In Kenya, the world’s last male northern white rhino died Mar. 20. Of the entire species, only two remain due to extensive poaching. But the plight of the white rhino is not unique; countless other animal species are being poached to extinction.
Poaching, the unsustainable illicit hunting and sale of wildlife, is the most direct threat to many animal populations and poses an alarming environmental, economic and social problem. Sadly, the scale of poaching has escalated in recent years. Moreover, many of the poached animals are keystone species, essential for the stability of local ecosystems. With the elusive industry estimated to be worth anywhere from 70 to 213 billion dollars, it is unsurprising that criminals, terrorists and impoverished locals poach excessively. And far too often, the unfortunate corruption and economic instability in hotspot regions allow easy access for poachers.
However, what many Americans fail to realize is that the U.S. is the second largest importer of illegal wildlife. Poachers are as active in the U.S. as in the rest of the world, and American consumers are just as responsible for the endangerment of several animals as the poachers. To solve poaching, the high consumer demand for wildlife animal parts must be eliminated. While it may seem exciting to pet or eat exotic animals, s n a p innumerable selfies with them and bring home souvenirs, these actions are incredibly harmful to animals. Mercifully, there are increasingly concrete efforts to combat the demand that drives poaching. At the end of 2017, China, the world’s biggest ivory consumer, enforced its ivory ban commitment. As conservationists agree, the ban is a huge success. But for longterm impact, all countries must address corruption and enforce bans, and individuals must curb their desire for animal parts.
Individuals, organizations and governments all play important roles in stopping poaching. Visitors must be cognizant that poaching is preventable when reported to proper authorities. In addition, after the Indian Forest Department collaborated heavily with local and international organizations, a record of 30 tigers now live in India’s Manas National Park. While 30 may not seem to be an impressive number, it is remarkable given a heavily poached area caused by decades of civil unrest. In the nation’s Kaziranga National Park, rangers can shoot poachers on sight. While the measure may seem extreme, the park’s tight security allowed a handful of rhinos to grow to over 2000, constituting nearly two-thirds of the world’s rhino population. As long as resources and concentrated efforts are put into antipoaching, people can effectively protect these precious animals.
Humans have the ability to destroy entire animal populations. Likewise, we also have the power and moral responsibility to preserve the precious few that remain with us.