Giraffe presentaion

The Poaching of Exotic Animals

Ian FriederichPerspectives on Nature and the Environment

Rhinoceros horns- $93,000 per kg

Poaching at a Glance

• Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals

• Simple as taking an animal without a permit• Using a prohibited weapon/ trap • Stealing an animal from a zoo/ sanctuary • Common in developing countries• Poaching leads to extinction

Why poach animals?

Reasons

• Hides ,meats, and bones are sold to dealers• Clothes, food, and jewelry production• Religious significances/ shaman usage• Collectors

“Uses” for Poached Animals Parts

• Ivory from elephant tusks: jewelry, flatware handles, piano keys, sculptures

• Leopard skin: said to give kings magical powers when placed upon his throne

• Tiger Penis: Used in Asia as a pain killer or aphrodisiac

• Lion Meat: said to give superhuman strength and increase sex drive

Most Commonly Poached Animals

• Elephant• Rhinoceros • Leopard• Tiger• Lion• Panda

Elephant Poaching methods

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKDFjAHkes

Means of Acquisition

Technology/ Equipment

Model 50050 Cal.

Deterring Poachers

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZS-e0FjYbM

• Scientists safely remove horns as a means of discouraging poachers from killing the entire animal solely for the horn

Major Poaching HotspotsAfricaAsia North AmericaSouth America

Public safety

• Tourists, scientists, law enforcement have been killed by poachers

• Poachers pay depends on results: they arent concerned with only harming animals

• Generally closely linked to drug/ arms trafficking organizations

• Travel with reputable safari guides and inform US State Dept. of all travel plans

The Culprits

• Subsistence farmers: kills animals that threaten to destroy season’s crops

• Local tribesmen: kill animals for religious or medicinal purposes

• Renegade clans: hired by government officials, private firms, western entrepreneurs, warlords to acquire rare animal parts

What can you do?

• You personally? Nothing realistic. • Donating money to your favorite wildlife

protection and conservation organization helps, but does little to fundamentally stop international poaching

• The best thing would be to join one of these organizations and volunteer as an anti poaching ranger. Good luck with that.

An Expert Opinion

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZxgHik8uI0

Government & Private intervention

• FBI, National Guard, local law enforcement• Environmental Investigating Agency • US Fish and Wildlife Service• State divisions/departments of wildlife • African Wildlife Foundation, International Anti

Poaching Foundation, African Conservancy • Train, equip, deploy “anti-poaching rangers”• Provide free education and recruit volunteers

Consequences

• Developed and developing countries use police and military to deter poachers

• Domestically: depending on the state and crime; up 10 years in prison and $120,000 fine

• Internationally: depends on country and crime– Philippines: $21,000, 6 years in prison (step stone)– Congo: $6,000-$8,000; 1-2 years in prison (minor)– China: tiger-related poaching is punishable by

death

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to… – Define poaching– Recall commonly poached animals– Recall uses of given poached animal parts – Recall the major poaching locations

Questions? (Not Philip or Mathew)