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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