Tanzania, Sept. 1 -- Serengeti. Communities living alongside wildlife in Serengeti District, Mara Region, say inadequate protection and delays in compensation are leaving them to bear the consequences of encounters with wildlife, raising questions about how effectively authorities are fulfilling their responsibilities.

Residents of Bokore, Nyanungu and Pakinyigoti villages say wildlife officers are too few and often arrive after incidents have occurred, limiting their ability to prevent damage to crops and property or protect people.

The scale of the challenge is also reflected in compensation claims received by the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

Between 2021 and 2025, the ministry received 4,050 claims from Serengeti Distr...