RC: Check livestock in Ngorongoro

Arusha Regional Commissioner Mrisho Gambo

What you need to know:

  • He said the increasing number of livestock in the protected area was worrying and could impact on the fragile ecosystem whose conservation has to be sustained for the key tourism sector.

Ngorongoro. Arusha Regional Commissioner Mrisho Gambo wants by-laws which would control the number of livestock in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) formulated and enforced.

He said the increasing number of livestock in the protected area was worrying and could impact on the fragile ecosystem whose conservation has to be sustained for the key tourism sector.

“We are seeing a growing number of cattle and complaining about land degradation. Yet we do not have any by-law to control their numbers in specific zones within NCA,” Mr Gambo said.

The regional boss made the call recently when he inaugurated an earthen dam at Ndepes Village near the Ngorongoro Crater.

The water catchment structure was dug by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) at the cost of Sh231.9 million, according to the Chief Conservator, Dr Freddy Manongi.

The dam can hold up to 120 cattle drinking water at a time and has been designed as an alternative source of water for the livestock keepers who have been taking their animals into the crater to drink water.

Ngorongoro District Commissioner Rashid Taka said three other water dams would be constructed in the area to alleviate the scarcity of water for domestic use and for large herds of livestock during the long dry season which is set to begin.