Now that the African lion is listed as endangered on the US endangered species list, what does a future of protectionism hold for the species? Fortunately there is an excellent example of “protectionism in action” to examine across the Tanzanian border.
The East African country of Kenya lies on the equator. It covers some 224 000 square miles and has a human population of around 43 million. The capital, Nairobi, is a regional commercial hub and the country’s economy is the largest by GDP in East and Central Africa.
Kenya is home to a diverse range of wildlife species and it has become synonymous with the classic African photographic safari. Whilst Kenya is famous for its wildlife reserves such as the East and West Tsavo National Park and the Maasai Mara the critical conservation problems facing Kenya today lie outside the formal Protected Areas where most of the country’s wildlife is found.