50 Kenyans Pen Letter to Suluhu for Breaking 30-Year Agreement
In a letter authored by fifty prominent environmental conservationists and led by Dr. Paula Kahumbu, they protest the decision of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to grant four additional licences for trophy hunting.
On Saturday, March 16, the organisation penned a letter requesting an immediate prohibition on trophy hunting for elephants with tusks, arguing that the practice endangers the wild animals.
It was contended that due to the presence of wildlife along the boundary, it was judicious for the Tanzanian government to collaborate with its Kenyan counterpart.
In order to formalise regulations prohibiting elephant poaching in Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, Narco Ranch, Longido GCA, Lake Natron East GCA, and Lake Natron North GCA, this appeal is being made.
Conversely, the objective of the collaboration is to identify alternative conservation approaches that guarantee the safety of the Amboseli elephants, thereby safeguarding them as a testament to our shared heritage and combined dedication to the cause of conservation.
“We, the global community of conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, and concerned citizens, urgently appeal to your esteemed office for the immediate ban on elephant trophy hunting within the Tanzania range of the Amboseli elephants,” read the introduction of the letter in part.
“This unique cross-border population, shared with Kenya, is under dire threat following the issuance of new hunting licenses that disrupt a 30-year-old agreement vital for their protection.”
Additionally, the group noted that the Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP), which has been ongoing for the longest time in the world, had recorded the elephant population in the area.
“The targeted elephants are males in their reproductive prime and, with tusks symbolizing their grandeur, are critical for maintaining the population’s genetic propensity for large tusks, which are a major draw for tourism, a vital sector for both our countries,” added the letter.
“The hunting of these individuals undermines conservation efforts, disrupts the social structure of elephant communities, and poses a significant threat to the future of this population.”
Published on Avaaz, the letter has garnered 6,025 signatures to date, nearly surpassing the target of 7,500.
As per the Kenya Wildlife Service, the elephant population in Kenya has increased by 21% to 36,280 since 2014, when poaching was at its peak. The increase is a result of a sustained assault on poaching and the illegal ivory trade, according to KWS.
Tanzania, conversely, is home to 60,000 elephants, an Africa Wildlife Foundation-reported increase from 43,000 in 2014.
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50 Kenyans Pen Letter to Suluhu for Breaking 30-Year Agreement
