With all the problems caused by the lack of tourism in Kenya over the past year, due to the well-known causes of force majeure, there is some small relief that concerns Nature and the animal world.
In particular, we are talking about the country's coastal beaches, where species of fish and invertebrates that had long been hiding or staying away because of human presence, or suffering the most stupid habits, are finally being seen again.
First of all, starfish.
After the death to which they have been subjected for years now due to the imbecilic fashion of taking selfies with them by pulling them out of the water, with the lack of tourists with little education on the subject and encouraged by beach boys and improvised guides who are even less informed and less attentive, even to their own detriment, hundreds of them have returned to the coral beaches and near the reef, in their colours that vary from bright red to violet and blue.
Alongside this wonder of the warm equatorial and tropical seas, which can die of stress after only a few minutes if it is pulled out of the water, there are other species of fish, such as the clown fish, angel fish and emperor fish. Sea turtles happily return to lay their eggs and the beauty of the colourful nudibranchs shines in the Watamu reef.
Watch out, however, for moray eels and the dangerous stonefish, the most poisonous fish in existence, coming to the surface. An anaphylactic shock from its powerful venom can even cause a heart attack.
When Nature takes back the sea, it returns to the wild beauty that only fuel, pollution, sunscreen and other human inventions can destroy.
We should take advantage of this moment to ensure that the repopulation of Kenya by tourists should not once again coincide with the deterioration of the environment. But the conditionality is more important than ever.