Impacts of poaching and tracking of wild animals and preventive measures

Impacts of poaching of wild animals

Despite its economic potential, illegal wildlife trade has already led to serve environmental problems.                                                                                                    1)    Reproduction

Poaching distrusts the reproductive behavior and population health of animals. T As illegal hunting selectively removed older animals with large tusks, the genetic diversity in the elephant population dramatically decline. For females, the loss of strong partners may decrease female fitness, which may influence population growth rates. Only some Asian males have tusks while both sexes are tusk bearing in African elephants. Therefore the selective removal of Asian tusk bearing male elephants supports to establish a tusk- less elephants population in the near future.

2)    Extinction

Poaching is the second-biggest direct threat to species survival, after habitat destruction and is directly related to significant population losses for many species (Schneider 2012).Populations of species on earth declined by an average 40% between 1970 and 2000. Large-bodied animals are more susceptible local extinction by hunting. Because hunters prefer to kill large animals to gain large amount of meat and those are animals with the most valuable horns, antlers and tusks than small animals. Thus, the hunters are able to earn much money per unit of time and cost expended for large animals. Large species are rare compared to smaller ones because they reproduce slowly. Thus, they are especially vulnerable to overhunting and have limited capacity to recover from population declines.

3)    Ecosystem unbalance

Poaching has been posed threat to the ecosystem balance. Asian elephant is a keystone species that has a particularly large effect on an environment relative to its abundance.

Poaching of keystone predator species encourages the uncontrolled growth of pray species which results in dramatically increasing of grazing intensity to the point where forest regeneration can be totally prevented. Eventually the forested land is converted to desert.

Overhunting of keystone species brings dramatic population shifts which could result in very negative consequences.

4)    Incidental killing of non-target species

Incidental killing of animals also happens on land when crude traps are set (for example for musk deer or duikers. These cause damage and death to a variety of animals besides the intended ones.

5)    Introducing invasive species

Introducing invasive species which prey on, or compete with, native species posing threat to the balance of nature as the direct overexploitation of some species by humans.   American Mink and the Red-eared Terrapin are the examples for animals become invasive after introduction from their native habitat.

6)    Transmission of diseases

Human interactions with nonhuman primates including cultural engagements, meat consumption and pet ownership to tourist encounters provide opportunities for the exchange of pathogenic organisms (both zoonoses and anthroponoses).

Prevention of poaching and trafficking

Several anti-poaching measures have been attempted successfully over the years.

 Public education is one of more powerful tool to encourage buyers to make informed choices when they are buying wildlife-based products. In addition to end products buyers, shop-keepers, suppliers and manufacturers are also targeted to be participated in the awareness programs. The processors are encouraged to harvest and produce wildlife products in a sustainable manner.

 Existing legalization on wildlife can be improved or new legislation can be formed for high-value products including ivory or rhino horn to control illegal trade. Militarization’ of nature reserves facilitate to arrests and deter criminal activities. Highly trained and well equipped anti-poaching units are employed at the boundary of the forest reserve. The effectiveness of their works can be enhanced by rewarding them.

Animals are fitted with miniature electronic tags that detect poaching events and transmit relevant information remotely to anti-poaching units on the ground. Rhino horn and elephant ivory have been drilled and injected dyes or poisonous by the Rhino and elephant Rescue Project. This effort help to deter the poachers and devalue the price of horn and ivory.

The government can introduce new income generating ways for marginal poachers rather than hunting wild animals including tourist guide and jeep drivers or provide initial funds for self-employments.

Alternatives can be introduced instead of Illegal wildlife such as hand woven textiles, beaded work, ceramic and tile art that are representative of local cultures and customs for souvenir purchases.