Why is animal poaching a problem?

Why is animal poaching a problem?

Poaching has devastating consequences for wildlife. In some instances, it’s the primary reason why an animal faces a risk of extinction. This is the case with the African elephant, more than 100,000 of which were killed between 2014 and 2017 for ivory. And poached animals can spread disease, such as Ebola and SARS.

What is bad about poaching?

Wildlife biologists and conservationists consider poaching to have a detrimental effect on biodiversity both within and outside protected areas as wildlife populations decline, species are depleted locally, and the functionality of ecosystems is disturbed.

Why is poaching bad for the environment?

Poaching can affect the environment by depleting certain species of animals. It causes animals that are endangered to become extinct, thus creating a disruption in the food chain. Eventually, it will cause as a result new adaptations of animals, and/or species beyond human control.

What is the law on poaching?

poaching prevention Act 1862: a police officer may stop and search any person or vehicle on any highway, street or public place if there is reasonable cause to suspect poaching. Any game, article, dog or vehicle if used in offence may be seized and detained.

Wildlife poaching has negative side effects that affect local communities, wildlife populations, and the environment. It is a crime fueled by a lucrative black market trade of animal parts. The animal parts are sold as novelty items and are sold for their “medicinal” properties. Poachers kill for profit.

How many animals have gone extinct due to poaching?

Around 30,000 species are driven to extinction every year, poaching animals facts show. That’s approximately three species per hour! Naturally, species go extinct all the time — it’s how life works, but the rate has never been so dramatic.

Why we should stop poaching?

Poaching is a threat not only for elephants and other animals, but for the whole global community. Wildlife crime is a huge business, lead by dangerous international illicit organizations, wildlife are trafficked like illegal drugs and weapons. To tackle poaching is essential to give a strong international response.

How does poaching have an effect on the environment?

How Does Poaching Affect the Environment? Poaching has a considerable negative effect on the environment because when one animal population declines at an unnatural rate, others can rise or fall as well. This may lead to the extinction of the poached animal and other animal and plant life in the area.

Why is it bad for animals to be poached?

Poaching is undertaken for different reasons but mainly for-profit especially if the animal has valuable parts or is valuable in the market. There are those who carry out poaching to keep the animals as pets rather than acquiring the pet legally. Poachers have less concern for animal health and animal health care.

How many animals have been lost due to poaching?

The value of illegal trade of wildlife animals is estimated to be around hundreds of millions of dollars. In Africa, countless animals have lost their population numbers mainly due to poaching. It is estimated that Rhinos have lost around 97% of their population over the 20th century.

What do poachers do with the animals they kill?

Poachers sometimes kill or capture animals to sell them locally or for the global trade in wildlife. Wildlife trading is a major black market that has increased alongside rising wealth in Asia—a major consumer of wildlife—and the advent of e-commerce and social media websites.