2% of the world’s rarest zebras wiped out in Kenya’s relentless drought, with some officials calling the loss of life “a tragedy,” which could have been avoided by more efficient use of water.
The government is still deliberating what corrective actions to take, which may include further cuts in water use. Some conservation groups are blaming drought on increased population growth, and argue that conservationists should be doing more to help conserve water resources.
“I don’t see people protesting to cut off water to farmers,” said Tim Dottle, vice president of the National Wildlife Federation and author of The New Conservationists. “There are not enough people around water in Africa.”
“What we do have in abundance is people. The problem is that they’re busy looking out for themselves and not looking out for the environment,” Dottle continued. “We need to move away from a conservation-first approach to one that focuses on people’s lives and sustainability.”
