Hunters told to spare female animals for...

2007-07-23 0914
By Patrick Kisembo, Dodoma


Tourism hunters have been told to stop killing female animals and instead hunt male and elderly animals that are no longer productive, Natural Resources and Tourism minister Prof Jumanne Maghembe told the National Assembly on Thursday.

He was responding to a question by Koani legislator Haroub Masudi who wanted to know why hunters were advised to kill male animals only.

`Hunting does in no way mean affecting an increase in the number of animals, but killing of female animals entails a reduction in the number of animals in a particular area,` he said.

He said in animal ecology female animals are the fundamental members that lead to an increase in the number of animals.

Defence and National Service minister Prof Juma Kapuya, in a rejoinder, said animal ecology entails that a male animal attends to many female animals.

`Killing of male animals does not affect its production` said Prof Kapuya.

Earlier, Prof Maghembe had told Parliament that tourism hunting did not reduce the number of animals because hunters were only allowed to kill those animals in their hunting blocks.

He was responding to a question asked by Dr Wilbrod Slaa, who wanted the government to lift a ban on hunting in Hadzabe areas owing to the tribe relying solely on meat and roots.

Prof Maghembe reiterated that hunting was forbidden in Hadzabe areas, adding that tourists were only allowed to visit the areas and take photos.

SOURCE: Guardian