THE government has embarked on a 21-day special operation to scare and remove dangerous wild animals that create havoc in villages bordering national parks and other conserved areas.

Angellah Kairuki, the Natural Resources and Tourism minister, received 4000 chilli bombs out of 15000, which were ordered for the work, with the bombs having been researched by the military Mzinga Corporation and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI). This comes after the Ministry of

The initiative will greatly help to chase away elephants and other wild animals repeatedly disturbing and harming people while destroying crops and properties, she said after receiving the bombs here yesterday.

The bombs will be directed to villages that greatly face the challenge, she said, noting that innovation resulting in designing the bombs followed a directive from President Samia Suluhu Hassan that the ministry needs to come up with a solution to wildlife intrusion challenges.

More innovative measures will be sought as part of plans to strengthen security in villages near reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries to prevent incidents of people being killed by wild animals, she stated, affirming that 44 districts will be the first targeted.

They have been found to face tough situations from animal invasions, with 51 other districts similarly facing animal intrusion challenges, she stated, so we are going to ensure that we greatly overcome the challenge,” she explained.

Timotheo Mnzava (Korogwe Rural), the chairman of the Land, Natural Resources and Tourism standing committee of the National Assembly, urged the ministry to provide more rangers versed in how to scare the animals and prevent them from invading settlements and farms. 

Districts that face animal invasions need to procure the bombs to sort out the challenge, he said, while Salma Kikwete (Mchinga) lauded the government for coming up with this innovation, persuaded that it will greatly help reduce human-wildlife conflicts in various districts.

Brigadier General Seif Athumani Hamisi, the Mzinga Corporation general manager, said studies in bio-control of wild animals have shown great success, expressing optimism that the bomb technology will perform well and bring about intended outcomes.

Dr Eblate Mjingo, the TAWIRI director general, said the chilli bombs took a long time to research upon, airing the view that the bombs have been improved from an original design and have high amounts of chilli.

They have a heavy blast and spreading lights which confuse and distress elephants while not hurting them, he stated, suggesting that the packaging of the bombs is good and strong. Experts are pursuing research to come up with more innovative measures to fight wild beasts bringing havoc to the people, he added.