Introduction
The African continent is popular, in the world, for the wide variety of its wildlife species. Hundreds of snakes, birds, and mammalian species reside in the continent.
However, there has been a worrying trend in the status of wildlife in the past couple of decades. Of major concern has been the dwindling population of animal species like rhinos, gorillas, and elephants. The trend is worrying to conservationists all over the world. Many of them regard the African continent as one of the safest places for the nurturing of animal species which are considered as endangered.
The decline in the population of these species is attributed to a number of factors such as shortage of rainfall, increased predation, competition for pastures with other animal species, as well as human activities (Allen, 2007).
Human activity, according to Allen (2007), is identified as the major contributing factor towards the reduction of the population of animal species in Africa today. Such human activities range from poaching and sport hunting to encroachment by human beings into animal habitats. As human population in the African continent rises, the competition for space between humans and wildlife similarly increases.
Out of all the human activities, poaching is the major contributor towards the decline of wildlife populations in Africa today. Different scholars conceptualize poaching variously. For example, Aleper & Moe (2006) define it as the unauthorized exploitation of wildlife products. The products sought for in the poaching endeavor include skin, meat, and such trophies as tusks and horns.
Failure to address the menace that is poaching may lead to the extinction of some animal species. One clear example is the massive decrease in the number of African elephants. According to Aleper & Moe (2006), the dwindling population of elephants was more pronounced from the 1980s. The two authors point out that from a staggering population of about 1.3million, the number has fallen drastically to just slightly above 500,000.
Inogwabini (2007) pointed out that rhinos, elephants, and gorillas are the most poached wildlife species in Africa. Lucrative commercial poaching enterprise has contributed towards the propagation of the menace. African countries have working and potentially effective wildlife conservation laws and policies. However, the nonchalance approach towards their enforcement, as exhibited in these countries, similarly promotes the vice.
In this paper, the author will address the change in the status of the animal species that are most poached. The contributing factors to the dwindling population are also analyzed in the paper. To start with, major environmental factors touching on wildlife are identified and options to resolve them suggested. The merits of the options provided are also analyzed. In conclusion, recommendations to reverse the deteriorating state of these poached species are suggested.
Conservation Status of Rhinos, Elephants, and Gorillas in Africa
Environmental Factors
In Africa, there has been a sharp decrease in the population of rhinos, elephants and gorillas. One of the factors to blame is the increased human population, which has resulted into encroachment into animal habitats (Allen, 2007). In South Africa, for instance, Allen (2007) points out the encroachment of human on areas reserved for wild life.
The human-wildlife conflict that emanates from man’s encroachment has always seen the wildlife suffer defeat. Other environmental factors include adverse climatic changes like droughts or even floods. Pollution is another factor that interrupts the normal biological processes of wildlife. The outcome of the environmental factors has been the destruction of eco-systems and habitats. When that happens, wildlife is left without access to food. The animals, as a result, are prone to diseases and attacks. Death is, ultimately, inevitable
Human Activities
Notwithstanding the environmental factors, human activities stand out as the major factors that result in the decline of population figures of endangered animal species. Human activities are the major causes of the fall in the numbers of most animal species not only in Africa, but also in the world at large. According to Diamond (2006), human activities like poaching and logging pose a threat to the existence of the wildlife. The most common human activity is trade (Kangalawe & Lyimo, 2010). For this reason alone, cases of poaching have been on the rise. To this end, Diamond (2006), argues that elephants, rhinos, and gorillas are the most affected. Such habits of poaching have resulted in the species of the aforementioned animals being branded as endangered.
Logging in protected forest land for large scale commercial usage of timber, or as a source of fuel, is a direct destruction of habitats. In Kenya, such a phenomenon has been witnessed (Allen, 2007) in certain forested areas. The trees are cut down in order to burn charcoal or to provide raw materials for construction. From the mid 1980s, the practice has continued unabated, resulting in the destruction of a combined total of about one million hectares of land. The eco-systems destroyed imply that wildlife is robbed of a place for growth.
Kangalawe & Lyimo (2010) point out that the rapid population growth in Africa has intensified competition for the available land between animals and humans. Expansion of human settlement into animal habitat has interfered with the breeding, feeding, as well as the grouping of animals. In South Africa, almost 450,000 acres of forest land have been cleared for human settlement within the past three decades.
