What can we do to crack down on poaching?

The poaching of rhinos and elephants has been a problem for many African nations for many years. In the mid-1900s, European and American consumers were the main consumers of elephant ivory, which was used to make ivory art statues, piano keys, and other trinkets. Because African nations lacked the financial means to enforce conservation laws protecting elephants, the number of elephants declined.

Then, after environmental organizations made a strong case to European and American societies about how unsustainable consumer demands were driving elephant extinction, ivory goods became unfashionable, and western governments outlawed the import of ivory. As a result, by the 1990s, elephant herds had begun to recover.

Although African nations are stepping up their efforts to stop poaching with automatic weapons and heavy firepower, poachers have even stronger firepower - including helicopters and heavier firepower to the point where some national parks in Africa are turning into war zones! Unfortunately, over the past 15 to 20 years, middle class Chinese and other Asian countries have become more wealthy and are now demanding, you guessed it - ivory stuff to buy!

Reducing consumer demands for products from poaching appears to be the most effective strategy, but it must be supported by laws that forbid the import of goods that are prohibited and strict enforcement of those laws.

To crack down on poaching, we can implement several measures including increased law enforcement patrols and penalties, community engagement and education, habitat protection, and international cooperation through agreements and treaties. Additionally, deploying technology such as drones, camera traps, and satellite monitoring can enhance surveillance and deter poaching activities.