Today, a high level conference kicks off in London to elicit international attention and possibly action against illegal wildlife trade. Government representatives from Africa, Asia, America and Europe will converge at the meeting focusing on enhancing law enforcement to punish those involved.
This could not have come at a better time. Statistics of the waning wildlife, in Africa especially, are worrying. Conservationists have been warning of the diminishing numbers of elephants hunted for their priceless trophies, rhinos for their expensive horns, and many other species.
As the leaders deliberate in London, they must be candid in their discussions. Let them, for instance, mention that if there were no high demand for trophies in many Asian countries, elephant poaching would be significantly lower in Africa. Why not push for a ban on using chopsticks made of ivory, for instance?
How about pushing for discouraged use of ornaments and decorations made from rhino horns? Demand is what fuels increased poaching because if there were no markets for items made from animal trophies, there would be no wanton killing of the iconic species.
We must also note here that Africa faces the brunt of the poaching menace. Are the developed countries doing enough to support the war against poaching?
African government representatives, starting with Kenya’s Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu, must have their informed voice heard at this conference. They must trigger debate that will interest and evoke immediate action from the rest of the world.
African conservationists face myriad challenges, which must be eloquently spelt out at the conference. For instance, modern day poachers have upped their game. Besides using sophisticated weapons, they have employed technology to pinpoint their “prey” in their habitats.
They are also bolder and have killed thousands of rangers keeping watch over the wildlife. The influential poachers have even infiltrated the conservation agencies and recruited insiders who relay information to them during their heinous missions.
Illegal wildlife trade has become big business worth billions of shillings. These cartels run deep and have capacity to permeate even powerful governments. For this to be nipped in the bud, all governments must be sincere in this fight. Paying lip service and silently allowing the vice to thrive will gradually wipe out wildlife in Africa and eventually the whole world.
For Kenya, tourism, which rakes in billions of shillings in revenue, stands greatly threatened by increased poaching. Live elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, giraffes and others, in their natural abode, lure the tourists in droves.
Elsewhere in the world, majority of wildlife is domesticated in artificial sanctuaries.
This heritage must, therefore, be protected at all costs. The cartels thriving from poaching enrich only a few people with no regard for future generations.
