Synchronised marches for animals welfare in Lilongwe

By  Charles Mkoka

Time flies up next is October where last year we had the Elephant march that spelt out the cries from the wilderness and the passionate conservationists’ voices. Rampant elephant poaching for ivory has migrated from subsistence to top notch commercial standard the placards and banners among the marchers told it all.

This year other than the global march for elephant and Black Rhino slated for the 4^th of October. It will be preceded by the World Animal March. The Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development in conjunction with its key stakeholders will for the first time this year commemorate the World Animal Day (WAD) on 2nd October 2014 at Civo upper stadium, in Lilongwe under the theme: “Animals matter-Malawi”.  The focus therefore is looking at both the marchers that seem to share common interest both at domesticated and wild species welfare that matter to human beings.

In the first place we look at domestic animals as a central feature of our lives. Many of the animals we share this planet suffer as a result of human exploitation. Most animals are raised as food or clothing, reared, and sometimes die in the most extreme forms of confinement, never experiencing even the slightest bit of kindness or mercy. Animals used for medical experiments and product testing live often painful, lonely lives in small cages from birth to death. Wild animals lose their lives as habitats disappear; they are hunted for their trophies. Pet animals are bought in large numbers as furniture; many are kept in inadequate conditions, and discarded when owners grow tired of them.

WAD aims at celebrating animal life, their relationship to mankind and their diverse roles in our lives.  This day is therefore traditionally celebrated annually all over the world to improve awareness on roles animals play to the human race.

The gist of the matter is that while humans champion rights issues amongst themselves. It is high time that such rights are also extended to animals, if the level playing field is to be equal. There are no two ways about it that animals just like humans have the capacity to both suffer and feel pleasure. Their physiological capacity to experience these sensations is virtually identical to our own.

This is typical the same situation that Elephants and Black Rhinos in our protected areas have found themselves in. The escalating level of commercial poaching has led to the decimation of species that have now become endangered. No wonder a march to voice out the concerns that wildlife species are experiencing is to take place on the 4^th of October.  A petition expressing concerns on the level of illicit trade in ivory and rhino while be presented to authorities.

The campaign advocates the ban on all international and domestic trade, but also destroying ivory stockpiles. The global march also intends to raise awareness in investing in anti-poaching and broader enforcement training. One other concern is also the need to strengthen and implement strict penalties on all culprits that are meted on all individuals involved in illegal wildlife trade through the judicial system.

The issue of light penalties meted on culprits apprehended in wildlife trafficking has been a growing concern among conservationists lately. This has resulted in foreign national’s especially Chinese taking advantage of weak legislation to capitalise illicit deeds in perpetrating wildlife related cases.
This resulted in the formation of  multi-agency taskforce comprising enforcement institutions  set up to crackdown and abate the skyrocketing cases of wildlife crime in a bid to save endangered and rare species of fauna.

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