TANZANIA: Wildlife Wreckers On Firing Line

THE government is in the final stages of establishing a special task force to fight environment degradation and wildlife crimes, especially poaching, now on the increase in the country.

Moreover, rangers and wardens from the national park intelligence units managed in the recent operation to apprehend suspected killers of the British helicopter pilot, Roger Gower, in Maswa Game Reserve will be tried in martial courts.

The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, said the special task force would comprise officers from different departments in his ministry, including the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA), Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TSF).

He did not, however, say when the special taskforce will start operating, but stressed this will be different from other operations such as ‘Tokomeza.’

Prof Maghembe said the task force will work closely with the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), criminal justice system, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), local and international conservation organizations and other stakeholders.

“The task force will be responsible with coordinating efforts and resources as well as follow up on taskforce groups established in eight zones, targeting individuals and networks that control illegal trade in elephants tusks, timber and logs”, the minister explained.

According to Prof Maghembe, the government is changing the working system for game wardens from civilian to paramilitary system and bringing back forest rangers who will be trained in handling weapons to curb illegal harvesting of trees for timber and logs in the country’s forests.

On Monday, Simiyu Regional Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa said nine other people have been arrested in connection with the recent killing of the British pilot, including the person believed to have fired the fatal shot at the helicopter, Dotto Pangali (41). The suspects were caught with three elephant tusks and 29 guns following a massive manhunt by the police.

According to the Simiyu PRC, Pangali admitted taking part in the crime and that he is the one who shot down the helicopter using a rifle with registration number 7209460 CAR NA 63229 owned by Mange Balum, who is also in custody.

Others arrested include Shija Mjika (38), Masasi Mandogo (48), Njile Gonga (28), Iddi Mashaka (49), Mwigulu Kanga (40), Mapolu Njige (50), Dotto Huya (45) and Mange Balum (47).

The minister expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the operation, including the security forces, officers from his ministry and Home Affairs Ministry, Friedkin Conservation Fund officials Mr Dan Friedkin and Mr Pratik Patel and other stakeholders.

Gower was fatally shot by poachers while piloting a helicopter during a coordinated effort with the country’s wildlife authorities to track down and arrest active elephant killers at the Maswa Game Reserve in Simiyu Region.

Following the heinous crime, President John Magufuli ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are caught in the shortest time possible and prosecuted.

TANZANIA: More Wild Dog Packs Released Into Serengeti

A TOTAL of 17 new wild dogs have just been released in the Serengeti plains, bringing the number of the endangered carnivorous species in the country’s second largest National Park to nearly 325 and counting.

The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe officially opened the gates of the sanctuary in which the wild dogs were being confined under special care to allow the ferocious animals to begin their free roaming in the 14,763 square kilometres making up the vast Serengeti plains.

That was the last in the series of six packs releases from the Serengeti Wild Dog Conservation Project aimed at replenishing the National Park with its own indigenous species of the endangered animals.

They were initially captured from Loliondo hills, where the dogs were constantly in conflicts with pastoralists. Wild dogs apparently love to tear goats and sheep apart for their meals and this has earned them a coveted top spot in the livestock keepers’ hate list.

Cases of poisoned or speared carnivores in areas like Loliondo Division of Ngorongoro and parts of Monduli District have been common.

“The dogs were going extinct from the early 90s,” pointed out the tourism minister, adding that since the species of African Wild Dogs were facing demise all over the world, it is upon Tanzania to ensure that the carnivores were protected.

Director General for Tanzania National Parks, Dr Allan Kijazi described the latest wild dog pack as gypsy have at one time travelled from Loliondo, through Maasai-Mara all the way to Tsavo before crossing back to Tanzania ending up in Korogwe, then making return trip to Loliondo.

Previously five other wild dog packs had been released from the Conservation Project and these included the ‘Kikwete Pack,’ ‘Vodacom Pack,’ ‘Serengeti Park,’ ‘Loliondo Pack,’ and Nyasiruri Pack all containing nearly 125 wild-dogs between them.

All packs have some wild dogs that are fitted with GPS devices that help conservators and researchers to track their movements.

But the entire Serengeti Eco-system which also encompasses the (former) Loliondo Game Controlled Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Maswa Game Reserve and Kenya’s Maasai Mara is reported to have 27 packs of wild dogs with about 325 individuals in-between.

The latest (6th) Wild Dog pack, released from the project was named after Prof Markus Borneran an expert in Genetics and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Glasgow, who has been researching on the carnivores within the Serengeti eco-system.

The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (Tawiri) has been implementing the project with support from the State House, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Grumeti Fund (GF), Vodacom Foundation, The University of Glasgow, Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), Tanzania Wildlife Authority, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.

Emmanuel Masenga and Joseph Kaboya who have been working at the project in Serengeti revealed that Tanzania was among the only seven countries of Africa that still have wild dogs, others being Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa.

TANZANIA: Four Jailed After Murdering British Pilot

Four Tanzanians facing trial for the murder of a British conservationist whose helicopter was shot down have been jailed for 20 years for possessing firearms, lawyers said on Friday.

Roger Gower, 37, died when suspected poachers gunned down his helicopter during a patrol of the Maswa Game Reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the world famous Serengeti National Park, on January 29.

