Target: Dr. Andrew Karanja, Ministry of Agriculture for Kenya
Goal: Don’t let urban expansion and agriculture lead to the extinction of Africa’s wildlife.
Kenya hosts a variety of iconic African wildlife, even within its capital city. But the lions and other animals inhabiting Nairobi National Park are increasingly becoming entrapped by human civilization, to their detriment. Three of the four sides of the park are closed off and surrounded by the city’s structures. The fourth side provides one precious migratory route to the wild open lands, but this route happens to be occupied by farmers who put their livelihoods and their livestock at risk in order to help continue the wildlife’s survival.
The decreasing gene pool of the animals within the park puts them in danger of inbreeding and the many health consequences that can result, including premature deaths. Prey populations also diminish, which forces predators like lions to satiate their hunger via vulnerable livestock. A pilot program is offering affected farmers and land-owners compensation to open parts of their property and provide more migration routes.
Sign the petition below to encourage more nationwide investment in a proposal that helps conserve both irreplaceable wildlife and local agriculture-dependent economies.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Karanja,
The number of lions migrating from Nairobi National Park into open wildlands has plummeted by 20,000 as human developments have expanded. The growing lack of biodiversity has far-reaching ramifications for the health and longevity of this species and other wildlife within the park. Farmers populating the sole remaining open route have demonstrated their care about preserving wildlife for future generations by keeping large tracts of their land free from barriers. They make this effort to the detriment of their businesses.
The modest incentive programs can and should be expanded to bring land-owners on-board. This investment could pay countless dividends. If more land-owners were willing to make this short-term sacrifice for long-term gains, then the futures of both bottle-necked wildlife and agriculture could thrive.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Marcus Herzberg
