Zambia Safari and the Red List of Species

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) with its headquarters at Gland in Switzerland has compiled a Red List of endangered species. The 2004 Red List of threatened species contains tens of thousands of species. A whopping total of 15,000 species! The Red List is an indicator of the status of the health of world plants and animals.

Why are some species of fauna and flora (animals and plants) endangered to extinction? The answer is simple… Human activity! Man’s action constitutes one of the main threats to endangered species. Rather than preserve the delicate balance of nature that is important to mankind’s survival humans continue to abuse nature. Sadly many species are thus lost and along with them the natural resources that may prove invaluable.

Some of man’s activities meant to achieve one thing are highly dangerous to some species. For instance, agriculture to feed humans, mining of minerals, trade in timber (lumber) and animal products as well as pure greed for the pleasure of sport.

Just think of it. Man goes in the bush to shoot animals for the pleasure of sport. As a result some animals and plants are now extinct. One animal prominent on the Red List is the short-beaked common dolphin that has been reduced by 50 percent in the last 30 to 40 years. Another is the black-browed albatross.

And for Zambia safari the rhinoceros has been exterminated, poached to complete extinction in South Luangwa National Park in the Luangwa Valley where they roamed freely in their thousands only a few short 20 years ago.

In support of conservation Zambia safari has started the restocking of rhinos in the North Luangwa National Park.