Least we forget - The examples of poacher violence against conservationists are many. —On December 7, 2011, two officers from Zamibia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) were killed in Namibia while responding to a gang of poachers targeting elephants in an incident that left a young elephant orphaned. —In April 2012, a police constable and wildlife ranger were shot dead during an operation to track poachers at South Africa’s Kruger Park game reserve. —In March 2012, the Kenya Wildlife Services began a hunt for a group of gangster poachers (or “shiftas”) responsible for the shooting deaths of two officers (a man and pregnant female) as they patrolled a private ranch in Taita. —In 2003, conservationist Jane Tipson was murdered in St. Lucia in what was believed to be a contract killing due to her work against the construction of a dolphinarium. —On December 27, 1985, celebrity primatologist Dian Fossey, known as the “gorilla girl,” was found dead in her Virunga Mountains cabin in Rwanda a few short months after signing a million-dollar film contract to bring her iconic novel, Gorillas in the Mist, to the silver screen. Though unsolved, many believe Fossey’s murder is linked to the conservation of endangered mountain gorillas and Fossey’s work to prevent their financial exploitation. Who’s Protecting the Protectors? Though it would be deflective to focus entirely on the protection of conservationists and wildlife rangers, it is reasonable to seek certain measures of security to safeguard their endeavors and to appeal to the public to offer support to those defending our world’s most threatened species. But how can you help? It’s simple: donate, donate, and donate. Environmental organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, the World Society for Protection of Animals and The Thin Green Line need financial support to not only boost anti-poaching patrols, but also strengthen the security offered to rangers and conservationists working in the field to protect endangered wildlife. Using a donation to get on board is the most effective way to join the frontliners, and to fund programs and initiatives that supply and equip wildlife warriors with the essential tools, clothing and emergency equipment necessary to improve their physical welfare.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:42:58 +0000
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