As COVID-19 advances across the world, over three million people have now been infected.
Many more will come.
This pandemic has crashed global economies, killed hundreds of thousands of people, put millions into unemployment and billions into lockdown.
It is the crisis of our times.
While we come to terms with the swift and uncomfortable changes to the life we recently knew, the actual source of this pandemic is being overlooked, and we believe it could have been prevented.
Coronavirus evolved in the wet markets of Asia, where many wild animal species are held in close quarters and killed on demand for waiting customers. Such markets exist all over the world and have already been identified as key settings for future devastating viruses.
A primary focus on preventing future pandemics is the shutting down of these wet markets.
But incremental closures of markets here and there won’t cut it in the longer term, we must stop wildlife reaching the markets in the first place.
Prevention is always better than cure.
Once wildlife is in the markets, legal or illegal, it’s too late.
The International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) has trained or supported wildlife rangers which help protect over 20 million acres of wilderness – home to billions of animals of all shapes and sizes. Animals that could easily have ended up in wet markets. Animals such as pangolins that could harbour another pandemic for humans.
There is no risk-free trade in wildlife, whether for food, traditional medicine, clothing or ornaments.
Potentially fatal viruses are in the wild now, and with the right conditions, will transmit to humans again.
Alarming research forecasts that the frequency and intensity of these devastating viruses will only amplify. How long before the next pandemic hits, no-one can say.
The underlying circumstances that made the outbreak of this COVID-19 pandemic possible still exist, but we believe it could have been prevented.
Every one of us feels like this pandemic is ‘bigger’ than us – an invisible enemy that is impossible to see or overcome. But together, we create a undeniable voice for change.
There is a clear and compelling need to shut down all trafficking of wildlife.
Once animals are in the market place, it is too late. The supply chain needs to be stopped at the source, saving wildlife as well as human lives. Wildlife rangers may just stop the next pandemic.
This is the job of wildlife rangers, who are now, not only the first and last line of defence for nature, but also humanity.
By training and deploying more instructors and more rangers we CAN help prevent the spread of such diseases, but we need your help.
With so many feeling helpless right now, we have created this ‘open letter to humanity’ to help give you back some control.
We all have a role to play, a voice to use and we want you to know that your voice is being heard.
By lending your voice to ours, we grow our ability to influence change on the ground.
With your support, we can lobby governments and leaders with more conviction for change and collabourate with like-minded conservation organisations on vital life-saving projects.
And most importantly, we want you to know you are an essential part of an established grass roots movement that is actively working to prevent further pandemics, by protecting wildlife and their natural habitats, where they belong.
Please add your signature now to stop pandemics at the source, by helping us stop wildlife trafficking.
With warm wishes for your health and safety,
Founder & CEO
COVID-19 inaendelea kuenea duniani kote, na sasa zaidi ya watu milioni 3 wameambukizwa. Wengi zaidi watakuja. Janga hili limeharibu uchumi wa dunia, limeua mamia ya maelfu ya watu, limewafanya mamilioni kuwa wasio na kazi na mabilioni kuwa katika kufungwa. Huo ndio mgogoro wa nyakati zetu. """Wakati tunakubaliana na mabadiliko ya haraka na yasiyo ya kawaida katika maisha ambayo tulijua hivi karibuni, chanzo halisi cha janga hili kinapuuzwa, na tunaamini linaweza kuzuiwa." Virusi vya corona vimeenea katika masoko ya Asia, ambapo spishi nyingi za wanyama wa porini huhifadhiwa katika vyumba vya karibu na kuuawa kwa mahitaji ya wateja wanaosubiri. Soko kama hilo lipo ulimwenguni kote na tayari limetambuliwa kama mazingira muhimu kwa virusi vya baadaye vya uharibifu. Lengo kuu la kuzuia magonjwa ya janga ya baadaye ni kufunga masoko haya ya mvua. Lakini kufungwa kwa masoko hapa na huko hakutasaidia kwa muda mrefu, lazima tuache wanyama wa porini kufikia masoko kwanza. Ni afadhali kuzuia kuliko kutibu. Wakati wanyama-pori wanapokuwa sokoni, iwe ni halali au haramu, ni kuchelewa mno. Shirika la International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) limewahi kuwafundisha na kuunga mkono walinzi wa wanyama wa porini ambao husaidia kulinda zaidi ya ekari milioni 20 za jangwa - makao ya mabilioni ya wanyama wa maumbo na ukubwa wote. Wanyama ambao kwa urahisi wangeweza kuishia katika masoko yenye unyevunyevu. Wanyama kama vile pangolini wanaweza kuambukiza wanadamu. Hakuna biashara isiyo na hatari ya wanyama wa porini, iwe kwa chakula, dawa za jadi, nguo au mapambo. Virusi vinavyoweza kusababisha kifo viko katika mazingira ya asili sasa, na kwa hali sahihi, vitaweza kuambukizwa kwa wanadamu tena. Utafiti unaotisha unatabiri kwamba mzunguko na nguvu ya virusi hivi vyenye uharibifu zitaongezeka tu. Hakuna anayeweza kusema ni muda gani kabla ya janga linalofuata kutokea. """Hatua za msingi ambazo zilifanya janga la COVID-19 liwezekane bado zipo, lakini tunaamini zingeweza kuzuiwa.""" Kila mmoja wetu anahisi kama janga hili ni kubwa kuliko sisi, adui asiyeonekana ambaye haiwezekani kumwona au kushinda. Lakini pamoja, tunaunda sauti isiyoweza kukataliwa kwa ajili ya mabadiliko. Kuna haja ya wazi na ya kulazimisha ya kukomesha biashara yote ya wanyama wa porini. Mara tu wanyama wanapofika sokoni, ni kuchelewa mno. Mnyororo wa usambazaji unahitaji kukomeshwa kwenye chanzo, kuokoa wanyama wa porini na pia maisha ya binadamu. Walinzi wa wanyama wa porini wanaweza kuzuia janga linalofuata. "Hii ni kazi ya walinzi wa wanyama wa porini, ambao sasa si mstari wa kwanza na wa mwisho wa ulinzi kwa asili tu, bali pia kwa ubinadamu.""" Kwa kuwafundisha na kuwapeleka walimu na walinzi zaidi tunaweza kusaidia kuzuia kuenea kwa magonjwa kama hayo, lakini tunahitaji msaada wako. Kwa sababu wengi wanahisi hawana msaada sasa hivi, tumeunda 'barua hii ya wazi kwa wanadamu' ili kukusaidia kurudisha udhibiti. Sisi sote tuna jukumu la kucheza, sauti ya kutumia, na tunataka ujue kwamba sauti yako inasikika. Kwa kutoa sauti yako kwa yetu, tunakua uwezo wetu wa kushawishi mabadiliko kwenye ardhi. Kwa msaada wako, tunaweza kushawishi serikali na viongozi kwa imani zaidi kwa mabadiliko na kushirikiana na mashirika ya uhifadhi wa mawazo sawa kwenye miradi muhimu ya kuokoa maisha. "Na muhimu zaidi, tunataka ujue wewe ni sehemu muhimu ya harakati ya msingi iliyoanzishwa ambayo inafanya kazi kwa bidii kuzuia janga zaidi kwa kulinda wanyama wa porini na mazingira yao ya asili, ambapo wanastahili. """ Tafadhali ongeza saini yako sasa ili kuzuia janga la virusi vya corona, kwa kutusaidia kukomesha biashara haramu ya wanyama wa porini. Kwa matakwa ya afya na usalama wako, Mwanzilishi na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji