http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=23249&cat=home

Tuesday August 30, 2011
Local News

Jumbos go on rampage in Tarime



From MUGINI JACOB in Tarime, 29th August 2011 @ 12:09,

STRAY elephants have invaded Masanga village in Tarime District of Mara Region and remained in the area for almost six months, local leaders said on Monday.

‘’We want at least to kill one of the elephants and see if they can fear and move out of our village’’, the Gorong’a Ward Councillor, Mr Magari Omari, told the ‘Daily News’.

The jumbos have extensively destroyed crops in farms throwing hundreds of small-holder farmers into destitution and hunger, said the civic leader. The destroyed crops include maize, cassava, millet and sisal, he said.

He accused the Tanzanian National Parks (TANAPA) rangers based in the nearest Ramai station for ignoring appeals by officials in villages and wards to give their support in controlling jumbos. ‘’Over 30 households in Masanga village alone have started starving and TANAPA rangers have been always reluctant to help us,” he lamented.

Tarime District Council game officials were yesterday expected to visit affected villages to find the solution, he said. The Director General of TANAPA, Mr Allan Kijazi, was not immediately available for comment.

Villages closer to Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) in Serengeti District have also reported incidents of invasion by stray elephants and destruction of crops. Destructive jumbos have remained a major concern among the poor rural communities residing in the villages near the country’s national parks and game reserves.

A number of people including a school girl were killed by elephants and buffalos in Tarime and Serengeti districts recently.