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Joint efforts between the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), Mwiba Holdings Ltd, and the Meatu District Wildlife Officers have successfully curbed poaching activities in the Maswa Game Reserve and the adjacent Mwiba Wildlife Ranch.
Speaking during the global commemoration of World Rangers Day which honors the dedication and bravery of wildlife rangers officers in Meatu, Districts Simiyu Region, expressed their pride in celebrating the day for the first time in their district, buoyed by their achievements in anti-poaching operations.
Steve Alexander, Head of Security at Mwiba Holdings Ltd, operating under the Friedkin Conservation Fund(FCF) praised the effective collaboration with TAWA, noting that large-scale poaching has been significantly reduced.
"Thanks to our strong partnership, major poaching operations have been brought under control. What remains are minor incidents involving people entering the reserves to collect firewood or hunt small game for food," Alexander explained.
He also highlighted a related challenge of livestock encroachment into protected areas.
“At one point, we impounded nearly 4,000 cattle. However, we used the opportunity to educate pastoralists about conservation. They paid fines and were allowed to reclaim their livestock,” he added.
Alexander urged the people of Meatu and all Tanzanians to continue protecting the country’s natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
Wildlife Ranger Mange Gushaha commended Mwiba Holdings and the Friedkin Conservation Fund for enabling the celebration of World Rangers Day in Meatu for the first time, saying the gesture showed great appreciation for their work.
“This recognition has truly boosted our morale. It shows that both the private sector and the government value our efforts,” he said.
Ranger Ntungwa Sai noted that their biggest success has been shifting public perception. “Communities now understand the value of wildlife
“ People are no longer passive they report poachers, and that makes our job easier,” he said.
Other rangers, Elias Kija and Kyara Raimond, shared that working long hours to protect wildlife has become more fulfilling now that their contributions are recognized.
“This is the first time we’ve celebrated this day. We thank the Friedkin Conservation Fund and the government for acknowledging our role. We pledge to keep protecting our wildlife,” said Kija.
Kyara added that conservation efforts have brought numerous benefits to the local community—including jobs, education, health services, and access to clean water. “Today, students at Makao Primary School enjoy free school lunches because of the conservation programs,” he shared.
Meatu District Game Officer,(DGO) Joseline Mpelasoka, said that the collaboration between Mwiba, TAWA, and local authorities has been instrumental in curbing illegal activities in the reserves.
“Unlike in previous years, poaching incidents have dropped significantly. The few remaining cases involve small-scale activities like charcoal burning and bushmeat hunting, which we are working hard to eliminate completely,” she said.
Meatu District Commissioner, Fauzia Ngatumbura, praised the partnership between the government and investors in Meatu.
“Our fight against poaching has yielded impressive results. Additionally, Mwiba has helped raise Meatu’s profile by winning Tanzania’s Best Tourism luxury Camp award this year. We commend their efforts and welcome more tourists to visit our beautiful district,” she said.
This year’s World Rangers Day was celebrated under the theme: "Rangers Advancing Conservation Through Change."
World Rangers Day was first observed in the UK on July 31, 1992, and later led to the formation of the International Ranger Federation (IRF) on July 31, 2007, making it an official Global Day of Recognition for the world’s wildlife rangers.