Conservationists Urge Tanzania to Ban Elephant Trophy Hunting

Conservationists have called on Tanzania to ban elephant trophy hunting in the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, which shares a border with Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The region is home to approximately 2,000 elephants, including rare "super-tuskers," known for their massive tusks.

While Kenya prohibits trophy hunting, Tanzania continues to allow the practice, issuing permits for hunters. This has led to instances where Kenyan elephants, which cross into Tanzanian territory, are killed by hunters.

Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, emphasized the critical impact of these killings on both elephant populations and broader conservation efforts.

The petition, supported by over 50 African wildlife conservation organizations and backed by 500,000 signatures, warns that continued hunting could lead to the extinction of super-tuskers within three years.

Despite an agreement in 1995 between Kenya and Tanzania to halt hunting permits on the Tanzanian side, the petition claims that Tanzania resumed issuing permits in 2022, threatening the future of these iconic elephants. Conservationists are now urging the Tanzanian government to take immediate action to protect these vulnerable populations.