Getting into the Maasai Mara Reserve of Kenya, as I had done some time back, is like traveling up the filling slam of Noah’s Ark. In a few minutes, you will observe thousands of antelopes, wildebeests, zebras as well as giraffes. You will also see a lion pride moving around as you drive past in your safari car. Long lines huge elephants will move past you
However this Eden of wildlife only seems untouched. Only beyond the gate of the sanctuary is a patchwork of small towns plus farmland which you hardly ever see on the National Geographic specials. And even though it might not seem like a battleground, this place is actually a frontline in the escalating war of Africa against the wild animals which it quietly coexisted with for several centuries.
A brand-new report shows that peace may be restored–however provided that two things occur. Initially, African governments should get focused on dealing with their poaching issue. Secondly, the ecotourism sector, that has historically gained just a couple, should be changed to ensure that its profits reach a bigger segment of the local population, winning allies for wild animals from among villagers across Africa, who usually clash with these animals. Such clashes have unfortunately been increasing, and except if we get a way for humans plus animals to reside in harmony, the prospects for wildlife in Africa will not be excellent.
Countryside Africans aren’t to blame. There are plenty others around than in the past, so clash is unavoidable. As the population of man increases, the animals, that at one time moved unfettered all over the huge savannas plus rain forests of Africa, are being compressed into a couple of game reserves. Once the animals stray from their protected areas into newly settled regions that still have the water holes plus migration routes which their ancestors used, then trouble arises.
Elephants step on crops, the lions kill cattle plus sheep, the wildebeests together with zebras compete with the domesticated animals for fresh grass plus water. then in retaliation the villagers poison the large cats, shoot the elephants and then kill the antelopes plus other ungulates to obtain bushmeat. Actually, that is the area of the war where a ceasefire is still achievable. In case the animals can be brought on to remain where they are supposed to be, and then people will believe that they aren’t at threat, so peace may be achieved. This can best be observed in Tanzania, where a Living Wall undertaking creates unbreachable fences which keep lions from livestock. This has cut losses significantly for the Maasai people, who no more stage vengeance attacks against the lions making it a win-win for the animals and the local people.
Therefore the final point here is that Africa’s wilderness zones will never be secure for the wild animals until the individuals who reside nearby are feeling safe and have obtained a solid economic position in their preservation. To begin with, there must be many more tourist ventures that are owned and even managed by the local people dedicated to plowing back some of their profits into the different community development projects. Given, community-based conservation businesses are difficult to get right. Africans that live in rural areas don’t usually have the relevant skills to operate successful businesses; the gains of ecotourism are hardly ever equitably distributed; bad local infrastructure, tribal conflicts as well as corruption; all these can crush Africa projects in a short time.
Most optimistic of all is the increasing awareness among the escalating civil society as well as educated middle-class that wildlife which is something priceless as well as uniquely African is unfortunately being exhausted. in case this apprehension results in political will to become serious about safeguarding wildlife, and a much more reasonable approach to share the gains of wildlife tourism with Africans living in the rural areas, then all might not still be lost.
