anti-poaching helped successfully reverse the rampant rates of poaching facing Tanzania.
Wayne’s charm, brilliance and eccentric sense of humour gave him the unique ability to make those around him constantly laugh and smile. He died bravely fighting for the cause he was most passionate about.
Wayne leaves behind his wife Inge, daughters Cara Jayne and Tamsin, and parents Vera and Charles Lotter. We all grieve with his family, colleagues and friends. His legacy will continue in our work.
Tanzanian police have launched an investigation into his death.
PAMS Foundation Team
