US army trains 50 Tanzanian game scouts

Dar es Salaam. The US Army in collaboration with National Guard has trained 50 Tanzanian game scouts, a statement released by the US embassy said on Saturday.

The statement noted that the training would increase the capacity of the game scouts to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking in Rungwa Game Reserve.

On Wednesday, the US ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Mark Childress, watched a demonstration of field techniques learned by game scouts at the game reserve.

The game scouts were trained by US military experts from the US Army Africa Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and the North Carolina National Guard Special Forces and funded by the US government, the statement noted.

During sessions between July 25 and September 9, 50 Tanzanian game scouts are being trained in surveillance and patrol techniques, arrest and detention procedures, search and seizure, crime scene investigation, first aid, human rights and rules of engagement.

Major General Greg Lusk, Adjutant General for the North Carolina National Guard, is in the country to oversee the training.

According to the embassy statement, the Wednesday’s demonstration was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Maj General Gaudence Milanzi, the Rungwa Game Reserve project manager, Mr Saidi Kabanda and the Country director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Mr Tim Davenport.

“This training programme was initiated after Ambassador Childress visited Rungwa Park in 2015, seeing the need for capacity building and improved infrastructure to stop the alarming rates of poaching in the Game Reserve,” reads part of the statement.

The ambassador then pledged to take quick action and, within a year, marshalled support from a variety of partners to assist the game scouts.