Bushmeat Crisis in a Particular Country: Uganda, Africa - Admission/Application Essay Example

? Bushmeat Crisis in a Particular Country: Uganda, Africa Due Introduction Imagine a world where the onlyplace that wildlife exists in captivity or in videos. Imagine the African plains empty of the silhouettes of elephants, hippopotamus, giraffe, and the primates in the trees. This may sound unrealistic or like an exaggeration. Unfortunately it is more of a possibility than most people would think. The Bushmeat crisis is the continuous, habitual hunting, slaughtering, and killing of native species to eat and to sell within an illegal market. This problem exists throughout Africa and involves the hunting of species that would not normally hunt for food. Primates, like monkeys, and Great Apes, like Chimpanzees and Gorillas are being massacred for food, for their body parts, and for profit (Richardson , 2010). This is disturbing for a number of reasons. Uganda, one of the many African countries affected by the Bushmeat crisis, has the dominant population of both of these species. This issue has environmental, ethical, and serious implications for the future of these species. If the Bushmeat crisis continues in Uganda, it is likely to lead to the extinction of both of these Great Ape species, in Africa and all over the world. History Uganda is one of the many East African countries, nestled between Kenya, The Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Uganda has had a troubled past. It has survived dictatorships, internal political violence, and terrible economic depletions. It is the combination of these issues, including poverty, hunger, and desperation that has led to the people of Uganda into the Bushmeat industry. Although partially promoted by hunger, many of the animals killed for Bushmeat has greater monetary value when exported. Which promotes killing as much for hunger as for profit (Downing, 2012). Bushmeat hunters do not have regard for endangered species, will use illegal methods, and hunt in unauthorized locations to obtain their goal (Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, 2009). The loss of habitats through human means, like logging, has drastically and negatively affected native species already endangered. The Bushmeat trend has only made the population decreases far worse. Chimpanzees and Gorillas can be found throughout Uganda and a few other locations. Their bodies are valuable as magical talismans, their parts are desirable as trophies and most disturbing, their meat is considered a delicacy one would serve to the elite, offered at formal gatherings and special events (In Defense of Animals, 2013). Already diminishing and endangered species are being systematically eradicated for profits. This is an unsustainable industry because eventually their resource will no longer exist in quantities to meet the illegal demand. Discussion Africa is home to thousands of amphibious, mammalian species, as well as, unique plant life (PBS News Hour, 2013). There are great number of reasons why the Bushmeat crisis is truly a threat to ecosystems, habitats, endangered primate and Great Ape species, as well as, human beings. The repercussions on the environment are, already, being felt. Large game animals are, also, being poached, as well as, experiencing the diminishing numbers due to the Bushmeat crisis; elephants and hippopotamus are facing population drops. Nearly, half of the primate species in the world are presently threatened with eminent extinction (Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, 2009). Anytime an animal is removed entirely form it environment completely imbalances that ecosystem forever. Primates, like Chimpanzees and Gorillas, are extremely closely related to human beings. We share many similarities internally and externally. The idea of harvesting our nearest biological relatives as a food source raises many ethical issues; some even may ask does this qualify as some sort of pseudo-cannibalism. This genetic closeness also plays other roles. Chimpanzees and Gorillas, like human beings, live longer and do not reproduce as often or in the numbers that other prey species do. These species simply cannot reproduce quickly enough to recover their number and accommodate for the mass losses caused by the Bushmeat crisis. This will quickly lead to a complete extinction of these species (Downing, 2012). Lastly, there is, also, a serious concern with the transfer of disease. Because of our genetic similarities disease are often passed freely from primates to humans and vice versa. There have already been 2 instances where diseases passed from primates to human beings in Africa. Several Bushmeat hunters contracted 2 rare diseases that are only common among primates (Marris, 2005). In a more serious event, because Africa has no laws concerning the sale and consumption of sick animals or rotten meat, there have been 2 different Ebola outbreaks, resulting in the deaths of, nearly, 10 people (Richardson , 2010). Fortunately, the seriousness of this issue is not being ignored. Conservationists, environmental organizations, and animal protection groups have all come together over the last 20 years to aid in the awareness and elimination of the Bushmeat hunting practice. They share that there are 4 important steps that need to be followed in order to have a tangible effect on reversing the Bushmeat crisis. Both past and new laws must be enforced and made harsher. Next, massive campaigns that spread awareness, both, about the environmental impacts, but, also, the health risks must be made available. Greater efforts to establish and protect parks and conservation locations must be made. Lastly, new and innovative efforts must be taken to tackle the issues of hunger and poverty in the countries most affected (In Defense of Animals, 2013). Together this would help cripple the Bushmeat industry, before extinction ends it for them. Conclusion Human beings take a great deal from this world and they cause damage that destroys air quality, ecosystems, and impacts wildlife on a daily basis. The Bushmeat crisis is one of the most violent, harshest, and cruelest examples of that destruction. Chimpanzees and Gorillas, along with other primates, will be “eaten to extinction” if the measures suggested by those organizations and researchers are not implemented (Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, 2009). Ultimately, if measures are not taken then it is likely that the only primates left will be property or photographs in a thick textbook dedicated to all of the species that used to share this world with us. References Downing, D. C. (2012). The effect of the Bushmeat trade on African ape populations: Critical evaluation of the evidence and potential solutions. The Collegiate Journal of Anthropology, 1, 1. Retrieved from http://anthrojournal.com/issue/october-2011/article/the-effect-of-the-bushmeat-trade-on-african-ape-populations-critical-evaluation-of-the-evidence-and-potential-solutions1 Richardson , J. (2010, September 17). Deadly african ebola virus linked to bushmeat. Retrieved from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/09/deadly-african-ebola-virus-linked-to-bushmeat/ Marris, E. (2005). Monkeys infect bushmeat hunters. Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science, 1. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050516/full/news050516-2.html Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. (2009, June 19). Nearly half of all the world's primates at risk of extinction. Retrieved from http://www.bushmeat.org/node/81 Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. (2009, June 9). Species Conservation Groups and the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. Retrieved from http://www.bushmeat.org/node/88 In Defense of Animals. (2013). Bushmeat. Retrieved from http://www.ida-africa.org/bushmeat_7.html PBS News Hour. (2013, August 16). Ecuador exposes rain forest and its inhabitants to oil extraction effort. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec13/ecuador_08-16.html Read More