DAR ES SALAAM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A task force formed last year by Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to investigate the mysterious death of a male black rhino named John said on Monday the animal facing extinction died from negligence.
The task force recommended in its report submitted to the Prime Minister that disciplinary measures be taken against top wildlife officials after it was established that the animal died as a result of their negligence and misconduct.
The report said disciplinary measures should be taken against the Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Alexander Songorwa and an official with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) Morris Kileo for failing to protect the rhino.
The task force headed by the government chief chemist, Samuel Manyele, explained in detail how laxity by wildlife officials in the whole process of shifting the rhino -- from Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Grumeti Black Rhino Sanctuary on the Serengeti Plains led to the death of the animal.
"Songorwa in his capacity as Director of Wildlife failed to give an official permission for the shifting of the animal while Kileo also failed to follow up on the health of the rhino even after it was shifted," said Manyele.
The report said various weaknesses were noted in the whole process of shifting the animal including lack of an official document from the responsible ministry as well as personal interests by wildlife officials who wanted to enrich themselves out of the matter.
For his part, the Prime Minister said the government will soon announce measures that it has taken over the death of the rhino.
"We will let the public know the government's position on the matter after going through the report and after receiving advice from relevant authorities," said Majaliwa.
In December last year during his visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Majaliwa formed the task force of experts to investigate the death of the rhino following its reported mysterious death and ordered a DNA test on its remains.
The task force collected samples including bones, horns, blood and stool of the rhino for biological and the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests locally and in South Africa where findings showed that the samples belonged to the dead male black rhino.
The task force was composed of experts from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the government chief chemist, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS).
During his visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Majaliwa was told about the missing rhino, with some quarters suggesting that it was probably sold.
But it was later reported the rhino had died while being kept in the private Grumeti Black Rhino Sanctuary in the Serengeti Plains where it was relocated after reportedly causing chaos in the Ngorongoro crater, where it used to attack other mammals in its quest for territorial supremacy around the caldera.
To clear the air, the Prime Minister formed the task force that released its report on Monday.
