Arusha — The Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) yesterday reiterated that it was worried by increasing incidences of poaching.

Director general Allan Kijazi, said more animals in the protected areas under the authority’s jurisdiction were being wantonly killed for their trophies by armed gangsters. He said although poaching was widespread all over the country, it was particularly worrying in the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks.

“In the Tarangire/Manyara ecosystem the situation is bad because animals spend much time outside the parks,” he said when receiving two vehicles donated for Tanapa’s anti-poaching unit.

He stated that with poaching on the rise Tanapa was keen to get material support from partners in order to combat the menace which could threaten the lucrative tourism industry. Mr Kijazi added, however, that the authority has been forced to work with the local communities surrounding the national parks in order to stem indiscriminate killings of animals.

“We need more vehicles in order to increase our surveillance against the poachers because each day we are getting new challenges,” he pointed out. The vehicles, worth a total of $ 60,000 were donated by the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) through its Tanzania Programme.

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