By Correspondent
14th
April 2014
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Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA)
Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has been blamed for
the weekend elephant stampede that destroyed large tracts of farm land in
Bariadi, Simiyu Region and they have also been called on to compensate the
losses.
In the incident, over 40 stray jumbos broke out from the Serengeti National Park and are reported to have invaded farms across several villages in the region where they destroyed farm lands and even several structures.
“This is the responsibility of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA),” said Girya Councillor Safari Lewa. “They are not taking appropriate measures to control the jumbos…this is not the first time…they have done this in several occasions and we have reported all to the authorities to no avail,” he detailed.
Noting that his ward is the worst affected area of all, and that as preliminary inspections of the destruction have revealed that thousands of acres of maize, beans and cotton have been destroyed he said the rampaging elephants also destroyed food reserves.
Lewa went on to convey that residents of Girya ward whose crops were destroyed have appealed to the management of Serengeti National park to supply them food since the destroyed food was their reserve and now they face a dire shortage that may very well lead to starvation given the on going unpredictable weather changes.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, the councillor said it is unfair for the national park authority to impose fines for livestock found in the parks but the same authority refuses to compensate people who are affected by stray animals who were under their jurisdiction to control.
Bariadi Council Executive Director Abdallah Malela called on people living near national parks to give information to the authority as soon as they spot stray animals.
In the incident, over 40 stray jumbos broke out from the Serengeti National Park and are reported to have invaded farms across several villages in the region where they destroyed farm lands and even several structures.
“This is the responsibility of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA),” said Girya Councillor Safari Lewa. “They are not taking appropriate measures to control the jumbos…this is not the first time…they have done this in several occasions and we have reported all to the authorities to no avail,” he detailed.
Noting that his ward is the worst affected area of all, and that as preliminary inspections of the destruction have revealed that thousands of acres of maize, beans and cotton have been destroyed he said the rampaging elephants also destroyed food reserves.
Lewa went on to convey that residents of Girya ward whose crops were destroyed have appealed to the management of Serengeti National park to supply them food since the destroyed food was their reserve and now they face a dire shortage that may very well lead to starvation given the on going unpredictable weather changes.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, the councillor said it is unfair for the national park authority to impose fines for livestock found in the parks but the same authority refuses to compensate people who are affected by stray animals who were under their jurisdiction to control.
Bariadi Council Executive Director Abdallah Malela called on people living near national parks to give information to the authority as soon as they spot stray animals.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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