Pros And Cons Of Rhino Poaching

Bringing in billions of dollars every year, promptly following illegal drugs, firearms, and human trafficking, animal poaching is the prohibited act of slaughtering, capturing, and trading animals. Due to the approximated tens of millions of animals being poached for their fur, shells, horns, etcetera, there is a rapid decline in population, causing a multitude of species to confront endangerment and possible extinction. Furthermore, some of the most at risk animals include, but are not limited to, sea turtles, elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, lemurs, and gorillas. This illicit trade is mainly generated by human avarice, the belief that some animal parts possess medicinal properties, and the lack of other livelihood opportunities. To place

Moreover, the revenue for animal parts continuously grow due to their endangerment; valuable parts become rarer and more extravagant, creating encouragement to poach since there is a higher profit attached. Rhinoceros horns are even more expensive by the pound than gold, diamond, and cocaine. Additionally, a trophy hunter is willing to pay up to $100,000 to legally kill one rhino a year and keep its horn (Phelan). The growth of rhino poaching from 2011 to 2014 has increased over 9,000% and continues to rise, resulting in the western black rhinoceros to already become extinct with the rest of Africa’s rhino population succeeding within the next two decades if this issue is not interrupted (“Rhino Population Figures”). In addition to rhinos, African elephants are mainly slaughtered for their tusks, meat, and hide. Asian elephants also suffer because only males possess tusks, causing an imbalance in gender population and reproduction to cease.

Tiger, lemur, and gorilla populations likewise experience deterioration because of the value placed on their meat, fur, claws, hands, bones, and other trophy items. Nonetheless, it is not just land species that are targeted, hunters have extended their frugality to the sea, massacring turtles before they even have the chance to reproduce. Especially Hawksbill, Leatherback, and

Overall, a poached elephant’s approximate worth is $21,000, but if the creature was left alive, it could have an economic value of $1.6 million due to the attraction of tourists (Erickson-Davis). There is a staggering $1.5 million difference between these two numbers, causing the local economy to be inefficient. Comprehensively, the lost flora and fauna due to wildlife trade is worth nearly $23 billion annually (Westcott). This is $23 billion that could have been used to revolutionize third world nations that poaching is injuring the most. Instead of wasting these funds, the revenue should have been utilized to further educate, nourish, and renovate these underdeveloped countries. Not only are these poachers taking the lives away from marvelous creatures, but they are hurting their homes, friends, and families in the process. The lack of compassion for the welfare of the animals directly impacts the financial instability of these communities. While acknowledging the local communities, they suffer from animal poaching because they depend on these animals to attract tourists. Some of Africa’s most poverty stricken communities rely on the jobs that elephants and rhinos create through reserves and economic growth. However, without these animals that reside in the national parks, the flow of people will