More should be done to tame poaching – Dr Bilal

Dar es Salaam. Former Vice President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, has asked Tanzanians to intensify anti-poaching initiatives in order to leave good legacy to the future generation.

Dr Bilal made the remarks to environment conservation stakeholders today, Sept 10, at the climax of the anti-poaching march organised by Journalists Friends of Wildlife and Natural Heritage (JFW-NH) at Karimjee Grounds. The march that started at Mnazi Mmoja grounds went with a slogan; Say No to Poaching.

Addressing stakeholders, Dr Bilal said Tanzanians shouldn’t accept people sabotaging environment and natural heritage calling upon everybody to take part in conservation activities to enable the future generation enjoy and rejoice blessings that the country has been endowed.

“When conservation issues are well understood by journalists, chances are the public will also understand them well. Nobody should be discouraged, ensure the institution is growing, your strategies are known and align with development plans of the fifth phase government,” he said.

He said of late the country, and many other parts of the world have been experiencing a number of shortfalls including erratic rainfall patterns, raise in temperature and increase in sea level as a result of harming the environment.

JFW-NH Vice Chairman, Mr Athumani Mfutakamba, said though poaching incidents had decreased as demonstrated by increase in elephant population from 10,000 in 2014 to 110,000 this year, the government should consider preparing better land use plans.

“Elephant corridors should be freed with human activities and that balloons should be introduced to complement drones in tracking poachers in reserve sites and conservation areas,” he said.

JFW-NH secretary, Mr Sikwese Austin, said the institution was found in 2016 constituting of journalists dealing with conservation issues aiming at combating poaching which according the UN report, Savanah African elephants reduced by 30 per cent between 2007 and 2014.

“Therefore, the government should join hands with stakeholders in the anti-poaching war and the international community in banning tusks trade across the world,” he said.