| Overview : Tanzania has set aside more than one-third of its land for the conservation of wildlife. This wildlife is not only a source of wonder and inspiration but a crucial resource for economic development and social well-being. However, the future of wildlife conservation was severely threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade which accounted for the loss of over 60% (from 109,051 to 43,521) of the elephant population between 2009 and 2014. Records from various sources indicated large quantities of ivory were being shipped out of the country undetected and are later seized abroad. For instance, 2013 seizure records by TRAFFIC indicated that at least 45 tons of elephant ivory were shipped illegally from or through Tanzania to international markets in Asia since 2009. The government of Tanzania in collaboration with conservation partners took serious measures to combat poaching including the development of the National Strategy to Combat Poaching and illegal wildlife trade (2014 – 2019), the establishment of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), routine and special antipoaching operations, countrywide anti-poaching operation “operesheni tokomeza”, awareness campaigns, the establishment of National Task Force Anti-poaching..........etc...............etc........... |
