Monday, January 16, 2012

Egos, Arrogance Are Ruining Debate On The Wildlife Bill



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I have been involved in the conservation sector in Kenya and elsewhere for over 13 years now, and out of this experience, I became one of those who believe they know the major threats to this precious resource. Any student or spectator of conservation science and practice in Kenya is familiar with the issues of poaching, habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, encroachment, weak laws, real and perceived flaws in KWS operations, etc etc.
The list goes on and is only rivalled by the sheer diversity of species we are (or should be) trying to conserve. If we are honest, we would add conservationist egos to that list of threats. I must apologize, for some may find it inappropriate for a conservationist to use a subsistence hunting analogy to make my point. I regard the new improved Wildlife Bill as a small antelope (often bushbuck, or various duiker species) a prized species by traditional Luo hunters who would chase it down with dogs. The liver was valued and given to the bravest hunter when the animal was potentially dangerous like a buffalo, or for the hunter whose dog displayed the highest level of tenacity and prowess in capturing and subduing the prey.
On the flip side, if the prey got away, the dogs would often vent their ‘wound up’ status by killing some hapless non-target (and often non-edible) species like a mongoose on the way home. In desperate times, there could be attempts to eat this animal. Those who have closely observed mustelids (mongooses, otters, etc) know that they secrete strong smelling pastes from anal glands for scent communication.
It is an understatement to say that their meat smells (and presumably tastes!) nasty. Consequently, there is a Luo saying that loosely translates to “a mustelid is a mustelid, whether you fry it with ghee, onions or tomatoes…” The new wildlife bill is our ‘duiker’ and the ‘liver’ is the wonderful biodiversity we will enjoy in our lifetimes and bequeath to our descendants.
However, there are few things more foolhardy in hunting lore than squabbling for the liver of an animal you have yet to subdue. People who should be working towards getting a new workable Wildlife Bill are stuck in discussing names, personalities, races and non-issues rather than helping to draft effective wildlife management legislation. I have been involved in some of these discussions and with the current inertia, I am well positioned to eat ‘mongoose’ (read: the opprobrium that will be rightly due to all of us when we end up with ineffective and poorly- thought out legislation).
It is stunning that even in the company of well qualified and highly experienced conservationists and officers, views can be submitted and immediately followed by a request for names of the people who expressed them. The views expressed in various forums are often defended and opposed vigorously for no reason other than the personality of the person who expressed them. Let us make 2012 the year when the many people who gain in so many different ways from wildlife can set aside all self interest and come together to draft solid legislation that will secure these very gains for our children and grandchildren.
Dr Mordecai O. Oganda is with the Department of Zoology at the National Museums of Kenya.

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