9 PROBLEMS FACING WILDLIFE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• Poaching which is likely to bring rare species of animals to extinction e.g. rhinos and elephants.
• Adverse climatic conditions which causes death of some animals due to shortage of water and pasture.
• Floods which drown animals and destroy plants depriving animals of pasture.
• Bush fires which destroy large tracts of land and kill animals which may cause extinction of rare species and expose land to agents of erosion.
• Overgrazing by high population of herbivores resulting in destruction of vegetation which exposes land to agents of erosion destroying habitats of animals causing them to migrate to areas with adequate pasture.

• Wildlife-human conflict where by pastoralists kills carnivores which kill their livestock.
• Pests and diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus which threatens to reduce the lion population in many parts of Africa.
• Human activities e.g.

1. Overgrazing by livestock where grazing is allowed leading to destruction of the natural habitat for wildlife.
2. Destruction of vegetation by tourists vehicles which reduces the amount of food for browsing animals.
3. Encroachment of land which was formerly reserved for wildlife by clearing land for settlement and agriculture which has led to killing of animals.
4. Overfishing which threatens the survival of certain species of fish and other marine life.
5. Environmental pollution such as release of sewage from lodges which pollutes the water leading to the poisoning of animals which drink it

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