Combating Poaching and Illegal Logging in Tanzania: Voices of the Rangers-Hands-on Experiences from the Field

TANZANIA ELEPHANT STATUS

The following data comes from this presentation.

According to a presentation given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Mwanza in June 2015, the elephant population in Selous-Mikumi ecosystem decreased from 38,975 in 2009 to 13,084 in 2015 due to the global network in illegal wildlife trade as the major factor in elephant poaching.

Tanzania has lost two thirds of its elephant population in just four years, according to Aislinn Laing, Seronera, Serengeti National Park. 85

Number of suspects

Place of confiscation

Total weight of tusks caught outside country in kg

Confiscated pieces

Number of incidents

Year

6

Hong Kong, China

3,275.30

1,541

2

2012

1

Malaysia, China

2,640

347

1

2013

–

Hong Kong

40

59

1

2014

Table 2. Seizures outside Tanzania

Weight of tusk pieces in kg

Weight of fresh tusks in kg

Number of tusk pieces

Number of whole tusks

Number of suspects

Number of incidents

Year

2.8

2,798.59

7

1,177

98

98

2012

52.28

12,193.86

695

3789

102

102

2013

0.51

1,763.10

312

542

30

30

2014

0.56

273

157

90

21

19

2015*

*Jan–June

Table 3. Seizures inside Tanzania

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