Arthur Greene
An investigation by World Animal Protection has alleged that Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, is involved in the exploitative global trade of Africa’s wildlife.
The report titled “Cargo of Cruelty” detailed how some of the continent’s most precious and endangered species are flown to other continents to be kept as exotic pets.
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest exporter of these species, the report alleges.
“Between 2016 and 2020, at least 25 different species of wildlife, including reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and amphibians featured in at least 30 Ethiopian Airlines shipments,” it says.
Bushbabies, African civets, African spurred tortoises, African Ball pythons and Rhinoceros vipers are just some of the species which are exported to foreign countries.
Its investigation reviewed the social media activity of wildlife traders in West Africa. It found that two sellers from Togo advertised over 200 species of animals.
Over 7% of the species identified in the social media posts are officially classified as either Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered.
The investigation then analysed 33 Ethiopian Airlines shipments, and found that at least four of them were carrying live mammals to be shipped to countries including Italy, Malaysia and Thailand.
“While the world still grapples with the pandemic, it’s important to remember how it’s believed to have all started – the wildlife trade,” said Edith Kabesiime, the organisation’s wildlife campaigns manager.
She points out that the trade of wild animals is probably what caused the outbreak of coronavirus which brought the planet to a standstill over the past 18 months.
“[Ethiopian Airlines] are importing lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines, but at the same time, by exporting live wild animals, they could be transporting dangerous pathogens around the world.”
The report calls for Ethiopian Airlines to restrict the trade of live animals, and take immediate action on species that could be transporting dangerous pathogens.
Ethiopian Airlines responded to the report on Thursday via an article published in News Ghana:
“Ethiopian Airlines takes maximum care in air transport of live animals and strictly follows all national, regional, and international regulations on the transport of live animals.”
Image source: @MovemosalMundo
