DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Friday handed over 40 drones worth about 2.4 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 930,000 U.S. dollars) to wildlife conservation institutions to strengthen patrols, wildlife monitoring and efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
The drones, procured through the Tanzania Wildlife Protection Fund, were handed over to conservation commanders from the Tanzania National Parks, Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.
Speaking at the conclusion of a four-day drone operation training course for 52 pilots, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji said the investment would enhance aerial patrols and enable authorities to obtain real-time information on wildlife incidents.
The government also handed over 55 motorcycles to district, municipal and city councils.
Kijaji said the equipment would strengthen efforts to monitor dangerous and destructive wildlife, respond quickly to human-wildlife conflicts, save lives and protect property while reducing the cost of field conservation operations. ■