Common Sense in Conservation (I)
In recent years there has been an ever greater onslaught by First World animal rightists (A/Rs), to thwart the application of essential science-based wildlife management practices in Africa.
What is more worrying is the fact that Western governments have been complicit insofar they have used these animal rightist attacks for their own political gain; and the political elites have pledged to write into their Western-country laws A/R demands that would place control of wildlife management practices in Africa back into First World ‘white-nation’ hands.
THAT is neo-colonialism! It is about time, therefore, that ‘The West’ understood that Africa’s wildlife belongs to Africa, and that Africa’s people should be afforded the dignity of being allowed to manage their own wildlife as they see fit.
Africa does not need First World’s governments to tell it what it can and cannot do with its own wildlife.
Consequently, the well-being of Africa’s wild animals, and the maintenance of Africa’s essential national park habitats, is now at serious risk.
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If you wish to gain an understanding of the animal rights doctrine and how and why it adversely affects the natural world, you need to develop a ‘feeling’ for this rhetoric! Who are these animal rightists? How do they really fit into the bigger conservation picture – if at all?
Ron Thomson
It’s a sound argument for African governments to make…but.
There remains a lingering view(and not entirely without truth) that the continents governments all have some level of corruption that spills into wildlife conservation, sustainability and hunting.
I am in no way suggesting colonialist did it entirely right or that colonialism was right…but.
Close your eyes and try to imagine 1st world governments telling Kenya and Tanzania how to run wildlife populations in the 1950-70s.
The antis have gotten more vocal at the same time African governments are struggling for wildlife resources and to improve or establish a reputation for sound wildlife conservation and sustainability. There are many that are doing it right in Africa now. They should continue to be vocal against 1st world governments and build the creditability that no one can reasonably argue against.
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