Government: Technology turning the tide against poaching

A ranger holds one of the devices that are used to detect poaching activities in various Tanzanian national parks. The new technology has helped reduce poaching significantly. PHOTO| FILE

What you need to know:

  • Numbers of poaching incidents have been reduced in Tanzania, following the adoption of a technology to monitor and coordinate security patrols within the National Parks.

Moshi. The use of satellite technology to monitor and coordinate security patrols in national parks and game reserves has helped reduce wildlife poaching in Tanzania.

And the target is to have zero reports on poaching incidents come 2025.

The deputy permanent secretary ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Aloyce Nziku, made the remark yesterday when speaking with directors and various players of wildlife conservation from different countries at Mweka Wildlife College during a training on the use of technology in curbing poaching.

He said since the government started applying the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (Smart) technology to monitor and report poaching incidents, the number of cases has decreased significantly.

“The use of technology in combating poaching has borne fruit because the number of cases has gone down,” he said.

The acting Mweka College principal, Dr Alex Kisingo, disclosed that during the last three years, poaching has been reduced in most of the national parks due to collaboration between the government and various stakeholders.

He said the use of Smart technology will help get information on poaching, detecting the places where the poachers are within the national parks.

“The use of Smart technology will also help cut the number of people manning security in our national parks and other protected areas. We now don’t need many people for patrols,” he said.

The Smart technology coordinator, Mr Henry Njovu said the new technology has eased the collection of information and data in all national parks. “This technology is important because it shows every stage of poaching incidents within the national parks, something which helps our security teams act on time,” he added.