Sustainability was far more damaged by a population increasing 50 times to a billion people, forestry changing from say 60% of land area to 3%. And still declining.

And a complete lack of understanding by the authorities of wildlife and also any idea of sustainable conservation methods. A pretty much widespread system of corruption. A hatred of "old" ways as "colonialism" and class hatred of the old royalty and masters .... and their cultures including hunting.

The locals starving or very poor see wildlife as a competing influence for farm and grazing land, a source of meat, and animals which destroy their crops and kill their family members. With ZERO benefit returned to the locals from wildlife why support it?