Nobody knows if Africa’s rhinos could contract COVID-19 like their Siberian tiger compatriots elsewhere. Yet, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to the ravages of this scourge.
Since the onset of the lockdown in African countries, conservationists have had to cope with ever-dwindling resources as they struggle to protect their precious charges from poachers.
The fight against rhino poaching seems as old as time at times, yet it’s a field where novel threats raise their ugly heads constantly. Poachers are becoming more devious and more sophisticated as time goes on.
Now, thanks to the pandemic, conservationists are faced with more problems than ever before.
The economies of poaching
Dwindling tourist numbers mean there’s less money around for conservation. It also means the villagers surrounding the rhino’s safeholds are more inclined than ever to dabble in poaching as a means of income.
For poverty-stricken people trying to survive on what they can scrape from the bare earth, the prospect of earning a few hundred dollars from a poaching expedition, risky as it is, is a tempting one.
What’s more, as much as they’re enjoying a leisure activity during their safaris, tourists serve as eyes on the ground. Their very presence can be enough to deter poachers from risking the chance of discovery. Now, the African savannahs are empty, and the rhinos are ripe pickings for desperate locals.
For us, the new normal might involve going through tough times at work and home, for conservationists, it’s become a life and death struggle.
They aren’t taking the fight lying down
Both South Africa and Botswana noticed a spike in rhino poaching at the onset of their lockdown periods. They responded by mobilizing military assistance, but thousands more are needed to offset the vast distances involved.
Rwanda responded by allocating the funds needed to keep their rangers employed during the pandemic, but unless the floodgates of tourists open soon, this relief will be short-lived.
African safari enthusiasts and supporters of conservation can do their bit by supplementing the coffers with advance bookings, but conservationists insist that it’s up to everyone to make a difference. Regardless of circumstances, we can all do something to support the environment every day. We might not be able to single-handedly save a rhino today, but we can cut down on our plastic use, or plant more flowers for bees.
Conservation is a mindset, and until we master it, our natural heritage will be lost forever.
Start now by booking your next African safari with us. It’s only a matter of time before we’re all back on safari again. Start planning now.
