Conservation Wildlife Tourism In Crisis After Two Years Of Pandemic

PATERSON, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 07: A crash, or group, of white rhinoceroses, also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros, is seen during a safari drive at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve on February 7, 2022 near the town of Paterson in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the scores of private reserves that have dedicated themselves to protecting the country's wildlife heritage through conservation tourism have reported at least a 75% decline in mostly overseas bookings putting the businesses themselves and as many as 600,000 jobs at risk. The lack of tourism funding has led to increased poaching in rural areas and there are growing concerns that the Coronavirus crisis will revitalize the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)