Without a doubt, the coronavirus has altered our lives in many ways. While some short-term environmental benefits of COVID-19 are refreshing, the pandemic is likely to have a net-negative impact on the environment. For instance, the virus is increasing threats to the already endangered species.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the risk faced by species into nine categories. One of the classes is the ‘Endangered’ category, which shows a species has a high risk of extinction in the wild. Extinction threatens over 31% of the assessed species.
If action isn’t taken, some of the species on IUCN’s red list may be gone sooner than expected because of the coronavirus. Species under threat range from rhinos in Africa to Giant Ibises in Asia.
Black and white Rhinos in Africa are facing unprecedented threats from poachers.
The rhinoceros once roamed the world, but fewer than 30,000 different species of rhinos exist today, mostly in protected areas such as reserves, sanctuaries, and national parks. The black rhino has about 5,000 individuals (there were about 70,000 black rhinos as recently as 1970). It is no wonder that IUCN classifies the black rhino as ‘critically endangered.’ On the other hand, the white rhino number at least 17,000 (also in Africa) and is classified as ‘Near Threatened.’
A significant cause of the decline of the rhino population is the poaching and illegal trade of the rhino horn. In the current market, a kilogram of rhino horn could fetch over US$ 60,000. In many Asian countries, rhino horns are viewed as a standard wealth symbol and aphrodisiacs.
The demand and illicit trade of rhino horn were there even before the coronavirus. However, lockdowns and low tourism numbers have significantly increased poaching incidents in Africa.
In Botswana, poachers have killed at least six black rhinos since the coronavirus lockdown. Conservationists in Botswana are translocating black rhinos to undisclosed locations following the poaching and impending floods. Similarly, nine rhinos have been killed in South Africa. It is a bloody calamity that has led to the loss of lives too. Botswana security forces have killed at least five poachers in separate incidents.
Mountain Gorillas and Eastern Chimpanzees in Central Africa
On 24th April 2020, suspected rebel groups killed twelve rangers and five other people in Virunga National Park. The rebel groups fighting the Congolese government use poaching to fund their activities. Some of the species targeted include the endangered mountain gorillas and Eastern Chimpanzees.
The deadly attack happened amid the coronavirus lockdown. Maybe the attack wouldn’t have happened if the park was busy with tourism activities, just perhaps.
Jaguar, Ocelots and Pumas in Columbia
A conservation organization called Panthera reports that poachers have killed five jaguars, one puma, and one ocelot in Columbia following the lockdown. The exact numbers of the threatened cats killed are unknown because both the informants and conservation security staff are on lockdown.
Like the cases in Africa, poachers are more emboldened to strike because of the decreased patrols and law enforcement. The big cats are often perceived as pests in South America because they kill livestock.
Although IUCN lists jaguars as ‘Near Threatened,’ both puma and ocelot are listed as ‘Least Concern.’ Regardless, the populations of the big cats are reducing such that some conservationists think that they will be endangered soon.
Poaching incidents in Asia are increasing too.
About three hundred giant Ibises are left worldwide, and three were poisoned in Cambodia during the lockdown (that is 1% of the population). The critically endangered bird has a slow reproduction rate, but it is poached for its meat. The poachers believe removing the gut content quickly makes the meat poison-free. The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down ecotourism in the tourism-reliant South East Asia, which means that a significant number of people lack income. These people turn to cut trees and hunting wildlife for food and income sources. Apart from Ibises, significant numbers of painted stock, white-wing ducks, and sarus cranes have been killed in Cambodia following the lockdown.
India is home to 75% of the endangered tiger species. The New York Times report conservationists in India are worried that the virus could ‘jump into’ their tiger population with devastating effects. Additionally, there is an increase in bushmeat poaching of deer for food. If the trend of deer poaching continues, the tigers may have difficulty in finding prey.
Tourism and philanthropy are the primary basis of models for protecting wildlife and other natural resources. Following the coronavirus, travel restrictions and lockdowns have virtually stopped tourism. This halt implies that funds available for protecting wildlife, including endangered species, have reduced as well. Poachers are taking advantage of reduced surveillance.
We owe the future generation a chance to enjoy the current natural resources. The coronavirus has accelerated the pressures faced by the natural environment. Despite the pandemic, world leaders should think of an action plan to save the endangered species. Fast.
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David Okul is an environmental management professional with over 10 years experience on donor projects, conservation, forestry, ecotourism, and community-based natural resources management. When not working on active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics.
