Global Petition urges Tanzanian gov't to end elephant trophy hunting

In a significant push against elephant trophy hunting, scientists and conservationists have handed the Tanzanian government a global petition signed by over 500,000 people.

Collected since March 2024, the petition calls for an immediate halt to the hunting of elephants along Tanzania's border with Kenya, specifically in the Tanzania portion of the Amboseli–West Kilimanjaro elephant range.

The petition follows the Tanzanian authorities' controversial decision to issue hunting permits for "super tuskers" in the region. 

In the past eight months alone, five(5) elephants have been targeted, hunted, and killed by trophy hunters in Northern Tanzania.

More permits are expected to be issued imminently, raising alarm among conservationists worldwide.

The petition, backed by over 50 African conservation organisations, was sent by courier to the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi and to the State House in Tanzania.

A press conference on the same was held at a Nairobi hotel.

While the management of elephants in Tanzania is recognised as the sovereign duty of the Tanzanian government, scientists have urged leaders from both Tanzania and Kenya to remember that the Amboseli–West Kilimanjaro elephant population is shared between the two nations.

This shared responsibility has been the foundation of a successful bilateral agreement for the past three decades, which has helped protect this unique population.

"The loss of these elephants is not just a blow to elephant populations but to our collective efforts in conservation,” said Dr 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, describing it as a unique genetic reservoir that transcends national borders. 

Until 2023, there had been no reported elephant hunting incidents in the region for 30 years. The recent wave of hunting was triggered by a new quota issued in 2022 to Kilombero North Safaris.

The newly issued hunting permits now threaten the survival of these iconic cross-border elephants, the largest in Africa. 

With only 10 elephants remaining in the Amboseli ecosystem, hunting could cause the super tuskers to disappear within the next three years.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WildlifeDirect Dr Paula Kahumbu emphasised the urgency of protecting this shared natural heritage.

“We urge President Ruto of Kenya and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania to meet and agree on the shared immense scientific and economic value of preserving these cross-border elephants. The long-term benefits of ecotourism, science, and conservation far outweigh the short-term gains from trophy hunting in one country," Dr Kahumbu said.

The petition also sheds light on unethical hunting practices, including the use of helicopters to locate elephants and the burning or burying of carcasses to conceal evidence.

As pressure mounts on the Tanzanian government, the global community waits to see if the calls for conservation will be heeded or if the future of these magnificent elephants will remain in jeopardy.