The illegal wildlife trade has been flourishing and growing into a global menace as animals are harmed and killed for their body parts. The numbers of endangered animals also continue to decrease steadily despite vigorous efforts to increase their population and ensure that extinction does not occur.
Approximately, 30,000 species per year are being driven to extinction while 80% of the decline in global biological diversity is caused by loss of wild spaces.
Wild habitats directly affect the biodiversity in the sense that when they are destroyed, they can no longer be able to support the species present, leading to displacement. When wild animals are displaced, they are forced to migrate to human settlements, and this makes it easier for humans to engage in Wildlife trade since the animals wander around them. Humans harm and kill them for their body parts such as horns, skins, hooves and hides which are later used to make leather bags, shoes and jackets or even for traditional medicine in some parts of the world like China and Asia.
The growing selfish needs of humans
The loss of wild spaces poses great threats to wildlife species globally as forests, lakes, oceans and other habitats continue to dwindle. This as a result of human encroachment for activities such as deforestation and degradation which is mostly caused by the expansion of agricultural land, intensive harvesting of timber, wood for fuel and other forest products, as well as overgrazing. If we do not come up with a clear plan to protect the wild spaces, the vital ecological habitats will continue to be lost.
Other causes of loss of habitats include pollution, mining, construction of infrastructure such as roads, railways and pipelines among other selfish human activities.
Natural habitats such as forests and national parks which are the main habitats for wild animals are destroyed every day for construction of man-made projects leading to displacement of wild animals. Just the other day, news hit the headlines that the wildebeests that migrate annually from Tanzania through river Mara to Kenya were unable to cross as a result of a camp that had been put up at the Mara. This shows just how much humans have become selfish with little care of the wildlife that surrounds them.
Human – Wildlife Conflict
The interaction between wildlife and humans has brought about negative impacts on the animals in that when growing human populations overlap with the already established wildlife territories, the issue of competition for space and resources arises.
Africa for example is a hot spot for wildlife and therefore cases of human wildlife conflict are on the rise. Take a case of the human predators such as the lions, cheetah and leopard which is one of the primary examples of the human wildlife conflict followed by the human elephant conflict. The latter always clash with humans in farms resulting to damage of crops, infrastructure or even people. Humans then retaliate by killing them for their body parts. On the other hand, the human predators have been known to exacerbate threats to humans by their attacks on both people and livestock.
The interactions between humans and wildlife continue to be more prevalent with the growing human population and high biodiversity.
There are however mitigation measures that we can use to reduce the incidences of human – wildlife conflict;
- Building of fences and barriers around homes to prevent the human predators and elephants from encroaching human settlements
- Improving community education and perception on animals. Many a times that the members of the community carry out activities that pose harm to wildlife without knowledge. The Maasai community example considers their young people as warriors only after killing a lion. There is therefore need to educate the members from this community that they can also be warriors by protecting lions.
- Effective land use practices. When humans result to using land that is available, there will be little encroachment to wildlife habitats.
- Marking the conflict hotspots will also help to curb the human wildlife conflicts.
The rise in zoonotic diseases as a result of wildlife Trade
Zoonotic diseases that are shared between humans and animals have been on the rise due to global wildlife trade. Human wildlife interactions highly fuel the spread of zoonotic diseases as the outbreak of such disease is heightened by humans killing wild animals for food. The SARS-CoV-2 virus for example, that has been driving the current pandemic originated from a wild mammal, a clear indication that the human wildlife interactions still exist.
In light of this evidence that the coronavirus originated from animals, there is need to restrict wildlife trade and consumptions in order to reduce risks to human health and also preserve the existing wildlife populations.
It is also necessary to reduce the incidences of wildlife trafficking from African countries to other continents in the world for food and manufacture of other by products. Wildlife trafficking has seen a spike in the scale of poaching the African elephant and the black rhino for exports in illegal markets, the python for sale as food in Chinese markets. Importing any live animal brings about the risk of disease to both humans and livestock, hence we need to think about the risks and vulnerabilities presented by the massive illegal wildlife trade which continues to place us and the rest of the world at the risk of more pandemics.
