The slaughter of Sahelian wildlife by Arab royalty

Abstract

Once the Sahel supported healthy populations of wildlife. Today only remnant populations exist, survivors of the ravages of drought, desertification, excessive hunting and competition for pasture. In the past few years the problems for these animals and for the people trying to conserve them have been exacerbated by a new wave of hunters. Arab princes and their retinues, having exterminated most of the prey species in their native land, are invading the Sahelian countries in search of new hunting grounds. The author, who has worked for 20 years in the Sahel, here describes what is happening in Niger and Mali and urges that steps be taken to stop the slaughter.