25 white lions killed

FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE, 2nd January 2010

CLIMATE change is to blame for the recent killings of 25 white lions by pastoralists in the northern part of the country, as livestock keepers moved in to protect their cattle from wild animals.

Droughts have taken their toll on pastures and have dried water which is essential for the survival of both people and animals.

A conservation expert from University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. George Jambia recently warned that because of global warming, rainfall patterns have changed while droughts are regular, hence forcing pastoralists to move closer to conservation areas where the lions attack cattle.

"Why did the communities kill 25 rare lions last year alone? They do not do this for fun. The lions have been attacking their livestock much more frequently compared to the previous years," Dr Jambia pointed out.

He further noted that lion attacks were frequent because there is a large presence of domestic animals within the boundaries of the national park.

"Because of good land and park management and a lower carrying capacity, the parks have the last vestiges of grass and water. Communities from far and wide have converged towards the park, hoping to save the few remaining livestock by accessing grass and water,"” Dr Jambia argued.

Recent press reports said that 25 rare white lions have been killed by pastoralists adjacent to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Arusha National Park during the 12 months of last year.

Warning that failure by selfish global leaders to hammer a climate change deal in Copenhagen last month risks extreme weather changes within the next few years that will have serious repercussions on man and the environment.

There have been droughts in the past and people have devised ways and means of coping. This time around it has been extreme and traditional coping mechanisms have failed, and this is not a one off event. It will happen again and maybe in the opposite extreme, he warned.

"These are the subtle and not so subtle effects of climate change, and such extreme events quite often trigger domino effects. Has anyone thought of the effects of rotting livestock carcasses strewn near the national parks", he wondered.

Dismissing a call for communities living close to conservation areas to be moved away from such parameter, Dr Jambia argued that such simplistic solutions were not workable.

"How does one sensitise a community that is losing its main source of livelihood and convince them to move away from the parks? Where to? How does one convince such communities that they should do the most they can 'to help the animals, insects, reptiles and plants have an enjoyable time', whilst there is no fodder or water for their livestock?" he wondered.

A conflict pitting people against animlas is simmering as humans encroach and take over areas that have been traditional habitats for wildlife. It is little known that about 200 people are killed by wild animals every year and a third of this is attributed to lions alone.