Poaching and Conservation in Africa
 |
| African Elephant in Kruger National Park, South Africa |
To us in the United States it seems as if Africa has always been this wild place. We see it on TV and movies and it almost doesn't seem real. Around the world I think people have become blind to the fact that this almost mythical place is in danger everyday. From poaching, to deforestation, to climate related issues, Africa has been fighting battles to stay this wild place for centuries. Conservation efforts have been put into place, but have run into major road blocks throughout the last century. If these roadblock continue to derail conservation efforts, the world could lose the untouched wilderness that is Africa.
One of the biggest problems Africa is facing is poaching. Thousands of animals are poached every year, and it is a very critical time for the animals. Just in my lifetime I have seen Elephant dropped to an endangered species, and at the current rate they could face extinction in less than 50 years. Rhinos are another major animal that is facing extinction. I attached a video from CNN with a story about Rhino poaching and the state that the population of Rhino's is in. There are options to help slow down poachers, its up not only to Africa, but to people all around the world to help slow the effects of poaching.
Conservation efforts are already underway all throughout Africa. There are a few major aspects that organizations believe will help reduce poaching. According to the African Wildlife Foundation there are four main aspects that should be implemented; Employing and equipping more law enforcement officers, this will help to catch more poachers in action and give law enforcement the upper hand in the fight. Empowering and educating the community, often times poachers live in towns and villages with others and if people are motivated to help catch the poachers it can lead to an increase in overall awareness for poaching and protection of animals. Another idea is building bonds across the world to increase aid from all over. It is our job as a race to help protect the animal and it should not just fall on the shoulders of Africans to help save the wildlife. The final idea is using technology to help monitor populations of species throughout the continent. I think that these ideas would really help bring better results for the recovery of animals. I found a quote from the AWF that I think represents how we should view the fight against poaching. "Our key objective is to work towards a future where humans live in harmony with nature." If we could reach a point like this in our lifetimes I think it would be a turning point for humankind.
Sources:
Images:
Videos:
Information:
“Wildlife Conservation.” African Wildlife Foundation, 3 Jan. 2019, www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation.
Comments
Post a Comment