Petitioners urge Samia Suluhu to halt trophy hunting of elephants

Dr Festus Ihwagi, Senior scientist and Research policy lead at Save The Elephants and Dr Paula Kahumbu CEO of Wildlife Direct during a press conference in Nairobi on August 12, 2024. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

As part of celebrations to mark World Elephant Day, a global coalition of scientists and conservationists yesterday presented the Tanzanian government with a petition signed by over 500,000 people, calling for an end to the trophy hunting of elephants along the country's border with Kenya.

The petition, which has been gathering signatures since March 2024, was delivered to the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi and State House Tanzania during a press conference held at a Nairobi hotel.

The petition comes in response to a controversial move by Tanzanian authorities to issue hunting permits for "super tuskers" within the Greater Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population. In the last eight months alone, five of these iconic elephants were hunted and killed in northern Tanzania. More permits are expected to be issued, raising concerns about the future of these rare creatures.

While the management of elephants within Tanzania's borders is recognized as a sovereign duty, scientists and conservationists highlighted the shared nature of the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population, which has been protected under a bilateral agreement between Kenya and Tanzania for the past three decades.

"The loss of these elephants is not just a blow to elephant populations but to our collective efforts in conservation," said Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.

The petition underscores the significant ecological and economic value of the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population, which represents a unique genetic reservoir that transcends national borders. The recent surge in hunting incidents follows the issuance of a new hunting quota in 2022 to Kilombero North Safaris, ending a 30-year period during which no elephant hunting was reported in the area.

The last time such a tragedy occurred was in 1994 when four well-known elephants-RBG, Sleepy, Saibulu, and Oloitipitip-were killed by trophy hunters on the Tanzanian side of the border. This sparked an international outcry and led to a moratorium on trophy hunting of this transboundary elephant population, agreed upon by both nations in 1995.

The new hunting permits pose a grave threat to the survival of the largest cross-border elephants in Africa. The Amboseli ecosystem is now home to only 10 elephants with tusks weighing around 45kg each. Experts warn that the continued hunting of super tuskers could lead to their extinction within the next three years.

"The recent killings of super-tuskers is particularly concerning due to the rarity and special role these older males play in elephant society," stated Joyce Poole, Scientific Director of Elephant Voices.

Although Kenya banned hunting in 1977, it is still legal in Tanzania. Hunting companies can obtain licenses on behalf of clients.

The petition, hosted on the international campaign site Avaaz, has garnered support from more than 50 African conservation organizations. The consortium is urging Tanzanian authorities to work closely with their Kenyan counterparts to protect this shared natural heritage.

"We urge President Ruto of Kenya and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania to meet and agree on the immense scientific and economic value of preserving these cross-border elephants," said Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect.

Winnie Kiiru of the Elephant Protection Initiative and Mpala Research Centre echoed these concerns, stating, "The killing of these iconic elephants for 'sport' is morally troubling and economically short-sighted."

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the elephant population has more than doubled in the last 30 years but this progress continues to be slowed down by challenges, including habitat loss, climate change, and poaching.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says the elephant population has seen a remarkable recovery, growing from 16,000 in 1989 to over 36,280 as per the 2021 National Wildlife Census.

"However, in recent times, we have witnessed a rise in elephant mortalities due to human-elephant conflict, driven by increased intolerance stemming from negative interactions," said KWS director general Erustus Kanga as the country marked World Elephant Day yesterday.

"Elephants are integral to our ecosystems, yet their survival increasingly hinges on our ability to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife."

Kanga said KWS is committed to finding sustainable solutions that benefit both elephants and the communities they share the land with.

"We encourage all conservation areas to engage in simple, low-cost activities in collaboration with stakeholders and local communities," he added.