A unique anti-poaching drive is under way in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, deemed the ‘De-snaring Programme’. The first of its kind, its objective is to remove the widespread snares laid by local bush-meat poachers to trap wildlife within the park.

Ongoing poaching in the region is prompting tourism investors – especially those operating in the Serengeti – to support Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) through Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) by funding the Serengeti De-Snaring Programme.

One investor – the owner of a hotel chain in Tanzania, including Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Park Hyatt Zanzibar and Hyatt Regency Arusha, and Melia Zanzibar and Melia Serengeti – has purchased and donated a Land Cruiser worth $44 000 to aid the anti-poaching initiative. Dubai-based investor, Ali Albwardy, has shown his support of the ‘war’ against poaching wildlife in East Africa, and said he was pleased to purchase the new safari vehicle for the de-snaring drive within Serengeti under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model involving TANAPA, FZS, and private investors, according to Martin Cody, Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge Manager.

“As Mr Albawardy continues expanding his portfolio of hotels in Tanzania, following the recent opening of Melia Serengeti and the forthcoming launching of Hyatt Regency in Arusha, he feels it’s important to support conservation and community in the country we operate,” explains Cody.

Poaching has plagued the Serengeti, with official data released for the period  July-September 2017 revealing that a total of 790 varied species of wildlife were killed by snares. A TANAPA document added that 500 wildebeest were also killed during the period, along with 110 zebras, 54 Thomson gazelles, 35 topi, 28 buffalo, 27 impala, 19 warthog and 17 eland.

The deployment of the additional anti-poaching team and patrol vehicle is set to boost the fieldwork within the park, and beyond its borders – as it intends to include the Maswa Game Reserve and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, according to Erik Winbergm, Project manager of the FZS.

Team members have been recruited from the Serengeti ecosystem villages in an effort to target ex-poachers and use their experience to fight snaring. Each team will consist of a TANAPA ranger as team leader, and active rangers.

To date, the De-snaring Programme has removed 9 838 snares, destroyed 91 poachers’ camps, released nearly 100 animals, and arrested 21 poachers over 12 months, according to TATO Councillor, Vesna Glamocanin Tibaijuka, who is spearheading the conservation drive.

Serengeti National Park Chief Warden, William Mwakilema, said: “As Chief Park Warden for Serengeti National Park, I thank the tourism stakeholders for their incredible support in the anti-poaching drive.”