What animals are most affected by wars in Africa?

When people point their gun at each other, casualties go beyond those who instigated the armed conflict. In several areas in Africa, the wildlife population has dwindled due to wars taking place in their habitat. Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., notes that a civil war that took place for 15 years in Mozambique was enough to reduce the wildlife population in the area by up to 90%.

Armed conflicts taking place in areas like forests have various effects. For example, in Kasmir, India, the leopard and bear population remained intact due to poachers avoiding the combat areas. However, one common theme in all studies regarding wars taking place in wildlife areas is that animals are killed by explosives or chemicals, or are hunted to feed soldiers.

Animal groups affected most by wars taking place in wildlife territories are the mammals. Between 1977 and 1992, Gorongosa National Park lost its herbivore population to poachers. Leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs disappeared. In Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda, the impala population declined by 4.5% annually from 1982 to 1995. In the same area, the hippopotamus population declined by 12% annually, as well. And in Zakouma Park in Chad, the elephant population had an extremely sharp drop of 44$ per year between 2006 and 2009.

Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., explains that conflicts in natural environments are not natural. Thus, the sharp decline in the mammal population is a clear indicator that humans become invasive creatures that terrorize wildlife during their armed conflicts.

Margaret L. Salmon, M.D., specializes in the health needs of populations caught in armed conflicts such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. Based on her time in these countries, she publishes widely on bringing low-cost technology solutions to immediate healthcare problems. For similar reads, visit this page.