By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) has donated heavy plant machinery worth over 2.5 billion shillings /- to TANAPA for use in the maintenance of Serengeti National Park Road network.
Receiving the plants recently which include, two motor graders, a roller compactor, an excavator and a backhoe loader at Fort Ikoma in Western Serengeti, Mara Region, TANAPA Conservation Commissioner Mr Mussa Nassoro Kuji said the machinery would help refurbish the road network in the Serengeti National Park, a world class tourist destination.
The latter two plants will be delivered at a later date, according to FZS.
“We are very grateful to the FZS for this huge donation, aiming at refurbishing our busy roads in the park. Serengeti receives many visitors throughout the year, so its roads are frequently damaged,’’ said Mr Kuji, while promising to ensure the plants are used and maintained in a proper manner.
Handing over the plants, FZS Country Director Dr Ezekiel Dembele said TANAPA is a long-time partner in the conservation and tourism sector. The two institutions must therefore ensure their cooperation remains sustainable.
“We are happy to say that these plants will bolster TANAPA’s activities in the Serengeti National Park, “said Dr Dembele.
Meanwhile, TANAPA has received 13 refurbished patrol vehicles from FZS to support conservation activities in various national parks in Tanzania.
The vehicles were handed over to TANAPA’s Conservation Commissioner Mr. Mussa Nassoro Kuji by FZS Country Director Dr. Ezekiel Dembe in Arusha last week.
According to Dr. Dembele, the vehicles underwent major repairs by the FZS under the Emergency and Recovery Support for Biodiversity (ERSB) project.
“The vehicles were received from Serengeti National Park last year in a severely damaged condition. That was after we had handed over 25 new patrol vehicles to the Serengeti National Park in December 2022,’’ said Dr Dembe.
He noted that the refurbished vehicles would be distributed across more than ten National Parks to bolster conservation activities.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the FZS Tanzania Country Offices in Arusha, Conservation Commissioner Mr Mussa Nassoro Kuji said the vehicles would be directed towards conservation activities in ten national parks in Tanzania.
The National Parks set to benefit from these vehicles include, Burigi-Chato, Ugalla River, Ibanda-Kyerwa, Rubondo Island, Mahale Hills, Rumanyika-Karagwe, Mkomazi, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Katavi.
Mr Kuji also urged FZS to continue expanding their conservation efforts to benefit the greater Tanzanian community in protecting biodiversity.