Scientists and Conservationists Call for an End to Trophy Hunting of Elephants along Kenya-Tanzania Border
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Scientists and conservationists have launched a global petition calling for an end to the trophy hunting of elephants along the Kenya-Tanzania border.
This appeal, delivered on August 12, World Elephant Day, underscores the urgent need for a collaborative approach between the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments to protect the Greater Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population.
The petition, which has garnered over 500,000 signatures since its inception in March 2024, was sent by courier to the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi and the Tanzanian Statehouse.
The call to action comes in response to a recent decision by Tanzanian authorities to issue hunting permits for “super tuskers,” elephants with exceptionally large tusks.
This has led to the killing of five such elephants in Northern Tanzania over the past eight months, with more permits anticipated.
While the management of elephants in Tanzania is recognized as the sovereign duty of the Tanzanian government, scientists reminded both nations that this population is shared, and their protection has been achieved for three decades through a bilateral agreement.
However, this harmony is now at risk due to recent policy shifts in Tanzania, which have reintroduced trophy hunting quotas.
Dr. Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, expressed her concern: “The loss of these elephants is not just a blow to elephant populations but to our collective efforts in conservation.”
She emphasized the ecological and economic significance of the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro population, noting that it serves as a unique genetic reservoir with value beyond national borders.
Historically, the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population has been a symbol of cross-border conservation success.
For three decades, the bilateral agreement between Kenya and Tanzania effectively safeguarded these elephants from hunting.
This was the case until 2022, when a new wave of hunting was triggered by a quota of permits issued to Kilombero North Safaris.
The current crisis echoes a situation from the early 1990s, when four renowned elephants—RBG, Sleepy, Saibulu, and Oloitipitip—were killed by trophy hunters in Tanzania, leading to widespread international condemnation.
In response, Kenya and Tanzania agreed in 1995 to a moratorium on trophy hunting of this shared population, a moratorium that was in place until the recent policy reversal.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Joyce Poole, Scientific Director of Elephant Voices, highlighted the critical nature of the situation: “The recent killings of super-tuskers are particularly concerning due to the rarity and special role these older males play in elephant society.”
With only about ten elephants with tusks weighing around 45 kg (100 lbs) each remaining in the Amboseli ecosystem, the new hunting permits could cause all these Super Tuskers to disappear within the next three years.
In Kenya, hunting has been banned since 1977, and conservation efforts have focused on protecting elephants within its borders.
Conversely, Tanzania, where hunting remains legal, has seen an increase in hunting activities, with licenses issued to various companies for trophy hunting.
This disparity in policies between the two nations is at the heart of the current conservation challenge.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect, urged for a unified response from the leadership of both countries: “We urge President Ruto of Kenya and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania to meet and agree on the shared immense scientific and economic value of preserving these cross-border elephants.
The long-term benefits of ecotourism, science, and conservation far outweigh the short-term gains from trophy hunting in one country.” Currently, there are 2,000 elephants within Amboseli National Park, with about 600 crossing borders periodically. Of these, 200 are bulls that could also be potential targets of hunting due to their tusks.
Representing the voice of the youth, Tiassa Mutunkei, founder of Teens4Wildlife, emphasized the need for protection of these gentle giants. She highlighted that elephants, being highly family-oriented and intelligent animals, deserve to die a natural death.
“As young people, we should not be the generation that allows these super tuskers to die; we must be the generation that comes together to protect them. On this World Elephant Day, we stand united in saying that these super tuskers are worth more alive,” Mutunkei concluded.
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