The Honorable Doug Collins
U.S House of Representatives
1504 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515-1009
Dear Representative Collins:
H.R. 2494- Global Anti-Poaching Act interests me since I am a strong animal activist. California Representative Edward Royce introduced this bill earlier this year with hopes of getting it approved. The purpose of this bill is to support global anti-poaching efforts, strengthen the capacity of partner countries to counter wildlife trafficking, and designate major wildlife trafficking countries. I want you to vote for this bill because as an animal activist and believer in animal rights I have confidence that by getting this bill passed, the deaths of animals due to poaching and trafficking will
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In the bill it states ways in which these crimes can be stopped. The first is by hiring defense services and security forces, such as Park Rangers. By doing this, poachers have a lower chance of harming the wildlife due to the fact that they don’t want to get caught. The second solution to stopping poaching is by investing in surveillance and electronic equipment. Most poachers and traffickers attack at night, but if our security forces had night vision goggles or thermal image devices we could catch these criminals and put them behind …show more content…
For example, myths that rhino horns can cure cancer has led to a poaching frenzy in parts of Africa. Some countries, however, have recognized that this is a major problem and have begun to take action. In Indonesia, wildlife protection groups, such as the WCU (Wildlife Crime Unit), along with law enforcement have come together to decrease the amounts of poaching and trading committed. Between 2006 and 2008, the WCU generated 63 reports of illegal hunting, trading, smuggling or possession, which led 35 arrest or confiscation operations. This is proof that with proper training and funding wildlife extinction can be
Many people believe that poaching is wrong, but what most people do not realize is that poaching animals is an illegal crime in most places. Orenstein, proving his assertions, stated that, “Perhaps it is stating the obvious, but poachers, whatever drives them to poach, are breaking the law…The media often confuse matters by talking about ‘illegal poaching’ as though there were such a thing as
In my time researching I have learned so much more about the poaching in Idaho. From articles to an interview I have learned more about poaching that I have changed my perspective on how bad it is Idaho. In my opinion I had always thought that wolves were doing the most harm to our wildlife until I had read one article that had described how poachers are killing more wildlife than the wolves. In Northern Idaho Officials said that last year there were 30 elk, four moose, 13 mule deer, and 57 whitetail deer that were confirmed poached. The officials also claim that those numbers are only 5% of the poached animals making the number about 600 elk, 80 moose, 260 mule deer, and 1000 whitetail deer annually! Whats even crazier is this is in just
Let’s focus on Alberta as the complex whole that is made up of multiple units of individuals. For out complex whole to successfully operate, the individual units must balance the existing system. We, as Albertan’s, have to work together and respect each other and our surroundings, which will allow us to make the most of our beautiful Alberta landscape. Including the mountains, prairies, desert badlands, vast coniferous forests, and more than 600 lakes. As one complex unit, Alberta must strive to preserve our lands and way of life. A small crack within the system will have detrimental effects on all living unites. Which brings us to a very important crack that needs to be addressed: poaching in Alberta.
Poaching has been an elusive, lucrative black market trade of animal parts and over harvests that have had negative side-effects that affected local communities, wildlife populations, and the very environment we live in. In the novel More Poachers Caught, written by Tom Chapin, he enlightens us on some of his apprehensions of poachers that he has had the opportunity to arrest as a game warden of the Northwoods. Tom Chapin is a Hibbing, Minnesota native and a veteran of the the U.S. Army. He received his bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1972 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. His career as a conservation officer was one of triumph and honor being voted Minnesota conservation officer of the year in 1985. In this
As many people know, poaching has been a common problem around the United States. In Idaho specifically, hunting is considered a pretty big sport, therefore there are quite a few poachers in Idaho. Title 36 Fish and Game, Chapter 14 General Penal Provisions, also known as policy 36-1404, speaks and addresses the problem of poaching in the state of Idaho. “Any person who pleads guilty, is found guilty of or is convicted of the illegal killing or the illegal possession or illegal waste of game animals or birds or fish shall reimburse the state for each animal so killed or possessed or wasted” (Idaho Statutes). For each animal there are different punishments, for example elk have a seven hundred and fifty dollar fine for each animal killed, possessed or wasted. As for caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and moose the fine is much larger, on thousand five hundred dollars for each animal. Any other species of big game that was not named results in a four hundred dollar fine for each animal killed, possessed or wasted (Idaho Statutes). Trophy big game animals result in a much larger punishment. Trophy bighorn sheep, trophy moose, trophy mountain goat, and trophy caribou killed, possessed or wasted result in a ten thousand dollar fine. Trophy elk are a five thousand dollar fine and trophy pronghorn antelope, white-tailed deer and mule deer are all two thousand dollars. Any further animals killed within a year of the first killing will result in the doubling of the original
The National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition is questioning the effectiveness of the Act, as well as its impact on people. Pointing to the poor progress of removing species from the Endangered and Threatened lists, the group calls on reform of the Act, to reform the methods for determining eligibility for listing, opening the listing and regulatory processes of the Act to include participation from all groups affected by the legislation, and providing more incentives for private citizens and businesses to pro-actively participate in conservation of listed species.
