RHWF operates anti-poaching activities in all the concession areas allocated to Robin Hurt Safaris (Tz) Ltd. Funds for anti-poaching need to be raised each year and the project has had the support of many generous donors.

Anti-poaching covers not only the illegal procurement of bush meat and animal trophies such as tusks, it also covers the illegal harvest of wood by wood cutters and charcoal burners, as well as illegal grazing of cattle, fishing and arable farming.

Anti-poaching is a difficult job, both physically and morally; one man poaching to put protein on the table for his family is a difficult thing to condemn. However from commercial and unselective poaching, at almost any cost we must protect the game if it is to survive for Tanzania’s children to enjoy at almost any cost.

There are presently five teams operating in Tanzania, each consisting of a Field Officer, his driver, a Government Game Scout and four local villagers. Each team is fully equipped with a Toyota Landcruiser, tents, HF and VHF radios, GPS and uniforms. They are provided with food and salaries and are able to operate out in the bush for long periods of time.

The Robin Hurt Wildlife Foundation has been operating for over 18 years in Maswa/Makao and 14 years in Burko, Niensi-Luganzo, Rungwa and Mlele blocks with much success. Since the Project started in 1990, over 1,376 poachers have been convicted, over 250 firearms have been confiscated and over 23,000 wire snares have been found and destroyed. The number of wire snares found is being reduced each year, which shows clearly that involving and rewarding local communities in the protection of their natural resources has great potential for success.

A change in the modus operandi of the anti poaching teams has produced very real results. We are now using our village anti poaching employees’ full time to give our anti poaching teams presence in the areas, even when the Field Officer and his vehicle have to relocate or return to base. There has been greater emphasis on collation of information and then coordinated responses to the information. We have also instigated a “three strike regime”. This means that if a low level poacher is caught, he is cautioned, details taken, as well as being relieved of his equipment, then released. If he is caught a second time he is also cautioned, the third time he is arrested and hopefully convicted. Although this seems nonsensical it allows the teams to be in the field longer, as they do not have to go to the local police stations for protracted periods to ensure the conviction of the poacher. This means that they have more patrol days to combat the more serious commercial poaching gangs – they do not get another chance!

The project appears to have achieved one of its major objectives in the Maswa Makao area, by almost eliminating long-line snaring. Most of the poachers are over 45 years old and the project is focusing its efforts on educating youths on wildlife conservation as well as encouraging village elders to protect their natural resources for future generations. Most of the poachers caught by the Project Anti-Poaching teams were from villages and towns outside the Project area. This is a clear sign that the project needs to expand its focus area and get other companies and organisations involved to cover adjacent areas.

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