Human Impact on Zebras
Due to human encroachment, increasing habitat loss in Africa has affected the population of zebras. Humans have started to raise livestock in the same habitat as zebras, this is considered as livestock grazing which increases intraspecies competition for food and water between these two animals. This issue mostly affects the southern half of Africa, also causing the recent population decline of zebras. The population density of zebras in the northern half has experienced serious overhunting. Because hunting is in fact legal, there are various hunting lodges in Africa that offer zebra hunting packages which include accommodations, licenses, permits, transportation, tools for certain fees. These lodges are making a profit out of hunting animals in Africa. Zebras are usually hunted for meat and distinctive skins for rugs and pelts. In order to solve this issue, laws should be implemented to make hunting more strict and hunting lodges less accessible. More land should be set aside only for the conservation of animals specifically zebras. To reduce livestock grazing, the Linking Livestock Markets to Conservation initiative created by the African Wildlife Foundation, provides areas to raise livestock if conservation guidelines are followed. The mission of the African Wildlife Foundation is to ensure the survival of the wildlife and lands of Africa.