Involving the Community in protection of wildlife
Poaching for a long time has been devastating populations of iconic wildlife species such as rhinos and elephants and lions. In West and Central Africa, illegal wildlife trade is impacting elephants, great apes, pangolins, birds and reptiles. The community voices of those who hold the key to solving the poaching menace too are not being heard, hence not able to speak up to protect their livelihoods and their future generations from the threats posed by illegal wildlife trade, yet this trade has a huge impact on them, for they are affected by insecurity and the depletion of important livelihood and economic assets.
Engaging local communities can be a key step in curbing the illegal wildlife trade. The question still remains how this approach can be made effective. The local community can help in overseeing natural wildlife and watching out for criminal activities executed by poachers. Without assistance from local communities to halt wildlife crime, even the most focused and well-resourced enforcement efforts will struggle to contain wildlife crime effectively.
There are several models that can be used to tackle this global menace and such include;
- The support of sustainable livelihoods and economic development – Many a times that the unsustainable livelihoods and lack of adequate employment and cash generating activities fuel the trade of wildlife. It is therefore important that the government creates job opportunities so as to accommodate more personnel in the employment world. Individuals can also think of diversification of livelihoods other than just depending on one economic activity. This will help minimize the cases of wildlife trade as many traders result to this due to poverty.
- Ensuring that laws are enforced – engaging the policy makers in matters that concern wildlife trade can be an important step to stopping this vice as when there are strong laws that govern wildlife and its trade, there will be limited actions that go against these laws. The poachers and other wildlife traders take advantage of the weak legislations in place and this leaves them with opportunities to execute the trade.
- Reducing the demand for wildlife trade – There is need to reduce the demand of wildlife trade by finding alternate means of manufacture of by products made from animal body parts. Take an example of the lion bones and teeth, elephant tusks from elephants and skins drawn from animal bodies that are used to make leather items and traditional medicine. We can find ways of manufacturing other products that can be used in the place of animals’ body parts.
What models can we adopt to conserve wildlife?
Following the high cases of wildlife trade, there are certain set of principles that are set to guide wildlife management and conservation according to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Although not formally articulated, the model has its origins in the 19th century and its still in place. This model is guided by seven principles which include;
- Wildlife as Public Trust Resources – This principle considers wildlife as public resources. Although a certain individual that own a piece of land that wildlife resides, he/she does not own that piece of wildlife as it belongs to the public.
- Elimination of Markets for Game – Wildlife trade is illegal in most parts of the world and this principle aims to prohibit poaching and ensure a sustainable population of wildlife
- Allocation of Wildlife by Law – Wildlife is allocated to the public by law hence no individual is allowed to trade wildlife for selfish gains.
- Wildlife Should Only be Killed for a Legitimate Purpose – Wildlife should not be killed for selfish purposes other than self-defense or protection of resources such as livestock. One should not kill or harm wildlife without making all reasonable effort to retrieve and make reasonable use of the wild resource.
- Wildlife is Considered an International Resource – Wildlife does not only exist in political boundaries but all over globally hence regarded as an international resource.
- Science is the Proper Tool for Discharge of Wildlife Policy – Science is considered as an important tool in decision making of wildlife conservation practices.
- Democracy of Hunting
Despite having this model in place, conservations feel that gaps do still exist. Looking at the model, wildlife conservationists tend to question if the model considered their interests. Conservationists claim that the model is flawed and misguided.
Solutions to the loss of wild spaces
We cannot continue to lose our biodiversity globally for selfish gains and hence there is need to mitigate the wildlife trade. Some of the ways that can be adopted include;
- Protecting wildlife populations in natural habitats.
- There is need to educate the public about the importance of natural habitats and biodiversity.
- The human population growth is what has been driving the global wildlife trade. There is need to control the rapid population growth.
- Preserving habitat corridors to minimize prior damage from fragmented habitats.
- Reducing human population and expansion.
