Within the reserve itself only eland, Grant’s gazelle and ostrich have shown any signs of recovery. Overall, the populations of impala, warthog, giraffe, Coke’s hartebeest and topi have declined by over 70%.
Although some communities still eat dolphin meat the true reasons behind this brutal tradition are much more complex.
The disease is an infectious, spreading cancer and, with no cure available, has reduced populations by 80%. Consequently the species is now listed on the IUCN Red List as endangered.
The idyllic island of Cyprus is the location of a yearly massacre of millions of birds. They are killed to supply upscale restaurants with a traditional Cypriot “delicacy” called ambelopoulia – boiled or pickled songbirds, usually swallowed whole as it is not cost effective to remove their entrails.
The areas are kept safe from predators by nets, but these nets do not stop the bivalves from spawning.
Not only are divers eroding the shoreline by entering and leaving the water, but also by grabbing and kicking coral reefs when under the water.