Photographs of the crashed helicopter show twisted metal, apparent bullet holes in the fuselage and smears of blood on the pilot's seat.

Four men have been charged with Gower's murder: Shija Mjika, 38, Njile Gunga, 28, Dotto Pangali, 42, and Moses Mandago, 28.

Although they face murder trial in the high court, on Thursday they were found guilty of the possession of guns and ammunition at a separate hearing.

“The suspects pleaded guilty of being in unlawful possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition,” said senior government prosecutor Yamiko Mlekano.

“The court on Thursday sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each for possessing firearms, and 20 years each for being found with ammunition.” The sentences will run concurrently.

They have not yet entered any plea concerning the murder charges, which carries a potential death sentence if found guilty, although Tanzania has not carried out capital punishment for decades, with scores of prisoners in jail on death row.

Gower, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund, had been tracking poachers after spotting the carcasses of recently killed elephants.

It is estimated that more than 30 000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.

Their ivory is prized for jewellery and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where many increasingly wealthy shoppers are buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success.

TANZANIA: Maswa Game Reserve

Located along the southwestern boundary of the Serengeti National Park, Maswa is the dry season refuge for many Serengeti animals. The Simiyu, Mbono, Semu and Mongomawe rivers form the main drainage courses providing water for the game in the dry season. In January and February, the epic wildebeest migration passes through Maswa feeding on the spring grasses.

Maswa is home to buffalo, lion, leopard, roan, Coke’s hartebeest, East African impala, Thomson’s gazelle and Robert’s gazelle. There is also an abundance of zebra, Defassa waterbuck and warthog, as well as topi, wildebeest, East African bush duiker, dik-dik, baboon, bushbuck, eland, klipspringer, greater kudu, Bohor reedbuck, steinbuck, hyena, jackal, ostrich and roan antelope.

Anti-Poaching
The Maswa Game Reserve borders the world-famous Serengeti National Park and at times during the year the great migration passes through Maswa's boundaries. Wire snares target the migration and indiscriminately kill animals. FCF rangers in Maswa clear extensive snare lines during their patrols.

FCF rangers encounter bushmeat and ivory poachers on a fairly regular basis. Elephant poaching is especially prevalent with over forty carcasses identified by FCF rangers in 2010. Other major concerns are illegal charcoal production and domestic livestock overgrazing along the boundaries of the reserve.

FCF has a very high concentration of field personnel based in Maswa with twenty full time anti-poaching personnel there on a year-round basis. One of FCF's microlights is based here and is proving to be very effective in assisting anti-poaching efforts.

Community Development
FCF collaborates with the Meatu District and the Wildlife Department to support projects prioritized by the villages neighboring the Maswa Game Reserve. Education, highly valued across Tanzania, has been a priority in this area.

FCF has sponsored projects such as the construction of teachers' homes, student scholarships, and library support in villages along the western and southern boundaries of the concession.

GIS & Research
The Maswa Game Reserve is part of the famed Serengeti ecosystem. Itsupports a large resident ungulate population and hosts the great migration of wildebeest and zebra during January and February. Conflict and competition for natural resources between humans and the wildlife is prevalent in this area.

The Maswa Game Reserve is part of the famed Serengeti ecosystem. Itsupports a large resident ungulate population and hosts the great migration of wildebeest and zebra during January and February. Conflict and competition for natural resources between humans and the wildlife is prevalent in this area.

TANZANIA: Anti Poaching British Helicopter Pilot Roger Gower Shot Down By Crazy Poachers

A British helicopter pilot was fatally shot by elephant poachers while flying an anti-poaching mission in Tanzania, a member of Parliament and a conservation fund said Saturday.

Roger Gower was working with Tanzanian wildlife authorities when the poachers fired on his helicopter and fatally wounded him Friday, said Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Texas-based non-profit Friedkin Conservation Fund.

"We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our dear friend," he said.

Gower managed to land the chopper but died before he was able to be rescued, said Lazaro Nyalandu, the country's former tourism minister, who said he flew with Gower many times.

Gower was helping rangers find the killers of an elephant when the poachers fired at the helicopter with an AK-47, Nyalandu wrote on Twitter.

Photos of the crash site, provided by Tanzania National Parks, show the helicopter on its side in dense grass, its tail broken off. A bloody bullet hole can be seen in one of the seats.

"Those poachers who killed Capt Roger are coward, evil, and sad people. A fine hearted individual gone too soon, and our hearts are broken," Nyalandu wrote.

RIP Capt Roger. You loved our country and I knew you on many flights we took together in defence of our wildlife heritage. Life is precious

— Lazaro Nyalandu (@LazaroNyalandu) January 30, 2016
The shooting happened at the Maswa Game Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, Nyalandu said. Elephant poaching is prevalent on the reserve, according to the Friedkin Conservation Fund.

It was not immediately clear whether Gower was working for the fund when he was killed.

"This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania's wildlife," Friedkin said.

The killers are still at large, Nyalandu said. Tourism Minister Jumanne Maghembe flew to Maswa with senior government officials to lead the search, he said.

"Capt Roger represented the very best in human spirit," Nyalandu wrote. "He loved people and the wildlife. He died serving both."