Last Tuesday the office of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete announced an investigation into a rapid fall in elephant numbers across Tanzania.

An recent elephant census was carried out at the Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park both important and protected game reserves in Tanzania. The census revealed elephant numbers had plunged from 74,900 to just 43,552 in just 3 years. The census was carried out by the east African country's wildlife authority who are deeply concerned about the dwindling population and the escalation of poaching.

Conservationists estimate Tanzania has a total elephant population of between 110,000 and 140,000, making it one of the largest sanctuaries in Africa. But in recent years, both Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya have suffered a massive rise in poaching as poaching gangs have killed elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns for sale in Asia. TRAFFIC, a conservation group that tracks trends in wildlife trading, said in a statement last week that 2011 had been a record year for ivory seizure. It pointed to a surge in elephant poaching in Africa to meet Asian demand for tusks for use in jewelry and ornaments.