Elephants

[Spalea]

David Yarrow: " Conservation is a deeply worrying collateral risk of Covid 19 and every day the anecdotal newsflow deteriorates. The “wokes” will tell you that animals are enjoying the cleaner air and no doubt that’s true - humans are too, when they go outside.⁣

There is also a danger that anyone who raises concerns for wildlife right now will be targeted for lacking sensibility to those whose lives are in tatters or who have lost family members. I get it. There is a chance you create a storm either side of a vexed fence.⁣
It is possible, however, to have a breadth to one’s anxieties. Especially in 2020.⁣
This is a storm for conservation in places such as East Africa as three forces are converging. It is the perfect storm.⁣
Firstly NGO fund raising in Africa will be decimated in 2020. (50% at least). With that goes the momentum that has stemmed the tide against poaching. Secondly, lock down has caused huge redundancies in countries such as Kenya. With no cash, illegal ways will be found to feed families. There is no state funded safety net. Thirdly, tourism is 10% of the country’s GDP. Tourists spent $1.8bn in 2019 and 80% of that was in National Parks. That number is now running at zero for the foreseeable future. No cash liquidity, no rangers.⁣
It’s fair to say that the elephants of Amboseli will welcome the day they look up and see a plane in the skies. Everyone that thinks otherwise, needs to get some perspective and do a bit of research."

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