Humans leave rare antelope with few options for survival
Story by TOM MATOKE
Publication Date: 6/26/2008
Increased food production and commercial activities at a wetland in Nandi North District, have not only contributed to the destruction of the environment, but are also a threat to the sitatunga, a rare aquatic antelope.
Wananchi examine the rare sitatunga antelope. Photo/ FILE
The burning of the Kingwal area for cultivation during the dry season, has reduced the cover of the swamp, which is the habitat of the antelope, only found in Nandi and in Trans Nzoia districts.
Most of the wetlands in Nandi, where the rare antelope lives, have been encroached by farmers and other people for commercial purposes. The locals have not only engaged in agricultural activities, but also in large-scale production of bricks for construction, hence destroying parts of the wetland leaving this rare antelope species exposed to poachers, who hunt it for meat, which is believed to have medicinal properties.
The swamp faces extinction as farmers have also planted water-draining eucalyptus trees next to it.
Last month, the director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Mr Julius Kipng’etich, led a team to parts of North Rift and Western Province to champion the protection of the animals.
No comments:
Post a Comment