Kenya and\nTanzania have been ranked together with the United States and Canada in best animal\nwelfare practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
London-based World\nAnimal Protection on Tuesday unveiled the Animal Protection Index (API)\nindicating that Kenya and Tanzania lead in Africa in wildlife protection laws\nahead of South Africa and Nigeria. By global standards, however, the two East\nAfrican nations, known for their vibrant safari tourism, are still far off from\nnations with best practices like Sweden. The report launch, however, coincided with\nthe killing of a rare white giraffe and her calf in Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It assessed\n50 countries across the world on metrics such as factory farming, wildlife\ntrafficking and stray animal culling legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTanzania\u2019s leadership is visible in law\nthrough the Animal Welfare Act which includes; recognising both vertebrates and\ninvertebrates as sentient beings; enshrining the Five Freedom in Law; promoting\nthe \u20183Rs\u2019 principles \u2013 \u2018replacement, reduction, refinement\u2019, regarding the use\nof animals and scientific research,\u201d said Tennyson\nWilliams, Country Director, World Animal Protection at the report launch in\nNairobi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKenya, on the other hand, has introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act which applies to vertebrates. The law states that rodeos and animal fights are prohibited; the placement of traps and snares that cause unnecessary suffering to an animal, as well as failing to check on trapped animal is prohibited; recreational hunting, including trophy hunting is also prohibited,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By virtue of having those respective\nwildlife legislations in place, the report\nsaid, both Tanzania and Kenya scored a ranking of \u2018D\u2019, on the index, putting\nthem in the same category as the USA, Canada and Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other\nhand, South Africa which was previously ranked \u2018D\u2019 slipped to an \u2018E\u2019 score on\npar with Nigeria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSouth Africa\ndoes have the Animal Protection Act which prohibits animal cruelty on all\ndomestic animals or wild animals in captivity. The Performing Animals Act also\nrequires establishments training animals for performances or training guard\ndogs, to be licenced. However, protections for wildlife are limited as South\nAfrica\u2019s lifted the domestic ban on rhinoceros horn trade risks fuelling the\ninternational demand for this product,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study\nsaid that Nigeria(ranked \u2018E\u2019) lacks a dedicated law on animal\nwelfare, although within the Nigeria Criminal Code, animal cruelty is\nprohibited. For example, animals used for draft purposes cannot be overloaded\nor overworked, and there is also a national ban on animal fights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ethiopia fared\na lot worse, scoring a lower ranking of F. The country\u2019s Criminal Code\nprohibits cruel treatment of animals in public places, and it is an offense to\norganise events where animals are treated cruelly, including animal fights and\ncaptive shootings. Yet the legislation does not recognise animal sentience,\nthere is no duty of care to animal owners, limited rights for farm animals, and\ncircuses and other forms of entertainment using animals are allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study\ncomes amid the Coronavirus fallout, which scientists suspect to have been\npassed from wildlife to humans as a result of poor animal welfare. Other\nzoonotic diseases that carry deadly consequences for animals and humans include\nrabies, salmonella and Ebola, all also inherent to poor animal welfare practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Animal Protection Index (API)\nseeks to highlight good animal practices, and where they fall short on animal\nwelfare policy and legislation, so they can take steps to improve. This could\nhelp prevent devastating health epidemics and put in place good animal welfare\npractices such as keeping animals clean, healthy and with sufficient space to\nexhibit natural behaviours. For example, Sweden has legislation in place that\nbans restrictive sow stalls and farrowing crates for pigs, and limits stocking\ndensities for chickens raised for meat, helping to reduce the risk of animal\ndiseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPolicies that protect animals protect people too. Some African nations\nare implementing progressive policies, competitive by global standards. Kenya\nand Tanzania\u2019s approaches should shine as a beacon of possibility, and I hope\nthey strive for continuous improvement,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis index is an important tool. It highlights what\u2019s being done well by countries, and where there is room for improvement for all, helping to guide governments on practical solutions to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n