(Dar es Salaam)

From The Citizen

Tanzania: 70 Held Over Poaching in Game Reserve - Minister
Vicent Mnyanyika
28 November 2009


At least 70 people have been arrested in connection with illegal poaching in the Selous game reserve following a crackdown conducted in the last 17 days.

The massive manhunt involved 150 police officers and followed a growing concern over the killing of elephants in the world famous reserve.

Yesterday the Government said it spent Sh350 million in the exercise to flush out suspects who have killed scores of elephants and other animals to access trophies. It is believed that they were smuggled to China and other Far East countries.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, said the suspects have been charged in various law courts.

"We have their names here and the name of the courts where they are being charged. We are very serious about this and we must win this war against poaching," declared a confident Ms Mwangunga.

Of late, poaching has painted the country negatively among the world's leading conservation agencies.

The government commitment to protect endangered animal species has also been raised following a recent petition for the country to lift a ban on ivory trade to allow for the sale of stockpiles.

The world agency for endangered species has not given the greenlight yet and the final word is awaited early next year during a planned international meeting.

Ms Mwangunga said the escalating poaching activities are caused by a few unscrupulous game wardens at the Selous Game Reserve. A shortage of personnel to man the 50,000 square kilometer reserve was another problem facing the Government.

To address these escalating poaching habits, the ministry sought the support of the police in the special crackdown dubbed 'Operation Kipepeo.'

The team came across carcasses of nine elephants, 12 hippopotami, 16 buffaloes and one crocodile, all a result of poaching. Eight elephant tusks and 12 trophies weighing 39 kilogrammes were also found.


Other items seized were three rifle guns, 15 short guns, one sub-machine gun (SMG), 114 bullets and several motorcycles.

In the 1980s, the Government conducted an operation dubbed Uhai that involved the Tanzania People's Defense Forces to curb poaching.

But the worst period for elephant poaching in the country was probably 1977-87 when the elephant population dwindled from 184,000 to 55,000.

A joint crusade mounted by TPDF, the wildlife department, police and customs authorities resulted in the confiscation of more than 10,000 guns. At least 700 people were prosecuted in connection with poaching activities in 1988 alone.