Animal Poaching in Africa: Who and Why They are Being Captured

Animal Poaching in Africa: Who and Why They are Being Captured

The wind sways the trees and the heat is smouldering as the safari truck drives through the open savanna. The grass is a light brown and there are a few animals here and there, but where are the rest of them? Where are the elephants and rhinos?

All over Africa, foreign nations are poaching African wildlife, which is bringing up problems for the safari economy and the government. Elephants and black rhinos are being murdered all across the continent and being used for foreign uses and delicacies.

The ivory trade started in the 1800s, killing over 26 million elephants, but has slowed to currently be around one million killed each year (Larson). Ivory is found in elephant tusks and is used for billiard balls, piano keys, identification chops, and other objects that we use today (EleAid). Elephants are also poached for entertainment, medicine, hide, and meat (EleAid).

In Zimbabwe, prime minister Robert Mugabe requested that elephant be served at his birthday party, and the public of Africa did not take it well. An animal conservationist named Daniel Stiles said, "It just demonstrates that he does not care what the world thinks, nor does he have any respect for wildlife” (Silver).

“There are only about 4,500 black rhino left in Africa”  (Lydall). The black rhinos are Critically Endangered and have continued to be poached since the 19th century (Fulconis). Their horns are powdered down Chinese medicine, an aphrodisiac or for ornaments (Lydall). They were being slaughtered at the rate of two a day in 2012 and were added to the endangered species list (Lydall).

African safaris are being put at risk by the high rate of poaching, especially of the elephant and black rhino. Without these animals, the tourism rate goes down, causing a loss of money and jobs. “Of the 46 governmental organizations surveyed, 93 percent confirmed that poaching was causing problems in their countries and protected areas and 80 percent agreed that it is affecting wildlife watching tourism” (Shankman). Many of these governmental organizations believe that for people to help save these animals, they need to be given money. Geoffrey Kent, a CEO of a travel company, said “You can’t ask people to do things from their own good will. They need cash. Tourism provides money”.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, spoke out about the deterioration of the elephant and black rhino population, expressing his concern that future generations will not be able to watch these animals and their beauty. He sums up Africa’s fear perfectly, that the “big five” (lion, leopard, cape buffalo, elephant, and black rhino) will slowly disappear, leaving us with only memories of them. "It'll be the big four, then possibly the big three and then where do we go after that?” (Lydall) The African government is currently working out plans on fixing the animal poaching issue, but for now, black rhinos and elephants will continue to be trapped and slaughtered at the current rate.

Works Cited

"Elephant Tusks - Elephant Facts and Information." EleAid. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Fulconis, Renaud. "Black Rhino." Black Rhino. Save the Rhino, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

Larson, Elaine. "The History of the Ivory Trade." - National Geographic Education. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Lydall, Ross. "William: We Must End Killing or Our Children Will Not See These Animals." Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Gale, 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

Shankman, Samantha. "Wildlife Safaris at Risk From Africa's Growing Poaching Problem." Skift. N.p., 04 Mar. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.

Silver, Marc. "Elephant On The Menu? It's Not Just A Birthday Dish For Robert Mugabe." NPR. 

NPR, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.