In the acacia dotted plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha sector, a quiet revolution is taking place. This is a landscape famous for its legendary tree climbing lions, breathtaking horizons and ancient wildlife corridors. But for a long time, it was also a place shadowed by a fragile coexistence between human communities and the wild.
Back in March 2021, a heartbreaking tragedy shook this region when a pride of six lions were poisoned in the Ishasha sector—a stark reminder of the deep tensions that can flare when impoverished communities and protected wildlife collide. Snares were set, retaliation was real and the cycle of poaching felt unbreakable.
Today, walking through that same community feels entirely different.
At EcoQuest Vacations, we believe that true travel is about more than just sightseeing—it is about supporting the landscapes and people that make every journey possible. That is why we are deeply honored and thrilled to celebrate our ongoing partnership with Save Wildlife Uganda and their transformative traps and treasures Program.
The Power of Second Chances: Turning Snares into Art
How do you heal a landscape scarred by conflict? You start by listening, understanding and offering a viable path forward.
Through the traps and treasures Program, former poachers are stepping away from the traps that once threatened Ishasha’s wildlife. In an extraordinary act of redemption, these reformed hunters are collecting wire snares and transforming them into stunning pieces of art. Each handcrafted sculpture tells a story of survival, skill, and profound change. These works of art are proudly displayed and sold at the Save Wildlife Uganda community center, giving visitors a tangible piece of history and a direct way to support families choosing a new path.
More Than Just Goats: Rebuilding Livelihoods
Art is just the beginning. To truly break the cycle of poaching, families need sustainable livelihoods that honor the land rather than deplete it.
Through our partnership, we are helping provide goats to reformed poachers in the Ishasha sector. It’s a simple intervention with a profound ripple effect: livestock provides a stable source of income, nutrition and economic security, removing the desperate need to set traps in the national park.
On one of our routine visits to the community, we met a former poacher named Fred. With a wide, infectious grin, Fred shared something that stayed with us long after we left.
“I can’t believe it,” Fred told us excitedly. “Before, my goal when hunting was saving up for a hunting dog. Now, my goal is to grow my goat farm, expand my herd and pay school fees for my children.”
