Over the past few decades, the pristine landscapes of Loliondo in Tanzania have harbored a dark secret. A luxury hunting firm, Ortello Business Corporation (OBC), has been implicated in widespread poaching operations that catered to the elite and royals of the United Arab Emirates.
Whistleblowers, who risked their safety to speak out, have painted a disturbing picture of illegal hunts, forced evictions, and the smuggling of live animals from Tanzanian soil. As international scrutiny mounts and Tanzanian authorities face growing pressure, the extent of these illicit activities is finally coming to light, exposing a controversial nexus between powerful Emirati interests and local complicity.
Allegations Against a High-Profile Hunting Company in Tanzania
In the remote wilderness of Loliondo, Tanzania, a whistleblower report has unveiled disturbing allegations of decades-long poaching activities linked to a luxury hunting firm, Ortello Business Corporation (OBC). This Dubai-based company, sometimes known as Otterlo Business Corporation, is accused of arranging high-profile hunting expeditions for members of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal family and their associates.
The whistleblowers, who spoke to Mongabay under conditions of anonymity due to safety concerns, claim that OBC organized these hunting trips from the early 1990s until at least 2016. According to them, the hunts sometimes involved the illegal export of live wildlife—a practice outlawed in Tanzania since 2016. The allegations come at a time when the Tanzanian government has been issuing eviction notices to Maasai pastoralists in Loliondo, intending to lease large portions of their ancestral lands to OBC.
A History of Hunting and Controversy
OBC, which operates under the name Royal Safaris Conservation Co. LLC in Tanzania, was registered in 1992. The firm has long been surrounded by controversy, including accusations of bribery and involvement in the forced eviction of local Maasai communities. More recently, an Amnesty International report condemned the Tanzanian government’s actions, which left an estimated 70,000 Maasai without access to their traditional grazing areas.
Illegal Hunts and Rare Wildlife Exports
Multiple whistleblowers, including former and current employees, revealed how the firm catered to elite clients, whom they referred to as “the guests.” These insiders witnessed Emirati tourists flouting local hunting laws, often killing protected species like giraffes. For example, one whistleblower, “Abdulrazak,” recounted how he saw a member of Dubai’s royal family shoot a female giraffe at the Chali One lodge, a high-end hunting base within the OBC-controlled area. Despite the severe penalties for such actions, including fines up to $15,000 and imprisonment, no enforcement action was taken.
Further allegations suggest that OBC was involved in the capture and export of live animals, mainly lion and leopard cubs, to the UAE. Whistleblowers described how OBC coordinated with Tanzanian officials and UAE representatives to transport these animals via private aircraft to Kilimanjaro International Airport before flying them to Dubai.
Operations in the Shadows
OBC’s estate in the Pololeti Game Reserve serves as the center of these controversial activities. The sprawling complex includes a hilltop base, vehicle depots, and a private airstrip used for transporting both hunters and captured wildlife. Abdulrazak and another employee, “Khalifa,” describe witnessing tourists illegally hunting and capturing animals, with some of these incidents resulting in live exports to Dubai.
Several villagers near the game reserve corroborated these claims, noting they had seen OBC personnel transporting live animals on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023. Documents obtained from Tanzania’s company registry indicate that General Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Ali, an Emirati, and Khamis Mohamed Sultan bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, are the main directors behind these operations.
Court Cases and Controversies
The company’s controversial practices have even reached the Tanzanian courts. A 2018 case at the High Court of Tanzania involved seven individuals allegedly employed by OBC to transport wildlife. While the court initially sided with the employees, awarding them compensation, a subsequent ruling favored OBC, which denied employing them.
Despite the dwindling number of royal hunting visits since 2016, OBC maintains strong ties to the UAE. In 2023, official records showed the company made 72 shipments of wild animal meat to UAE-based clients, raising further questions about the legality and ethics of these exports.
A Legacy of Secrecy and Alleged Corruption
The allegations against OBC are not new. The company’s operations in Loliondo began in 1992, following a secretive land lease from the Tanzanian government. This deal, which granted 4,000 square kilometers of land for hunting, sparked public outrage when it was revealed that the land was leased under pressure from higher officials due to Al Ali’s personal connections. Dubbed “Loliondogate,” the scandal exposed the extent of OBC’s influence in Tanzania and raised questions about the government’s role in facilitating these controversial hunting practices.
Conservation Impact and Future Outlook
The illegal poaching and live animal exports attributed to OBC threaten Tanzania’s wildlife and damage conservation efforts. Protected species like the Masai giraffe, already listed as endangered, are at risk. The continued disregard for wildlife regulations highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement and international oversight to prevent further damage.
As the international community focuses on wildlife conservation, the scandal surrounding OBC offers a stark reminder of the challenges faced by nations balancing economic interests with their duty to protect their natural heritage. The firm’s activities not only harm local ecosystems but also displace indigenous communities, raising ethical concerns about the true cost of luxury hunting.
