The government has turned to drone technology to improve early detection of elephants and other dangerous wildlife before they enter human settlements, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Ashatu Kijaji has said.
Dr Kijaji said the technology would help authorities respond to wildlife movements earlier and reduce growing risks to communities living near protected areas.
She spoke in Dodoma on Friday, September 11, 2026, when she handed over 40 drones and 55 motorcycles to conservation authorities, local government councils and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
The handover, held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism offices in Mtumba, also marked the official conclusion of specialised drone-piloting training for officers from conservation authorities and institutions under the ministry.
The drones were received by conservation commissioners from the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, while the motorcycles were handed over to directors of various councils and WMAs.
Dr Kijaji directed the institutions receiving the equipment to ensure it is used effectively to prevent and control conflicts between people and dangerous or destructive wildlife.
She said the drones should allow authorities to identify animals approaching populated areas and intervene before they cross protected-area boundaries.
“The expectation is that, with this technology, incidents of dangerous and destructive wildlife entering areas where people live will be controlled early, before the animals cross conservation boundaries,” she said.
The minister also directed TAWA to strengthen the management of WMAs and help them become financially sustainable by linking them with reliable investors.
She said the areas should generate sufficient revenue while communities should also receive proper training on how to manage and use the income collected.
WMAs play an important role in conservation by involving communities in the management of wildlife resources, but their ability to generate sustainable income remains critical to their long-term viability.
Dr Kijaji thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for continuing to support the conservation sector, saying government funding had enabled the ministry to invest in measures aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict.
She said addressing conflicts involving elephants and other wildlife was part of broader government efforts to respond to challenges affecting communities.
The deployment of drones adds a technology-based approach to existing measures used by wildlife authorities to monitor animal movements and protect communities living close to conservation areas.