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Wildlife protection

Wildlife protection is a duty or an obligation of protecting wildlife in protected areas such as game reserves, game controlled areas and outside protected areas to ensure that wildlife resources are properly conserved and protected.

The Authority undertakes this duty in response to rapid rise of wildlife crime including poaching and illegal ivory trade, rhino horns. in efforts to change the situation especially in areas which formerly had large numbers of wildlife but had been  decreased through poaching.  For example, poaching has reduced the number of elephants in the Selous Game Reserve from 110,000 in the 1970s to 13,000 in 2014. As such TAWA conducts anti-poaching patrols in and outside game reserves and game controlled areas to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking.

What we do

Strengthening law enforcement at entry and exit points

TAWA staff enforced Laws at every stage of the poaching-trafficking-consumption chain in Collaboration with other Law enforcement Agencies. TAWA is responsible in tackling criminals in transit, including within Tanzania on major highways and at export points along highways as well as at airports and seaports in conjunction with emphasize to law enforcement at the end entry points and within product manufacturing stations and retail outlets. It is emphasized that people posses and travelling with wildlife products needs to have relevant permits.

Anti-poaching patrols

TAWA is well established in conducting anti poaching patrols in and outside Game Reserves and Game Control Areas. The main goal of anti poaching patrols is to ensure that laws are adhered and to enable sustainable utilization of wildlife is conducted without jeopardize the existence of wildlife populations for the benefit of present and future generations. TAWA is trusted to manage wildlife for the benefit of the entire nation.

In response to the rapid rise in wildlife crime, including poaching and illegal ivory trade, rhino horn and other animal product trafficking experienced in Tanzania and the consequent decline in wildlife populations, especially of African elephants, TAWA deploys intelligence - led and highly coordinated law enforcement to address these problems.

Since the inception of TAWA up to September 2016, a total of 69,278 Patrols man days were conducted in and outside Game Reserves and Game Controlled Areas that lead in the arrest of 1,563 poachers.  On the other confiscated items are 90 pieces of elephant tusks weighting 376.33 Kg, 29,529.5 Kg bush meat of different species, 141 firearms and 278 ammunitions of different calibers. Moreover, TAWA maintain a Canine unit that helps in the inspection of wildlife products at Julius Nyerere International Airport and Dar es Salaam seaport.

In collaboration with other wildlife Agencies TAWA, conducted anti poaching patrols at ecosystems based country wise and managed to establish Rapid Response Team that operates across all ecosystems. These efforts have led to a successful disbanding of the syndicate of the suspected  notorious poachers in the country. TAWA encourages community and well  conservation wishers to give information that will reveal and assist in the arrest of poachers and illegal traffickers of wildlife resources.

Problem animal control

TAWA believes that conservation of wildlife should be for the benefit of community and neither expenses to their lives nor properties.  In respect to that, Rangers strategically located in different stations country wide  for the purpose of controlling Problem Animals that cause or have caused damaged or property or injury to loss of human life.  To depress the consequences that might emanated from Wildlife, TAWA urged the entire community to refrain from doing human activities proximity to protected areas which leads to blocking of the corridor. In case of danger of attack by wildlife, people are encouraged to ask for assistance from nearby Game Reserve, Zonal anti poaching unit or District Game Officers. 

Investigation and Prosecution

In collaboration with judiciary TAWA involved in prosecution of wildlife cases in the court of law.  Wildlife crime is a transnational crime and therefore requires strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies both across borders and between supply and consumer countries. TAWA works with responsible agencies to ensure that adequate institutional infrastructure are in place to increase the strength in prosecution of wildlife cases before court of Law. 

Mr. Mabula Misungwi

Ag. Director of Wildlife Protection Services

Mobile: +255 (0)784 368 386