Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to exchange roan antelopes and female black rhinoceros in a move aimed at boosting the reproduction of the two species.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at the State House that Tanzania would offer Kenya 20 roan antelopes at a request by the visiting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
After talks between the two leaders, Hassan said that Tanzania would deliver the 20 roan antelopes to Kenya before Christmas.
“Tanzania has currently about 4,000 roan antelopes while Kenya has only 12 of the species.
“President Kenyatta has also accepted our request for black female rhinoceros that will be sent to northern Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park,” he said.
He said that in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, there are two black male rhinoceros, adding that the female rhinoceros would help to boost reproduction.
In his remarks, Kenyatta, who was on a two-day official visit to Tanzania confirmed that Kenya accepted Tanzania’s request for female black rhinoceros to boost reproduction.
He did not mention the number of female black rhinoceros to be sent to Tanzania.
The Kenyan president said that the offer would help to increase the number of roan antelopes and boost the tourism industry.
He thanked Tanzania for supplying his country with the 20 roan antelopes.