ANTI-POACHING: Deal for jumbos safety

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German Ambassador Egon Kochanke (left), Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources Lazaro Nyalandu (centre) and US Ambassador Mark Childress with rangers in the Selous Game Reserve on January 21.  Photo|Daniel Hayduk 

By  The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Saturday, January 24  2015 at  10:35

In Summary

• Tanzania is the beneficiary of a major equipment and services support from the US and German governments, worth over Sh150 billion

Dar es Salaam. In a bid aimed at combating a serious threat of poaching in the Selous Game Reserve, the governments of the United States and Germany has transferred a significant amount of field equipment for use by Tanzanian game wardens patrolling the reserve. 

The equipment includes small and large tents, torches, maps, binoculars, cameras, uniforms, and boots.  In addition, the German Government announced support towards improvements to infrastructure such as roads, airstrips and housing for game rangers within the game reserve, while the U.S. Government supplied the expertise of U.S Marine instructors to train game wardens on patrolling techniques and vehicle maintenance.

The event that was attended by U.S. Ambassador, Mark Childress and German Ambassador, Egon Kochanke, and hosted by the Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources & Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu, served to not only marking of the equipment handover, but more to emphasize the importance of coordination of anti-poaching efforts among international partners, between the public and private sectors, and within the Government of Tanzania.

The U.S. equipment and services are part of a larger Tanzania-wide anti-poaching and wildlife conservation program worth $40 million (Sh68 billion) over the next four years, while the German anti-poaching and wildlife conservation program in Tanzania is worth $51 million (Sh86.7 billion)  from 2012 to 2016, including $21 million(Sh37.7 billion) for the Selous.  Representing NGO conservation efforts was Gerald Bigurube, Tanzania Programme Manager from the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr  Nyalandu opened the press conference by saying “This is a very special day for the Selous Game Reserve and the effort of the Government of Tanzania in marching toward victory in the battle against poaching.”

His sentiments were echoed by the US ambassador who said: “This is a big day, but no one day can turn the tide in the battle against poaching.  We need a lot of days like this.”  In addition, Ambassador Childress praised the Paul Allen Foundation for funding a new VHF system that will allow game scouts to communicate across secure channels and coordinate their anti-poaching efforts.  He also commended the Hans Jorg Wyss Foundation for its ongoing support of the Frankfurt Zoological Society’s efforts in the Selous.

German Ambassador, Mr Kochanke said “The current poaching crisis threatens not only the survival of elephants and other wildlife in the area, but also the great potential of the Selous Game Reserve for economic development in the country as a whole, and for the districts adjacent to the Reserve in particular.”

Mr. Bigurube from the Frankfurt Zoological Society said “Foreign tourists travel at great expense to Tanzania and spend thousands of dollars to view this wildlife.  This is our national commodity, and I call on every Tanzanian to protect it, because every Tanzanian has a role to play.”