The hunting and killing of Zimbabwe’s lion Cecil by an American dentist in the summer of 2015 outraged millions of people around the world. His photo made the front pages of newspapers and newscasts, shedding light on other realities that are much more important for the continent’s future. Despite all this, the death of this iconic animal allowed us to glimpse, albeit briefly, a reality that is bleeding the continent dry: that of poaching and the lucrative illegal trade that hides behind it.
As among the best platforms for hunting and fishing, Outdoor Trader aims to let you know four things about poaching on the African continent. Keep reading!
Big Game Hunting vs. Poaching: Legal Conservation Efforts and the Illicit Wildlife Trade
Both activities have the same end – the hunting and killing of an animal species. However, big game hunting is a legal and regulated activity (to a greater or lesser extent). On the other hand, poaching escapes any control and endangers the survival of animal species, such as rhinoceroses, lions, elephants or gorillas, to name just a few.
In addition to being legal, the resources generated by tourism and big game hunting licenses are, for many African countries, an effective way to finance the promotion and conservation of endangered animal species. It is paradoxical, yes, but the money generated by this activity makes these wild animals more valuable than their weight in meat.
For example, the slaughter of one of the four black rhinos killed annually in Namibia fetched the sum of $350,000 at an international auction last year. This money ended up funding the activities of the country’s wildlife conservation service. But this is not always the case. For Cecil the lion, Walter Palmer paid close to 50,000 dollars. Unfortunately, in this case, the ultimate destination of this money is unknown.
It is difficult to know the origin of the people who hire these services, although it is clear that the large sums of money that are paid (between tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars) make this an activity only accessible to a few pockets. In addition, although it does not serve as an excuse, these same exorbitant amounts of money sometimes lead to unethical behavior. For example, in the case of the ill-fated Cecil the lion, the guides who accompany hunters may, in their eagerness to guarantee the highly prized trophy, resort to illegal activities.
Poaching, on the other hand, is illegal and is mainly fueled by the illicit trade in hunted animals. Whether for their skin to make pretty shoes, for certain parts of their body that end up decorating large spaces, or for their (often unproven) healing powers, millions of animals are slaughtered uncontrollably every year. In some cases, they are even put in serious danger of extinction.
It is a business that moves around 10 billion dollars annually, on par with other illegal businesses such as drug, arms or people trafficking. Hence, it is not surprising that poachers, in addition to being heavily armed, are very well equipped with night vision goggles and even helicopters with which to pursue their prey. In countries with dysfunctional administrations, the same personnel of the army, and the police responsible for ensuring the safety of these animals, participate, in one way or another, in this lucrative business.
In addition to the danger of extinction, part of the money generated by poaching ends up being used to finance rebel groups or terrorist groups. As with blood diamonds or conflict minerals, a natural resource such as animal life ends up becoming the precious lubricant of the mechanisms that originate and perpetuate violence. An example of this is today the Ugandan guerrilla group of Josep Kony’s Lord Resistance Army, which uses the ivory of elephants it shoots down in the Garamba National Park, in the northeast of the DR Congo, to finance itself and survive.
Africa: A Haven for Big Game Hunting and Poaching
The problem of poaching is not just an African problem. Virtually every region of the planet suffers from this problem. In Asia, elephant ivory is just as coveted as African ivory, and the eggs of turtles that come to nest on the Pacific coast, to give just two examples, are equally coveted.
However, the wealth of animals on the African continent – both in number and diversity – is unrivalled by any other region on the planet. In its more than 30 million square kilometers, we can find – at least – more than 1,100 species of mammals or 2,600 types of birds. Its wide climatic spectrum, from the most intense heat to the most piercing cold, and the diversity between dry and humid zones, allow this diversity of animal species.
On this continent, one can find the fastest animals (among them the cheetah), the largest (the elephant, the hippopotamus or the mountain gorilla), and even the rarest on the entire planet (the pangolin or the aye-aye). Most of these animals are in serious danger of extinction. One can even find penguins in the northernmost areas of the continent.
