Easy Guide To Poaching

Poaching background

Animal poaching generally occurs because there is a financial incentive. For example, farmers may pay to have animal poached so that they do not interfere with livestock. Poachers also kill animals for hides, as well as other parts, such as elephant tusks. In many cases, poachers also kill the adult population of a group of animals in order to make away with babies. There are many animals which can be sold as pets or to the entertainment industry and it is not easy to remove the babies without killing the adult population.

Poaching in Africa

Poaching in Africa occurs with great frequency. There are many animals that are prized as pets and poachers often have to kill the mother in order to take the baby. Those babies are then sold for large amounts of money on the black market. In addition to pets, some of the babies are used in the entertainment industry. Poachers often kill elephants, as their ivory can fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the black market. Tigers and many other animals are often poached simply for their hide.

Baiting

Baiting often involves food which leads an animal into a trap or to an area where it is easy for a poacher to kill that animal. Baiting may include the use of regular food to lure the animal into a trap, where the animal may be kept alive to sell. More than likely however, poisoned food will be used to kill the animal. This technique is often utilized when a poacher needs to kill an adult animal, so that they can sell the babies to animal dealers.

Migratory birds

Migratory birds are protected in six countries by the migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918. Although the treaty was originally between the United States an Great Britain, it grew to include four other countries. Migratory birds, over eight hundred types in fact, are protected by the Act, which makes it illegal to sell or posses the birds. In fact no part of the bird may be sold or possessed, including feathers or nests. In fact, dead birds are also protected by the Act.