DAR ES SALAAM, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's wildlife conservation authority said Monday it plans to reinforce the anti-poaching rapid response team in the country's game protected areas.
John Kaaya, the principal conservation officer for the state-run Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), said the team will work in collaboration with ordinary game rangers deployed in the country's wildlife protected areas.
Kaaya announced the reinforcement when he closed a two-month training course of the anti-poaching rapid response team in Singida region.
The official did not disclose the current number of members of the anti-poaching rapid response team on security reasons.
The fact that poaching has been hugely controlled in the country should not make conservation authorities complacent, said Kaaya, urging TAWA, the Tanzania National Parks Authority, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and other conservation stakeholders not to relax in their anti-poaching missions.
Elephant and rhino populations in Tanzania began to rebound after a government crackdown beginning in 2016 dismantled multiple poaching syndicates. Enditem