A new film, produced in Kenya by Born Free in partnership with Land Rover, has been created to raise awareness of the illegal 'bushmeat' trade in Kenya and provide an insight into some of the challenges faced by those in Kenya trying to bring a stop to the trade.
According to Born Free, rising food prices, another rash of crop failures and the wide‑ranging impacts of the global recession, is leading to a rise in the illegal meat trade in Kenya. In some areas the commercial bushmeat trade is threatening to wipe out Kenya's precious natural heritage entirely.
Bushmeat also affects us here in the UK. Latest figures indicate that nearly 7,500 tonnes of illegal meat products enter Britain every year. Some of this is believed to be bushmeat disguised as 'beef', with as much as 85% entering through personal luggage. Once in the UK, more than half (55%) of the illegal meat is distributed through wholesalers or sold at local street markets.
The illegal commercial trade in bushmeat is closely monitored by wildlife experts at the Born Free Foundation, who use Land Rovers in Kenya to travel to snaring hot‑spots, where thousands of deadly snares are located and disassembled every year. Born Free also raises awareness with Kenyan communities on the dangers of the illicit trade. Research carried out by Born Free in 2004, indicated that as much as 40% of meat being sold as beef or goat in certain Nairobi butcheries was either wholly or partially bushmeat.
Chief Executive of Born Free, Will Travers, stated, "Working with Land Rover and the Kenya Wildlife Service, we are attempting to halt the illegal and unsustainable commercial bushmeat trade. KWS has been making a serious effort in this area but it's a huge challenge. That's why charities such as Born Free have to assist in whatever way they can. We hope that this new film will highlight the very grave threat that the bushmeat trade poses to the wildlife and human communities in Africa and support the important work being undertaken by KWS."
Ian Redmond OBE, Born Free's Senior Wildlife Consultant and United Nations Ambassador for Year of the Gorilla explained: "The commercial bushmeat trade is out of control. Tackling the poachers, to quote the late David Sheldrick, needs "good vehicles, good communications and good men". Land Rover helps Born Free with the first of these priorities and the brave rangers of KWS represent the latter. But this is not just about saving individual animals, important as that is. It is about preserving functioning eco‑systems that bring benefits to every person on the planet. The ecosystem services provided by Africa's forests and savannahs include rainfall, carbon storage and stabilizing the global climate, so we all have an interest in preventing a few profiteers from destroying these globally important ecosystems for personal gain."
Following a long association spanning over 30 years Born Free was appointed as one of Land Rover's Global Environmental Sponsorship Partners in 2002. Land Rover provides vehicle support in various countries including: UK, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover, said: "We are proud to be working closely with our partners Born Free to help tackle this issue; raising awareness levels through the production of this new film and providing vehicles to support the work of wardens out in the field."
To view the Born Free and Land Rover anti‑poaching film, visit www.bornfree.org.uk/bushmeat.
For further information, please contact Victoria Webster or Paul Thomas on 020 7025 7500 or email Victoria.webster@trimediauk.com.