The result has been the destruction of vegetation that serves as the major source of food for some of the animals (Goudie, 2006). The trend is similar in areas where rhinos, elephants, and gorillas are known to inhabit. By virtue of these animals being herbivores, the destruction of their food source leads to starvation, which ultimately decreases their numbers in an eco-system.
Human encroachment into forest land also exposes the animals to poachers. Failure to clearly define the boundaries between human and animal habitat allows poachers to sneak into areas reserved for wildlife conservation without being detected by authorities. As a result of poaching, the death rate of most of the wildlife animals is higher than their birth rates. It is inevitable for their overall population to diminish (Allen, 2007).
It has been found out that humans tend to exploit the resources found in such areas. Allen (2007) observed that some communities depend on game meat as a source of animal protein. According to Eckhart & Lanjouw (2008) poached animal species such as gorillas, are used as a source of meat in some Central African communities. The practice is common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Further, the two researchers argue that in a span of less than 40 years, the number of gorillas in the continent has reduced by more than 50% from the 2 million figure estimated in 1930.
Logging is identified as another reason for the reduction in the population of the poached species. Logging leads to the fragmentation of forests. Subsequently, the reduction of forest cover threatens the survival of large species such as elephants and rhinos (Samm & Opip, 2005). As the animal habitat gets considerably reduced with time, human-wildlife conflicts emanate. Samm & Opip (2005) opine that such conflicts result in the loss of both human and animal lives.
The poaching habits that include the removal of horns and tusks from rhinos and elephants, respectively, leave the animals badly wounded. Rookmaaker (2005) argues that a majority of the animals end up dying as a result of the fatal wounds inflicted on them by the poachers.
Options for Resolving the Environmental Issues and their Merits
Options
Rhinos, elephants, and gorillas have become endangered species in Africa. It is no secret that their status as far as population is concerned has changed. Such a realization has prompted several African governments to promote the conservation of the endangered species. According to Emslie & Brooks (2005), respective governments are meant to champion conservation efforts within their jurisdictions.
The introduction of specialized police units dedicated to curb poaching activities has proven to be the most effective solution. In Kenya, there is a specialized group of officers charged with the responsibility of policing forests and other wildlife conservation areas (Sitati, 2007). They are armed and trained on the techniques used to apprehend poachers
As a result of the high prices of poached animal products in the world market, the poachers go to great lengths to acquire these commodities of trade, significantly decreasing the population of these animal species. Governments should jointly move with haste to destroy the trade of endangered wildlife products.
Allen (2007) talks of one such treaty that gave birth to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wildlife (CITES). It has regulated the trade in wildlife products and addressed the problem of dwindling populations.
Educating local communities on the importance of conserving wildlife has also been one of the commonly applied options in curbing the negative effects of human activities on the state of poached species in Africa. African communities are, for instance, educated on sustainable use of wildlife resources.
The effects of their encroachment into forests are explained to them. Education on the existing wildlife and forest conservation acts provides Africans with knowledge on how to interact with wildlife. Research has shown that most human-wildlife conflicts result from ignorance on the part of the local communities (Allen, 2007).
Fencing off the wildlife conservation sites is another bold step taken by most African governments in an attempt to arrest the effects of poaching and other human activities threatening the existence of most endangered species. Sitati (2007) alludes to one such project in Kenya. Several forest lands have been fenced off and this has resulted in an increase in the population of elephants. The use of live electric fences in the protection of wildlife around the continent has discouraged human encroachment into these areas.
Rehabilitation of wounded animals is yet another major step towards wildlife conservation. Snares and traps set up by poachers leave the animals badly wounded (Diamond, 2006). Harvesting of ivory and tusks also leaves a great number of animals injured, since powerful firearms are used to immobilize them. The animals found alive after such encounters are treated and protected in wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Merits of the Options
Though the options stated above are not 100 percent successful in protecting most poached species in Africa, they have contributed significantly to the attempts to protect Africa’s diverse wildlife. The options are, for instance, praised for their help in preventing the extinction of most poached species.
Increased patrol by armed guards in wildlife conservation centers is effective in the conservation of most poached species. It helps in keeping poachers off wildlife conservation sites. Poachers, just like any other criminal elements, desist from any confrontations with law enforcers. The intensified patrols are also likely to help in the discovery of snares and traps used to capture animals (Samm & Opip, 2005).