Since earth was created, there has been a natural phenomenon of species across the globe appearing and disappearing. However, in the past century, many species of animals have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Mainly, this rapidly occurring issue is caused by humans. Humans that contribute to the harmful actions that cause side effects such a pollution, deforestation, habitat loss and poaching. The natural rate of extinction pales in comparison to the extinction rate caused by all of these. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the current rate of extinction is 11,000 times greater than the natural extinction rate. Several different efforts have been made in order to stop or slow down the extinction of earth’s species. The Endangered Species Act is possibly the most successful example of these efforts. It’s main purpose is to get a commitment from the American people that they will work hand in hand to help save species that are at risk of becoming extinct and never returning. This act was put in place in 1973 and since then, no other law about the disappearance of wildlife has been quite as accomplished. Many different species that are protected under this law are either fully recovered or on their way to becoming safer. Laws like these are helping many different creatures left and right, however, at the alarming rate that they are disappearing, something else needs to be done. What people don’t seem to realize is that we depend on many of the animals that we are
This method would have tremendous effects in areas such as Vietnam and China, where law enforcement is insufficient. The desire for wealth is evident in the quote, “...money is an irresistible temptation for poor people to poach or trap animals, especially in countries like Vietnam, where enforcement of laws against wildlife trafficking is weak and paltry” (“The Vanishing Pangolin”). This shows how since the government neglects the importance of pangolins, they don’t enforce stiff laws against the illegal trade. This allows the poorer people of the population an opportunity to commit crimes in order to make money for their families. Furthermore, by introducing stiffer laws, poachers would be discouraged to break them. Families in poverty should not be at fault, since they are just trying to make a
In 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) came into force. Today, there are 179 countries who are “member parties” to the Convention. Each “member party” has some form of domestic legislation that implements CITES, thereby enumerating what is considered illegal trafficking in wildlife in that country and indicating what prosecutorial powers and judicial processes exist domestically for holding these criminals accountable. CITES has established a global framework to regulate and control international trade in endangered species of wild animals and plants listed in its
In many families, hunting is a tradition carried on from generation to generation and is a respected sport. However, there are those who do not respect the sport or the animals and have no issues harvesting the animals by any means necessary. Poachers are people that hunt during a non-hunting season or use tools to lure animals such as deer and bear to areas easier for them to get a shot. Essentially, poaching amounts to the theft of public's wildlife. (Wilkes-Barre, 2008) Poaching occurs all over the world and is not limited to a certain species. In Africa, elephants are the target of poachers for their tusks. In the 1970's and the 1980's the population of the elephants in Africa reduced due to poaching from 1.3 million to 600,00 0 in less than a decade. This illegal hunting selectively removed older animals with larger tusks and the results of this are being seen. Poaching not only affects the elephant population but the behavior of the elephants as well. (Archie & Chiyo, 2012) In all reality hunters have absolutely no reason or right to bend the rules, much less steal.
Hunters, activist or conservationists have a common goal “ensure that endangered species are here for generations to come” . Some comments that conservation trough commerce is a worthy way to manage natural resources and create awareness of endangered species. Hunters are more likely to be interested in support charities in order to prevent endangered animals to become extinct.
Studies have shown in recent years that the amount of problems for game wardens has increased dramatically. In an article by the New York Time’s, William Dicke states that in previous years, economic issues have caused an uptick in poaching (Dicke, para. 7). Due to the sheer number of unemployed and the rates going up, crime is rising as well, and it shows in abnormal crimes like poaching. Since the unemployed have nothing to do, and they have too much time on their hands, the act of poaching is becoming more common. Often the animal is not harvested for its food products, but instead for its antlers or skin. This goes to demonstrate one of the various problems that game wardens often face, poaching.
Recently, the poaching controversy has gained more attention in the news and media due to the killing of Cecil the Lion back in 2015. But what exactly is poaching and why is it illegal? Poaching can be defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals. Animals are captured and killed for their parts and products that are eventually sold on the black market and to cartels to make medicines, trinkets, and other products. Animals are typically poached for personal gain and value.The the illegal poaching trade in Africa alone has accumulated a worth of $17 billion dollars a year and it keeps growing. Ivory, fur, skin, and bones especially are in high demand and places/people are willing to pay high numbers for these products, so it is no surprise that people continue to hunt them. Due to poaching, the tiger is one of the most endangered species in the world . Tiger parts, such as fur, skin, and bones, are seen as a luxury and are used as commerce on the black market and secretly throughout Asia. Although China has participated in the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, the laws are commonly ignored and it remains the primary destination for tiger parts. Elephants are also on the brink of extinction and the number hunted per year keeps increasing. Despite international ivory trade being banned in the 1990s, it is still sold on the black market and sought after in Asia; once again, China being the biggest demander. According to Kideghesho in Sage Journals , “widespread poaching coupled with inefficient law enforcement in Tanzania was manifested in the dramatic decline of the elephant population to less than 30% of what it was in 1979, a drop from 316,000 to 85,000 by 1987.” Rhinos are also greatly sought after in Africa. In
Thesis Statement: My purpose today is to inform you on the illegal poaching on elephants and the ivory trade.
Animal poaching has a bigger price tag than the trophy sitting on the shelf. Poaching is causing iconic animals of many continents and of our oceans to become endangered or even extinct. These animals that people have come to love and fantasize over may be gone before we are (Africa). Elephants, rhinos, lions, and zebras are the animals thought of the most when it comes to animal poaching, but many animals are poached. They are killed for only one quality, like their horns or skins and the rest of the animal is left behind. Poaching is a massive business that is ran by international networks, it’s estimated to make hundreds of millions of dollars (World). Not all wildlife trade is illegal, but it becomes a crisis when an increasing amount of illegal poaching is done and it directly threatens the survival of species in the wild (World). Since 1960 97.6% of the Black Rhino population in Africa has been poached and lions are extinct in seven African countries (Africa).