In Tanzania, wild animals kill one person every 52 hours
In Tanzania, wild animals kill one person every 52 hours
Monitor
January 16, 2023
According to a new report, one person is killed by a wild animal every 52
hours, while 16 acres of food crops are destroyed.
The 2020/24 Report of The National Strategy on Controlling Conflicts
between Humans and Wildlife, reflects the ministry of Natural Resources and
Tourism statistics released between 2012 and 2019.
The statistics show that conflicts between villagers and wildlife claimed
1,069 lives and destroyed 41,404 hectares of crops. Furthermore, the
figures show that 792 wild animals were killed during the period. The
government compensated the relatives of the victims and the farms that were
destroyed destroyed with Sh4.6 billion.
Data shows that the number of wildlife killed increased from 130 in 2017 to
149 in 2018 and 203 in 2019 respectively. The destruction of food crops
doubled to 10,547 acres in 2019 from 5,016 acres recorded in 2018.
Conflicts in the natural resources sector will be solved only if citizens
have reliable economic opportunities along the wildlife’s regular paths
(shoroba).
Also, there should be a plan for the best use of regional land management
by incorporating villagers and the private sector.
Success could also be recorded through increased education on the benefits
of natural resource preservation and the adoption of human life saving
techniques.
This includes access to cooking energy, fruits, traditional medicines, and
the free pollination of plants and crops in the agricultural sector.
“Shoroba” is a path that connects wild animals from one reserve to another
during their search for food, water, shelter, safety environment and
reproduction.
“Village land covers up to more than 70 percent of all land that has been
legally annexed. That is where over 90 percent of all the 61 paths are
located. We are making efforts to end these conflicts,” said the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s land planning and
biodiversity specialist, Mr Joseph Olila.
Mr Olila was speaking during the launch of the second phase of the Let’s
Conserve Natural Resources project, which trains journalists to create
content that will change society’s perception of the importance of
preserving natural resources in the country.
The project funded by the USAID in cooperation with the Journalists’
Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET), involves seven wild animal
paths. They include Ruaha-Rungwa-Katavi; Amani-Nilo; Kwakuchinja;
Ruaha-Rungwa –Inyonga; Mlima Mahale-Katavi and Kigosi-Moyowosi-Burigi.
“If villagers set up centres in buffer zones, they will make money without
destroying natural resources,” said Dr Elikana Ngallaba, the project’s
manager for Private Sector Involvement.
He said the paths are also beneficial for human life as agriculture depends
on the pollination of crops by insects, we get honey from bees...this does
not include the costs of production.