TPSF, two other team up for trial use of drones in nation's anti-poaching drive

By Giza Mdoe

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. (File photo)

Trial use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to monitor Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves is set to begin early next month in Tarangire National Park.

 

The use of UAVs more commonly known as drones for aerial survey is envisioned to help stop the senseless killing of over 10,000 elephants and thousands of other wildlife in Tanzania.

 

The planned trials are part of ongoing efforts by the private sector to compliment government anti- poaching initiatives through private public partnership spearheaded by the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), the apex business association in the country.

 

Also on board are the African Wildlife Foundation, a leading International NGO and Tanzanian limited liability company, Bathawk Recon (BHR).

 

Together, the three bodies led by TPSF form the Private Sector Anti Poaching Initiative (PSAPI) designed to support private sector entities’ ability to contract anti poaching services to the government, specifically UAV operations and the associated development of tactical actions and intelligence gathering.

 

“The equipment will fly over parks covering as much area as possible using hi definition video and Infra red equipment,” explains Mike Chambers Director at Bathawk Recon (BHR).

 

 In an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Director Chambers, who is also the BHR Communications and Strategy officer said participation of the private in the war against poaching is vital if immediate concise action is to be taken.

 

“The fight against ongoing destruction of Tanzania’s  precious wildlife must not be left to the government alone … the private sector can help deploy the needed equipment along with technical support as well as staff training,” chambers  went on to say.

 

“The trials in Tarangire will serve as an example of how UAV surveillance can be organised, distributed, coordinated and costs estimated... the exercise is to demonstrate how surveillance systems might be deployed,” he said.

 

He explained that along with the UAVs, camps will be established and “Pods” - operational units - equipped with multiple aircraft, vehicles and communications equipment will be deployed.

 

“These pods would monitor, identify, follow and deliver suspected poachers to wildlife authorities and include in their capabilities significant tactical expertise in developing operations,” Chambers explained. 

 

In this effort, he said BHR has partnered with a Tanzania based non-profit - Elephant Survival Organisation – which will interact with NGOs and surrounding communities to build awareness and increase public participation for an overall inclusive and transparent initiative.

 

In a major stakeholders’ meeting held mid this week in Dar es Salaam attended by representatives from  TPSF and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) the general consensus reached was that the proposed service should advance Tanzania’s fight against wildlife poaching.

 

It was also understood that the trials and subsequent programme launch must perform in terms of the expected deliverables as defined by the government and not simply in terms of surveillance but strategically as well. 

MNRT is the front line ministry in the war on poaching. 

 

As such it is developing the appropriate internal structures to carry out this urgent task and the suggested private sector participation is intent to support this effort against poaching and all activities will be tailored to fit into the structures, strategies and programmes devised by the ministry. 

 

As such, the drone deployment and related surveillance will be managed through the Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) and coordinated in an operational sense locally in each of the target areas by the local Tasking and Coordination Group (TCG). 

This development comes as the World increases its call for action against poaching. 

 

Earlier this year, Interpol reported that Tanzania is the top source of illegal ivory in East Africa with approximately 30 elephants killed every day. 

 “A significant portion of ivory illicitly trafficked to international markets especially in Asia is derived from elephant populations in Tanzania,” says the report. 

 

Tanzania’s elephant population has continued to plummet in recent years. In Selous Game Reserve which had the world’s second largest elephant population of 70,000 in 2006, the numbers have fallen to an estimated 39,000 in 2009 and currently stand at 13,084.

 

“Moreover, the elephant population in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park has declined by 44 per cent since 2006 and now numbers approximately 20,090,” says the report.

 

The report which was launched at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi by David Higgins of Environmental Crime Programme also revealed that in 2013, global ivory seizures reached record levels. 

Many of these seizures occurred in East Africa or in transit to Asia with an East African origin.