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Combating Poaching in Africa and Asia

opinion Essay
928 words
928 words
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According to the Department of Environmental Affairs Republic of South Africa (2013), in 2012 668 rhinos were illegal poached in South Africa. In just the first 10 months of 2013, that number has reached 790 (para. 13). Poaching is on the rise especially for iconic species such as elephants and rhinos. These endangered species are being poached not for their meat but for their tusks and horns to sell on the black market at an excessive value (Ferreira, Botha, Emmett & Hayward, 2012, p. 1). To save elephants and rhinos in Africa and Asia governments must educate the public, introduce legislation, address economic issues, and use technology to curb the rise in poaching.
Education
Education is the most important step in slowing the instances of poaching. Different cultures use holistic medicine to treat different alignments, some work and some do not. It has been shown that rhino horn has no medicinal value as it is just keratin like our nails. Even though this has been shown to be true, Asian cultures still have a high demand for rhino horn. The world governments must continue to educate populations that there is no value in rhino horn. If a population is educated on the importance of wildlife that population is more likely to protect it. Locals will understand the importance of protecting the land for its benefits not its profit (Child, 2012, p. 3). It is essential that populations be educated that if it protects its land it can then gain profit through tourism is an enormous step that must to be taken. Both local people and law enforcement need to have the knowledge as Coals (2013) states “there are no big busts and scant pickings for glory hunters” (p. 22). We must make people knowledgble that this is not a problem ...

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Lemieux, A., & Clarke, R. (2009). The international ban on ivory sales and its effect on elephant poaching in Africa. British Journal of Criminology, 49(4), 451-471. Doi:
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Schmidtz, D., & Willott, E. (2012). Private landowners cooperate to sustain wildlife habitat: The case of the Sabi Sand game reserve. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 24(2), 78-85 doi: 10.1111/j.1745-6622.2012.00382.x
Vincent, J. (2013, October 18). Microchips turn the rhino’s horn into a defensive weapon against poachers. The Independent. Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/ inacademic Wittemyer, G. (2011, October). Effects of economic downturn on mortality of wild African elephants. Conservation Biology, 25(5), 1002-1009. doi:
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In this essay, the author

  • Opines that poaching is on the rise especially for iconic species such as elephants and rhinos. to save them, governments must educate the public, introduce legislation, address economic issues, and use technology.
  • Opines that education is the most important step in slowing the instances of poaching.
  • Opines that law enforcement needs to be educated on the laws and how to enforce them, and to lower instances of poaching in problem areas.
  • Opines that to slow poaching in africa and asia the countries current economic status must be addressed.
  • Explains that scientists and law enforcement have used tracking collars on animals to attempt to catch poachers, but this method is limited for officials to be within a close proximity to the collared animal.
  • Opines that education, legislation, economics, and technological advances can slow the rate of poaching deaths of elephants and rhinos.
  • Explains lemieux, a., and clarke, r. the international ban on ivory sales and its effect on elephants.
  • Analyzes how microchips turn the rhino’s horn into a defensive weapon against rhinos.
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