Through the synthesis and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, it can be concluded that Chemical Alteration of the tusks of living, wild elephants has little potential to protect large populations from poaching. There may be potential in the future if research reveals a major breakthrough; however, all of the current Tusk Alteration Methods would be ineffective in discouraging and eliminating poaching of elephant populations in Africa due to the sheer numbers and spread of wild elephant populations, the high cost of research and execution, the adaptive nature of the illegal ivory market, the political and economic instability of the nations involved, and the steep demand for ivory in Asian countries. However, there are multiple …show more content…
In order to combat this potential loss of profit, these countries are working to ban the black ivory market while still allowing a specified quota of completely legal ivory harvests to be performed by local rangers in order to meet Asian demand. Their rationale is that this would deter overpopulation of African elephants, which could have adverse effects on the environment and habitat. However, the nature of a habitat is that all aspects are balanced unless an outside force, such as an invasive species or excessive poaching, disturbs the natural cycle that is established through the relationships of predators and prey. Research has speculated that this government regulation of ivory harvesting would not be successful (Rice, …show more content…
First, an emergency worldwide ban was placed to allow some rejuvenation of the populations, but it was later lifted to allow some ranching and legal trade. A majority of the alligator populations are abundant again, partly because of the reduced price through legalized ranching providing a steady and lawful alligator product source (Animal Welfare Institute, 1983). However, replicating this method may prove more of a challenge since the quantity of elephant products would be significantly harder to control. The legal market would have to be supplied through natural deaths and lawful shootings only. It is possible that this may reduce the effectiveness of a partial ban, which contributes partially to the controversial nature that surrounds this proposal.
While the Tusk Alteration Methods may not be successful in preventing poaching, the very idea encourages creative approaches to complex problems, which is necessary in order to progress. More extensive and thorough research should be conducted on such proposed solutions in order to determine their effectiveness before an underinformed or impulsive decision is made. Trial and error is extremely risky and unnecessary when it comes to the future of an entire keystone species and a whole continent’s environmental, social, economic, and political well
In the article entitled, “No Ethical Way to Keep Elephants in Captivity” by Ed Stewart, the reader is introduced to a progressive issue or concern that has been debated about for decades. This issue involves whether it is ethical or not to keep elephants in captivity. Mr. Stewart is very clear and concise on what his thoughts are on this issue as he describes the cruel nature and hazardous conditions that many elephants in captivity experience such as: “deadly foot disease and arthritis, infertility, obesity, and abnormal repetitive behaviors such as swaying and head bobbing” (Stewart, 2013). Mr. Stewart, who is the founder of PAWS which stands for “Performing Animal Welfare Society” goes into immense detail about his position against
Because of the poaching of game like the elephant, the number of species will start to diminish. What hunters brought to the villages of Botswana was the money and the meat from the animals to feed the many people that go hungry everyday. Hunters that would take animals such as an elephant wouldn’t take any of the meat for themselves but rather they give all of the meat to the villages in the area. However, when poaching starts to take over, there will be zero meat or money that will be put back into the community. Poachers that kill elephants are only after one thing and that is the ivory from the elephant tusks. After taking the tusks, the elephant is left to rot. Another animal that is sought after by poachers in Botswana is the rhino. The rhino is poached for their horns, which are supposedly an aphrodisiac in China so the demand is high. Because of these effects, groups like SCI are so important to different places around the world. The money brought in by the hunters is used to hire conservation officers to protect the rhinos and elephants and to buy land that will be put into game preserves so the numbers of these species will increase because there aren’t any pressures from hunting or
Making Ivory farms where Elephants will be bred then some will be killed for Ivory using humane methods and would save money for governments of the world. Governments around the world have wasted valuable resources trying to evaluate the pros and cons of the trade. This solution would end this because it would create jobs for those who work at the farm and it would also please the Ivory demand. It would also keep some elephants out in the wild. It will stop the need for poaching wild elephants too, which would keep the population of elephants at a good level. huge demands fuels poaching and trafficking, both of which, according to IFAW are as dangerous as global arms, human and drug trafficking. Many people have died both protecting and killing
Big game hunting is cause A major population damage . One of them is one of the most beloved animals in the world the Elephant. Every year, tens of thousands of elephants are being killed for trophies . Their population in Africa dropped from 62,000 all the way down to 20,000 in the last decade. WWF Global said they are due to be extinct in the next decade if nothing is done to stop the big game hunter. It’s not just Africa, where animals are being killed for trophies. ‘In Canada there is a breed of leopards called Amurs that were driven down to 10 left in the whole world ‘’ What caused this big game hunters from all over came to hunt an
