Selous-Mikumi census kicks-off

What you need to know:

  • Wildlife Census in the Selous/Mikumi ecosystem launched yesterday aims to establish the number of animals in an area which has seen loss of elephant populations due to poaching for their ivory in the last decade

Arusha. Aerial wildlife census in the Selous/Mikumi ecosystem, critically affected by killing of elephants for their ivory in recent years, was launched yesterday.

Besides the elephants, the census targets other large mammals such as the buffalo, according to an official of the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), which is coordinating the exercise. Counting of the animals will aim to estimate their populations, their distribution as well as signs of illegal human activities in the vast ecosystem that covers the Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park and Selous Niassa corridor.

FZS, a German conservation agency, is supporting the exercise under the Selous Ecosystem Conservation and Development Programme (Secad) through the funding of KfW Development Bank.

Also roped in the three-week count are the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (Tawiri), the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (Tawa) and the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa). Aerial wildlife census in the Selous–Mikumi Ecosystem have been conducted since 1976, and are held every three to four years, covering approximately 110,000 square kilometres.