A religious path to protecting Africa's animals

Chinese Taoist travels to Uganda and Kenya, brings message of coexistence and conservation

As Li Jin walked out of Nairobi Safari Park, two words lay heavily on her mind: Masai Mara.

Li, 29, a devout Taoist, rued the fact that she had not had the time to visit Kenya's famous savannah. However, she was soon consoling herself with the thought that she had not only experienced the beauty of Kenya but had had the chance to do something about an issue close to her heart - poaching.

Li works for the Chinese Taoist Association in Beijing, and she visited Kenya and Uganda last month to see poaching and its results firsthand.

Many of the poachers' ill-gotten gains, such as ivory, end up being sold in China, and Li believes Taoism and its adherents are well-placed to raise awareness of the need to curtail the trade.

Contrary to what many believe, wild animals should not need to be protected from human beings, Li says. Humans simply need to be more self-disciplined in dealing with them.

"In the food chain there is no direct conflict between humans and wild animals, and it is important to keep the two worlds running separately.

"Sadly though, animals do need to be protected to restore the balance in nature, and that comes at a very high cost to humans."

Taoists essentially agree regarding the relationship between humans and animals, and the only problem now between people is a misunderstanding over wildlife products, where they come from and where they end up, she says.

"In Taoism, the ultimate state is human beings and nature as one, and it believes in action through non-action, naturalness, simplicity and spontaneity.

"That perfectly explains the relationship that should exist between humans and wild animals."

When she was introduced to a Kenyan religious organization at a world inter-religious conference in Norway last year, her curiosity about where ivory products come from was piqued, given that some religious iconography is made of ivory.

"Even if people in China haven't seen for themselves what is going on in Africa, they realize the brutality that must be going on, and the use of such items as part of religious observance has all but been outlawed. Even if rhinoceros horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to save lives, which is seen as the supreme mission, its use was banned long ago, and you will find it being used in only extremely cases.

"But of course, China's population is huge, so you cannot rule out that our African friends are still being wronged in some way."

She visited Uganda and several national conservations in southern and central Kenya and says she realized how serious the problem poaching is. As long as there is demand it will be difficult to end illicit trade, she says.

"In China there is no predominant religion as in many other countries. Nevertheless, religious beliefs and ideals inform a lot of behavior and what happens in everyday life. Taoism is one of the most important of these. So when I go back to China I need to teach people to appreciate the importance of balance and harmony between humans and wild animals."

When she visited the community around Tsavo National Park in southeastern Kenya she realized the importance of local efforts combined with the power of politics and religion in effecting change.

Charles Odira Kwanya, a Catholic priest in Nairobi and national executive secretary of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, hosted Li's visit and talked at length with her about religion and conservation. That changed his impression about Chinese people and what they think about wildlife conservation, he says.

"If you think Chinese people do not practice religion you are wrong. In fact their daily lives and ethics are strictly guided by several major religions and philosophies, so thinking of them as people who are entirely preoccupied with the physical, and with the here and now is quite wrong.

"It's important to acknowledge human beings as paramount, and even more important for Chinese to seriously think about the harmony between humans and nature."

He says he hopes that in doing so Chinese will become more aware of conservation issues and the ethics related to it. But for the moment the landscape he is most concerned about is a political one, where authorities in some African countries turn a blind eye to poachers or are even in cahoots with them, and he wants to harness the influence of religion to bring this to an end.

Kwanya says he has traveled throughout Kenya to many areas where poaching is prevalent. The way local communities deal with the issue is complex, he says, involving rivalries, grievances and sometimes deep resentment, which makes solving the problem of poaching all the more difficult.

"In many communities animals are simply a part of everyday life, and there is no concept of safeguarding animals. So when some stranger comes into a village telling people they will be paid for any animal they hunt down, why would anyone say no? Let's face it: Many of these people live on very little, and even a small amount of money could change their lives."

What also needs to be recognized, Kwanya says, is that humans and animals are often in conflict over territory, and that can result in bloodshed.

"When wild animals kill or injure villagers or ruin crops, the only thing to do is fight back," he says.

Kwanya voices disapproval over what he regards as inequitable government income distribution policies that mean residents are not given a fair share of revenue collected from national parks or conservation areas. Many feel that outsiders are taking away wealth that belongs to them, he says. Politics can play a role in adopting and enforcing policies that benefit Kenyan communities, he says.

"The best way is to involve people in tourism, making it more sustainable, for example hiring more people to run hotels in parks, or giving them enough space to sell souvenirs, food and flowers."

But for this to happen, someone needs to stand up and speak for communities.

Religion can play a special role here, he says, even if many people are skeptical about religion in Africa, given how commonplace frauds committed under the cloak of religion are.

"In some communities around Nanyuki town in central Kenya we have seen good things done in the name of religion. The residents are devout and, influenced by church sermons, strongly belief in animals and humans living peacefully together."

Kwanya says that all he can do is influence people around him, and there needs to be a permanent way of communicating with residents so that the poachers and those who support them are replaced by people who favor animal conservation.

lilianxing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/07/2014 page28)