CIC State Member Tanzania celebrates 120th Anniversary of Africa’s Oldest protected Area
CIC President George Aman congratulated Tanzania’s Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Prof. Jumanne Maghembe MP, at the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Selous Game Reserve. Tanzania is a state member of the CIC.
The reserve was created by a decree of the then German colonial Governor Hermann von Wissmann on May 7, 1896, making it Africa’s oldest protected area. It has been in existence ever since and has only increased in size to 50,000 km2.
The reserve holds populations of elephants, carnivores, and antelopes of continental importance. Sustainable hunting tourism is the main source of revenue financing the reserve.
Tanzania was hit hard by the recent wave of commercial poaching for ivory. The Selous population of elephants seems to have stabilized, after years of decline. The CIC has been part of an alliance assisting the reserve in recent years under the name “Selous Elephant Emergency Project“.
A memorial plaque which was mounted by the Tanzanian Wildlife Division and the CIC at the Mtemere Entrance Gate to the Selous Game Reserve (Photo by Rolf D. Baldus)
Further readings:
Article in “Hunters Paths” (in English)
Article in “Jagdzeit International” (in German)