Serengeti highway will cut wildebeest herds by a minimum of 35%

The great herds of wildebeest will be cut by at least 35%. Credit FZS

January 2011. In May 2010 the government of Tanzania announced that they proposed to build a new highway through the middle of Serengeti National Park. This proposal launched a wave of protest against the project. But the Tanzanian government seems unconvinced that the road will have a negative impact on the Serengeti and its wildlife.

Vulnerable migration
The Serengeti is one of the world's most iconic national parks, a UNESCO world natural heritage site, an unparalleled wilderness area and the epitome of African savannahs. The road through the north of the park would cut the world famous migration of almost two million wildebeest, zebra and antelope at one of its most vulnerable points. The highway would block the northern part of their migration route and their access to the water in the dry season.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society has proposed an alternative route of around the southern Serengeti. This southern bypass is now widely regarded as the better alternative, especially since it would also connect many more people to the road network.

Scientific study shows the potential threat to the Serengeti
American ecologists Ricardo Holdo, John Fryxell, Anthony Sinclair, Andrew Dobson and Robert Holt have released the results of a new study of the potential dangers of the road in the scientific journal PLoS ONE. Their study predicts that the road alone would probably cause a drop of some 35% in the great herds. This assumption was made purely on the factor that the road would cause a barrier to the herds. They did not take into account the potential for any further development along the road or the fact that the road would vastly increase the already bad poaching problem (A Black rhino that was recently released onto the Serengeti has already been killed by poachers).

Tanzania's road project has the potential to destroy one of the greatest natural wonders of the world - as well as damaging beyond repair the reputation of the Serengeti as one of the most important national parks in the world.

Better alternative in the south
Tanzania needs economic development and the expansion of its infrastructure and a good road network important is crucial to ensuring that farmers can bring their products to markets. But this highway plan will be at the expense of the most valuable natural resource of the country and is wildly irresponsible, especially when there are clear alternatives.

Almost all conservation bodies and numerous prominent individuals and institutions have protested. UNESCO has a clear position against the road construction plans.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society has been very vocal in their condemnation and has proposed an alternative route of around the southern Serengeti. This southern bypass is now widely regarded as the better alternative, especially since it would also connect many more people to the road network.