The official title of the world’s largest land dwelling animal belongs to the elephant, more specifically, the African elephant. Elephants also are some of the most deadly animals, which therefore increase the danger of human and elephant interactions. The more human interactions occur, the more deaths result, whether it is the elephant or the human who dies. These animals, surprisingly, are socially apt; their trunk is used for more than just eating and drinking- it is used for socializing. They are complex animals who live in large familial herds-females stay with their family throughout their entire lives while males only stay for approximately fifteen years (Elephant Protection, 1). Elephants possess a great memory and only forget what they learn occasionally and rarely, giving way to the “an elephant never forgets” saying (Maloiy, 178c). Despite how many people use the beloved saying, elephants may not be around much longer due to the shortened life span and increased mortality rates. Due to their incisor teeth, tusks, being extremely expensive and profitable, they are being murdered for the wealth they carry. This, coupled with the life span shortening because of malicious treatments and brutal practices reduces the life span of the African elephant from 56 to 16 years and the Asian elephant from 42 to 19 years (Elephant Protection, 1). According to what the statistics show, elephants may be following their ancestors to their death. Of the group of mammals called
Poachers have killed very many elephants. Including one of Africa’s most beloved elephants, was also killed by a poisoned arrow by poachers, who cut off his face to remove his massive tusks. All of these slaughters have killed off most of Africa’s elephant population, and for what? For statues. More than 100,000 African elephants were killed for their tusks during a three-year period. These murders have to be stopped. Rampant poaching between 1979 and 1989
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
ALERT! ALERT! ANIMAL CRUELTY IN AREA! The following is an extremely important argument on the topic of poaching animals. If you do not approve of removing animals out of their natural habitats or destruction of the animal food chain, I suggest you continue reading immediately. Penalties for poaching should be severe because poaching is harmful, taking animals from ecosystems, destroying the relationships of which the energy flows in a food web, and harms animals in diverse biomes, demolishing food chains and animal populations. Penalties for poaching animals should be severe because taking animals from ecosystems destroy the relationships of where the energy flows in a food web, and harms animals in diverse biomes. When animals are taken from
Right now in the U.S. the selling of protected wildlife is one of the largest criminal earnings, and it is a multibillion dollar business. It is only second to arms smuggling, drug trafficking (Kendall, Jodi). The smuggling of exotic animals is killing and threatening these animals. A great example of this is people poaching orangutans. They are killing the mothers to take the baby orangutans. Many of the orangutans do not make it during capture and transport
Poaching is a concern because it’s putting Elephants species in danger so far to where they could be extinct.
Thanks for the post Lauren! I read an article a few days ago about how an increasing number of African elephants are being born without tusks. As you discussed, poachers often kill elephants for their ivory tusks, so much so that the species is facing extinction in certain parts of the country. Scientist believe that to avoid poaching, elephants are evolving to be tuskless. For those with tusk, the sizes have decreased significantly. While in theory, being tuskless is a helpful development to ward off poachers, scientist believe tuskless elephants will be crippled in the wild when it comes to self-defense and digging for food. Ultimately, it looks like poaching is far threatening to species survival, then being able to defend oneself and
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.
There are organizations around the globe designed to stop elephant poaching. Their intent is to sway people’s opinions to help with the world-wide problem. Only a global ban on the sale of ivory would take the heat off of these massive creatures. Solutions might include, addressing the involvement of international criminal institutes by means of strong law enforcement at both national and international levels along the full extent of the supply. Closing down domestic (national) markets in ivory, would also be beneficial. Countries could embrace the trade ban, and educate consumers in order to stem the demand for ivory (Bloody Ivory; January 11, 2013).
During the changing of world economy, it is increasingly common to hear the term ‘emerging markets’ and from news and report. In the mid-1980s, the term ‘emerging markets’ was created by the World Bank, and has significant influence on the global business world nowadays (Gwynne, Klak and Shaw 2003). To raise investor’s attention to those developing countries, there are numerous characteristics springing up which are given by researches and economists. However, some of those characteristics are contradictory and it is difficult to give a real definition. This essay discusses the main characteristics of ‘emerging markets’ as defined by the World Bank and economists.
Textual Evidence: “WWF has trained elephants and local people to form a "flying squad" that drives wild elephants away from farms and back into the