Conservationists called on Tanzania on Monday to end elephant trophy hunting in a vast wildlife reserve that stretches along its border with Kenya.
Approximately 2,000 elephants, including the “super-tuskers” known for their large tusks, inhabit the Amboseli National Park in Kenya and the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania.
While trophy hunting is banned in Kenya, Tanzania permits sport hunting of elephants and issues permits for this activity.
This has led to cases where hunters have killed Kenyan elephants from across the border.
Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, stated, “The loss of these elephants is a setback not only for elephant populations but for our collective conservation efforts.”
The petition, supported by over 50 African wildlife conservation organizations and 500,000 signatures, highlights the urgent issue.
Conservationists note that only 10 super-tuskers, each with tusks weighing approximately 45 kg, remain in the Amboseli ecosystem, the area with the highest density of these elephants.
The petition warns that hunting could lead to the extinction of super-tuskers within the next three years.
In 1995, East African neighbors agreed that Tanzania would cease issuing hunting permits in its part of the reserve after hunters killed Kenyan elephants from the Tanzanian side.
Despite this, the petition notes that Tanzania resumed issuing permits in 2022.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Iranian VP resigns after 11 days in office over president’s choice of cabinet members