The
world is presently witnessing brutality & annihilation of one of the
most charismatic mammals on earth, the African Elephant at a shocking
rate in human history. Poaching, habitat loss and other cruelty are
alarming. Tanzania being a treasure of elephants in Africa has recently
revealed its catastrophe.
The
recent elephant census conducted in the main elephant ecosystems for
seven months consecutively from May to November 2014, indicates a
significant decline of current elephant population in Tanzania from 2009
to 2014 survey by 60%. At independence in 1961 there were 350,000
elephants and in 2009 were 110,000 and by 2014 the number dwindled to
about 43,521.
‘The
increase in elephant poaching is highly linked to an increase of ivory
prices and illegal markets in the Far East and South East Asia’ Says Dr.
Amani Ngusaru, WWF Tanzania Country Director on marking the World
Elephant Day, 12th August 2015, in Dar es Salaam. Elephant poaching and
trafficking of wildlife has increased dramatically in recent years,
threatening the three pillars of life on earth: - sustainable
development, peace and human rights.
It is
now more urgent and important to come up with interventions that address
the root causes of elephant poaching through more and improved
international cooperation in source, transit and consumer countries as
well as to identify and address any gaps in the current anti-poaching
strategies for better protection of wild elephants. There is also a need
for improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and
trade of ivory, conserving elephant habitats, better treatment for
captive elephants and when appropriate, reintroducing captive elephants
into natural and protected sanctuaries. These are the goals that
elephant conservation organizations are focusing on around the world.
Due to
poaching between 1970s and 1980s, the elephant population in Tanzania
declined to 55,000 but then the international ban of sale of ivory and
other elephant products together with highly effective anti-poaching
operations through Operation Uhai in Tanzania resulted in elephant
population recovery from 55,000 in 1989 to an estimated 130,000 in 2005
and 110,000 in 2009.However, by 2011 there was an increase in commercial
poaching targeting elephants because the price of ivory went up
tremendously in the Far East and South East Asian market.
WWF is
backing the Government of Tanzania efforts and contribute to combating
poaching at the grass root level while working with local communities in
implementing government inclusive management policies. The relevant
policy approaches include Community Based Natural Resources Management
–(CBNRM) through the Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), community based
forest management (CBFM), participatory forest management (PFM) and
joint forest management (JFM). In some areas, even Beach Management
Units (BMUs) as well as the Water Users Associations (WUA) are useful in
dealing with anti-poaching activities.
WWF
Tanzania’s focus at local levels provides an important opportunity for
engaging in protection of elephants and other natural resources by
integrating conventional anti-poaching methods (boots on the ground) and
community participation in the fight against all forms of illegal
natural resources utilization including elephant poaching.
In
commemoration of the elephant day, WWF Tanzania calls the nation to wake
up and deal effectively with this SHAME!! Elephant poaching and
trafficking should now be dealt as a “serious crime’ that needs special
national attention. It needs to be addressed through applying the full
extent of the criminal laws in conjunction with the wildlife Act and
other laws pertaining to TRA (Customs and excise) money - laundering
and to categorize illegal wildlife trade as a predicate offense to be
investigated with related financial crimes.
It is
equally important to strengthen the judiciary sector to ensure that
prosecutions for wildlife crimes are conducted effectively and
transparently, with the full extent of the law and using the strongest
penalties available. Tanzania should also use the available legislative
instruments to seize the assets used to commit poaching and illegal
wildlife trade and other profit acquired through this trade.
It is
also important to take urgent measures to ensure that the Frontline
staffs in fighting against poaching are professionally trained and
equipped, have access to adequate welfare and support systems and are
legally supported to respond to threats to wildlife and themselves. It
is of urgency to support the development and implementation of
transportation sector protocols and/ or guidelines to strengthen due
diligence and other measures to eliminate illegal trade in wildlife.
WWF
Tanzania calls for Government led National campaigns that are well
researched aimed at behavior change and demand reduction. It is
important also to consider increasing the capacity of local communities
to pursue sustainable and alternative livelihoods as well as enhancing
local communities’ rights and capacity to manage and benefit from
wildlife and enables them to live in more equitable socio- economic
conditions.
If
successfully conducted, the integrated approach will provide network of
sympathizers at the grass root level that would feed into the national
anti-poaching intelligence network more efficiently and with less
investment costs.
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