Why Should Animal Poaching Be Considered a Social Injustice?

Animal Poaching does not only affect animals; it affects entire communities and can also affect the economy. Because of this, it is doubly important that humans see the error of their ways and react accordingly.

But, how are communities actually affected?

Well, this occurs on three levels:

1. Members of the communities surrounding game reserves either directly or indirectly benefit from the tourism that occurs in these regions. If the Big 5 became the Big 3 (if elephants and rhinos became extinct), there would be fewer tourists coming to South Africa and as a result fewer people from local communities would be able to be employed. These people and the South African economy would suffer.

2. Many militia groups are involved in animal poaching. These people therefore earn money when they sell rhino horns or elephant tusks; they use this money to buy ammunition which they then use to commit human rights violations (e.g. kidnappings and killings). An example of such a militia group is the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

3. Moreover, many Asian gangs are involved in poaching and in the ivory trade; these gangs are often also involved with human trafficking and therefore the money earned from the sale of rhino horns and elephant tusks allows them to continue violating other people’s human rights.

The Current Situation

Animal poaching is a reality that cannot be ignored.  But, many claim they simply do not know about it; so what exactly is the current situation?

Rhinoceroses are being poached for their horns which are used as body detoxifiers and a supposed cure for cancer. On top of this, rhino horns are carved into knife handles, key rings and jewellery and then these items are sold at high prices. Vietnam and China are the main consumers of rhino horn products.

Every year approximately 30 000 elephants are poached for their tusks. Most of these tusks are then exported to Asian countries, such as China, where they are then used to make ivory chopsticks which are sold for more than a thousand dollars.

This is what is happening; and if we do not do anything to stop it very soon we will only have the Big 3 (Lions, Leopards and Buffalos).