Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-08 07:20:42
Animal activists around the world have come together to demand that governments stop breeding a staggering 5.5 billion wild animals in captivity. They are urging governments to explore alternative methods of wildlife repopulation and to take immediate action by phasing out all commercial wildlife breeding and associated trade.
The activists believe that wildlife farming, whether for repopulation purposes, the pet industry, trophy hunting, entertainment, traditional medicine, decoration, or fashion, must come to an end. They argue that wild animals have the right to live freely in their natural habitats. These findings were presented in a report released in Kampala on March 5.
The report, titled “Exposed: The dark reality of profit-driven captive wildlife farming,” sheds light on the cruel practices that wild animals endure in captive farms. The public is being urged to support the wildlife not-for-profit campaign and join the call to end wildlife farming.
During the report launch, Edith Kabesiime, the wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection (WAP), emphasized the need to halt the expansion of wildlife farming. She highlighted the detrimental impact of captive farming, citing examples of countries where the practice has resulted in more wild animals being held in captivity than living freely in the wild.
Kabesiime warned that the overcrowding of animals in cramped and unhygienic conditions poses serious health risks to both caretakers and the public, increasing the potential for zoonotic diseases to spread, such as Covid-19 and Ebola.
The report also exposes the lack of transparency and inadequate monitoring in the multi-billion-dollar industry of captive wildlife farming, where animals are treated as commodities in a cruel production line. It is alarming to note that some captive wildlife populations now exceed the numbers of free-roaming animals.
Animal activists are calling for a comprehensive and timely phase-out of commercial wildlife breeding to prevent further harm to wild animals and protect human health. By supporting the wildlife not-for-profit campaign, individuals can contribute to the global effort to end the exploitative practices of wildlife farming and ensure a brighter future for wild animals. It is crucial for governments to prioritize the well-being of wildlife and take concrete steps towards promoting sustainable and ethical wildlife conservation practices.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
