When Cecil the lion died at the hands of an America dentist Walter Palmer it ignited worldwide outrage, activists and high profile celebrities alike calling for his metaphorical (or literal) head.Virtual mobs where tanking Palmer's Yelp ratings, and real mobs left angry messages at his office, But the tragic death of one lion belies a much more widespread and serious problem affecting wildlife in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe a Southern African Landlocked nation is one of the hardest-hit places on the continent when it comes to the killing of big game, both illegal and legal. It is a nation where,
Slate reports, "hunters exported 49 lion trophies in 2013 alone" and where, since Cecil's death "it’s likely that at least a dozen other lions have been shot by trophy hunters."A 2013 study in the journal Public Library of Science estimates that 96 lions were hunted per year between 1996 and 2006 in the country and 43 per year more recentlysource
These disturbing statistics does not stop with lions .The Globe Wildlife Fund statistics estimates that poachers killed between 20 and 25 rhinos in the country in 2015, 50 rhinos in 2014 and 82 (the highest) in 2009, 59% of the rhino population in Zimbabwe and the DRC was killed between 2004 and 2006. Now, there are only 800 rhinos left in the entire country — compared to 2200 in the 1980s making poachers the worst and highest killers of wildlife.
As of late Elephants too have had a particularly difficult time,with a population of almost 85,000, the animal does not benefit from as much protection as other species.At Hwange National Park, where about half of the country's elephants live, in 2013 it was a site for the worst single massacre in southern African for 23 years when poachers poisoned watering holes with a poison called cyanide, killing as many as 320 elephants, many with their calves by their sides.
Poisons used by the poachers are cyanide and paraquat which is readily available in Zimbabwe. Paraquat, which was banned in the EU, is used by most farmers in Zimbabwe to kill grasses and weeds, while the cyanide-based solution is very common with Zimbabwe’s informal miners. Poachers prefer such poisons because they enable them to kill large mammals silently and quietly, without the rifle shots that would alert rangers to their location.
The Government has however responded to these illegal activities by issuing the shoot to kill policy to any poacher found in the national park .The government officials for Zimbabwe national parks had hoped that this strategy would deter poachers, but the value of ivory and the desperation of many poor rural Zimbabweans seem to outweigh the risks.
What is disturbing is that it’s not just the poor and impoverished villagers that are involved in these deadly poisonings. The global lucrativeness of the illegal ivory trade is well documented, and Zimbabwe is no different.Disgruntled rangers,top police officers and even mining directors, have all been implicated in elephant poisoning.So its left to all the international community to spread this awareness campaign and conserve our beautiful Fauna.
OMG! This is a cruality. This kind of inhuman work are also found in my country too. Unless and until, if we don't understand the importance of wild life, the innocent are victimised vastly. Thanks for sharing such a valuable message to the people. Upvoted your post. Please give a look on my too D.
thank you for the support will take a look at the posts.Enjoy steeming
This post received a 1.7% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @tinashe! For more information, click here!
How could people do such things?!!!!
Thats a very bad thing to do to animals
So tragic. On a side note, I recently read an article saying that China plans to gradually remove itself from the ivory market, supposedly by 2018. If nothing is done, I fear the world may one day be devoid of these magnificent creatures. I guess only time will tell if governments can curb these poachers. Upped and resteemed.
The animals have suffered enough,its time for change.
Its sad to see beautiful animals just being slaughtered so a rich man can have the animal head on a wall. I actually think it is discussing and if a see dead animals i always tell my opinion on it to the owner. This has to stop. Animals are not toys but living creatures that has the same right like anyone else to live, be happy and left alone. Nice post tinashe.
Thank you i feel the same way too,Why kill animals like that -Killing more than 300 elephants with poison really,what have we turned ourselves into?Just for money we destroying everything.What about the future generations ,what will they see?We are robbing our kids of their heritage
This is more like news we need to get seen out in the world
yes it has to go out there ,i am doing every effort to get the steemians to resteem this post,more people must see whats happening to our beautiful fauna
Disturbing.
Highly!
Heart breaking! I don't know what can be done but if something isn't done soon these majestic creators will be gone forever!
yes they will be gone forever,resteem it to more people so that they can see it
Upvoted and Re-Steemed.
Thats great!!!Thank you
Thank you for sharing this and helping create awareness. So very sad. :-(((
Thats true spread the word someone will hear us
This breaks my heart. Totally. 😓
its very bad
I am very saddened to hear this. I understand that many are destitute but wildlife are precious. Is there any hope that wildlife will even be around in a few years?
its really bad , well at the rate at which we are destroying wildlife i doubt if there will be any animals left in the near future.
This is terrible. So terrible. 😓😓😓
yes it is