US Marines Arrive in Tanzania to Train Game Rangers

A U.S. Marine (R) training Selous Park Rangers on patrolling techniques.  The training is being conducted by U.S. Marines and Sailors from March 2-27 in the Selous Game Reserve and will help develop small unit tactics, patrolling techniques, night operations, and logistical capabilities to increase the Rangers’ effectiveness within the game reserve.

A U.S. Marine (R) training Selous Park Rangers on patrolling techniques. The training is being conducted by U.S. Marines and Sailors from March 2-27 in the Selous Game Reserve and will help develop small unit tactics, patrolling techniques, night operations, and logistical capabilities to increase the Rangers’ effectiveness within the game reserve.

 

By TZ Business News Staff.

 

A team of U.S. Marines and Sailors has been deployed  in Tanzania’s world-famous Selous Game reserve to  train game rangers new patrolling techniques, night operations, and logistical capabilities to increase the Rangers’ effectiveness within the game reserve.

The US Ambassador to Tanzania Mark Childress observed  the  training  on Monday, March 16, 2015 of 50 Park Rangers. This month long training is aimed at helping the Rangers combat illicit trafficking across the reserve.

The Marines and Sailors are from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa and are helping to develop small unit tactics, a US embassy statement has said in Dar es Salaam.

During his visit in the Selous on Monday, the US Ambassador observed classroom instruction and field training focused on patrolling techniques.

At the event, the Ambassador highlighted the exceptional reputation of the U.S. Marines in the United States and their effective collaboration with the Tanzanian Park Rangers.  He remarked that the training was progressing well, and reiterated continued U.S. support for the Rangers’ efforts to stop illicit traffickers.

The Marines will return to Tanzania for follow up training programs later this year.  In addition to military training, the U.S. Government is providing training on such topics as anti-money laundering and more effective prosecution of poachers and illicit traffickers.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle McAuliffe (L) helps a team of Tanzanian park rangers shoot an 'Azimuth' on a compass before conducting a simulated reconnaissance patrol and land navigation exercise at the Selous Game Reserve in Matambwe, Tanzania, March 11, 2015.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucas J. Hopkins)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle McAuliffe (L) helps a team of Tanzanian park rangers shoot an ‘Azimuth’ on a compass before conducting a simulated reconnaissance patrol and land navigation exercise at the Selous Game Reserve in Matambwe, Tanzania, March 11, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucas J. Hopkins)

 

In January 2015, the United States and Germany handed over a significant amount of field equipment for use by the game wardens patrolling the reserve. The equipment included small and large tents, torches, maps, binoculars, cameras, uniforms and boots.

The efforts said to be part of a larger Tanzania-wide wildlife conservation program worth $40 million over the next four years will complement parallel efforts among international partners such as the Paul Allen Foundation, which is funding a new VHF system to allow game scouts to communicate across secure channels.

During the equipment hand-over in January, the German Government also announced support toward improvements to infrastructure such as roads, airstrips and housing for game rangers within the game reserve as the U.S. Government offered to supply the expertise of U.S Marine instructors to train game wardens on patrolling techniques and vehicle maintenance.

The hand-over event, attended by U.S. Ambassador Mark Childress and German Ambassador Egon Kochanke, and hosted by the Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources & Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu, served to not only mark the equipment handover, but more importantly to emphasize the importance of coordination of anti-poaching efforts among international partners, between the public and private sectors, and within the Government of Tanzania.

The U.S. $40 million Tanzania-wide anti-poaching and wildlife conservation program complements the German anti-poaching and wildlife conservation program in Tanzania which is reportedly worth $51 million (2012 to 2016), including $21 million for the Selous.

Gerald Bigurube, the Tanzania Programme Manager from the Frankfurt Zoological Society attended the January equipment handover to.representing NGO conservation efforts.

Making a statement during the equipment handover ceremony, Minister Nyalandu  said, “This is a very special day for the Selous Game Reserve and the effort of the Government of Tanzania in marching toward victory in the battle against poaching.”

Ambassador Childress reinforced Minister Nyalandu’s comments by saying “This is a big day, but no one day can turn the tide in the battle against poaching.  We need a lot of days like this.”

You may also read our earlier story at this link:  US army picks Tanzania for increased activity.