UN cultural body UNESCO on Wednesday put the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania on the list of endangered World Heritage sites because of widespread poaching.

The animal population at the 50,000 square kilometres park had dwindled significantly since it was listed as a heritage site in 1982, UNESCO said. It called on the world community, including ivory transit and destination countries, to support Tanzania in the fight against poaching.

"The property is renowned for its populations of elephant, black rhinoceros, cheetah, giraffe, hippopotamus and crocodile, amongst many other species," said UNESCO's annual World Heritage Committee gathering.

"It also has an exceptionally high variety of habitats including Miombo woodlands, open grasslands, riverine forests and swamps, making it a valuable laboratory for on-going ecological and biological processes."

"However, rampant poaching has caused a dramatic decline in the wildlife populations, especially elephants and rhino, whose numbers have dropped by almost 90 per cent since 1982," it added.

Not endangered

Meanwhile, historical ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara in the country have been removed from the world list of endangered heritage sites.

The World Heritage Committee announced the two sites have been restored to satisfactory levels to warrant their removal from the list of protected historical ruins.

A statement by Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism said the move means Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara sites will no longer be under the protection of UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger.

Deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Mahmoud Mgimwa and Permanent Secretary Kibenga Tarishi led the Tanzania delegation to the Doha meeting where the announcement was made. Director of Antiquities Mr Donatius Kamamba was also present.

The United Nations (UN) body's world heritage list highlights endangered sites around the world that have rich and significant history for mankind. The sites under protection are considered as being in state of disrepair threatening their survival.

Located on two islands close to each other just off the Tanzanian coast – about 300 kilometres south of Dar es Salaam, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara were Swahili trading cities.

Their prosperity was based on control of Indian Ocean trade with Arabia, India and China, particularly between the 13th and 16th centuries, when gold and ivory from the hinterland was traded for silver, carnelians, perfumes, Persian faience and Chinese porcelain.

The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004, because of deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed.