Tanzania: Animal Corridors at Risk of Extinction
Tanzania: Animal Corridors at Risk of Extinction
Edward Qorro, Tanzania Daily News / All Africa
May 3, 2021
Longido District Commissioner Frank Mwaisumbe has raised alarm on the
possible vanishing of animal corridors along the Enduimet Wildlife
Management Area (WMA). The DC further warned that the reality could further
escalate human-wildlife conflict in the area.
"As we speak a total 16 kilometers have been blocked, we shouldn't be
surprised seeing elephants and other animals wreaking havoc," warned the DC
while opening a Climate change training in Longido district to community
members forming the Lake Natron Ecosystem.
According to Mr Mwaisumbe, there was a need to strike the right balance
between wildlife protection and people's livelihoods to avert
human-wildlife conflicts. He further warned that if such conflicts went
unchecked, it could result in the stealth extinction of wildlife species,
poor yields as a result of crop damage and Injuries and death of humans.
Human-wildlife conflict ensues when animals pose a direct and recurrent
threat to the livelihood, safety of humans which leads to the persecution
of that species in an area. The most affected wildlife species in such
conflicts include elephants, rhinos, lions, crocodiles and snakes.
On his part, Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) BMZ Climate Facility
Project Manager Daniel Ouma said communities within the Lake Natron
Ecosystem had been sensitized on effects of climate change and provided
with water tanks to mitigate effects of Human-Wildlife Conflicts.
"Some residents have been recruited for the Village Game Scouts to ensure
sustainable conservation of natural resources while others have benefitted
from BeeHive projects," explained Mr Ouma.
Kimokoa village resident, who is also a beneficiary of the project Kilembe
Kitoo said pastoral communities in the area were bearing the most brunt of
effects of climate change, thanks to their nomadic nature. The World Wide
Fund (WWF) in partnership with TNRF runs the BMZ Climate Facility Project
"Protection of key Ecosystems, Increased Resilience and Adaptation for
their Sustainable Use by Local Communities in Southeast Africa".
In Tanzania, the project is implemented in the northern part specifically
in four Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) namely; Enduimet and Lake Natron
in Longido District, Ikona and Makao in Serengeti and Meatu districts
respectively and Mkomazi wildlife corridors (Ziwani and Kwakao villages
[KarambaNdea]) in Same and Mwanga districts covering over 60 villages.