Tanzania needs up‐to‐date poaching data to help manage its wildlife populations

Abstract

Across the tropical world, there is a dearth of data on poaching activity and its impact on different ecosystems; as a result, poaching receives little attention from conservation stakeholders (Lindsey et al., 2013). In Tanzania, for example, although data on elephants and rhinos have been released by researchers and NGOs, the majority of Tanzanians still know nothing about how poaching is threatening elephant and rhino populations (Wild Aid 2015). There is the slogan that ‘in every 15 min one elephant is killed’; this slogan has been used for some years, and it is time to bring it up-to-date data – what if now one elephant is poached every 5 min, or 1 h, or day or weeks? At the 10th Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) Conference in 2015, several presenters pointed out that poaching in Tanzania is increasingly focusing on elephants and rhinos. The Director of the African Wildlife Foundation Arusha posed the question to all participants ‘to what extent has poaching increased in Tanzania?’ At the end of the conference none of the participants had responded to that question. I asked several participants why we have no poaching data from Tanzania, and most replied that the organizations that hold poaching data do not release them, even if asked. I have been looking for current poaching data in Tanzania and have found that most scientists focus on elephant or rhino poaching or poaching in specific areas, especially areas adjacent to protected areas. Other scientists have focused on illegal bushmeat hunting, also generally in areas adjacent to protected areas. Most scientists did not provide data, for example, on how many poachers were arrested and/or sentenced. Data related to poaching in Tanzania was only readily available on the Wildlife Division (WD) website (www.wildlife.go.tz), which includes data on poachers arrested, patrols conducted, ivory and rhino horns seized and wildlife cases prosecuted, including resolved and unresolved cases. Unfortunately, the data published on the WD website are from 2000 to 2010, and recent data on poaching in Tanzania are lacking. Current data on poaching are essential in order to understand what is happening in Tanzania and to help inform what can be done about it. For example, the Tanzanian government has invested a significant amount of resources to combat poaching, including employing law enforcement staff, buying patrol vehicles and allocating money for different anti-poaching activities (Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) 2014; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2017). Poaching data would play a significant role in evaluating what has been achieved through these investments. Also, to increase motivation for those of us who work on the anti-poaching frontline, data on poaching are also essential. The data would tell us how well we are performing. Non-governmental organizations have been helping the country to combat poaching. For example, since December 2014, The Frankfurt Zoological Society has helped the Selous Game Reserve and the Serengeti National Park anti-poaching operations with resources such as aerial and ground patrols (MNRT, 2014; UNESCO, 2017). Providing current poaching data can help inform these stakeholders as to what has been achieved in combatting poaching. Also, current data, especially related to how many poachers have been arrested, the sentences given to poachers, the area in which the poachers were arrested, and which animals are highly poached would play a significant role in changing public attitudes toward poaching. The Tanzanian government, through its institutions such as the WD, the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and TAWIRI should compile and release current data on poaching. To organize and release this data in an efficient and transparent manner might be challenging, and therefore local, regional and international scientists, as well as conservation stakeholders, should give their assistance. Slobodian et al. (2016) analyzed wildlife-related court cases in the Tanzania mainland and the data are now openly available online at www.wildlex.org. Conservation practitioners in Tanzania would be very grateful if somebody can replicate the Slobodian et al. (2016) study and provide a database of poaching data for the whole of Tanzania. I am not discouraging area-specific data, but countrywide data are vital. The majority of Tanzanians are not aware that elephant and rhino populations are in decline (Wild Aid 2015), hence the data on poaching should be widely published both locally and internationally. I thank Thomas Hesselberg for reviewing this article before submission. I also appreciate the support from Elina Rantanen and the Editor Iain Gordon.