The unimaginable toll of war on African wildlife

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While researching, photographing, and appreciating wildlife in Africa, Tatiana Regan has also witnessed a sad truth – that animals suffer as much as humans in many of the war-torn areas of the continent. It is an issue in Africa. While several researchers and news outlets have reported on the topic, Tatiana has seen many of the results first-hand.

It’s no secret that Africa’s many factions have continued to rock the continent with their constant armed conflicts. A good number of national parks in the continent have reported declining numbers of wildlife. One disturbing truth is that the mere existence of armed conflict is much more catastrophic than its intensity when it comes to all but wiping out the numbers of certain species in a given area.

Image source: pexels.com 

From elephants and rhinos to hippos and zebras to other wildlife, bushmeat hunting and poaching has become a regular occurrence. Tatiana Regan mentions elephants and rhinos as the perfect example of animals caught in wars. These two majestic species are often hunted and poached for their ivory and tusks, so local militia groups can sell them and fund their military campaigns.

However, Tatiana mentions that there is a silver lining – that various organizations in Africa and around the world have been rallying to train and arm rangers to protect these places and these animals.

Tatiana Regan is a nature blogger. She travels around the world, sharing stories of nature and wildlife that you may not get from the mainstream media. Right now, she is focusing on wildlife and nature in Africa. Learn more about Tatiana’s passions by following her on Twitter.