Building Hope in Tanzania: by Tim L. Tetzlaff

Empowering Maasai Women. Protecting Wildlife.

by Tim L. Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation,
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

In my role for Naples Zoo, I spend well over a month a year in Tanzania to see the reality of conservation on the ground. Ten years ago, I was introduced to African People & Wildlife (APW) and its founder Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld. Over this time, I’ve heard from many Maasai elders proudly sharing how APW’s efforts have protected their cattle from predators, thus reducing retaliatory killing of lions. And I’ve sat in my tent at night listening to the iconic roars of the king of beasts confirming the resulting increase in lion populations. In the last three years, I’ve also visited APW’s Women’s Enterprise Center in the town of Loibor Siret and personally shook hands with dozens of women who now have income and choices for the first time. I confess I had tears in my eyes the first time Mama Helena Mbarnoti spoke about paying for her own daughter’s schooling— an unimaginable reality before this Center opened. It was hard not to well up thinking of my own daughter and realizing the thousands of women being lifted up through APW’s work.

This past October, I stood in the shade at the Center with Laly as she laid out her hopes to help thousands more women by opening another Women’s Enterprise Center, this time in the town of Makuyuni. I needed no map as thousands of tourists pass through it on their way through the Eastern Rift Valley on their way to Serengeti–most with little awareness of the threats to this landscape for the wildlife they’ve come to see. Makuyuni borders a vital wildlife corridor for elephants, lions, and other species that move between protected areas. However, deforestation and human encroachment threatens this pathway.

True to APW’s name, this new center will serve a dual purpose: empowering local women and protecting wildlife, creating a lasting impact on both the community and the surrounding environment. APW’s beekeeping initiative offers a sustainable solution by giving Maasai women the tools to produce and market premium, wildlife friendly honey. Under Tanzanian law, forests around beekeeping sites are protected, helping preserve the corridor while providing families with a stable income. This revenue enables them to break the cycle of poverty and gain independence. “With our own income, we can decide what’s best for our families,” Mama Helena explained. Such empowerment not only benefits these women but builds a resilient community that is able to respect and value the local environment once those basic needs are met. Through their efficiencies and experience, APW can construct this life-changing community hub for just $30,000. Please consider joining us in this effort. That’s just six of us providing a gift of $5,000 or twelve giving $2,500 to make this happen. This project needs urgent funding, and with your support in 2024, I can send you a greeting from Laly as I stand inside the new center on my next trip to Tanzania in 2025.

Naples Zoo has supported APW for a decade, funding the salaries of 11 staff members, including five Queen Bees, five Wildlife Warriors, and a Women’s Empowerment Officer. Our long term investment in APW reflects Naples Zoo’s dedication to meaningful conservation and community empowerment. We’ve funded millions of dollars directly to our long term partners for conservation projects like these with zero overhead costs, ensuring every donation makes a tangible impact.

This new Women’s Enterprise Center in Makuyuni was not able to be part of APW’s 2025 budget, so we’re seeking your help to make it a reality. Donations can be made directly to Naples Zoo, with the restriction “APW Women’s Center” in the memo section of the FchLec 3k4 a1n0d2 mailed to Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette Rd N., Naples, . You can also contact me at tim@napleszoo.org for stock transfers. Every cent goes to this project, creating opportunities for women to thrive and for Tanzania’s wildlife to roam freely.

With your timely gift, I’ll be able to share the life changing opportunities available to the Maasai women with you and how the Center is strengthening conservation in this critical corridor. Join me in building a legacy that uplifts communities and protects Tanzania’s landscapes. Together, we can create a brighter, more resilient future for people and wildlife.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit entrusted with educating families and caring for rare species in a century old historic garden. Since 2014, Naples Zoo has invested over $3.5 million saving plants and animals in the wild and fully funds the annual salary of 27 field staff in 7 countries including three wildlife veterinarians. To learn more about how you can invest in a better future for people and wildlife, email tim@napleszoo.org.