A controversial new Kenyan law, passed this month to allow sport hunting and killing of wildlife straying on to private land, has triggered complaints from conservationists, activists and local communities.
”Just a few words of legislation could spell doom for wildlife conservation, or at least cause a major setback in the country, where flora and fauna play a key role in attracting tourists,” Maasai wildlife activist Godfrey ole Ndopaiya said.
The Kenyan Parliament on December 9 amended the 1977 Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, which banned poaching and reckless killing of wild animals, allowing sport hunting as well as private ranchers to kill wildlife that drift on to their land.
The Bill still has to go to the Kenyan president for his signature.
The Kenya Wildlife Service says the elephant population, which had fallen to levels less than 10 000 in the early 1970s, began increasing when the ban was enforced in 1977. In 1989, the elephant population had risen to 16 000; this year it reached 28 000.
Wildlife activists were on Friday enraged how the law had been changed to give free rein to people seeking trophies and fun.
”It was sneaked through Parliament through the back door. Hunting of wildlife will be legal once the president gives assent,” said the chairperson of the Kenyan Coalition for Wildlife Conservation Management, Sydney Quntai.
”How could Parliament allow the killing of wild animals? It appears that private property and leisure games has triumphed over wildlife conservation,” Ndopaiya said.
A source who did not want to give his name alleged that the Bill was hidden within technical legislation, escaping the view of most parliamentarians.
Accusing fingers have been pointed at the Wildlife Working Group, a consortium of ranchers and organisations interested in wildlife in Kenya, for allegedly pushing GG Kariuki — MP for Laikipia, where several white-owned ranches are located — to sponsor the Bill.
Kariuki was not immediately reachable for comment.
Activists also complained that local communities were sidelined in drafting the Bill, whose demand increased in 2000 with an upsurge in wildlife attacks on humans..
Since 1999, Maasai tribesmen have killed about 50 lions in Nairobi National Park that had attacked their livestock, a Kenya Wildlife Service official said.
Under the 1977 Act, the government gave compensation of 30 000 shillings ($375) for anybody killed by a non-domesticated animal, and the new law provides for 10-million shillings (about $125 000). — Sapa-AFP