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Efforts to protect rhinos in Maswa Game Reserve, located in Meatu District, Simiyu Region, have been bolstered by the installation of GPS tracking devices.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and conservation stakeholders, including the Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF).
The GPS devices enable wildlife officers to track rhino movements within and around the reserve, enhancing anti-poaching efforts and ensuring better surveillance.
TAWA’s Rhino Project Coordinator, Senior Conservationist Omary Khalid Msangi, explained that the project has significantly strengthened conservation efforts in Maswa Game Reserve, which borders Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
“Together with stakeholders such as Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris (TGT) under the Friedkin Conservation Fund and the Frankfurt Zoological Society, we have successfully installed GPS tracking devices on rhinos in Maswa. This milestone greatly improves conservation management,” said Msangi.
Msangi also acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Friedkin Conservation Fund in supporting this initiative, which he described as crucial for the preservation of wildlife.
Conservationists involved in the project applauded TAWA, FCF, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society for their joint efforts.
Jonathan Masunga, one of the conservationists, emphasized the importance of rhino protection, noting that poaching, a major threat in the past, has been effectively curtailed.
Meatu District Commissioner, Fauzia Ngatumbura, praised Friedkin Conservation Fund and its associated companies for their ongoing support of both conservation and community development in the district.
Through its subsidiaries, including Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris Ltd and Mwiba Holdings Ltd, the Friedkin Conservation Fund has invested in various conservation and community development projects.
In Meatu District, these companies have built and handed over essential infrastructure, including housing for healthcare providers and teachers, classrooms, and ranger posts to combat poaching and manage human-wildlife conflicts.
Additionally, Mwiba Holdings has provided free meals for students at Makao School, donated bicycles to facilitate student transportation, sponsored education for underprivileged students, and offered conservation awareness programs.
This comprehensive approach to conservation and community support highlights the commitment of TAWA and its partners to ensuring the sustainable coexistence of wildlife and local communities.