Kumara Wakjira has been protecting Ethiopia’s wildlife for over 30 years.
The director general of Ethiopia’s wildlife authority has slashed bycatch of Nile crocodiles and overseen the establishment of national parks to protect elephants and monkeys.
Last year, in recognition of these and other achievements, he received the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, which is the highest honour bestowed under the Tusk Conservation Awards.
Dialogue Earth talked to Wakjira about his life’s work, the situation facing Ethiopia’s wildlife today and the outlook for its future conservation. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Dialogue Earth: What led to your recognition at the Tusk awards?
Kumara Wakjira: One of my first research projects, as a junior expert, focused on Nile crocodiles. Back then, these crocodiles were in serious trouble because of a super-thick net, mainly designed to catch huge Nile perch. But it wasn’t selective. Anything in its path got caught, including crocodiles. My research showed the net needed to be redesigned. Once that had happened, crocodile deaths dropped dramatically and almost completely stopped.
Another example is when our Bale Mountains national park was being considered for UNESCO world heritage status. A key criterion was the presence of rare species. Animals like the mountain nyala and the Ethiopian wolf were already well known. But there was almost no scientific information on the Bale monkey. Through our research, we were able to document the species properly and confirm that it is endemic to the area. The recognition helped strengthen the park’s international profile.
The Tusk awards emphasise the conservation of African elephants. What contributed to your recognition in this field?
My colleagues and I documented the presence of elephants in northern Ethiopia. Before our research, no one really expected elephants to exist in that area. Our work provided the first documented proof. Following that, the area was officially designated as Kafta Sheraro national park.
Creating the park meant proper management of the whole ecosystem. Forest cover improved, the elephant population began to recover and many other wildlife species were protected.
By 2014, Kafta Sheraro had become one of Ethiopia’s leading parks, well-managed and even ready for tourism. Unfortunately, the conflict in northern Ethiopia later affected the park, but the progress we made up to that point had already shown real conservation success. Kumara Wakjira holds his prize aloft during the Tusk Conservation Awards in central London (Image: Yui Mok / Alamy) The second major contribution was my involvement in coordinating and implementing the Ethiopian Elephant Action Plan (2015-2025). As the focal person for this strategy, we managed to secure a major project funded by the Global Environment Facility, which brought significant resources to strengthen elephant conservation across the country.
As the head of the national wildlife authority, which leadership achievements do you consider most significant in advancing conservation?
Some of our most significant contributions were around comprehensive reform and restructuring of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. We started by looking closely at where the gaps were in park management and then developed strategic approaches to tackle them. As a result, a number of important milestones were achieved.
As well as Bale Mountains national park being registered as a UNESCO world heritage site, the Northern Mountains national park was removed from the endangered list, new national parks were established, and all parks now operate under their own general management plans.
We also focused heavily on capacity building and training, strengthening partnerships and increasing financial support from partners. Taken together, these changes have been recognised as transformative, not just within the wildlife conservation authority, but across the broader conservation sector.
Which conservation accomplishment or moment are you most proud of?
The establishment of Kafta Sheraro national park. Back then, our work in the Tekeze Desert was incredibly challenging. Temperatures often soared above 40 degrees Celsius, there was little food or water, and the security situation was unpredictable.
The area was even at risk of landmines from the war, so every route we travelled had to be checked for safety beforehand. The memory I’ll never forget is the day we actually saw an elephant, on the very last day, just as we were preparing to leave after finishing our work.
On the leadership side, I can confidently say we’ve also succeeded in building large-scale partnerships. Many international partners who once hesitated to engage in wildlife conservation because of a difficult working environment or lack of trust, have now stepped forward with major projects and funding.
How has the wildlife authority involved communities in planning and managing conservation activities?
In two main ways. First, as stewards of the land, and second, as partners and owners of the conservation work. This approach makes a real difference because the community becomes a participant from the very start in everything we do.
For example, when we prepare the general management plans for the parks, we follow a community-centred process. This lets people share their ideas, have a real voice, and participate in decision-making during planning. We also work to foster a deep sense of ownership, making the community a leading actor in implementation.
Human-wildlife conflict is frequently mentioned as a major challenge in Ethiopia. What strategies have been implemented to address it under your leadership?
It is a tough issue which can cause loss of life and property for communities, while also putting animals at risk. Our main focus is raising community awareness. We’ve prepared manuals to guide residents, especially those living in areas with frequent wildlife activity, on how to protect themselves and their property ahead of time. The issue is also included in the national wildlife policy, which will ensure it receives greater attention in the future. On top of that, we’ve launched pilot projects to test practical solutions in the areas hardest hit by conflict. For example, site-specific measures to reduce clashes between people and elephants and buffalo in Chebera Churchura national park are already showing tangible results.
How optimistic are you about the future of Ethiopia’s wildlife? What makes you hopeful, and what still worries you?
Large wild animals, elephants, lions and giraffes, are especially vulnerable. I’ve often worried whether these species can continue to exist in Ethiopia for generations to come.
Take the lion, for example. It is deeply tied to our history and our identity. The thought that this national symbol might one day exist only in stories for our children and grandchildren is profoundly troubling.
The biggest challenge for wildlife is habitat destruction, mostly driven by land conversion for agriculture and settlements. Animals are forced to leave their homes, sometimes even crossing national borders, just to survive. The good news is that government attention has improved significantly.
Our natural resources and wildlife aren’t just ecological treasures – they’re part of our heritage, and they must be protected for future generations. They also have immense economic value, and the government’s recognition that “we haven’t fully realised this potential” has breathed new life into the sector.
The post Q&A: Lessons from 30 years of wildlife conservation in Ethiopia appeared first on Dialogue Earth .