Poaching singled out as threat to Africa tourism

An elephant killed by poachers. The government plans to keep poachers behind bars for life. PHOTO/FILE

By BD Reporter

The Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Nairobi has declared poaching the greatest threat to
tourism in the continent.

The delegates said all African countries should speak in one voice to have trade in animal trophies banned. Across Africa, one elephant is killed every 15 minutes for its tusks.

“We want to see our African neighbours taking a stand with us, pressurising the countries where the poachers’ clients live to stamp out this barbaric trade,” Tanzania deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu said.

He said poachers were killing about 30 elephants daily in Tanzania, enough to decimate the country’s herd of 100,000. “They are so sophisticated that we need a military response.  If their activities are not stamped out, we will have lost all our elephants in 10-15 years,” he said.  

Five per cent of the revenues from the forum — about $15,000 or Sh1.3 million — will be given to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which looks after orphaned baby elephants and rhinos.

The trust runs eight anti-poaching and de-snaring units with the Kenya Wildlife Service, which have removed more than 125,000 snares since inception in the Tsavo conservation area.

“Poaching in Africa is happening on an industrial scale. Poachers are using automatic weapons to slaughter entire herds,” said Nick van Marken, the leader of Deloitte’s international travel, hospitality and leisure practice. 

He said there was suspicion that ground rhino horn is smuggled out of Africa in diplomatic bags.

“Wildlife is part of Africa’s natural infrastructure; remove it, and one of the primary reasons for visiting the continent will disappear. It’s time for the industry to step up and speak out,” Mr van Marken said
.

“The answer has to be action at the point of demand to educate the consumers of ivory and rhino horn about the damage being caused,” said Andrew McLachlan of Carlson Rezidor.