Tourism Drop Due to Covid-19 Threatens Kenya's Wildlife

Economic hardships caused by Covid-19 have led to an increase in illegal activities in Kenya which is threatening wildlife there.

A decline in tourism is leaving conservation projects short of funding, and food shortages have triggered illegal hunting.

Baby elephants at Nairobi's Sheldrick Wildlife Trust don't get milk from their mothers. Instead, they rely on human keepers for the care and attention they need to survive. They have been orphaned, after being victims of poaching and human wildlife conflict.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust currently houses 12 baby elephants. They are looked after by a staff of 400, including 70 keepers, anti-poaching units and vets.

The trust was founded in 1977 by the late Dame Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her husband. It has successfully raised over 250 elephant orphans and has introduced more than 150 elephants back into the wild.

Tourists pay for much of its mission, but with coronavirus lockdowns, border closures and travel restrictions, the organization has lost crucial revenue stream.

"We are lucky we have our jobs but we are just worried the boss might end up not having enough cash to pay us because there are no tourists coming in so that is a big worry," says Edwin Lusichi, the Project Manager and Head Keeper who has been working at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for over 20 years.

"We hope Covid-19 ends soon so that life goes back to normal."

There is some good news for telephants. For the first time in years the demand for ivory appears to have slowed down.

In April, the Wildlife Justice Commission reported that ivory traders in Southeast Asia are struggling to sell the stockpiles amassed since China's 2017 ban on trade in ivory products.

The pandemic has helped because many Chinese customers have been unable to travel to ivory markets in places like Cambodia and Laos.

Another bright spot for these elephants is the extra attention they are getting.

"Everybody is now concentrating on taking care of them and no hustle like we have to go and deal with the tourists, we have to go and direct them, we have to go and lecture, we have to go and do this, all concentration is being given to the elephants," explains Lusichi.

But the coronavirus pandemic has also brought dangers.

While ivory trading appears to have hit a temporary glitch, concern about increased illegal hunting is rising.

"Sadly we are seeing an increase in illegal activities, including bushmeat, and methods such as using wire snares don't discriminate amongst the species they target so endangered animals such as elephants, the babies behind me and giraffes can get caught in the fray," says Kirsty Smith project administrator at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

"This is due to Covid-19 and the economic hardships that communities living alongside protected areas are facing, but also because we are now entering the dry season as well which historically shows an increase in illegal activities as well."

As Kenya continues to face increased illegal poaching for food, fears that organized poaching in Africa would spike have not largely materialized.

Ranger patrols have continued in many national parks and reserves after being designated essential work by governments in the region.

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