Poaching and Ivory TradeKarley, Taylin, and Ocean

What is Poaching?Poaching is the illegal hunting of endangered animals or animals that possess something considered valuable.

Why?

Poachers kill these animals to take a certain body part and sell it for a large profit, such as rhino horns because they are said to treat things such as cancer, hangovers, impotence, and fever.

How did this happen?Poaching is mostly caused by organized criminals that use high-powered weapons to track and kill these animals immediately without being detected. Examples of these weapons and technology are night-vision goggles, helicopters, and grenade launchers.

Ivory TradePoachers kill elephants for their tusks which are made of Ivory. They do this because Ivory is a very expensive resource that is used to create jewelry, utensils, trinkets, religious figurines.

What are the Consequences for the Poachers?

Poachers in Africa will be shot on the spot if they are caught poaching because they are killing the food source of many citizens.

What are the Consequences for Africa?

At current poaching rates, animals such as elephants and rhinos may be gone within our lifetime.

What is being done to stop this?

They are protecting wildlife more by training scouts and equipping them with GPS satellite phones and other tools to help protect animals. They are also hoping that educating the public will help to put this to an end.

Questions

1. Do you agree with the hunters and outcomes of poaching? If not, what do you think can be done to change these outcomes?2. What do you think will happen if the elephants and rhinos become extinct? What will happen environmentally?3. Do you think it is necessary for the poachers to kill the whole animal rather than just take what they need and go? Why do you think they do this?