'Filthy bloody business:' Poachers kill more animals as coronavirus crushes tourism to Africa

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'It’s a bloody calamity.' Poachers are encroaching on land and killing rhinos, as the coronavirus pandemic crushes tourism to Africa.

In Botswana, at least six rhinos have been poached since the virus shut down tourism there. In the northwest South Africa, at least nine rhinos have been killed since the virus lockdown.

But since the country announced a national lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Tate is stuck in the U.S. He can't join his team out in South Africa's wilderness and can't meet with private donors in the U.S. for his anti-poaching nonprofit organization, which is seeing donations dry up., a group of American military veterans who fight poachers in a remote private reserve in the far north of South Africa.

"The poachers have been emboldened because the playing field is in their favor and they won't have as many problems moving around," said Ives, who has lived on the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana for four decades but is stranded in South Carolina due to travel restrictions. File photos of a cloth covering the eyes of tranquilised rhino is used by rangers to keep the animal calm during a large scale anti-poaching campaign launched in Kruger National Park in South Africa.Since Botswana's booming tourism industry collapsed because of the virus lockdown, Ives has seen an anecdotal rise in rhino and bush meat poaching incidents. His company is running short of cash as donations dry up amid the global lockdown, and that may result in reduced patrols as a result.

Africa received 62.5 million visitors, creating 9.1 million direct jobs in travel and tourism sectors in 2015, according to estimates from the African Development Bank. "There's a lot of people struggling in Africa, a lot of private reserves that have helped save a few species including rhinos," said Tate. "Now they don't have that ecotourism they depend on, it's gone. There's going to be a lot of damage done from this."

 

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Just continued fallout from China's mishandling of the outbreak of this disease and news outlets needs to do a better job of holding China accountable rather than continuing the spread of Chinese propaganda.

It's sad that people would kill endangered animals illegally and get profit from it. I just hope the precautions to COVID end soon so that hunting can go back to playing its role as a way to fund anti-poaching efforts.

Shouldn't the gouverment take action?:(

It's high time they start using drones to monitor the parks and reserves 🤔

Stop blaming China for all of this. It is Africa’s willingness to execute these beautiful animals for the sake of profit.

More blood on China’s hands

There we go Corona entrepreneurs at business as usual

Shoot the fucking poachers!!!

Appalling.

Poachers deserve the death penalty

Rhinos Africans

Don’t condemn the poachers only. The fucking Chinese buyers are driving this slaughter!

In time of pandemic also this illegal and cruel activities go on !😨

Facebook can mark zuckerberg please find the elimination of animal poaches. PLZ

So many bad and horrible and irreversible things going on, while everyone is busy fighting the virus. It only takes a few to destroy so much. 😢

POS China is the main reason

Poachers should be shot on sight, no questions asked. Clean your shit up Africa.

These poachers are driven by the wealthiest....goodness gracious. NOTHING is sacred.

The Chinese think Rhino Horn has medicinal properties.

More people are robbing ,stealing, and commiting crimes more than ever Houston

Whosoever kills an innocent walking Rhino can kill a human being

Where does the product go?

вЭто ажный для меня пост

Just start hunting and shooting poachers pls 😎

And shipping the parts directly 2 China? The genesis of almost every endangered species originates in China.

Damn big rhino!

Why do all of these roads lead to China?

China needs to be held accountable. Animal parts for traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t even work and needs to be shut down.

The only solution Adopt Islam Islam is religion of peace and prosperity for every human being Allah Almighty is Great Allah Almighty is Great Allah Almighty is Great Follow Islam No delay is useful Decide before to late

They were doing this before the virus.

Blame those who fund them through buying.

China needs to be stopped. Their belief in rhino horn 'potions' is ridiculous. The real justification would be to kill off Chinese and feed to bodies to the animals. StopChina.

Fake picture from fake network owned by NBC.

Yeah, people take advantage of the lack of law enforcement.

Fucking savages.

danielamartani

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