Tanzanian authorities announced on Monday that from now onwards, live wild animals will be allowed to be exported only for diplomatic matters and research work. Mary Masanja, the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, told parliament the ban on exports of live wild animals that the government imposed in 2016 still remained reinforced. However, Masanja told the House in the capital Dodoma that the government has relaxed the ban by only allowing live wild animals exports for diplomatic matters and carrying out research. Masanja was responding Mwanaisha Ng'anzi, a special seats Member of Parliament, who had wanted to know when the government will lift the ban it imposed five years ago on exports of live wild animals.
The minister said the decision to reinforce the ban was reached after an evaluation conducted by the government showed live wild animals were still being exported illegally. The government banned transportation of all live animals outside the country in March 2016 until proper procedures were made to ensure only approved animals were transported.