“For too long, the world has been witness to heart-breaking images of the mass slaughter of elephants for their tusks. According to CITES, the killing of African elephants and trafficking in their ivory remain alarmingly high. Asian elephants are also subject to growing levels of poaching.” Said United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
From 2010 to 2012 alone, over 100,000 elephants were poached in Africa. In 2015, 1,175 rhinos were poached in South Africa, while Central Africa has now lost 64 per cent of its elephants in less than a decade reports World Wildlife day organization.
Although elephants and Rhinos lead the most vulnerable wildlife animals to poaching there are other species under threat as well. Cheetahs, pangolins, rhinos, sea turtles, sharks, tigers, whales and high value timber face the poaching menace as well as problems of habitat change, over-exploitation or illicit trafficking.
Wildlife in Africa is facing a world that is fast changing with fastest population growth in the world and fast growing economies as well. With increased infrastructure in Africa, wildlife and wild lands are at an increased threat of extinction. Decreasing habitats has led to the increase of human – wildlife conflict, poaching and wildlife trafficking threatening Africa’s ability to secure future for wildlife.
“It is false and frankly short-sighted to assume that in the quest for modernity, we must sacrifice our wildlife. It is possible to have smartphones and elephants, lions and railways, giraffes and high-performing schools. To realize that future, we need political commitments at the highest level to devote adequate resources toward conservation. We must integrate protection of wildlife into national and regional planning to maintain the intactness and integrity of ecosystems and secure our unique natural heritage. We should make responsible stewardship of wildlife and wild lands a meaningful criterion for measuring internal governance and ethical investing.” Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya, President of African Wildlife Foundation
The current wildlife crisis is not a natural phenomenon unlike a drought, a flood or a cyclone. It is the direct result of people’s actions according to Secretary-General of CITES, John E. Scanlon. The way out of this is for people to put in collective effort to fight poaching and climate change.
“Although overall levels of poaching and smuggling remain far too high, we are seeing improvements in some countries and with some wildlife populations. We are beginning to turn the tide on wildlife trafficking – but much still remains to be done – and success, very often, comes down to the actions of committed individuals. That is why this year we are rallying around the theme “the future of wildlife is in our hands.” Says John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES
