Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Don Pinnock
Published on 2024-04-01 17:48:11
Breeding wild animals for profit has been a contentious issue, with concerns raised over the cruelty involved and the threats posed to humans. According to a report by World Animal Protection, approximately 5.5 billion animals from 487 wild species are bred for profit globally. The practice of wildlife farming is primarily driven by commercial industries such as the pet trade, fashion, tourism, and traditional medicine. Some breeding operations source their animals from the wild, while others resort to poaching to replenish their stocks.
Wild animals, unlike domesticated animals, do not adapt well to being farmed. Domesticated animals have been bred for captivity over thousands of years and have undergone behavioral changes around humans. The rise of wildlife farming in the late 20th century coincided with the growing demand for wildlife and wildlife-derived products, leading to a booming industry.
Consumers and traders seek wild animals or their parts for various purposes like pets, entertainment attractions, fashion items, luxury food, traditional medicine, and more. The increasing demand for these products is attributed to factors such as the growing human population, economic prosperity, and the commercialization of wild animals in media.
The report highlights the exploitation of wildlife in various industries, including the pet trade, tourism, and fashion. For example, lions are often bred for cub petting and later used for canned trophy hunting or for their bones in traditional medicine or tiger-bone wine. Traditional Asian medicine also includes body parts from various wild animals like bears, deer, pangolins, and tigers.
The welfare concerns documented on wildlife farms include disease, malnourishment, stress-induced behaviors, injuries, cannibalism, and inbreeding-related deformities. The confinement of wild animals in small captive populations can lead to genetic mixing and the introduction of diseases, potentially resulting in the extinction of genetically distinct species.
Wildlife farms also pose a significant risk of zoonotic disease transmission, as high concentrations of animals, poor hygiene, and regular human contact create opportunities for pathogens to spread to humans. Zoonotic diseases originating from wildlife account for a significant percentage of human illnesses and deaths, with the Covid-19 pandemic alone costing the global economy trillions of dollars.
While some argue that wildlife farms could benefit conservation by reducing the incentive to poach wild animals, there is little evidence to support this claim. The farming of wild animals for profit is deemed a cruel and unnecessary industry that poses serious risks to both animal welfare and human health. The report concludes by advocating for a global ban on wildlife farming and the protection of wild animals from exploitation for commercial gain. It emphasizes the need to end the suffering of wildlife in captivity and ensure a better future for these animals.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