This great animal diversity makes the continent a must-see destination for both wealthy hunters looking for great thrills by fighting against superlative or even rare species, and poachers eager for money. The latter often engage in group hunting, further worsening the situation. The result is the continued loss of animal diversity, putting many of these animals at a point of no return in terms of their existence in the wild.
Rhino Horns and Elephant Tusks: Highly Coveted in Illegal Trade
According to the International Rhino Foundation, we have gone from having a dozen different species of rhino to just five, three of which are considered critically endangered. At the beginning of the 20th century, Asia and Africa were estimated to have a population of 500,000 rhinos. Today, an estimated 25,000 rhinos are in South Africa.
Besides habitat destruction, their horns are high in demand for traditional medicine mostly used in Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Korea. Their demand is also high for knife and dagger handles, fueling their continued predation.
The price per kilo of rhino horn has reached between $60,000 to $90,000, a value much higher than that paid for precious metals such as gold. A rhino horn, which travels from Africa to Asia in just 48 hours, weighs between 4.5 and 6 kg, meaning its value on the black market can easily exceed half a million dollars.
Rhino poaching skyrocketed during the last years, and today, it continues to be a major threat to their populations.
The elephant population is not immune to this scourge, and its number on the continent is also decreasing at an alarming rate. Every year, approximately 30,000 elephants are poached for their ivory tusks. A record that is difficult to maintain to guarantee the survival of any animal species. Thus, for example, in just five years the elephant population in Tanzania has been reduced by more than 60%, which has a very negative impact on a country where approximately 14% of its GDP comes from safari tourism. One kg of ivory is sold on the black market for around $2,100.
If this continues, by the nest year, the only living rhinos and elephants we find will probably be in custody in exotic zoos in the world’s mega cities.
To End Poaching, We Must Address the Entire Illegal Trade Supply Chain
The lack of control and alarming figures on poaching have generated growing interest from different sectors. International cooperation agencies have increased their budget allocations for this issue. Even the ex-President Obama himself became personally involved in the fight against the illegal trade in ivory from the continent.
Also, and in view of the growing evidence that the resources generated by poaching are used to finance the activities of armed rebel groups or terrorists. Hence, the US Congress enforced the Global Anti-Poaching Act in 2015, among many other measures, including more severe sanctions and more means and resources to fight in African countries themselves. Indeed, the drone technology -unmanned aircraft- in this area, represents an application that allows for greater and better monitoring to confront a very unequal fight.
The European Union, although with little concrete action, also recognizes the problem, its magnitude, and has even put money on the table. Individual European countries have taken the initiative and banned all ivory imports. China, for its part, has also shown its willingness to tackle this problem and allocated 10 million dollars in 2015.
However, ending the illegal trade that fuels poaching requires coordinated solutions at both the national and international levels, far beyond those aimed at preventing or repelling poachers. In many African communities, poaching is not seen as a crime, but as just another way to get by. Raising awareness and education in this area is crucial. Likewise, destination countries must do more to stem the growing demand.
On the one hand, by making entry routes more difficult and, on the other, by punishing clients and demanders more severely. However, as in African countries, it is crucial to raise awareness and knowledge, breaking down false beliefs about the benefits in terms of health or social status associated with these animals. Some campaigns in this regard have proven very effective, such as the one that managed to reduce the demand for rhino horn in Vietnam after explaining that the material it is made of is the same as that of human nails.
Thus, poaching seriously endangers numerous species on the continent. However, the resources it generates end up financing insurgent and terrorist groups or perverting state structures that hinder the stability and development of the continent.
We hope this post has helped you know the difference between legal and illegal hunting and how poaching has affected the wildlife yet. So, engage in legal hunting and find global hunting events by joining Outdoor Trader to connect with fellow enthusiasts and update yourself on events.
