FRANKFURT ZOO AGAIN COMES TO TANZANIA’S AID IN ANTI POACHING OPERATIONS
(Posted 12th March 2014)
The longstanding ties between the Frankfurt Zoological Society and Tanzania, dating back to the 1950’s when Prof. Dr. Bernhard Grzimek launched his books and TV series ‘Serengeti Shall Not Die’ and became fast friends with Tanzania’s founder president and father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, have again been put to the test when the organization yesterday handed over 11 vehicles to the Tanzanian authorities to support their fight against poaching.
President Kikwete, who received the donation at State House Dar es Salaam, openly admitted that his country was facing huge challenges, saying: ‘We are faced with an insufficient workforce, financial resources and equipment. Whatever way our partners can assist us it will be highly appreciated’. He singled out the FZS for their continued and substantial support extended to his country and thanked them for leading with their donations.
Between October and December last year did the Frankfurt Zoological Society donate over 160.000 US Dollars in cash and kind towards the elephant population census in the Selous and Ruaha and it is understood that the census now planned for the Serengeti / Ngorongoro / Manyara areas too will be given assistance from FZS.
Meanwhile was it learned that the 11 vehicles will be deployed immediately for anti poaching operations in the Selous Game Reserve and the Serengeti, among other places.
It could not be established if in the private meeting between President Kikwete and the Director of the Frankfurt Zoological Society who was present at the handover, the highly contentious issue of the Serengeti Highway was discussed, a matter of serious concern to FZS and other conservation organisations which have proposed to route the highway around the Southern end of the Serengeti instead of cutting directly over the migration routes of the great herds of wildebeest and zebras. Watch this space for regular and breaking conservation news from the Eastern African region.
