History and Heritage of East Africa

ATTI 1216

By

Paul Olola

Mammalogy & Ornithology

Threats faced by mammals & birds in the 20th century

1) Whaling

2) Poaching

3) Human-wildlife conflict

4) Pollution

5) Global warming

6) Climate change

7) Game-Bird hunting

8) Oil spills

9) Use of Agro-chemicals

10)Game Hunting

Whaling : Whaling is the hunt for

long finned Pilot Whales and the

Atlantic white sided dolphins. This

practice is carried out as part of food

culture and history in the Feroe Islands

of the North Atlantic. Animal rights

group criticize the hunt as being cruel

and unnecessary and although

controlled by authorities, over 800,000

whales and dolphins are slaughtered

every year.

Poaching : This is the illegal

hunting, killing or capturing of wild

animals. Biologists and

conservationists consider poaching

to have detrimental effects on

biodiversity within and outside

protected areas due to the decline

of wildlife populations. This in

recent times has affected Rhino and

Elephant populations in Africa

greatly as they are poached for

horns and tusks on demand in Asia.

Threats faced by mammals and birds in the 20TH century

Human-wildlife conflict

This refers to the interaction between

wildlife and humans and the resultant

negative impact on their resources. It

occurs when growing human

populations overlap established wildlife

territories creating reduction of

resources to some people/wildlife.

Many mammals have fallen victim as

communities kill wildlife that stray into

their homes. Pollution : pollution is the addition

of contaminants into the natural

environment that cause adverse

change which can take place in three

main forms, mainly ; water, air and

land. In all ways, mammals and birds

are affected through poisonous and

toxic substances that are released,

emitted or dumped in the air, land and

water.

Did you know you could play a role in controlling these negative impacts?

Global warming and climate change : These result due to pollution

and deforestation. It impacts negatively on mammals and birds breeding and

migratory patterns both on land, air and water. Although it is an emerging trend

largely caused by the developed economies of China, Russia and the United States

of America. It requires collaborative effort to manage the trend.

Game-Bird Hunting : This is a sport largely

carried out in the United Kingdom whereby Quails

and Pheasants are hunted using trained hunting

dogs and shot with shotguns for sports. This

impacts negatively on their ecological balance as

they are not eaten but just killed. There are

other sport practices involving use of birds in

China where birds and mostly doves are bought

and set on long distance travels across oceans in

harsh weathers to see if they will make it back

alive. Do you know of any Bird sports in your locality? How does it affect the

birds involved?

Oil spills : Oil spills are a major cause of

marine pollution arising as a result of oil

leaks from offshore oil rigs and leakages from

oil tankers. The result effect is felt by birds

that rely on the water for food, whales,

sharks and even land mammals that also rely

on the water from oceans and seas. The most

recent notable leaks being from BP oil spill off

the gulf of Mexico which led to a fine of $18b

and the Rexxon Valdez Oil spill which may

take years before the environment is

restored.

Agro-chemicals: commercial

agriculture requires use of herbicides,

pesticides and fungicides. These chemicals

can find their way into water bodies after

heavy rain by sipping into rivers which drain

into lakes, seas and oceans. These water

bodies experience change in their PH levels

which is dangerous for living organisms and

may favor growth of certain plants while

destroying others. The water-hyacinth is a

good example of a plant that thrives in water

with high potassium and nitrogen levels.

These plants absorb oxygen from the water

thus depriving aquatic animals and plants of

much needed oxygen and sunlight.

Game hunting : This is hunting of wild game, majorly the big five in Africa for

Trophies which are displayed in homes, offices and buildings by hunters. This

practice has been on-going since Europeans set foot in Africa. If uncontrolled in the

modern day can pose a risk to endangered and threatened wildlife like elephants,

rhinos, giraffes and varied species of birds.

For consultation or queries,

EMAIL : paulolola@hotmail.com

The END