Summary:
In recent years rhino poaching has become a serious global issue, especially in the country of South Africa. The problem spiked in 2008 when 83 rhinos were illegally murdered for their horns, which is in high demand for use in Asian medicines. Despite many efforts being put forth by different organizations, the situation is getting progressively worse. Many rhino-protecting organizations have come up with different ways to catch poachers such as implanting tracking chips in rhino’s horns, and intensifying poaching laws. They are also providing additional breeding lands for this endangered species. However, poachers are one step ahead of the government when it comes to rhino hunting. They have acquired technologies such as night vision equipment, veterinary tranquilizers, and helicopters, which make their illegal hunting far easier. Dr. Joseph Okori, the WWF African Rhino Program Manager states: “This is not typical poaching, the criminal syndicates operating in South Africa are highly organized and use advanced technologies. They are very well coordinated.” Unfortunately, he could not be more right, these criminals are highly advanced and have many ways of outsmarting the government. In 2010 an astounding 333 rhinos were killed; that is an average of about one rhino murdered every day. Ten more rhinos being killed in the first week of 2011 alone does not show much hope for South African rhinos in the year ahead.
Reflection:
It is amazing how much these people put in to poaching. I mean helicopters and night vision equipment are not cheap. If people are willing to risk so much for this business then it must make them a lot of money. However, even if it is a high paying “job”, it is quite sad that people are able to do this to an endangered species just for the sake of money. I think that more countries should come the aid of the South African government when it comes to this issue because they are obviously not the strongest or richest government, and powerful countries such as our own could make such a difference. In an odd way rhino poaching reminded me of a big problem we have in our own country, drug dealing. Big time drug dealers face life in prison if they are caught, but are willing to risk this because they make so much money. I am sure poachers face the same punishment, if not worse, but continue to do it because the payoff is so high.
Questions:
What are some ways the South African government can crack down harder on rhino poachers?
Do you think other countries would be of any help to South Africa by getting involved with this issue? If so, how?
What are some other global issues that involve poaching?
How do you think poachers acquire such advanced and expensive technologies?
Should we even be worried about this issue? Why or why not?
http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2011/WWFPresitem19251.html
WOW! I knew rhinos were killed for their horns, but I did not realize that they were worth so much money! It seems that people go to the extreme just to kill a rhino for their horns. It is very sad to think that if this continues at this rate, rhinos will become extinct. I feel that this situation is similar to what we experience with leather. People kill horses just to get their skin, to make money on leather. The only difference is that horses are not yet on the endangered list. I found this website that made a has a very interesting infographic:
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.earth-touch.com/nature-news/rhinos-by-numbers/
I never knew until now that rhinos were hunted alot or that there horns would be worth so much money. To have people hunting rhinos with helicopter and night vision equipment seems like I would be a bit of an overkill but all it's means is that rhino horns must be worth alot of money. I think it seems like the drug deals that go on in america but with rhino horns in south Africa. To answer one of klye questions is if the rhino horns are very valuable to china then I would guess that the poachers would get there equipment from china in exchange for the horns.
ReplyDeleteIn agreement with Kyle, I believe it is extraordinary the amount of time and effort put in to kill these animals. In these countries punishment means nothing, and this does not help this incredibly bad, and continuously worsening situation. This issue will end up making a large impact on the African Rhinos population, therefor reverberating this impact to all of the rest of the species in the area. To stop these dreadful affects from happening we must combine the efforts of government and Environmentalists, and stop this awful devastation of this species of rhinos. -Quinn O'Donnell
ReplyDeleteThe act of actually spending that much time on the killing of rhinos for their horns is very new to me. I never knew rhino horns were worth so much money. Criminials go beyond government laws just to get the horns and the money. Using night vision, veterinary tranquilizers, and helicopters seems like to much just to get some rhino horns but I guess that are worth that much. Killing rhinos for there horns makes me feel like people will do anything for money. In one of Kyle's questions he asks to think of more ways for the government to track down harder on rhino poachers. I beleive the government could keep some of the rhinos in a big protected area where they can still roam free yet poachers won't be able to get to the rhinos. Another way would be to join forces with an outside government that could help them stop the poachers once and for all.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know that rhino horns would be worth so much money. But why do they need to make money on innocent living creatures? Yes the horns sell for a large sum of cash, but there are better ways in life to make money other than killing all these rhinos. And to be able to get all this stuff to happen, and to figure out how exactly to do it, must be something poachers do day in and day out. It's things like this that will make our planet less enjoyable for nature. I believe that many other countries can incorporate in helping rhinos. Everyones brain works differently, and with more and more people and technology we will be able to help overcome this poaching problem. Like the saying goes "two heads are better than one."
ReplyDelete