Germany releases two aircraft for conservation of wildlife in Tanzania tourist circuit

TANZANIA (eTN) – Standing as a good partner to Tanzania in the conservation of wildlife, the Federal Republic of Germany has supported the government of Tanzania with two new special surveillance aircraft to be deployed in the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania and the Selous Game reserve in Southern Tanzania’s tourist circuit.

The two “Aviat Aircraft Husky A-IC” planes are set for aerial patrols over Serengeti National Park and the Selous Game Reserve to monitor poaching and other wildlife conservation duties in those famous Tanzanian wildlife parks.

The Ambassador of Germany to Tanzania, Mr. Egon Konchake, handed over the two aircraft to the Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, on Tuesday of this week and said Germany was has been looking at adding efforts to conservation of wildlife in Tanzania.

Germany had granted Tanzania over 32 million euro for conservation of wildlife in the next five years. The funds will cover the establishment of the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA), wildlife research, anti-poaching efforts, and the setting up of a game ranger squad.

Strengthening cooperation with Tanzania for conservation of wildlife and protection of biodiversity, the German government signed a financial agreement last year to support protection and conservation of biodiversity in the Serengeti ecosystem and the Selous Game Reserve, two of the biggest conserved wildlife parks in Africa.

Under the German and Tanzania development cooperation agreement signed in the Tanzanian capital city of Dar es Salaam in August 2015, the Federal Republic of Germany has committed to provide financial assistance amounting to 10 million euro to support sustainable management of the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania’s tourist circuit.

At the same time, measures will be implemented to reduce wildlife poaching, which has dramatically escalated over the last few years and has led to a substantial reduction of the elephant population.

Covering a total area of 14,763 kilometers of natural and expanse grazing land in the northern Tanzania tourist circuit, the Serengeti National Park has been chosen as a global tourist site for high-class tourists.

The park is the leading tourist attraction site in Tanzania, pulling in over 150,000 foreign tourists each year.

The Serengeti is the place of the greatest wildlife show on Earth, in which some 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 400,000 Thomson’s gazelle are the main players – they are born there and are compelled to follow the screenplay until the moment they breathe their last breath.

The history of this premier tourist park in Africa goes back to its establishment as the first national park in Tanzania in 1921 and later in 1959 when famous German zoologist Professor Bernhard Grzimek researched and set its present boundaries.

Germany has been working closely with Tanzania National Parks on the conservation of the Serengeti ecosystem through the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the government of Germany.