ANTI-POACHING CAMPAIGN GETS SHOT IN THE ARM

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu speaks in Arusha yesterday after receiving five vehicles worth Sh600 million donated by the Wildlife Conservation Foundation of Tanzania (WCFT).  With him are Tanzania Professional Hunters Association chairman Mohsin Abdallah Sheni (left) and WFCT Trustee and Executive Vice President Eric Pasanisi.  PHOTO | FILBERT RWEYEMAMU 

By Lucas Liganga,The Citizen Reporter

Arusha. Tanzania’s anti-poaching drive got a boost yesterday after the Wildlife Foundation Conservation of Tanzania (WFCT) donated five new vehicles worth Sh600 million.

The fully-equipped Toyota Land Cruiser anti-poaching vehicles are fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS), a space-based satellite navigation mechanism that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight.

The WFCT Trustees and Executive Vice-President, Mr Eric Pasanisi, presented the vehicles to the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu.

Mr Pasanisi thanked the Grant Hunter Legacy Endowment partnership with the US-based Safari Club International Foundation that donated two of the vehicles to WFCT “to preserve Tanzania’s wildlife.”

Mr Pasanisi also thanked Mr Nyalandu for efforts that he has made to protect wildlife in the country since he was appointed to the docket.

“I am very sure that the elephants and other wildlife are more secure today and we already see the difference in the bush,” said Mr Pasanisi.

Mr Nyalandu explained a catalogue of plans by his ministry aimed at eliminating poaching in Tanzania.

He said three of the vehicles will be deployed to the Selous Game Reserve, Africa’s largest game reserve where poaching of elephants has been reduced in the recent past, and two of the vehicles will be allocated to the Mwanza-based anti-poaching unit.

He told stakeholders in the photographic and hunting tourism industry who witnessed the colourful event that poaching will be won if all the stakeholders worked closely with the government.

Mr Nyalandu said among plans which were afoot included the formation of a special anti-poaching unit to be announced in January next year and handsome remunerations for game rangers.

He said the anti-poaching unit will draw members from his ministry and other security and defence organs.

“Poachers are not asleep and we are also not asleep,” said the minister, assuring investors in the photographic and hunting tourism industry that the government will work closely with them for the benefit of the people.  “Photography and hunting tourism play a major role in wildlife conservation,” said Mr Nyalandu.

Founded in 2001 by Mr Gerard Pasanisi under the patronage of former US President George H. W. Bush, Retired President Benjamin Mkapa, former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and its treasurer Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, the WCFT’s major goal is to raise funds to support the government of Tanzania in its fight against poaching.

CREDIT SOURCE: THE CITIZEN