File photo for representational purposes only.
Dar Es Salaam: Tanzania's elephant population has increased to 66,714 from 46,408 in 2014, according to the 2024/2025 national wildlife census, reflecting a strong recovery driven by enhanced conservation efforts, an official said on Friday.
Speaking in the northern city of Arusha, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji said the growth of elephants in the past decade was driven by deliberate measures introduced by the government since 2015 to curb poaching and strengthen wildlife management. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated conservation strategies implemented in collaboration with stakeholders.
She added that Tanzania is now the third-largest holder of elephants in Africa, after Botswana, with about 130,000 elephants, and Zimbabwe, with around 100,000.
Julius Keyyu, director of research at the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), said Tanzania's elephant population had dropped sharply from about 134,000 before 2005 to 46,408 in 2014 due to rampant poaching.
However, targeted interventions have reversed the trend, leading to the current recovery, he said.
"Elephant numbers are still lower compared to historical levels, and conflicts are largely due to increased human pressure on wildlife habitats," he said.
