Tanzania Tuesday #5

image from NPR.org

Tanzania has more than 300 species of mammals, ten percent of them are endangered. Many of the animals are protected; some through the many designated wildlife parks, or through specific measures against the poaching of animals such as rhinos and elephants.

However, in 2015 Tanzania's minister for natural resources said that the elephant population in Tanzania had dropped by nearly 60 percent ... some 85,000 elephants killed by poachers.

image from NPR.org

Tanzania is faced with highly armed criminal groups who invade protected reserves and national parks to slaughter elephants for ivory. Tanzania has recently turned to drones to help curb animal deaths, and a former environment minister has proposed that poachers be shot on sight if in pursuit of an animal.

Source:

"Tanzania Has Lost 60 Percent of its Elephants to Poaching in Five Years", HuffingtonPost.com