THE national symbol, giraffe, is increasingly becoming an endangered species as poachers have now turned their merciless rifles on the tall spotted mammal.
Giraffes are now on receiving end of poachers’ rifles with their illegal killing gaining roots in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region.
Investigations conducted by 'Daily News' revealed that poaching is more notorious in the wilderness surrounding Ndovu and Naberera villages, where other environmental destructive activities such as forest burning are threatening the area.
A resident of Naberera, Mr Eliya Nyerere, and three other persons have been reporting the incidences to authorities, but they are now renegades after receiving death threats from some unknown people.
At the moment, they have fled from Simanjiro and filed complaints at the Usa River Police Station near Arusha. It is believed that the bone marrow found in the gigantic mammals’ skeletons can cure HIV/AIDS thus the craving for giraffe meat among the local population.
Some of the meat is transported to other parts of the country where it commands hefty prices. District Wildlife Officer Jatha Mollel, while admitting that poaching is rife in the area, refuted allegations that the illegal hunters are simply targeting giraffes.
“Last weekend, we arrested nine suspects and sent them to Arusha for the necessary legal measures; but they have been killing all types of wildlife including gazelle, antelope, zebra and in some cases, giraffes,” stated Mr Mollel.
The wildlife officer stated that the major problem being faced by the authorities in the district is deforestation as people flock from as far as Arusha and other parts of Manyara to fetch wood for charcoal making purposes.
“But for giraffes that is just a coincidence because as people hunt game meat, they may find the mammals along the way and kill them. But they usually target gazelles and antelopes,” he stated.
Giraffe poaching comes at the time when the whole world is aghast on increasing cases of jumbo killings by poachers who target their tusks, mainly for export to Asia.(DAILY NEWS ONLINE EDITION)
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