ANTI-POACHING: Although poaching is illegal in some countries, it is not enough to fully ensure that exotic species are safe from their human predators.
By Himadri Ratnayake, Staff Writer
Thanks to mankind’s excellent poaching skills, wildlife in Africa now faces the horror of no longer existing in a deteriorating habitat. It’s unfavorable that each type of environment is changing, but to kill the free spirits that roam our earth is even more damaging. The fields and plains of Africa will soon carry nothing but emptiness and sorrow. It may be illegal to slay innocent creatures, but nothing is being done about the thousands, even millions of animals that die on a yearly basis because of one species: humans.
Every year, thousands of exotic creatures perish, due to poachers (trophy hunters) who think it is a great idea to hunt them for parts of their body. Habitants of every country know that those animals are endangered or at least one of a kind. From rhinoceros to elephants to lions, every species that has a body part considered “valuable” will become lifeless. Take Cecil the Lion, who recently passed away this summer, as a powerful example for why poaching should be banned. He was 13 years of age and was a part of scientific research conducted by Oxford University in England, when Walter Palmer, a dentist in America, shot and killed him. The editorial board for the New York Times wrote “The Death of Cecil the Lion” to recognize the main points of this tragic event: “The 13-year-old lion was a star attraction […] he wore a collar by which scientists at the University of Oxford had been tracking him since 2008 […] Palmer paid more than $50,000 for the hunt […].” Cecil was part of an organization located in Zimbabwe, Africa, that should have high security systems. It may be “the wild,” but cruelly allowing continued harm to come to creatures such as Cecil is immoral and unjust. To top it off, Palmer has not been tried for his unacceptable actions here in America or in Africa. Yes, the tragedy occurred in another country, but no one should ignore the fact that one day, if this type of behavior is allowed to continue unchecked, there will be no more wild critters around.
What is being done about this poaching issue? Despite legislative apathy, many citizens are trying to combat poaching. Foundations such as the World Wildlife Fund, the Global Tiger Forum, the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network and others are looking at a “Zero Poaching Toolkit” to help prevent the poaching of wildlife. However, this is in Asia, not Africa, and the more time we take to solve this problem the more time poachers have to plot their next kill. Wildlife across the globe should be protected by every country, and there should be laws stating the consequences for killing harmless animals in their natural habitat. Animals are dying due to changes in climate, but is murdering them the best way to preserve their kind? Less animals does not mean more in the future. It is hard to reproduce when there are so few left around. Rhinoceroses, for example, are being sentenced to their death for their horns and elephants for their ivory tusks. Alexander Kasterine, a writer for Foreign Affairs, found that even with high security protecting African grounds, the poaching still continues: “In South Africa, [police used] $7 million in extra funding to ramp up security in its national parks. Yet poaching there has continued. Last year alone, poachers killed 22,000 elephants, the majority for tusks.” Although ivory trading is illegal in some countries, there should be laws supporting and protecting endangered species and wildlife in general. Poachers would then be warned that if they perform any special magic tricks, they will be caught for their illegal actions.
Although poaching has been forbidden in some countries, it is still an issue that keeps coming back. There is no consequence or fine for those that kill for fun or for animal body parts. More deaths to endangered species does not equal a productive birthrate. The poaching problem in Africa and in other countries is headed for a catastrophe, unless something is done about the situation.