Exploration of Sustainable Wildlife Habitat Conservation for Preventing Future Pandemics

This paper explored wildlife habitat conservation as a tool for containing animal to human transmission of virus. Available statistics shows that infectious viral diseases known to have troubled man have always been transmitted to humans through animals, hence the need for this paper. The objectives of this paper are: to review the origin of COVID-19 pandemic; to discuss wildlife conservation as a tool for containing animal to human spread of virus diseases. Observation and review of related literature were the methods used. This paper reveals that COVID-19 originated in an animal market located in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China through human interaction with pangolin which is primary carriers of the virus. This transmission was attributed to illegal poaching of pangolin that is already endangered species. Wildlife habitat conservation was further identified as a tool for preventing future pandemics. Human encroachment upon wildlife habitat has resulted to several infectious diseases that have killed many persons. Some suggestions were made to enhance wildlife conservation, they include, stopping all wildlife trade by permanently closing markets were wildlife are sold; rigorous enforcement of laws, regulation and international treaties on wildlife and enactment of new effective policies as well; provision of sustainably produced poultry, fish, invertebrates and plant protein as source of protein instead of seeking wildlife; good funding and support should be provided for agencies in-charge of protecting wildlife; education and awareness should also be created in order to motivate people to voluntarily renege from wildlife poaching. There is need for government and wildlife conservation agencies to step up efforts at conserving wildlife through implementation of these recommendations.