Animal Welfare
Tanzania is not lagging behind with the rest of the world in
upholding responsible care for (Duty to Care) and prevention of cruelty
(Humane Treatment) to animals. Some ethnic societies such as the Gogo
are known to love their animals (cattle) so much that they don’t allow
their use as draught animals while others (Chaggas and Pares) used to
provide accommodation even in human dwellings. How ever aspects of
cruelty to animals have been occurring in the country to warrant the
promulgation of the Animal Protection Ordinance Cap 153 and the
formation of civic societies standing for prevention of cruelty to
animals such as the Tanzania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (TSPCA) and other recent humane societies like Dar-Animal
Heaven, Arusha Society for Protection of Animals and the opening of the
World Society for Protection of Animals Africa Regional Office in
Dar-es-Salaam in 2007.
Tanzanian government has in principle accepted the universal call for
animal welfare by first incorporating Animal Welfare Concerns in her
National Livestock Policy (Chapter 3.19), establishing a desk to deal
with Animal Welfare in the Ministry Livestock Development and initiating
the review of Animal Protection Ordinance Cap 153 and drafting a new
more comprehensive piece of legislation-the Animal Welfare Act
.Tanzanians have also not lagged behind in signing for the Universal
Declaration for Animal Welfare (Rights) they are second to South Africa
by January 2007 in the signing campaign calling for National Governments
to propose to the Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United
Nations for Animal Welfare Declaration” be ratified by this assembly to
achieve global consideration of the welfare of sentient animals and take
animal welfare as an issue of importance and as part of the social
development of nations worldwide through the adoption of a Universal
Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). With the Animal Welfare Act in the
offing Tanzania will accede to UDAW when it will be tabled at the
United Nations.
The proposed Animal Welfare Act is based on the Five Fundamental
Freedoms of Animals and Three R’s and covers all animals vertebrates and
invertebrates other than man that are sentient or scientific
investigation will prove them to be sentient-capable of awareness and of
feeling pain, suffering and distress.
The new AWA will:-
(a) Ensure that animals are cared for according to their Universal Five Freedoms which are:-
- Freedom from Hunger ,Thirst, and Malnutrition
- Freedom from Fear and Distress
- Freedom from Physical Discomfort
- Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease
- Freedom to Express Normal Patterns of Behaviour
(b) Recognize animals as sentient beings, that animal protection is
an important aspect of any developed society which reflect the degree of
moral and cultural maturity of that society, that animal welfare
enhances livestock productivity and that humans have a moral obligation
to care for animals, respect and protect which constitute Duty to Care;
(c)Ensure animal experimentation promotes Reduction in numbers of
animals, Refinement of experimental methods and Replacement of animals
with non-animal techniques
For more information browse the following folders, Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Regulations and useful links