In response the government vowed to crack down on networks that deal with poaching.

Ten companies holding hunting blocs in the country have pledged to support government efforts in the drive.

The firms -- especially those that have business interests in Rungwa and Kizigo/Muhwezi Game Reserves -- yesterday handed over various items worth a total of Sh42 million to the ministry for Natural Resources and Tourism in support of the anti-poaching drive.

The donation -- including 15 special vehicle tyres among others -- was handed over to the ministry’s assistant for forestry development, Mr Twaha Twaibu who received the 15 tyres for ant-poaching vehicles among the many.

“With cases of poaching on the increase, it is high time the PPP [Public Private Partnership] approach was encouraged and this is what these hunting companies have just done,” said Mr Twaibu.

Earlier, the coordinator of the donation, Mr Mohsin Abdallah, said apart from the $5,000 that hunting companies are required by law to pay to communities surrounding game reserves, they also thought they have a role in helping the government in fighting off poaching lest elephants go extinct.

Earlier this week, police in Iringa seized 78 elephant tusks, almost all of them ripped off baby and cow elephants.

The seizure followed a high speed chase involving people suspected to be poachers, police and Good Samaritans at Ruaha Mbuyuni along the Iringa-Dar es Salaam highway on Monday evening.

The tusks weighed 211.6 kilos and ministry officials valued them at Sh186,680,344.

The 39 elephants killed were worth Sh900,340,830.

Initial investigations reportedly established that the vehicle and the tusks belonged to a wealthy businessman based in Masasi District, Mtwara Region.

The vehicle used to chase the car carrying the tusks was offered by a tourist hunting firm based in Dar es Salaam.

Analysts blame the increasing cases of poaching on the huge market for ivory in Asian countries.

The situation is made worse due to the shortage of game rangers in the country whereby one game ranger serves an area of more than 250 square kilometres.

For better performance, one game ranger is required to serve an area of not more than 25 square kilometres.