Real Impacts of Poaching
Written by Morgan Greenlee, Former Student on Monday, December 15, 2014
The foreign animals that you have come to love and learn more about since you were a child are going extinct due to poaching. Although poaching isn’t as big of a threat in North America as it is in Asia and Africa, the issue is not something that should be taken lightly. Hunting endangered species is illegal, but continues to occur because fur coats, horns, tusks, and organs are considered very valuable in some cultures and are sold over black markets.
In 1970, the demand for ivory increased tremendously, and therefore, exports out of Africa reached record high levels. Consequently, due to the desire for ivory, residents in Africa began to recognize how much the ivory tusks of elephants and rhinos could be sold for. Hunters brutally cut off the tusks of the two species, then left them to die once they were finished. Ivory-seeking poachers are still killing today. A study done by the Colorado State University Department of Zoology concluded that more than 100,000 elephants were killed between 2010 and 2012. In 2011 alone, it was estimated that for every 12 elephants, one would be killed by a poacher. Rhinos are in even worse shape, the especially the Northern White Rhino. Northern White Rhinos are extinct in the wild, and only a few are held captive in a sanctuary in Kenya.
As of today, only 3,200 tigers are still roaming the earth due to poaching. Every single part of the tiger, including the whiskers, are sold through illegal wildlife markets. Poaching is the most immediate threat to the tiger’s species because of this. Tiger parts are valuable because they more often display rank of status in Asian cultures, and they also are believed to have medicinal value. Prior to the 20th century, there were nine tiger sub-species and over 100,000 in the wild. Now only five or six sub-species are in existence, and the population continues to dwindle as a result of poaching.
Although the species endangerment status may not seem to have a direct influence on students at SHS, it is actually very important to be aware of the effects that poaching has on small communities. Ecotourism opportunities are available much less when there are no animals to show traveling tourists. Communities that rely on this business are affected more because they lose money, and then their economy is weakened.
Programs and organizations everywhere are working to prevent poaching and save the endangered species. World Wildlife Fund works on global conservation daily and takes donations. WWF has a goal to double the number of wild tigers by 2022 and encourages all of you to help. Contributions can be made online, and 84 cents of every dollar donated goes to wildlife conservation.
