Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to exchange roan antelopes and female black rhinoceros to boost reproduction of the two species.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at the State House that her country would offer Kenya 20 roan antelopes at a request by the visiting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

After talks between the two leaders, Ms Hassan said that Tanzania would deliver the 20 roan antelopes to Kenya before the Christmas celebration. 

“Tanzania has currently about 4,000 roan antelopes while Kenya has only 12 of the specie.

“President Kenyatta has also accepted our request for black female rhinoceros that will be sent to northern Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park,” she said.

She said in the Ngorongoro conservation area are two black male rhinoceros, adding that the female rhinoceros would help to boost reproduction.

In his remarks, Mr 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, however, the Kenyan president said the offer would help increase the number of roan antelopes and boost the tourism industry.

(Xinhua/NAN)