In recent years rhinos have only been making headlines when illegal hunters (poachers) struck intent on stealing their expensive horns. However, this is about to change because the endangered animals are now being raised in a protected sanctuary.
The Director General for the Tanzania National Parks, Dr Allan Kijazi said here recently that rhino populations will be replenished through special breeding efforts. The efforts will see the animals being bred under an exclusive programme at Mkomazi National Park in Kilimanjaro Region.
The scheme, which has taken off, will be implemented under tight security. At the moment, nobody sees the rhinos which are in the sanctuary at Mkomazi. Security is tight. However, time will come when public viewing will be allowed at the same conserved area.
The rhinos will be in the protected eco-system similar to the ‘Jurassic Park’ legend. This decision follows a recent visit by members of the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, to Mkomazi National Park where they visited the special rhino sanctuary.
The sanctuary is, at the moment, out of bounds to visitors who tour the park. For many years people have been inquiring where there were rhinos in the park or not. Those who knew that the animals were there did not know why they were hidden.
By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily News
