Poaching Wild Life - Hanya Awan

Wild animals are being poached from their native habitats, continuously. Defining poaching as the act of killing and removing wild animals from the wild for personal or financial gain, it takes place when individuals or groups of people illegally kill animals. This is not only a concern for the animals themselves, as they are abused and encounter traumatic practices by humans, but also being away from the environment causes them to shift their perception of living, and they are often abused and treated in a distressing and harmful manner as a result of this experience. Poaching is done to many animals, but for the past several years it has been quite popular amongst elephants. Since the animal market, elephants hold the most value and can help a person gain so much income by trading them and selling them to other local people. Poaching has been increasing sales on the black market located in Asia, with many locals making large amounts of sales and increasing wealth. Rhinos have been at a higher risk of extinction, with poaching taking place more often.

Rhinos are considered to be a health cure for many medicines and other substances for colds, coughs and fevers. However, after some research and scientists examining and studying this closer myth, it was revealed that rhino horns are not effective at all, and do not make any difference as to biting your fingernails. Therefore, it is very little eco-friendly and animal friendly to distribute rhino horns in ointments and medicine, yet many parts of Asia, still grow businesses from the cheap and versatile material from rhinos. This has caused a mass extinction of rhinos and today, rhinos are considered to be one of the most endangered animals in the world in 2021. However, the endless act of poaching has not only affected animal growth and reproduction in elephants but also in many birds and reptiles that are sold illegally as exotic pets. The meat of apes, snakes and other brush animals is considered very common in various parts of Africa. According to National Geographic, between 2012 and 2017, more than 100,000 elephants were estimated to have been killed. The ethic of selling and poaching animals does not only affect the animal population itself but can spread many risks amongst humans. Many poached animals are not fed and taken care of properly, and most likely carry diseases that can also spread to humans, such as Ebola and SARS. Therefore, it is very significant that not only the act of this should be brought to a pause by initiatives and organization ambitions, but also to stop the act of selling animals for personal profit and more so, illegally. As poaching is very common in Africa, animals need their space and perception of living in the wild, to grow and adapt to their true environment. In such a situation, where humans are not only taking animals away from their families at such an early age but also entrusting them to live in unethical and physically damaging cages, it becomes very difficult for the animals to live a long, healthy and happy life. Most of these poached animals are often positive for many health conditions that are irreversible and live with long-term physical body damage and injuries that will affect their vision, hearing and body movement. Thus, poaching should be banned completely and should have a bigger fine and consequence when a group of people are doing the action. Many countries should come together, and enforce stronger laws to clarify the comfort of these endangered and free, wild animals. Many poachers, who do continue to poach, do it because they also desire to sell animals, rather than seek other ways to profit off. These brutal acts and inhuman mindsets do not bring a strong connection to our world, surroundings, and values.

Works Cited

“11 Facts about Poaching Animals.” DoSomething.org, www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-poaching-animals#:~:text=%22Animal%20poaching%22%20is%20when%20an.

Hall, Jani. “Poaching Animals, Facts and Information.” Animals, 12 Feb. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/poaching-animals.