The Tanzania Parliamentary Group on Sustainable
Natural Resources Conservation & Utilization (TPGSNRCU) is in
discussion with three worldwide technology providers to enable satellite
tracking of the country’s endangered species.
The technology providers involved in the discussion are Google, Microsoft and Apple, the group’s Vice Chairman Dr Athumani Mfutakamba disclosed in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The move was part of efforts to fight elephant poaching and illegal sale of ivory, he said during the National Elephant Day ceremony organized by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) in collaboration with the Wildlife Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
According to Dr Mfutakamba, the group had already talked to Stephen Wasira, Minister of State President’s Office Public Relations and Coordination, Finance Minister Dr William Mgimwa and Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Khamis Kagasheki to get a go ahead.
“We’re at an advanced stage in our discussion with the three companies,” he said, adding: “Upon adoption of the satellite tracking system, the move will safeguard lives of each elephant in the country.”
He said: “We have anti-poaching officers but, they are not enough to cover the entire country…having this system in place we’re sure we can manage to protect elephants.”
Dr Mfutakamba said the group will also carry out a sustained anti-poaching campaign, calling on the government to stop issuing hunting blocks along the Selous Game Reserve on grounds that the blocks had no benefits to the country’s economy.
Riziki Said Lulida (Special Seats, CCM) said the majority of licensed hunters were mining in the reserve. “…Selous is left with 200 elephants from the two million it used to accommodate. This is serious and the government needs to take serious interventions.”
Launching the day on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Ministry’s Wildlife Director Prof Alexander Songorwa said members of the public needed to team up with the government in the campaign against elephant poaching.
Acting UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof Yunus Mgaya said the university decided to host the event to engineer efforts which were documented in the Arusha Manifesto 1961.
IRA Director Prof Amos Majule insisted that the institution ought to play its crucial role in the protection of the elephant by bringing together key stakeholders to debate the way forward in wildlife protection in the country.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) has established the Rapid Response Team comprising well-trained rangers in an effort to address poaching in the parks and game reserves.
Addressing journalists here yesterday Tanapa’s Public Relations Manager, Pascal Shelutete said the 40-man team will be equipped with sophisticated equipment to help scale down poaching in the country.
“The team will be equipped with all necessary working facilities. We believe this will help to address poaching in Tanzania,” he said.
He said Tanapa has also changed modality of rangers’ recruitment and was now taking people from the National Service and Mwanza-based Pasiansi Wildlife College, rather than directly from schools.
“The recruited rangers will have to undergo three-month training at Mlele camp in Katavi National Park, where they will be drilled on how to fight poaching in a very modern way.”
“This year, we have recruited 100 people, who are waiting to go for the training that starts on October 1. After the training those who will qualify will be employed,” he said.
He said Tanapa in collaboration with state organs has started investigating allegations directed at some of its staff members, of being behind the escalating wildlife poaching in the country’s parks and game reserves.
He also revealed that in the past six month Tanapa has arrested 1,116 poachers in its 16 national parks. In Serengeti National Park alone 248 poachers were nabbed.
According to the Tanapa's official, between April and June this year, rangers managed to seize 85 firearms from poachers. Among the firearms seized were seven rifles, 60 muzzle loaders, five automatic rifles, and 13 shotguns.
The technology providers involved in the discussion are Google, Microsoft and Apple, the group’s Vice Chairman Dr Athumani Mfutakamba disclosed in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The move was part of efforts to fight elephant poaching and illegal sale of ivory, he said during the National Elephant Day ceremony organized by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) in collaboration with the Wildlife Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
According to Dr Mfutakamba, the group had already talked to Stephen Wasira, Minister of State President’s Office Public Relations and Coordination, Finance Minister Dr William Mgimwa and Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Khamis Kagasheki to get a go ahead.
“We’re at an advanced stage in our discussion with the three companies,” he said, adding: “Upon adoption of the satellite tracking system, the move will safeguard lives of each elephant in the country.”
He said: “We have anti-poaching officers but, they are not enough to cover the entire country…having this system in place we’re sure we can manage to protect elephants.”
Dr Mfutakamba said the group will also carry out a sustained anti-poaching campaign, calling on the government to stop issuing hunting blocks along the Selous Game Reserve on grounds that the blocks had no benefits to the country’s economy.
Riziki Said Lulida (Special Seats, CCM) said the majority of licensed hunters were mining in the reserve. “…Selous is left with 200 elephants from the two million it used to accommodate. This is serious and the government needs to take serious interventions.”
Launching the day on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Ministry’s Wildlife Director Prof Alexander Songorwa said members of the public needed to team up with the government in the campaign against elephant poaching.
Acting UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof Yunus Mgaya said the university decided to host the event to engineer efforts which were documented in the Arusha Manifesto 1961.
IRA Director Prof Amos Majule insisted that the institution ought to play its crucial role in the protection of the elephant by bringing together key stakeholders to debate the way forward in wildlife protection in the country.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) has established the Rapid Response Team comprising well-trained rangers in an effort to address poaching in the parks and game reserves.
Addressing journalists here yesterday Tanapa’s Public Relations Manager, Pascal Shelutete said the 40-man team will be equipped with sophisticated equipment to help scale down poaching in the country.
“The team will be equipped with all necessary working facilities. We believe this will help to address poaching in Tanzania,” he said.
He said Tanapa has also changed modality of rangers’ recruitment and was now taking people from the National Service and Mwanza-based Pasiansi Wildlife College, rather than directly from schools.
“The recruited rangers will have to undergo three-month training at Mlele camp in Katavi National Park, where they will be drilled on how to fight poaching in a very modern way.”
“This year, we have recruited 100 people, who are waiting to go for the training that starts on October 1. After the training those who will qualify will be employed,” he said.
He said Tanapa in collaboration with state organs has started investigating allegations directed at some of its staff members, of being behind the escalating wildlife poaching in the country’s parks and game reserves.
He also revealed that in the past six month Tanapa has arrested 1,116 poachers in its 16 national parks. In Serengeti National Park alone 248 poachers were nabbed.
According to the Tanapa's official, between April and June this year, rangers managed to seize 85 firearms from poachers. Among the firearms seized were seven rifles, 60 muzzle loaders, five automatic rifles, and 13 shotguns.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
