Lobby calls for transparency in wildlife trade

 Today marks the World Wildlife Day. The day was set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of endangered animals and plants.

Wildlife trade refers to the commerce of products that are derived from non-domesticated animals or plants usually extracted from their natural environment or raised under controlled conditions. It can involve the trade of living or dead individuals, tissues such as skins, bones or meat, or other products.

This day also encourages nations to fight any form of wildlife crime. Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) joins the rest of the world in commemorating this day by calling on the government of Zimbabwe to be transparent and accountable on wildlife trade.

This year, the day is commemorated under the theme, sustaining all life on earth and the day comes at a time when Zimbabwe has been making headlines for all sorts of unethical wildlife trading practices.

Over the years, Zimbabwe has invited the fury of environmentalists and conservationist over exportation of wild animals to Asian and European countries.

Despite the complaints raised by those concerned with the welfare of animals, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) and the parent ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality and have never made any public statement setting the record straight. Trading in animals has continued in arrogance and in contempt of public anger.

Wild animals live as families and have adapted to their natural habitats over millions of years. Separating them from their families and taking them out of their natural habitats is an act of cruelty to animals.

According to the CITES, trading in live elephants is not banned for Zimbabwe because the animals are not yet “threatened with extinction.” This is a dangerous position taken by CITES because wildlife don’t have to be threatened by extinction for them to be protected.

CITES acknowledges that “international trade in live elephants, especially when it takes the animals out of their natural range, is a very sensitive issue that generates expressions of public concern.” Again, CITES must come out strongly against the trade in live animals than merely declaring it a sensitive issue to the public. In Zimbabwe, the public outrage partly emanates from the dubious manner in which Zimparks, its parent ministry and the government at large operate.

The exports have been shrouded in secrecy and lack of transparency regarding the benefits accruing to the country and the general citizens. Wild animals are a public good, as such; their conservation is everyone’s responsibility.

Majority of Zimbabweans have expressed outrage at the practice of selling wildlife to other countries. Selling wildlife doesn’t make economic sense too. Annually, tens of thousands of tourists visit Zimbabwe to view wildlife in their natural habitat. Selling the same wildlife which gives them reason to visit Zimbabwe is self-defeating as the would-be tourists will rather view these from the comfort of their countries.