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Saturday November 05, 2011
Local News

Man infringes elephants’ rights


By BILHAM KIMATI, 4th November 2011 @ 20:00,


FARMING and establishment of settlements along annual migration corridors of wild animals in Kilimanjaro region has increased cases of human-wildlife conflict, a challenge that prompts a fresh look at land use.

Experts in wildlife division, however, have warned that encroachment into wild animal corridors might lead to more 'clashes' as animals, especially the elephants, follow habitual trails instinctively irrespective of changes made along their path.

Residents of Rombo district in Kilimanjaro region, informed the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ezekiel Maige, who was on a visit, that in 2009 three people were killed and seven others injured by elephants.

The animals also cause massive destruction of property. The animals migrate between Tsavo National Park in Kenya and Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania in search of water and feed. It is during these forays that the animals come into conflict with people.

Residents in Kilimanjaro region are not happy with little efforts being made by Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) authorities to eliminate the havoc caused by migrating wild animals.

The District Commissioner of Rombo, Mr Peter Ole Toima, told the visiting minister that of late the human population density of Rombo was ten times the national average. According to the previous census, there are more than 300,000 people in the district.

But the figure might be much higher. "Rombo has between 400 and 600 people in a square kilometre, while the national average is 42.

"This explains factors behind the human-wildlife conflict resulting from obstruction of the animals' traditional migration routes," Toima explained.

Records indicate that in the last three decades, he added, the problem was less complicated as elephants moved in smaller groups. Nonetheless, change of climate as a result of global warming and increase of human activities have aggravated the situation.

Residents of Ngoyoni village in Rombo district informed Minister Maige that more than 200 elephants were seen crossing their village at night in April, May and June this year.

They trampled their banana, maize and pumpkin farms and killed one person whom they found outdoor. Between 2006 and 2009 ten people were killed and 40.4m/- was paid in the form of compensation to 40 families who lost property and loved ones.

Speaking at a public meeting at the premises of the game control office at Ngoyoni village, the Member of Parliament for Rombo, Mr Joseph Selasini (Chadema), said despite the destruction of property, the residents had not resorted to killing the animals.

The residents always tried to communicate with authorities who would help scare off the marauding elephants.

"Whenever game officers were informed about the presence of dangerous elephants in the area, they always came late. Sometimes they ended up shooting other animals (apart from the offending elephants) so they sell the meat to dealers," the MP alleged.

The remarks by the legislator attracted support from a villager, Mr Augustino Aurelian Mroso, who questioned the concept of 'good neighbourliness' with KINAPA while more than 1,900 people had their property destroyed in the last five years without help.

Another villager, Domina Mamrami, said that the elephants had inflicted a lot of suffering on villagers, many of whom face hunger following the prolonged drought that has reduced their income (worth of crop harvests) to less than 100,000/- an acre.

John Stephen Shirima, another villager, asked the government to help erect electric fences around villages in a quest to divert elephants' passageway and prevent the animals from reaching village farms. He said that the practice has proved effective in Kenya.

Before addressing the residents, the minister allowed the Acting Director of Wildlife, Mr Paul Sarakikya, to respond to some of the complaints.

Mr Sarakikya told the gathering that fencing animals' corridor with electric cables would not be the best idea because the animals would always look for an alternative route perhaps causing damage to places they never reached before.

"A few estate owners in Kenya have fenced their farms with electric cables but that again resulted into more complications," Sarakikya explained.

He said regulations require that for every acre destroyed 100,000/- would be paid in compensation and one million shillings for human life lost.

As for the allegations levelled against KINAPA game officers, the Acting Director pledged rigorous investigations into the matter to stop the misdeeds.

According to the director, his office has a total of 640 people awaiting compensation for crops destroyed last year. The minister issued directives that such compensation should be honoured before the end of this year.

Finally, Mr Maige informed the residents that the purpose of his visit was not to dictate solutions to problems facing the community but rather share ideas with them on the way forward and perhaps reach a consensus on the strategic plan to end the human-wildlife dilemma.

"The animals belong to all of us. The painful destruction was done by the animals which are our own heritage. We need to strike a balance to ensure human safety at the same time survival of the animals from which we can generate good income through tourism," Maige explained.

He gave an example of Seychelles with comparatively less tour attraction destinations, yet people decided to sacrifice some of their property to support the tour industry and generate more income for their own benefit.

More than 4.5 million tourists visit Seychelles annually compared to Tanzania which gets 800,000 visitors per year. "Through determination we can move forward. I have learnt from you that annual income from one acre -- even if not destroyed by elephants -- is less that 100,000/-.

"But there is a way to generate more than 20m/- from the same piece of land yearly. For example, beekeeping projects which are not destroyed by the elephants can earn a person a lot of money.

"If, for example, a single beehive produces 20 litres of honey, with each litre selling at 2,000/- one generates 40,000/- times the number of beehives put in the area (say 500), the income accrued is 20m/-.

"Honey harvesting can be done twice a year, in fact making more profit," Maige said amid round of applause.

The residents, who previously appeared distressed, welcomed the project and asked the minister to send experts from the ministry to share skills with them.

He introduced the Deputy Director of Forests and Bee Keeping Division, Gladness Mkamba and the Director of Tourism, Ibrahim Mussa, who accompanied the minister throughout the tour.

"Madam Gladness and other experts in beekeeping will come to camp here to provide skills in the industry to help you generate excellent income," Maige explained.