Poaching , smuggling - where will it end ?

[okie]

Frontpage story today in Cape Afrikaans newspaper , "Die Burger " :

Die 15 olifanttande wat lede van die Valke gister in ’n motorhuis by ’n woonstelblok in Bloubergrant gekry het, is vermoedelik dié van jong olifantbulle.

Translated : " The 15 elephant tusks that members of the Hawks found in the garage of an apartment block in Bloubergrant , are probably those of young elephant bulls ".

The story goes on to describe how neighbours saw smoke coming out of a garage , called the police , and on investigation found two chinese men , with a quantity of tusks , as well as abalone , etc etc .
They will appear in court on a charge of illegal traffic in ivory .

Apparently , one of these guys , are currently out on bail , on previous charges also for illegal dealing in ivory and abalone .

Here we have another case of citizens from the most populous country in the world , in our country , making their own countrymen unpopular locally . We treat them with utmost civility , make them welcome , and all they do is annihilate our heritage .
Yah , we jail them if ( IF ) we catch them at it , but before you can say " *** horn " , they are out on bail , and doing what they seem to do best .

[Grantmissy]

Okie hopefully it will not end when there is nothing left to poach or smuggle.

[Meandering Mouse]

I have just written on a *** thread urging people to do what they can, no matter how small.

When I grew up, (about the time of Noah) when shooting, hunting was the norm.

I have always been a greenie, a bunnyhugger.. and I do remember nearly breaking a little boy's kneecaps for shooting birds with a kattie. I was not too worried about his knee caps.

I think we need to all become a part of creating an anti killing lobby.

I urge people to become involved. Maybe it is as small as a bumper sticker.. or as large as getting a large corporate involved. But we do need to be involved.

The internet is powerful. I urge people to join lobby groups. Phone in or write into radio shows, or simply speak out.

My grandfather and father were avid hunters, my brother is disgusted by killing and my son won't touch a rifle. We are entering a new era. A lot of damage has been done, the difference is that we are now recognising it as damage.

This is not an anti hunting post. Regulated hunting does serve a purpose.

I am just saying, the tide is turning. I want to be one of those who helps change the flow.

[Meandering Mouse]

OKie, I also hear what you say that we have become the target of a certain market.

One of the most embarassing moments this year for the government was the Dali Lama debacle. The internet helped to make it not only local, but global. I think we have to recognise that this is a very potent and powerful tool.

Join twitter groups, facebook groups. The eyes of the world are watching.

Lobby groups are essential.

[okie]

Hmmm, yah , and stop buying chinese

[naturelover]

Not all hunting and shooting is wrong. I have always supported hunting and shooting as I believe if both are properly managed and regulated they will not have a negative impact on the environment.

[moobox]

Not all hunting and shooting is wrong. I have always supported hunting and shooting as I believe if both are properly managed and regulated they will not have a negative impact on the environment.

But it already has!

[propolis]

Just a thought and no idea of how it can be achieved.

Cant the Rhinos be sedated, then the horns be contaminated with a poison. Let the world know that *** horn is now poisonous and can kill if used.

The same goes for the elephants. Let the world know small tracker devices have been implanted (or something to that affect).

Just the rate of poaching is so alarming.

[Hippotragus]

Propolis - that has been tried at a small game park near Johannesburg. Unfortunately one of their *** bulls reacted badly to the anaesthetic and died. It is a very expensive and risky procedure. I don't know if SANParks have investigated the idea.

[Garyd73]

Sadly most probably extinction or drastically reduced numbers

The only hope is education and jobs. Educate the countries that are buying these goods and then the demand goes away, however that is far easier said than done especially if you look at China. They are hugely protective of Pandas and get very irate at poaching of this animal but are ignorant/unaware they are causing the deaths of thousands of animals elsewhere.

If the people who are doing the poaching on the ground had jobs the risk/reward of poaching would disappear for a lot of them, however it seems there are too many people in Africa for the amount of jobs available currently so I don't know how you resolve that.

Any other solutions are trying to help and slowing the poaching rate down but not getting to the route of the problem.

[bert]

A move in the right direction?

The Hague, 15 September 2016: Following a year-long investigation into wildlife trafficking hub Nhi Khe, Viet Nam the Wildlife Justice Commission will hold its first ever Public Hearing on 14 & 15 November 2016 at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands.

During the investigation our investigators observed directly US$ 53.1 million in parts and products of rhinos, elephants and tigers trafficked through a criminal network consisting of 51 individuals. Involving parts and products from up to 907 elephants, 579 rhinos, 225 tigers and other endangered species including: pangolin, bear, hawksbill turtles and helmeted hornbills.

https://wildlifejustice.org/viet-nam-wi ... announced/

[Hippotragus]

Thank you, bert. Let's hope something positive comes out of this and we can begin to see an end to the poaching and smuggling.