Conservationists Demand Immediate End to Tanzanian Elephant Trophy Hunting

Conservationists have petitioned Tanzania to halt elephant trophy hunting in the wildlife reserve area shared with Kenya. The practice endangers 'super-tuskers' elephants, with significant concerns raised following Tanzania's reissue of hunting permits. The petition, supported by 50 organizations and 500,000 signatures, calls for urgent action to protect these iconic animals.

Conservationists urged Tanzania on Monday to immediately halt elephant trophy hunting in a vast wildlife reserve that straddles the Kenyan border. The area, home to around 2,000 elephants including those with massive tusks known as 'super-tuskers,' spans Amboseli National Park in Kenya and Enduimet Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania.

While Kenya has outlawed trophy hunting, Tanzania permits the practice, leading to incidents where Kenyan elephants have been killed by hunters from across the border. 'The loss of these elephants not only affects population numbers but also undermines conservation efforts,' stated Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.

The petition, backed by more than 50 African wildlife conservation groups and 500,000 signatures, warns that only 10 super-tuskers remain in the Amboseli ecosystem, home to the densest population of such elephants. 'If hunting continues, super-tuskers could vanish within three years,' it argues. In 1995, Tanzania and Kenya had agreed to stop hunting permits in the shared reserve, but Tanzania resumed issuing permits in 2022, the petition notes.

(With inputs from agencies.)