RESIDENTS OF IYAGABUYAGA-BUSEGA URGED TO RESPECT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LAWS

​The government has called on the residents of Iyagabuyaga Village, Busega District, Simiyu Region, to respect wildlife conservation laws, regulations, and procedures to avoid conflicts with the state and promote sustainable conservation activities in the country.

​The Head of Wildlife Officers at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Nassoro Wawa, made the statement on October 6, 2025, during a public meeting held in the village. The meeting aimed to raise community awareness on conservation and explain how to address the challenges posed by dangerous and destructive wild animals, following a heightened problem with hyenas in the area.

​During the awareness session—conducted by a team of experts from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), and regional wildlife officers—Wawa reiterated that under the Wildlife Conservation Act, wild animals are considered state property. Capturing or killing them without authorization constitutes an economic offense.

​He added that the government has established a supportive framework enabling citizens to legally participate in conservation activities, including the creation of wildlife grazing areas, gardens, farms, and ranches, to spur development and increase community income.

​"These laws allow citizens to benefit from the country's wildlife resources, giving individuals, groups, or villages the opportunity to establish wildlife grazing areas, gardens, farms, or ranches to increase their income and promote desired development," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, TAWA Conservation Officer Lusato Masinde clarified that residents are permitted to kill a wild animal when it poses a threat to life or property, provided they immediately inform local authorities.

​"If a wild animal endangers your life or property, you can kill it, but you must inform the village chairperson, executive officer, or wildlife officers. These resources are state property and must be handed over to the relevant authorities," explained Mr. Masinde.

He further warned that anyone who kills a wild animal without informing the relevant authorities will be committing an offence and will face severe legal consequences, including prosecution for economic offences and imprisonment if convicted.

​Speaking on behalf of the residents, Iyagabuyaga Village Chairperson, Mr. Bahati Masaga, reported that the problem of hyenas has become significant in the village, noting that the government had recently killed 17 hyenas.

​He thanked the government for the awareness efforts aimed at controlling dangerous and destructive wild animals and promised that residents would continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities to solve the problem. He also called on the community to abandon superstitious beliefs related to keeping hyenas.