TANZANIA
David Alila
Conservation and Maintenance Project
for the Nothobranchius of Mbezi River Basin
David Alila’s Nothobranchius Conservation Project in Tanzania, initially focusing on
the species found in the Mbezi River basin.
In this area, Dr. David Alila of the University of Dar es Salaam is working with local communities to achieve
this goal. Most participants had never heard of a Nothobranchius. Few knew that these species are
threatened globally or that the Mbezi River basin is internationally important for freshwater biodiversity.
However, once community members understood the uniqueness of their wetlands, attitudes became
entirely positive. Village leaders, farmers, women and young people enthusiastically joined the discussions,
sharing observations about the disappearance of wetlands, changes in rainfall patterns and increasing
pressure on natural resources.
Most importantly, many expressed a genuine willingness to help protect these habitats in the future.
These are some field photographs showing several biotopes in the Mbezi River basin, along with some
collected specimens.
We hope the aquarium facility will be fully operational very soon. allowing live collections to be
maintained and making a more active contribution to research and the conservation of Nothobranchius
in Tanzania, as well as to the international community of enthusiasts.
Photos copyright: David Alila