Africa’s Animals are at Risk

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The lives of wild animals living in various parts of Africa are continuously being threatened due to trophy hunting and the illegal trafficking of wildlife. Unfortunately, hundreds of these animals have also been tragically affected by the relentless drought that has been plaguing Kenya’s ecosystem for over two years. 

According to The Impacts Of The Current Drought On Wildlife In Kenya 1,210 wildlife deaths have been discovered during the past nine months alone. This devastating calculation of animals decreasing includes the death of 205 elephants, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 51 buffalos, 49 Grevy’s zebras, and 12 giraffes. 

In Malonza’s statement, she claimed that a total of 14 different wildlife species have been affected by the drought between February and October of 2022. According to her statement, the areas that suffered the most include the Amboseli, Tsavo, and the ecosystems of Laikipia-Samburu. Depletion of food sources as well as water shortages has been the main cause of the rise in mortality rates.   

According to Manzola most of the population’s wildlife died during the month of August. Thankfully for the rhino population, it isn’t as severe where only one rhino aged about two years old had died. However, Manzola warned that the continued worsening of the drought condition may affect more rhinos inhabiting overstocked sanctuaries. Kenya’s government and development partners are working together to destock Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in Tsavo West National Park in hopes to prevent drought-related mortalities of black and white rhinos. Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers, Community Scouts, and Research Teams from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), as well as nonprofit organizations, have been operating in 8 conservation areas and are closely monitoring the drought impacts. 

Hopefully, with the help of animal rights activists and environmentalists, we can soon find solutions to ease the death of Africa’s precious wildlife.