Yao Ming in Kenya
Retired NBA basketball player Yao Ming arrived in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday 10th August to address the issues surrounding the upkeep of the now endangered wildlife species. So far, the Wild Aid ambassador has managed to visit Ol Pajeta conservancy and has also held talks with key wildlife officials and authorities. Wild Aid is a charity organisation advocating for the protection of the endangered species world over. Prime on their agenda was the acute decline of White Rhinos and elephants in Kenya and Africa at large. His visit to Kenya leads to the teaming up of the Wild Aid Organisation and Ol Pajeta conservancy in a bid to raise awareness of the danger imposed of the rhinos and elephants species.
Yao Ming has filmed a crucial documentary highlighting the adverse effects contributed by poaching activities in Kenya’s game reserves. The documentary titled “The End of the Wild” seeks to address the devastations brought about by the illegal ivory trade to prominent destinations such as China. The documentary also hopes to underscore the beauty and economic effects of wildlife to Kenya’s economy.
With projections of about 250 million middle class consumers of rhino and ivory tusks, China has shown indications that the number is set to increase at a skyrocketing pace in the next 10-15 years. With his campaign, Yao Ming hopes that his efforts will in a long way help protect the elephants and rhino’s populations. China’s massive consumption has been blamed on various factors such as old traditions and customs among other emerging trends.
His visit to Kenya is undoubtedly of great significance as it will bring on board his initiatives of taking the anti-poaching campaign message back to his Chinese homeland. It’s believed that ivory in China is a priced commodity in open markets. The resulting effects brought about by the illegal trade have been devastating to the wildlife industry in Africa.
A statistics report from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials revealed that a significant number of elephant and rhino populations have deteriorated between 1989 and 2007 as a result of the illegal poaching activities.
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