DAR ES SALAAM, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday consoled villagers who have been attacked by stray elephants and other wild animals.
A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said the president's consolation was delivered by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on a visit to one of the affected villages in southern Tanzania.
Majaliwa said President Hassan was aware of the devastation caused to farm crops by the elephants and assured them that the government will provide them with food in case they faced shortages.
Majaliwa said most of the elephants have been forced to stray from protected areas, including national parks and game reserves after their natural habitats were encroached by livestock keepers.
The premier directed the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mashimba Ndaki, to meet with livestock keepers and ask them to stop grazing their animals in protected areas.
He meanwhile said President Hassan has authorized the recruitment of 6,000 new game rangers that will be deployed in villages located adjacent to protected areas to drive away the destructive wild animals.
