This archive report was first published on 28 July 2019.
On July 26, 2019, Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced plans to split the sprawling Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, into two areas. The reserve, covering 50,000 sq km, is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and is home to elephants, lions, black rhinos, hippos, and giraffes.
Magufuli stated that the upper side of the wildlife sanctuary would be turned into a national park where hunting activities are not permitted. He also announced that some 47 hunting blocks licensed to tourist hunting companies would be allowed to continue operating in the lower part of the game reserve.
The move aims to preserve wildlife species and boost the growth of the tourism sector, which is the main source of hard currency in Tanzania. Tourism brought in $2.43 billion last year, up from $2.19 billion in 2017, according to government data.
Magufuli made his announcement at the inauguration of construction work for the $3 billion Rufiji hydroelectric project at Stiegler’s Gorge, inside the Selous reserve. However, the World Wildlife Fund has expressed concerns that the project would put the site and the livelihoods of over 200,000 people at risk.