The criminalization of trade in endangered species and their related products, according to Allen (2007), will, ultimately, minimize the demand for such commodities. With a drop in the demand, poaching will, subsequently, diminish since there will be no market to sell the endangered products. The resultant effect is the increase in the population of such animals.
Educating local communities on how to best manage human-animal conflicts has improved the conservation of wildlife. The practice has led to the expansion of wildlife conservation sites, encouraging the survival of large wildlife species, such as elephants and rhinos (Rookmaaker, 2005). Once the local communities fully appreciate the importance of wildlife conservation, they are able to come up with their own policies governing their relationship with wildlife, which they are likely to adhere to.
Fencing off the wildlife conservation sites is another option that has been successfully implemented in the continent. It is aimed at conserving commonly poached wildlife species. Goudie (2006) argues that the use of live electric fences helps in keeping off poachers, as well as confining wild animals into the land reserved for them. Erecting fences also draws clear boundaries between human and animal habitats, thus reducing conflicts (Goudie, 2006). Wildlife conservation officers are also able to clearly identify their area of jurisdiction.
Rehabilitation of injured, ailing, and lone animals has helped in the conservation of wildlife in Africa. Diamond (2006) opines that rehabilitation is aimed at helping the animals by offering them protection from the harsh environmental conditions in the wild.
Animal rehabilitation is commonly undertaken in animal orphanages, where the animals are closely watched to reduce fatalities. Prolonging the lives of animals such as rhinos, elephants, and gorillas, will give them time to reproduce, reducing their chances of extinction (Diamond, 2006).
Recommendations
Introduction of the aforementioned options has not fully aided in the conservation of most poached species in Africa. For example, poachers have come up with improved ways to evade the security procedures put in place. The poachers have also advanced technologically in their activities to avoid detection (Allen, 2007).
Due to the rise in the prices of poached products on the world market, poachers have invested more resources in their activities. Some poachers handling large animals, such as elephants, rhinos, and gorillas, have, for instance, acquired aircrafts, which aid them in spotting the animals and in their swift escape.
To curb poaching, governments are called upon to invest in equipment that will be able to counter those used by poachers. For instance, the use of drone aircrafts will go a long way in detecting poaching activities in many African wildlife conservation sites. The drones aid in the patrol of vast conservation sites in a short time (Inogwabini, 2007).
The thermal imaging capabilities of the aircrafts mean that the drones can patrol wildlife conservation sites even during the night. The use of the drones will also help in reducing the cost of patrolling the conservation sites since guards are called upon to intervene only when necessary.
The use of micro chips in tracking animal movement is another way in which the security agencies can use to minimize poaching. It will help wildlife guards in conserving the species that are most affected by poaching. With the help of these micro chips, the guards can easily track the position of each and every animal residing in the conservation site. In the event that poachers attack an animal fitted with the micro chip, it is easy for the guards on the ground to determine where the attack took place (Emslie & Brooks, 2005).
Total ban on trade involving poached wildlife products in the international market will go a long way in the protection of poached species. Goodwill from governments should be demonstrated by signing treaties that ban and criminalize the trade of endangered wildlife products.
The resultant effect will be the collapse of the market that propagates the trade of endangered species and their related products. Ultimately poachers will have nowhere to take their products (Eckhart & Lanjouw, 2008). The sale of products manufactured using poached raw materials should also be banned.
In my opinion, poaching requires the adoption of a gradual mechanism to be curtailed. The three recommendations discussed will be a starting point in the fight against poaching. In my opinion, the recommendations will promote the effective conservation of the three most poached species, which include elephants, rhinos, and gorillas.
The population of the species will also be increased. The use of technology like drones should be the individual responsibility of respective African nations. On the other hand, the ban on international trade of poached animal products is the collective responsibility of all countries in the world. I opine that all countries must sign a treaty meant to stop such trade. In addition, such acts should be done in good faith. Therefore, it is important to note that conservation of wildlife requires international cooperation.
Conclusion
The population of most poached species in Africa has significantly reduced over the years. Sound and swift conservation measures are needed to arrest the deteriorating situation. Conservation of wildlife involves the formulation and implementation of policies, enactment of laws, as well as the adoption of technology capable of dealing with threats to wildlife, such as those posed by poachers.
It is a fact that some of the recommendations proposed above are expensive and require a long period of time to implement. However, the recommendations will go a long way in the conservation of wildlife.
References
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